WATERBOUND REAL ESTATE: Dock operator hopes new boardwalk helps fill empty slips

There is currently an “anomaly” at the Fishing Fleet Marina that hasn’t been seen since the docks behind the Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant opened in 1995.

“For the first time ever, I have two empty boat slips and no one in line has stepped up to rent them,” said Mary Anne Windes, managing partner of the Fishing Fleet Marina. “I have names still on the list, but I’ve called and they haven’t offered to sign a lease yet.”

While you can probably chalk up the empty slips to everything from a down economy, lingering concerns over the oil spill or fishing regulations, construction of the city’s unified harbor boardwalk should be the remedy to what ails the empty slips, as it should put Destin’s focus back on the harbor.

Construction began on the roughly $2.45 million boardwalk last week and is expected to be mostly completed in April.

For Windes, who has been involved in the boardwalk discussions since 1994, the site of construction on the docks is welcomed.

“The boardwalk will give us more exposure to people who aren’t as familiar with the charter boat industry, and hopefully, some of them will be curious enough to book a fishing trip,” Windes told The Log. “It’s taken a long time for everything to come to fruition, and we’ve had a handful of naysayers who said it couldn’t be done, but I love the expression that says ‘the ones who say it can’t be done shouldn’t be interrupting the ones who are doing it.’ “

The Fishing Fleet Marina houses 40 boat slips along its docks (four rented to party boats and 36 to charter boats). Slips can be rented for $696, all-inclusive, for a boat less than 40 feet. Boats larger than 40 feet are $802, including common area maintenance fees and sales tax.

Slips at the marina are offered first to stockholders, then to members of the Fisherman’s Co-Op and then down to the general public. When an opening is available, usually from someone retiring, Windes says she runs down her list and usually never makes it past the Co-Op members and she usually has at least 20 boats waiting for a slip.

Just down the harbor from the Fishing Fleet is HarborWalk Marina, which has about 100 boat slips under its belt, according to the marina’s dockmaster, Greg Featherston. HarborWalk’s marina runs from the Marler Bridge on the west to Olin Marler’s property on the east. 

“Fortunately, I don’t have anything available,” he told The Log. But, he said,“I have noticed the same thing, but I don’t know the reason — it seems like it’s more this year, than last year.”

While Featherston doesn’t know what has caused empty slips along the harbor, he says overall, 2011 was a great season down at the HarborWalk docks.

“I was very pleased and am looking forward to another great year,” he said.

With construction on the boardwalk under way, Windes is confident that the increased focus on the harbor will bring about the business needed to fill up her two remaining boat slips sooner rather than later.

“The boardwalk is a home run, not only for harbor property owners, but for the entire city of Destin, adding yet another appealing opportunity for folks to gather for fun in the sun or after hours,” said the former Emerald Coast Association of Realtors president.