18 NATCHEZ ON THE WATERFRONT


than other decking materials and some may consider them less environmentally-friendly/sustainable since they are typically rain forest products. Composite timber is very versatile and normally less expense than hardwoods – though one needs to really know what you are getting as there is great variability in performance from manufacturer to manufacturer and even within a given product line. We have found that decking with a ¾ inch thickness for most decking materials may be ok for the short run, but not as good for the long run as 1 inch thick material and the width of the stringers of most plank decking should not be greater than 18 inches on centre (we prefer 16 inches). Many manufacturers/suppliers suggest that their materials are good for widths of 24 inches or more. Over time, that usually turns out not to be the most desirable.


Another issue is the need to understand stability and freeboard under dead loads, as well as live loads. The issues are how solid the floats, particularly the fingers,


Every facility has its own advantages and challenges,


so understanding your market is most important before you embark upon an upgrading program and knowing the market is more than just what has happened and/ or is happening, but understanding the trends in your region and in the industry as a whole.


feel – how much deflection there is with the various weights that are anticipated – such as if one or more people walk out on a finger, or if there is a group of people on a pontoon or the added weight of a marina trolley or golf cart. The


longer and narrower the finger, the more likely deflection, tipping and overall instability will become. These problems can be overcome, but you really need to take a close look at what you are buying. That said, pontoon technology has improved significantly and there are now even companies with systems that allow the flexibility for securely moving finger piers to accommodate wider and narrower beams, as well as easily removing a finger to accommodate catamarans, which are growing in popularity.


Long-term view One of the more important issues with all things is to upgrade for a long-term view and factor in the cost of maintenance in selecting the materials. My consultancy was recently with a marina manager who is in the middle of a major upgrade and her attitude was that when you start figuring in maintenance and longevity to the cost of products, it is easier to find a better fit in terms of what is being offered. Indeed, taking


a longer view in what to buy, which means getting more than just the shiny fresh look, but concentrating on performance, including maintenance costs issues, almost always makes sense. The cost of borrowing is, relatively


speaking, at an all-time low, so financing – while it still costs money – allows a better bang for the buck. In addition, when you actually get


to implementation, one can consider two basic options: carry out the project all at once or adopt a phased approach. There are reasons and advantages to both. Recently, the manager of a facility pushed for a five-year phased approach based upon cash flow and limited areas in which to work so as not to curtail various operations during the retrofit. In the early phases, the facility was then faced with all of their customers wanting the limited number of new berths during the retrofit, which turned out to be a good thing. The result was the ability to charge more (without gouging) and creating more interest in what was being undertaken, both by new and older


Versatile new pontoons can accommodate larger boats. MARINA INDUSTRY • JUNE 2020


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