Two companies seek to run Bremerton marina
Jan 4 2013 in Business of Boating, Currents by Deborah Bach
The Kitsap Sun is reporting that two companies are interested in taking over the struggling Port of Bremerton Marina, one of them owned by Port Hadlock Marina owner Bob Wise.
The Port has long struggled to fill empty slips at the marina, which underwent a $34 million expansion completed in 2008. It’s a beautiful facility with great amenities for visiting boaters, including free showers, a shuttle service for provisioning and a breakwater with barbecues and covered activity areas.
But Bremerton’s long-planned downtown revitalization has stalled in recent years, and there’s little in the area surrounding the marina to draw tourists.
According to the Kitsap Sun story, Wise’s company, Marsh Andersen, LLC, and Dallas-based Marinas International have both submitted proposals to manage the marina. Wise would like to incorporate the marina into a network of others in the area and establish a reciprocal moorage program, the Sun reports.
It’s an interesting idea, one that might help draw boaters to the sparsely occupied marina. Read the full story here.
Robert Bruce Blumenstein said on January 4, 2013
From the picture above, there is a full marina and a city full of places to have resturants and entertainment. Seems something is wrong. My idea would be to have the Port offer free everything to get the boaters back, while the new managers get things ironed out. Businesses encouraged attitude with the City backing tourist attraction. Don’t really want a sin city but advise from vegas management could bump it up. Events and all unrestricted food vendors. Maybe a better City manager is in order here. I will have to dock there and see if there are any bakery’s, coffee shops and a place to get together with the local liveaboards. Is there a place to anchor out?? That would be a big plus to round out boaters interest to the City and create some loyalty for visitors boating up there.
Pamela said on January 6, 2013
There are many issues that keep boaters away from the Port of Bremerton.
1. Strong currents….they advise boaters to enter and leave close to slack tides. It can run like a river through the marina.
2. Wa State Ferry and foot ferry wake and noise
3. Bremerton is unsafe after dark. Muggings are not unusual. It is a scary place.
4. No easy close parking for marina tenants.
The staff there is fantastic…the marina facility is great. But I never go there…like everybody else, I go across the inlet to Port Orchard.
chickenbone said on January 4, 2013
Maybe they should have spent more than $34 dollars on the expansion. ;P
James Hoffmier said on January 9, 2013
I am curious why the current is such an issue at Bremerton and not Port Orchard? Is it do to the floating breakwater vs a permanent structure?