Planning Partnership Results in World-class Marina
OutdoorHub 11.04.13
Soon after its long-awaited opening this summer, Ben Eoin Marina in Nova Scotia sold out—a testament to a community group’s determination and commitment to creating a world-class facility. “We had little or no experience,” said Robert Sampson chairman/president of the non-profit marina group. He readily acknowledges the support and assistance of marina specialist Structurmarine in helping bring Ben Eoin Marina to life.
“We needed to find partners who could be trusted to provide the best advice and the lowest cost. Structurmarine understood this, and worked hard to get the marina done on time and within budget. They played a significant role in helping us achieve our goals,” he said.
Nestled within the scenic rolling hills of Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, Ben Eoin Marina lies on Bras D’Or Lake, the world’s largest inland body of salt water. Its protected coves and panoramic views attract sailors from around the globe. The marina basin encompasses about 4 acres of the 14-acre facility, which also includes a Graham Cooke-designed golf course.
Designed to optimize the basin’s space, the marina has 82 berths, 72 of which are leased seasonally, with the balance for visiting yachts. They accommodate boats 30′-60′, offering 15, 20 and 60 amp electrical hookup. Its five piers, from 104′-246′ long, connect to shore via an access ramp.
The floating docks are designed to remain in the water year-round and withstand 75 mph winds at full occupancy. Stable, 8′ widths on the fendered docks enable ease in docking and boarding. Both a flexible rope, chain and deadman anchorage and an A-arm anchoring system were used for their ability to withstand harsh Atlantic coast weather.
Ben Eoin Marina offers a fueling dock, and pumpout and water services. Its buildings house laundry, kitchen and shower facilities, as well as a lounge and chandlery. An onsite boat compound has summer/winter storage, with regular launch and pull out services available.
The intricacies of building a marina from scratch proved daunting: stretching limited resources, satisfying regulations, and meeting timelines presented challenges throughout the 4-year project. Helping the group turn their vision into a reality, Structurmarine sales manager Bruno Nolet “came down to meet with us. We became very comfortable with the level of service he provided right from the start. That, and the quality of the product, had a lot to do with our final decision,” said Sampson.
Originally, the plan called for traditional wood decks, because “we simply assumed we could not afford an alternative system,” said Sampson. But with Structurmarine’s design advice, durable and low-maintenance composite wood decking was put into place. “The decking’s clean lines look great. Our docks have been in the water for a year now, and are likely the most impressive part of the marina,” he said.
Known for their complete turnkey solutions, Structurmarine assisted in Ben Eoin’s creation from conception through completion. “Bottom line, we have been very pleased with our dealings with Structurmarine,” said Sampson. “We feel confident we have constructed one of the best marinas on the east coast of Canada.”
Contact Structurmarine, 12645 rue April, Montreal, QC, Canada, H1B 5P6. 514-645-4000; Fax: 514-645-6396. infoweb@structurmarine.com; www.structurmarine.com.
