The Harbor Report: Continuing our spin around the harbor Published on Nov 12 2014

Should she stay or should she go now?

By Len Bose

November 7, 2014 | 2:39 p.m.

Join me now as we continue around the harbor in preparation for the Harbor Commission's special meeting set for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 15.

In my last column, I began a list of the questions I plan to ask at different stops along the commission's harbor tour. We stopped with RGP 54, regarding dredging and eelgrass mitigation permits, which will be discussed just as we approach the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

As the ferry continues up the Balboa Peninsula, the next waypoint is the Cheyenne (ex PlayStation). This vessel is intended to be support for a deep-sea submarine. The owner will not like what I have to say but it’s time to revoke her special mooring permit. She has taken up a large foot print of our harbor for long enough and its time to throw in the towel on this one.

Our next topic will be jet packs, and this is all but decided with the Harbor Commission recommendation to prohibit them in the bay. The City Council will discuss the water-propelled vessels Jan. 13 or 27. And you will have a chance to meet our newest harbor commissioner, Bill "Skip" Kenny, who, I feel, will turn out to be very productive.

Next up is Marina Park, and I assume Harbor Resource Manager Chris Miller will lead this discussion. My question will be: Is there room for a marine recycling center at this location? I will also try to understand if dry storage will be available for mooring permit holders and other harbor users.

19th Street Pier

As we work our way toward the Rhine Channel, the next two waypoints will be the 19th Street Pier and the Newport Bay Marina. The 19th Street Pier has a new public restroom, and I just wonder how often the local residents might complain about late-night guests at the public docks. I will need to check in with a couple of my friends who live on their boats in the surrounding moorings for their input.

The Newport Bay Marina has been working hard to complete this project, and we will just need to wait and see if all of the requirements that the city made are being followed.

As we do a 180-degree turn, it might be a good time to ask Harbor Patrol Officer Sean Scoles about noise complaints in this area of the harbor, make note that there are two public docks in the Rhine and ask if we have enough commercial working space at the end of the Rhine for the future.

Our cruise will now head under the Lido Bridge, and the next two topics will be alternative anchorages and Lido Marina Village. I have good friends on both sides of the debate about whether to make the North West Lido Channel into an alternative anchorage area.

This is the exact spot where I asked my wife to marry me some 24 years ago, and I have to say I really like the idea of installing day moorings in Big Corona as an alternative anchorage. Commissioner Brad Avery will lead this discussion.

As for the Lido Marina Village, two thoughts come to mind: That is a lot of big-boat slips that could support more large charter boats than we already have, and the developer has promised that's not the intention. Make sure you note the proposed public pier alongside the sea wall just northwest of the Elks Lodge. It's a perfect spot for a new public pier.

Next, we will travel east down Mariners Mile, and our waypoint is to discuss Vessel Overhang. This will be a difficult topic to cover while on the ferry.

As we proceed past the Orange Coast College Sailing Base, it might be a good time to ask if there is another public dock that very few harbor users are aware of nearby.

Next, we will round Bayshores and head toward the PCH bridge. The next big waypoint is the Lower Castaways. Commissioner David Girling is chairing this for the commission and doing an outstanding job.

I have to wonder how this area's plan might change now with the new City Council. I have always felt this area is best served as a marine industry launching point, but very few people have agreed with me. It's a huge topic, so pay close attention to Girling on this one.

As we head back east down Balboa Island, note all the shore moorings' derelict boats on the beach. Good time to ask about the state's VTIP program.

This will be a fantastic opportunity for you the harbor user. I hope you can make it.

Sea ya.

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist.

The Harbor Report: Preparing questions for harbor meeting and cruise Published on Nov 1 2014

Balboa Ferry Special Harbor Commission meeting November 15, 2014

By Len Bose

October 31, 2014 | 2:41 p.m.

I have written about the Harbor Commission special meeting set for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 15.

It will convene in a conference room in the Harbor Patrol facility at 1901 Bayside Drive and then be moved to one of the Balboa ferries waiting at the Harbor Patrol visitor's dock for a tour of the harbor.

Copies of the route with waypoints to be called out on the tour can be found on my blog site, lenboseyachts.blogspot.com. Commissioners will address the waypoints on which they are most well versed. The ferry has a capacity limit, and guests will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

In an effort to familiarize you with the waypoints, I thought I would take the time to share my observations, concerns and the questions I will be asking at the different waypoints during the harbor tour.

We will start at the Harbor Patrol Office. Let's hope Deputy Sean Scoles attends this meeting because he is easy to approach, loves the harbor and does an outstanding job.

I would ask Scoles: 1. What is his definition of a derelict boat? 2. How does the mooring waiting list work? 3. Can people pass on a permit if they do not like the location, and how many times can they play the pass card? 4. Can two mooring permit holders trade permits to obtain a more usable location for themselves? 5. How did the VTIP program work this year for our harbor? 6. How many boats can a mooring permit holder keep tied to a mooring at one time?

Most of these questions relate to city codes or policies, but this will be a good chance to hear how these two departments define them.

Assuming we head over to the M Street public pier first, I would have to ask an attending council member if the city has received and filed the recommendations made by the Harbor Commission last year regarding public piers. For example, have the park rangers enforced the rules, optimized the available space and considered the Adopt-a-Dock program? To be fair, the Harbor Resource Department has made improvements to the public docks this year by replacing benches and walkways.

It would be interesting if we then could go out of the harbor entrance and over to Big Corona to discuss that area as an alternative place for day moorings and, at the same time, do a quick overview of a tidal gate.

I should just stay on track and, as the ferry moves down the Balboa Peninsula toward the Fun Zone, point out what I see as a derelict vessel and see if it fits Scoles' definition of a derelict boat.

Next up will be the Balboa Ferry Landing, and I assume we will talk about sea-level rise. This will be a good time to ask Harbor Resource Manager Chris Miller where our harbor's data points are so we can observe them ourselves during the upcoming king tides this winter.

We will then go past Bay Island to view the new bulkheads/seawalls. At this time, the water is ebbing and the harbor is almost at low tide. What you should notice is how the steel wall was finished, and there should be little residue from the retreating tide line. The bulkhead cap will be noticed along with the expense of changing the docks to meet the new height of the seawall.

Continuing up the Balboa Peninsula and just about at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, we will come to the waypoint RGP 54. Miller and Commissioner Doug West will lead this topic, which regards dredging and eelgrass mitigation permits.

From my point of view, these guys are staying on task and are the best people for the job — although I will ask if the Coastal Commission considers the upper bay's eelgrass as part of the lower bay's eelgrass percentage for the whole harbor.

Interesting stuff, huh? We are barely halfway around the harbor. Please place Nov. 15 on your calendar and attend this meeting. Next week, I will review the rest of the harbor with you.

Sea ya.

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist.