Out with the old, in with the new: Winslow Wharf undergoes overhaul

Come next spring marina tenants will have access to a new and improved dock.

By Cecilia Garza • September 18, 2014 3:56 pm
One construction worker remains at work late Tuesday afternoon at the downtown Winslow Wharf site. The long-awaited marina improvement project began earlier this month and is slated to be complete by the spring of next year.
One construction worker remains at work late Tuesday afternoon at the downtown Winslow Wharf site. The long-awaited marina improvement project began earlier this month and is slated to be complete by the spring of next year.

Plans to give Winslow Wharf a facelift have been five years in the making.

Come next spring, though, marina tenants will have access to a new and improved dock.

“It will be a marina that needs far less maintenance than it needs right now,” said Rob Jacques of the Winslow Wharf Condominium Owners Association.

The nearly $6 million renovation began early this month to replace the marina’s five docks, creosoted pilings and entrance ramp.

In its place, more environmentally friendly steel pilings will support new concrete floating docks that have metal grating underfoot.

The 40-foot entrance ramp will also be replaced with an 80-foot ramp to help meet handicap accessibility requirements.

At low tide, Jacques said, the extended ramp will make the walk down to the marina less steep.

While the wharf’s amenities landside will go unchanged, the dock will also be refitted with all new utilities and Wi-Fi.

Where before low tide would often obstruct the marina’s wireless Internet connection from a router located in the marina office, liveaboards will be happy to know that Web access will be improved by several antennas on the dock itself.

Also the water system and shore power on the dock will be upgraded.

“We’re taking it a step at a time to take care of the parts that were starting to really need replacement or repairs,” Jacques said.

“Finally we’re getting rid of creosote. It’s been a bother. New marina, better environment, very attractive to look at,” he said. “At the end of this, it’s going to be a better marina.”

Passerby may have noticed the emptied water at the marina as it undergoes the upgrade.

C and D docks and the west portion of M Dock have been removed, and are awaiting the replacement pilings.

This first phase impacted 96 boats moored at the wharf, but the shift, Jacques said, has been relatively smooth.

Liveaboards have been prioritized and moved to vacant slips on the opposite side of the marina.

Arrangements were also made through Winslow Wharf to move the remaining boats to Bainbridge Island Marina, Liberty Bay Marina and the Port of Poulsbo.

“We’ve been able to accommodate most of the needs of people living on the wharf,” Jacques said.

The funds to replace the wharf have been collected over several years through the 105-member condominium association.

“After this is done, the marina will hopefully be good for another 30 years, and we will start another fund for another replacement,” Jacques said.