To the editor:

On behalf of the Stone Harbour (SH) Marina Association in my capacity as President of the Stone Harbour Marina Association, I am writing to express our unanimous opposition to TSL LLC’s proposal to dock a pool boat near Stone Harbour Marina, due to safety concerns and perceived value to the Bristol community.

The SH Marina Association represents 40 slip owners who pay additional Bristol taxes assessed on their boat slip. Our focus on this letter is on safety and the lack of due warning to perform due diligence studies on impact to the SH Marina infrastructure.

As recreational boaters we share a strong affinity for the rich maritime history and beautiful waterfront aesthetics Bristol offers. Working fishing boats share docks with yachts and family watercraft along a waterfront populated with private homes, shops and restaurants. From our marina we often see boats from all around Narragansett Bay and nearby Massachusetts queuing up for space at the public docks for a chance to enjoy these cultural attractions. The proposed “pool boat” would do nothing to enhance this character and atmosphere and almost certainly detract from it.

The Stone Harbour Marina is situated in an area where winds, currents, and storm surges are common occurrences, posing a constant risk to boats and Marina infrastructure. The recent addition of the town marina has already caused increased wave deflection to this area and the introduction of a pool boat with an additional wave attenuator would exacerbate these risks considerably. The safety of our marina and its users is our top priority, and we believe that the proposed pool boat installation compromises this safety.

Our marina is already experiencing the damaging effects of the environment, and the introduction of the proposed pool boat and its wave attenuator will only amplify these issues. Redirecting wave energy poses a significant threat to the structural integrity of the marina, potentially leading to increased maintenance costs and safety hazards.

We respectfully urge TSL LLC’S to reconsider this proposal considering the significant safety concerns and potential negative impacts on the marina. The wellbeing of our marina community and the preservation of our infrastructure are of paramount importance, and we believe that the proposed docking of a pool boat poses unacceptable risks.

Considering together with certain public safety and marine navigational and accessibility concerns, we respectfully contend that the proposed “pool boat” has no place on the Bristol waterfront.

Mario Barrenechea
President
Stone Harbour Marina Association