BREMERTON — Two historic yachts are moored this spring on the unprotected side of the Bremerton Marina breakwater.
Soon there could be none.
Port of Bremerton commissioners will vote Tuesday on a policy change that would prohibit permanent moorage on the outside wall of the breakwater, built to shield boats inside the marina. Following the change, boats will be allowed to tie up there for up to 72 hours at a time.
The decision comes in part because engineers have told the agency the breakwater wasn't designed to accommodate vessels mooring on the outside and in part because port officials believe the breakwater was built for the general public to enjoy. The long stretch of dock hosts events in the summer and is frequented by walkers and anglers.
"Everyone fully intended the breakwater would be for public use," Commissioner Cary Bozeman said Monday.
Christian Lint is captain of both yachts moored on the outside of the breakwater, the 130-foot Northwind and 120-foot El Primero. Rather than a hindrance to visitors, Lint believes the historic yachts are an attraction. The 1893 El Primero was the first steam-powered yacht built on the West Coast, while the 1930 Northwind reportedly played a role in the evacuation of Dunkirk during World War II.
"This is better bait for getting people down here," Lint said. "People come down, they walk through the boats and they love the history."
Lint said the port has offered him space inside the breakwater, but he wants to keep the boats where they can be enjoyed by the public. If the breakwater policy changes, "I'll take the boats somewhere with public access," he said.
Several dozen people have signed a petition asking port commissioners to allow boats to tie up on the outside of the breakwater. Among the opponents of the policy change is former Bremerton city councilman Roy Runyon, who noted the marina continues to lose money, and leasing space on the breakwater generates revenue. Runyon proposed half the breakwater — about 700 feet — be opened for permanent moorage.
"The port needs revenue, the marina needs revenue. I'm really concerned about a change in policy," Runyon said last week.
But is it safe to moor boats year-round on the outside of the breakwater? That's a question boaters and port officials have debated.
At a September meeting, engineers from Art Anderson Associates, the firm that helped design the marina, told port commissioners the post-tensioned structure was not intended to provide permanent moorage on its outer edge. Allowing boats to tie up on the unprotected side of the breakwater would risk damage to both the vessels and the facility, they said.
Opponents of the policy change point to an informal analysis produced by engineer Willy Ahn of Reid Middleton on behalf of port staff in 2015. Ahn concluded boats could be safely moored on the outside of the breakwater as long as they did not exceed a recommended total windage (the surface area of the boat exposed to the wind above the water).
Breakwater moorage is one of several policy revisions on the port commission's Tuesday agenda. Staff also recommended prohibiting Airbnb-style boat rentals, limiting liveaboard privileges to immediate family members of marina tenants and requiring background checks for liveaboard applicants, among other changes.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Bremerton National Airport.
Port keeping marina operations
While tweaking policies, the port is no longer considering outsourcing marina operations.The commission took public comment this year on whether to issue a request for qualifications for private firms interested in managing the facilities, with the goal of potentially saving money and providing better service.
At the March 26 meeting, commissioners told staff they wanted to maintain full oversight of the marinas.
"If we put it out on a contract, we'll no longer have complete control," Commissioner Larry Stokes said.
