2023 May June Marina World

MARINA UPDATE
The drystack (right) and marina below
were both usable within two to three
months. The floating dock system
received some new elements (gangway
below right) and minor repair and
reattachments.
says Freeland. “But we were able
to recover and rebuild the existing
floating docks to their original
layout.”
Work was completed quickly.
Shanley explains: “Some of the
docks had to be reattached as
they were compromised, but all
in all they were able to use the
docks within days. The marina
arranged for Golden to be escorted
onto the island by the US Coast Guard
to deliver parts and assist with the
smaller repairs. Some docks got hung
up on the pilings but, once they were
down, the docks floated perfectly and
were then again utilised.” Two other
marinas using Golden installations –
Gulf Star Marina and Nervous Nellie’s
– were also up and running shortly
after the storm.
As one of the only usable marinas in
the region, the US Coast Guard then
used Moss Marina as a temporary
base from which to launch its search
and rescue missions. Today, the marina
has retained the 55 wet slips it had
installed before Hurricane Ian hit and
has managed to rebuild 120 of the
210 drystack spaces it previously had
available.
Preparing for the storm
Living for six months of the year in the
direct path of hurricanes blowing in off
the Atlantic Ocean, the Moss Marina
team always makes sure to prepare
as much as possible when alerts
are issued. Ahead of Ian, it removed
as many in-water vessels from the
basin as possible, secured boats and
potential flying debris, shut down its
fuel system and ensured its back up
generator was operational.
When asked what recommendations
Freeland would make to other marina
operators, he says: “Every property is
so unique it is hard to be specific other
than to really evaluate every aspect
of your facility for potential risk with
maximum tidal surge in your area,
and design your docks and facility
to accommodate this appropriately.
Have your hurricane plan written and
practised. Take all your important
documents and irreplaceable items off
the property ahead of time.”
Forging ahead
Freeland remains undeterred in his
plans for developing the marina. “We
were exploring a three to five year
redevelopment plan pre-hurricane and
expedited the plans post-hurricane.
After seeing the destruction to the
island, we felt we could really help to be
an economic driver for the town of Fort
Myers Beach, while providing a great
example of how to bridge the history
and unique personality to the future of
the town.”
The marina has been a landmark
of Fort Myers Beach for more than 80
years, with the Moss family owning and
operating the business since the 1950s
before George Freeland purchased it in
1982. “Through the years, Moss Marina
has been the largest volume Chris-
Craft dealer in the world, was home
to the Big M Casino boats for over 15
years and currently is the temporary
home to the US Coast Station on Fort
Myers Beach,” explains Freeland. “With
six generations of the Freeland family
calling southwest Florida home since
1966 and owning multiple businesses,
including the 40+ years of Moss
Marina, the roots run deep.”
“Now that the US Coast Guard
station and Moss Marina are
operational and we all have a better
sense of the challenges facing Fort
Myers Beach, our family is rising to
the challenge to be the driving force in
rebuilding and stabilising the economic
engine,” says Freeland.
His vision for the future is to develop
a vibrant and unique mixed-use
bayfront, integral to the downtown
district with a complement of
restaurants, shops, cafés, hotel rooms
and bayfront access for the public to
enjoy, he explains. DPZ CoDesign
– renowned for its award-winning
work throughout Florida – will be the
marina’s design partner.
www.marinaworld.com – May/June 2023
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