September 24
There are, no doubt, many members talking about the changes to the haul schedule and the different locations for your boat storage. I will provide some background information to inform the discussions taking place.
At our committee wrap up meeting after haul in 2019, I presented the following information.
CRANE COSTS (Early Haul)
Large Crane total cost $10,380 ($716.00/hour)
Number of boats hauled was 27.
Cost per boat $384
Small Crane total cost $4,818 ($419.00/hour)
Number of boats hauled was 40.
Cost per boat $120.
Two options were discussed:
Charge members more for using the large crane.
Find a more efficient way to use the large crane.
We proposed to the Executive that a $100.00 surcharge be applied to all vessels hauled with Mast Up. The motion was passed and will be presented for ratification at the next AGM. This will be implemented in 2021. Hauling with mast up is a premium service and I believe members should support the nominal fee that has been proposed
The inefficiency of using the large crane at J-dock spit has vexed us for years. We were unable to haul boats mast up at C-dock due to insufficient water depth and the need to back vessels into the haul slips.
While at the club in mid June to discuss the partial paving at C parking area we learned that cradles could not be placed upon the tar and chip paved areas. We argued successfully that the location of the paved area should be driven by the position of the cradles and not the other way round. Perhaps now was the time to make a change in our haul routine.
We devised a technique to bridge two finger docks with a haul platform, allowing us to haul boats from the end of the finger docks. We believed we would be able to make better use of the large crane as there would be only one setup and all boats could be hauled from one location. Efficiently staging boats at the service dock would facilitate a vessel always being ready at the haul platform.
Typically ⅔ of boats are hauled at Early Haul. In order to satisfy this, we determined that a single haul weekend would be appropriate. This year we chose the traditional early haul weekend before Thanksgiving. (The first weekend after Thanksgiving could also be an option in the future.) We surveyed Late Haul skippers and found only a few who objected to the change. Slightly more wholeheartedly supported the change. Many were non-committal.
A plan was presented to the Executive and a motion was passed to go to a single haul weekend at the July meeting. An email was sent to the membership announcing this change on July 9th.
While the uncertainties around Covid have affected launch and haul this year, this change was largely driven by other factors. The most important for our committee is that a single Haul Weekend will significantly lessen the amount of work that it takes for us to facilitate haul. There are a lot of balls to juggle for us to organize this service for our members. The improved efficiency and predicted cost savings for crane services are significant as well.
The efforts from every member of the Slips, Launch and Haul Committee have been colossal this year. Please support us with your patience and good humour.
If you have questions or concerns, you may reach any of my team members by emailing (slips@midlandbaysailingclub.com)
Bruce Baker
Slips, Launch and Haul
slips@midlandbaysailingclub.com