Port Dalhousie's Community News Magazine  
Volume 12 Issue 5 MAY 2008 #136

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LAUNCHING THE SEASON

Boating Made Better

by David Serafino

 

 

The Dalhousie Yacht Club’s white low-rise building sits in un-imposing fashion on the pier wall on the east side of the harbour. It has been a Port Dalhousie icon for half a century. On the dining room wall next to a fireplace is hung a framed photograph from a page of the diary of Frank A. Cornelius, the club’s first Commodore. The December 11, 1936 entry is one of note. It records the abdication of the throne of England by King Edward VIII. Below it, a second entry on that same day reads “Arthur and I and about eight others held a meeting at the YMCA for the purpose of discussing the possibilities of forming a yacht club in Port Dalhousie.

Now, well past its 50th anniversary celebration, the club has grown significantly with docks for members on both sides of the harbour. The club continues to evolve and now boasts 249 members with 106 being full boating members who both own and dock their boats at DYC. The balance is made up of associate and social members. This past year, Anne Rosler, the much loved and appreciated manager for the past 18 years stepped gingerly into retirement and Rick Myers was contracted to replace her. Energetic and capable, he has taken a new view into making the operation of the club work more efficiently.

One of the first things he changed was the computer system with which the club maintained its accounts and records. “It had been a long time since I’d seen a DOS prompt,” Rick whimsically stated, explaining that a Windows based system had been purchased but not yet installed when he arrived. Now he is proud to announce that the new accounting system has been integrated to not only expand and secure membership information but to also include the kitchen, bar and gas shack operations.

A better accounting system allows for better management which includes forecasting income and expenditures. Registered as a not-for-profit corporation—the Letters Patent of 1945 are still in the safe—profits must be re-invested back into the operation.

This year, new docks are being constructed on the west side of the harbour. The motivation for this, according to Rick, is a disease called ‘one-footitis’. This is where boaters are plagued by needing a boat just one foot larger than their current one. As club members boats grow in size, so must the docks. The problem faced with the old slips was that the larger boats berthed in undersized docks extended into the travel lane making it difficult to negotiate turns. In addition, the docks were approaching the end of their life and electrical services were undersized.

The Port Dalhousie harbour is the envy of every other yacht club and marina on Lake Ontario. Low water levels of the recent past have created problems for several and, due to strict regulations regarding dredging and other under-water operations, many clubs were not able to maintain their existing clientele. The deep harbour of Port Dalhousie has attracted displaced boat owners as a result.

These same strict regulations applied to DYC in the construction of their new docks though they did not have to do any dredging. With permission to proceed from the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and other provincial agencies, the old piles were removed. Those that could be extracted were; those that couldn’t either broke off or were cut off. Then the bottom was raked to remove any debris that may have been left behind.

The operation was a challenge for the contractor who first had to build the barge which carried the piles and the equipment. Pulling up the old piles caused the barge to submerge while setting the barge on stilts caused the stilts to sink in the soft mud; but ultimately, they succeeded. The new piles were driven down through the silt to an average depth of 19 feet before bottoming out. The new location, further out in the harbour, provides more room between the two rows to allow for larger docks. When completed this spring, the docks will have grown from 24-foot to 30 and 36-foot and upgraded from 100amp to a 400 amp service. The total cost of approximately one-quarter million is paid for through short-term financing and a special assessment on membership.

Expanded facilities allow for an expanded membership and new members are always welcome. Boat ownership is not a prerequisite and social members have the opportunity to crew with owners who are often looking for just that. The only commitment is paying dues and a monthly bar tab which can normally be reached in one sitting. The club is open to members all year long except for two weeks in January and the social calendar is filled with both annual themed events and other ad-hoc events usually held monthly. Not to be missed by anyone is the June Sailpast and the Labour Day weekend Cornucopia Regatta, one of the largest and most prestigious on Lake Ontario. A calendar of events is listed on the club’s website at www.discoverdyc.com.

HARBOUR AMMENITIES

Boaters are never alone for long. Where there is a boat there is someone looking to not only sail it but to repair it, outfit it, dock it and store it. Around the corner, built off the east side of the east pier, is the Port Dalhousie Marina that can accommodate close to 500 boats in a variety of sizes. This year they plan to extend one dock to add eight 50-foot slips and eight 40-foot slips. The 41 slips on another dock will all be converted to 30-foot slips.

Steven’s Yacht Sales operates out of the marina building and lists both cruisers and sailboats.

At the base of the Marina is the Riverboat Restaurant. A converted steel icebreaker that has operated as a restaurant both in Toronto harbour and here, the main floor is now being remodeled for use by larger groups.

Hidden within the marina property but well known to boaters is Aperocho Boat Repair. Jorge Aperocho offers a vital service to boat owners who need professional maintenance and repair performed on their crafts. Whether exterior repair to the gelcoat and fiberglass or interior carpentry work, it is often best left to the professionals. Aperocho can also look after maintenance issues such as oxidation removal and antifouling treatments, along with hardware and electronic installations and repair.

Next door, in the same building, with its entrance on Lighthouse Road, is Harbour Marine Services specializing in inboard motor sales, repair and installation. It’s also a place where you might find that emergency or convenience retail item that you need before you launch or set sail.

Things have changed significantly in the Port Dalhousie harbour since Frank Cornelius and friends sat down to talk about forming a yacht club 72 years ago. The commercial operations have disappeared completely and the pleasure craft has taken over. Fortunately, it’s a large harbour and there are still several years of growth in our future. ¤

 

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