WILLIAM H.

KOELBEL
PRESIDENT
WATERFRONT CONSULTANTS, INC.

Mr. Koelbel's lifelong involvement with many aspects of the marine industry has
earned him positions on several State-appointed and national committees,
dealing with marina design and boating legislation.
He has been a frequent speaker at conferences sponsored by
national and international marine organizations.

BOAT DESIGN REFLECTED IN MARINA DESIGN

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Years ago, marina design was often based only on available site space, shoreline
configuration and the marina owner's budget. While these are still considerations in the design of
modern marinas, changes in boating technology, general market trends, economic climate and
environmental regulations must also be regarded as key factors when constructing or updating
marine facilities. (Since dockage at marinas is generally intended for non-trailerable vessels,
these will be the focus here unless otherwise noted.)
Many changes in overall boat design in recent years have been facilitated by developments in
the use of fiberglass and other more durable materials than were traditionally available. When
wood was the building material of choice, vessel design was confined to its properties.
Parameters were set with consideration for factors such as tensile strength, flexibility and wood's
organic nature. As fiberglass became popular, those parameters changed accordingly. Also,
ongoing experiments in hydrodynamics have prompted some change in hull design. In years past,
the common shape was one with a round bilge and a deep keel and it has gradually changed to
one with a "V"-shaped bilge, a broader beam and a skeg. At least to some degree, choice of
material in boat construction influences the range of shapes, which can be mass-produced from it.
But hull shapes have continued to evolve with improvements in the manufacturing process and
the introduction of new plastics and polymers.
In general, boat manufacturers have increased beam width relative to length, so necessary slip
width must also increase. Recent improvements in maneuverability such as bow thrusters and
more common use of twin propellers greatly reduce a vessel's turning radius, so models equipped
with these devices would require less slip width. But comparatively few vessels are so equipped.
Owners of new and reconstructed facilities are increasing slip width, which reduces the total
number of vessels a facility can accommodate. Since dockage is sold by the foot of boat length,
and since the general trend is toward wider -- not longer -- boats, marina owners must maintain
revenues according to overall size of boats. If dockage rates were calculated by square footage of
slip space necessary, a more proportionate return could be had based on a facility's available area.
But it would be wise to establish company policy to ensure that a safe perimeter is maintained for
the boat's movement within the confines of the slip.

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 Depending on location and characteristics of the site, certain federal, state and local
regulations may determine, to some degree, the layout of new and renovated sites. Local
regulations and fire codes may dictate dock width and adequate access for response equipment.
Also, since tuna towers and flying bridges are appearing in somewhat greater numbers, allowance
must be made for overhead clearance in and near marine facilities. However, such clearance
generally does not exceed that which is required for-fixed-mast sailboats. New marine facilities
which are located on less protected shores may be required to install wave attenuators, and to
position docks to best endure the pressures of wind, waves or currents.
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Water stagnation is a growing concern, and remediation of poor circulation may require
repositioning of docks, or, in extreme conditions, the use of aeration and forced circulation.
Regulatory agencies consider basin configuration to be an important issue during permit
review. Such factors as water entrapment and the number of tides required to completely flush
the site are carefully scrutinized before permits are granted. Upland runoff is also considered,
since the Clean Water Act deals in part with the entry of chemical and organic fertilizers,
sediments in suspension and flotsam into waterways at marina basins, where they may not
readily be carried off into a watercourse.
In the United States, it is generally considered that boating is no longer the luxury pastime it
was. A favorable economic climate has made boating accessible to a greater percentage of the
population, and among them, there has grown a willingness to invest in on-board amenities.
Manufacturers have responded by offering more optional equipment, and by re-engineering
available space to accommodate more devices. Appliances and electronics such as cooking
ranges, microwaves, televisions, stereos and even clothes washers and dryers are appearing
onboard, and this translates to a proportionate need for more dockside power, water, telephone
lines and cable television connections. Power posts have begun to replace conduit-mounted
electrical outlets, and separate electric and water meters for each slip are sometimes necessary.
Boaters invest in on-board amenities in order to spend more time aboard, so marina owners
have recognized that a certain percentage of the client base will be shopping for dockside
utilities. Of course, there are still those boaters who view their recreation as an opportunity to
"get away from it all" and who prefer fewer amenities than they would have ashore, but they are
often in the minority. Therefore, some marina owners have opted to install power posts and
offer more utilities in certain areas of their facilities, with the plan to expand this offering as need
arises.
As marinas are redesigned to accommodate greater numbers of boats, and as new marine
facilities are constructed, government regulation can be expected to proportionately increase.
Anyone who has frequented marinas has witnessed incidence of irresponsible and sometimes
dangerous practices, and anyone who has visited crowded marinas has likely observed a higher
concentration of waterborne pollutants. Marina owners cannot possibly monitor all the activities
of their customers and employees, so they may be unaware of illegal and/or dangerous dumping
activities taking place. Engine work, fiberglass repair, wood refinishing and painting are all
common scenes at marinas, and they each involve the use of environmentally hazardous
chemicals. Also, pollutants are present onboard, not only in holding tanks, but also in engines
and bilges. Discharge of any chemical pollutant, such as engine coolant, lubricating oil and even
certain bilge cleaning products is prohibited in a growing number of areas. So, it is likely that a
more substantial determining factor in future boat design and marina design could be
compliance with environmental regulations. The reasoning behind legislation to
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protect water quality is straightforward; an increase in time spent aboard necessitates that boat
owners contain pollutants and discharge them responsibly, and an increase in boating population

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necessitates that facility owners provide the means for boat owners to easily comply. This will
almost certainly continue to influence vessel design, as efficient containment and on-board
treatment of effluent are considered, and it is already impacting marina design, in that pumpout
and fueling procedures are being more closely scrutinized.
Pumpout stations are sometimes positioned at or near the gas dock, and are therefore
difficult to access, since fueling is usually a lengthy procedure, and since most marinas have a
steady flow of customers at the gas dock during peak usage times. Also, some marine facilities
have an inadequate number of pumpout stations in relation to number of patrons. In the past,
installation of pumpout stations has, unfortunately, been given lower priority in marina
construction. However, more stringent regulations are causing a shift in this priority. Marina
owners and developers should, for obvious reasons, remain aware of the ways in which changes
in boat design and boat usage could potentially cause their facilities to become outdated or less
efficient. In the past twenty years, overboard discharge of effluent has been prohibited, so
manufacturers have been installing holding tanks on vessels. The natural progression of this shift
should be the appearance of a proportionate number of pumpout stations. It is important to also
remember that patrons will have an increasing need for disposal of hazardous chemicals, solid
waste and recyclable materials. The attentive marina owner will provide for these needs.
Marina patrons seem to be seeking more than a place to tie their boats. Efficient, well-
equipped "marine recreational facilities" are expected to replace or emerge from the existing
minimal-service boatyards. There is potential for strong continuation of the marine market, but
there is a "catch": the United States Federal government, along with state and local
governments, will, with increasing legislative backing, require boaters to behave responsibly. If
those who would stand to profit most from an upswing in the boating market--namely, boat
manufacturers and marina owners--would enable their customers to easily meet this legal
responsibility, they would be ensuring their own economic future.
Changes in boat design and in marina design are rather fluid, with influence emanating
from any of a number of sources. As with any endeavor, the ability to adapt is crucial to
success.
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