Grebe Point marina reports ice damage to three empty boat slips

GREBE POINT — The Grebe Point municipal marina sustained minor damage during the January thaw-and-freeze cycle, with three boat slips requiring cleat replacement before the May 15 opening date.

Harbor master Dennis Kroft reported the damage to the township board at Tuesday's regular meeting, explaining that expanding ice had split two wooden cleats on C-dock and sheared mounting bolts on a third at the fuel pier.

"The slips themselves are fine," Kroft said. "It's just the hardware that took the stress."

All three slips were vacant at the time of the damage. The affected berths — C-7, C-9, and the fuel pier's transient slip — have been rented in previous seasons but remained unoccupied this winter after their long-term tenants moved boats to indoor storage.

Replacement timeline

Kroft said the township's maintenance crew would fabricate new cleats from treated lumber stock currently in inventory. Installation is scheduled for the first week of April, weather permitting.

"We've got the material," Kroft said. "We're just waiting for the dock to be accessible."

The marina typically opens for the season on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, though slips are available by appointment as early as May 1 for boaters willing to launch in cold water.

Township supervisor Margaret Leland asked whether the damaged cleats had been inspected during the fall haul-out. Kroft confirmed that all dock hardware had passed the annual October inspection, noting that cleat C-7 had been flagged for "monitoring" due to a small check in the wood grain.

"That check is what gave out," Kroft said.

Insurance not involved

The township will not file an insurance claim for the damage. Clerk Rita Voss said the repair cost — estimated at $140 for materials and labor — falls well below the policy's $2,500 deductible.

"This is maintenance," Voss said. "Not an incident."

The Grebe Point marina has 41 seasonal slips and two transient berths. Winter ice damage occurs in most years, according to Kroft, though the severity varies depending on temperature fluctuations and wind direction on the Great Lake.

Last winter, no cleats required replacement. The winter before that, five were damaged, along with a section of gangway decking.

The board accepted Kroft's report without discussion. No vote was required.