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Letter to the editor

City marina to add 52 slips

Some of the 44- and 55-foot slips are still available.

By Curtis Krueger, Times Staff Writer
Published February 10, 2008

The new $2.8-million dock could open this month at the marina beside Demens Landing Park downtown. A 44-foot slip will start at $512 a month, plus tax; a 55-footer, about $646 a month, plus tax.
	[Dirk Shadd | Times]

ST. PETERSBURG - Some people have to wait years for a nice place to dock their boat.

But a 52-slip dock is about to open at St. Petersburg's Municipal Marina, and the city still has spaces available.

"I think the city has done a great thing by increasing the number of slips available to boaters in our area," said Walt Miller, the city's marina and port manager.

"From what I can see, it's going to be an improvement," said R.J. Smith, 70, who lives with his wife and dog on a 43-boot boat at the marina.

Terry Kimmel, 64, a retired dentist who lives part time in St. Petersburg, said he's looking forward to moving his 42-foot Grand Banks to the new dock. He said the configuration of the new dock will make it easier to get in and out of his boat.

The $2.8-million dock could open this month with 44- and 55-foot slips at the marina beside Demens Landing Park downtown.

It's a good opportunity for some boaters, but Miller acknowledged that some are turning it down. Some of the reasons: No liveaboards are allowed at the new docks, the slips are the wrong size for some boaters, and they cost more than similarly sized slips elsewhere in the marina.

Miller said the Florida Department of Environmental Protection granted a permit for the dock on the condition that no one be allowed to live on their boats at that location.

The rents were based on the estimated cost of repaying bonds for the docks within 15 years, he said.

A 44-foot slip will cost $512.07 per month for city residents and $628.44 for nonresidents, plus tax. A 55-foot slip will cost $645.64 per month for city residents and $792.38 for nonresidents, plus tax.

Those prices are more than $100 a month above similarly sized slips elsewhere at the marina.

Docking details

For more information about the dock, call (727) 893-7329.

[Last modified February 9, 2008, 23:05:55]