If Harrison Marina is looking a little empty this week, there's a reason.
Word got out over the last few weeks that the marina was undergoing big changes starting in February, including an end to annual moorage. Some heard from the marina's own website, others received an email, and others heard about it at the Vancouver Boat Show. Last week, this newspaper also reported the changes. Many who were moored at Harrison Marina quickly moved their boats to other marinas, which are now reported to be full.
But owner Wayne Moser said this week that the information released on the website was incorrect, and there is no rush to move out. While they do intend to renovate the entire marina, with an eventual drop in number of slips from the current 220 to 146, he said it's just a plan so far.
The website stated: "We will no longer have Annual Moorage available as of Feb1/16." It also stated those who have pre-paid could get a refund, and those who wanted to try to stay in their slips could do so, unless someone else were to buy it.
"It shouldn't have said that," he said. "It should have said hopefully. We can't put a date on it."
He said he's working on talking to all the boat owners who have been trying to contact him for refunds or more information about the impending project. He said the proposed slips aren't being sold yet. However, his real estate agent was at the Vancouver Boat Show presenting the slips and marina in late January, and a website contains pricing details.
Moser said they are just taking names down right now for slips, and for the eventual float homes that are planned for even further down the road.
"We're talking to them all," he said of the boat owners. "We're explaining exactly what's happened. We don't want to lose all the people in the marina, no question."
He said there are several different levels of approval for marinas, federal and provincial.
"What we're putting in there, we're wanting to sell these things, but it still is subject to that," he said. "Hopefully we'll have it all in place shortly."
Leases for the slips are 30 years long with prices starting at $40,000 (plus GST) for a 24 foot slip, with an option of purchasing another 30 for $1. The largest slips are 50 feet, fetching $90,000 (plus GST). In addition to the purchase price, there are annual maintenance fees and insurance requirements for each leaseholder.
The marina will be changing its name to Alice Springs Landing Marina, to reflect the history of Harrison Hot Springs.
The marina's website states: "We will have all new breakwaters, walkways and slips, with shorepower to all, also water and sani will be supplied to a number of slips in the future. Slips will range from 24 to 50 feet. There is to be a Float Home Community using about one third of the waterlot to the south. With this new design our slips are limited to 146. We intend to market all our slips by way of the Longterm Moorage Agreement we have in place."
jpeters@theprogress.com