Hamilton Reef
08-06-2004, 11:18 AM
Boat owners bailing after windy day
City workers frustrated over debris on beach
http://www.record-eagle.com/2004/aug/06boats.htm
TRAVERSE CITY - Karyn York was horrified when she returned to the boat she had left moored on West Grand Traverse Bay.
The 19-foot Aristocraft power boat had washed up on a city beach, each wave filling it with more sand and water as her husband, Frederic, struggled to save it.
"I'm embarrassed," she said Thursday afternoon. "Yesterday we didn't come out and here's our boat."
The Traverse City residents' vessel was among four watercraft that washed up overnight on a beach near the city's volleyball courts overnight, when 20 mph winds from the north were reported by the National Weather Service.
John Fall, a city beach groomer, said he's tired of picking up the pieces when boat owners don't properly moor their vessels.
"They're silly people," he said. "They don't realize it's part of Lake Michigan and it's not very kind out there when it gets windy."
Rules for mooring in the bay near city property are lenient. Lauren Vaughn, parks and recreation superintendent, said it's only illegal to park there for the entire summer.
"Overnight is OK, if it's a short-term thing, or if you're going to sleep on your boat," Vaughn said. "People have to pay a little more attention to the weather and realize boats aren't designed to withstand that type of wind action."
City workers frustrated over debris on beach
http://www.record-eagle.com/2004/aug/06boats.htm
TRAVERSE CITY - Karyn York was horrified when she returned to the boat she had left moored on West Grand Traverse Bay.
The 19-foot Aristocraft power boat had washed up on a city beach, each wave filling it with more sand and water as her husband, Frederic, struggled to save it.
"I'm embarrassed," she said Thursday afternoon. "Yesterday we didn't come out and here's our boat."
The Traverse City residents' vessel was among four watercraft that washed up overnight on a beach near the city's volleyball courts overnight, when 20 mph winds from the north were reported by the National Weather Service.
John Fall, a city beach groomer, said he's tired of picking up the pieces when boat owners don't properly moor their vessels.
"They're silly people," he said. "They don't realize it's part of Lake Michigan and it's not very kind out there when it gets windy."
Rules for mooring in the bay near city property are lenient. Lauren Vaughn, parks and recreation superintendent, said it's only illegal to park there for the entire summer.
"Overnight is OK, if it's a short-term thing, or if you're going to sleep on your boat," Vaughn said. "People have to pay a little more attention to the weather and realize boats aren't designed to withstand that type of wind action."