Port to offer discount for long-term boat storage

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Storage rates for boats at the Port of Port Townsend boatyard are set to increase from 63 cents to 75 cents per linear foot, but boat owners who store their boats for 30 days or longer get a 20 percent discount, dropping the rate to 60 cents.

Port commissioners voted unanimously April 26 to approve the new rates, which went into effect May 1.

The decision was based on feedback from yard tenants, said Greg Englin, director of operations and business development for the port. He said the new rates were competitive with other regional ports.

“The primary issue was yard storage rates,” he said of the feedback.

“The base rate that we have for less than a month we’re going to go to 75 cents, and then what we’ll do for 30 days or longer, we’re just going to go to a flat 20 percent discounted rate.”

Port Commissioner Stephen Tucker said that the lower rate might result in the yard being used solely for boat storage rather than for marine trades work.

Earlier, the Port Commission had considered tying the discount to whether or not boat owners utilize the marine trades.

Englin said that if the yard became full, the port could revisit the new rates.