Okay!
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<br>We have had an exhaustive discussion here on the forum of why beach catamaran popularity has declined and theorized on what might help to bring it back.
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<br>I think we are almost entirely in agreement that better access with mast up storage would help the popularity and get more of us to use our boats more often. With this in mind it will now become necessary to have a localized effort to garnish these sorts of properties from either private land owners or more likely from city, state or county municipalities. You will likely meet some resistance but with the help of a well laid out PR kit that explains the positive aspects to this concept you will likely find that your resistance will be lessened and many of the preconceived issues the various authorities have will be overcome.
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<br>To make this happen we need to know what issues your local city manager, county lifeguards, beach use authorities, coastal commissions, etc., have with regard to storing boats on the beach in your town.
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<br>FOR EXAMPLE:
<br>The issues here are:
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<br>The beach is used by the public. How will you guarantee there will be no interaction with swimmers?
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<br>Who will manage the property?
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<br>Who will collect the revenues and bond them and turn them over to the appropriate department?
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<br>How will you stop vandals from damaging the boats?
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<br>How much will you charge for this usage and how does the city make money on this?
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<br>Will the masts incumber the views of any local residents or businesses?
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<br>How will you ensure the property does not become a boat junk yard?
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<br>How will the city make up for the lost ramp revenues now that the boats are stored on the beach?
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<br>How will you hose off the boats?
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<br>Will there be a concession in place each day and if so what will they sell and what percentage are you prepared to pay the city of those revenues?
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<br>If there is to be fencing around the storage area, who will pay to have it put up and maintained. Will there need to be an environmental impact study for this fence and if so, who will fund that?
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<br>*****
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<br>There are more questions but you get the idea. If there are more specific questions for your area please send them in or post them here so that we might move this project forward!
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<br>Mark A. Michaelsen ~MM~
<br>SPS Website: http://www.sailingproshop.com
<br>Small Craft Advisories Sailing Centers
<br>1244 Pacific Coast Highway
<br>Seal Beach, Ca 90740
<br>(562) 594-8749 Voice
<br>(562) 594-0208 FAX
<br>(800) 354-7245 Order Line
<br>(714) 238-0925 International Voice Mail/Pager
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<br><br><br>Mark Michaelsen
<br>www.sailingproshop.com
<br>(800) 354-7245

The Boat Junkyard is a very real problem, at my club in Sydney we have two yards, together they could cram in about 40 boats. At present we have about 25 to 30 boats, only about half of these are used regularely, the rest are in various states of disrepair, some you wouldn't let your enemy sail off in.
<br>We charge about $250 aust.per annum, to store your boat, whilst this proves to be a good way to make money for the club, it is very hard to get this money off people if at all.
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<br>Something I would like to do at our club, would be to offer users of this facility a large discount, if they sailed in more than half of the races organised by the club per season.
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<br>Regards
<br>Antony
<br>Taipan KA062
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I have an Idea for the boat junkyard problem. When you have the members sign the storage/membership agreement put in a clause stating that if the dues/fees become in arrears then they will be sent one registered letter informing them of the impending sale of their boat. The signature on the lease will be the authorization to do so once they have become behind in the payments and have not hauled the boat off. If the boat is in some form of disrepair then there is always parts that are needed by someone (at a really good price) which will generate income for the club allbeit minor. The idea would be to not have the boat sit that long for it to get real bad.
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<br>For the ones that pay the fee but do not sail or very little charge a surcharge say 10% and give a discount for each time they sail like 1%. After they have sailed 10 times in 1 year then they have no surcharge.
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<br>Just some quick .02 worth.
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<br>Clayton<br><br>

Actually there is a simple solution. All boats must be removed from the storage yard once per year for a period of two weeks at which time the asphalt is to be mended, the ramp repaired as necessary and the area reslurried or beach raked if it is sand by a commercial sand cleaner.
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<br>Boats not removed are impounded and lien saled in 30 days.
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<br>MM
<br>www.sailingproshop.com<br><br>Mark Michaelsen
<br>www.sailingproshop.com
<br>(800) 354-7245

Hi Antony,
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<br>We had a similar situation and as you know we have much less storage space than you.
<br>The boat can only be stored at the our club if it is sailed regularly.
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<br>If not it is put out on the street and the owner advised to come and pick it up before it is tolen or vandaised.
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<br>Only had to do this once. It has worked.
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<br>Reagrds,
<br>Phill <br><br>

At our club, we take possesion of boats for failure to pay dues and/or remove the boat from the property. Our commodore (not the commodore at the time) bought a Hobie 18 for $400 from the club. (See Nov 2001 Sailing World side bar p 14). I know of 3 catamarans and at least that many monohulls the club has confiscated. Usually, the owners don't care (as we allow them to "donate" the boats) or cannot be reached.
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<br>What we did at our club was call every owner of a catamaran at our club. Most had not been at the club in more than a year. If they didn't want to sail anymore, we were able to get them in contact with someone who wanted to buy their boat.
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<br>We also offer our members a significant discount for removing their boat during the Mug Race. Although not as thorough as completely empting the boat yard, it does provide some amount of turnover and removal of old boats.
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<br>Frankly, I don't think the goal should be to remove the old boats. It should be to get the owners out and sailing.<br><br>

Mark,
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<br>Thanks for spearheading this subject. Agree with you that mast up storage will simplify launching and promote more sailing. Definitely interested in developing a PR kit that will help support local beach cat facilities. Already have a local project in mind for SF bay area in City of Alameda. East Bay Regional Park District has included small boat launch/storage area in the Alameda redevelopment plans since 1991. Proposed area is near Encinal High School. Another possible location exists at Crab Cove utilizing cool historical maritime training building.
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<br>City has turned over base redevelopment to a master development contractor. To the best of my knowledge, project is currently proceeding in a vacuum without public input. I'm working to become included in this process as a local representative. Please help me to develop a PR package with estimated costs, including benefits to local business, that I can sell to the city and inhabitants of Alameda.
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<br>Bruce Williams
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Okay, so where is everybody?
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<br>Lots of people noted they would support the task of getting more beach area if only someone would take the lead and explain how to do it. Are you currently out identifying the correct piece of property and locating the governing body for that real estate?
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<br>This can't wait until next year. If you start NOW you might have a sport for spring of 2003. Yes, there might be a few really lucky folks who nail the right committee at the right time with the right pitch but for the most part this will take time AND effort.
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<br>Please respond as soon as you can with the hurdles your local municipality provides you with on why cat sailing on "that beach" can't happen so we can begin formulating a response with answers as to why it simply MUST happen on that beach!
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<br>Thank you in advance for your local and regional efforts on this issue. If you want the sport to grow this is a must!!!
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<br>MM<br><br>Mark Michaelsen
<br>www.sailingproshop.com
<br>(800) 354-7245

I spent some time reviewing our past dealing with the City of Long Beach, California today with a friend who is also working on getting mast up storage at the Granada Launch ramp just 200 yards from the "normal" catamaran ramp Claremont. Please write back if you would be interested in keeping your boat on the beach in Long Beach for $80.00 a month mast up with no launch fees.
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<br>MM<br><br>Mark Michaelsen
<br>www.sailingproshop.com
<br>(800) 354-7245

Progress Report:
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<br>Well, after lots of posturing and bantering and complaining that catamaran sailing is declining there has only been one individual to come forward and take some pro active action that we are aware of.
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<br>There is a potential for a new catamaran sailing area in the San Francisco Bay area if enough people come forward and indicate that they would like to participate by leasing a spot if the area becomes available.
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<br>I am surprised that there haven't been more requests for information following the repeated calls to action and complaining that the sport is in decline. If you really like this sport and want to see it gain popularity then you need to take action yourselves.
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<br>If you are interested in promoting a catamaran beach or use area in your district, please contact us!
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<br>MM
<br>www.sailingproshop.com<br><br>Mark Michaelsen
<br>www.sailingproshop.com
<br>(800) 354-7245

Where is this potential new catamaran sailing area for the SF bay area? I would be interested in knowing more about it.
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<br>David Rogers<br><br>

Heck, are you kidding? I have been searching high and low for a cat-venue in the Bay Area, with no luck. I would be very interested in a space. The street in front of my house is not going to work well for a long-term storage plan.
I spent two years working to develop a multi-hull program at Lake Merrit, in downtown Oakland. I noticed an old Hobie 16 there a few years ago, and ended up rebuilding it. I was up to 4 H-16's an 3 waves for a while, and we were running a few well-attended youth classes (10-14 kids each) earlier this summer. I absolutly believe that the future of this sport lies with getting the kids involved. Get a 12 year old flying a hull and they are hooked for life! There is a brand-new 4 million$ aquatic center sitting mostly empty on the Oakland estuary, and the city departments are a bit of a mess these days, but there is great potential there.
But tell us more about this Cat-place in S.F.!<br><br>Michael Rossney