Cedar Island Marina

Cedar Island Marina is located on Clinton, Connecticut. It is a full-service marina/boatyard with 400 slips operating at 94% capacity in 1995, with many transient visitors filling slips vacated when homeport vessels are away. Three boats are year-round liveaboards. Boat sizes range from under 21 feet up to 120 feet, with 76% between 21 and 35 feet, and 19% longer; 35% are sailboats. In addition to slips, the marina has retail services: ship's store, grocery, ice, bait/tackle, used boat brokerage, fuel dock, and pumpout. Launch/haulout is available with a 30-ton travel lift and "giraffe" crane for indoor and outdoor winter boat storage. Full repair services include fiberglass, hull, and engine repair; painting; sail rigging; sail making; welding/metal fabrication; and bottom cleaning.

Within a 2-mile radius, there are 8 other marinas and boatyards with an estimated total boat population of 2,000. The prime boating season starts in May and ends in October. Cedar Island Marina was bought by the Shapiro family in 1974 and converted from a fuel terminal built in 1964. Jeffrey Shapiro is also a general partner in the Clinton Harbor Boat Show each July-another major focus of attention, publicity, and potential customer draw to his marina. [http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/marinas/ch6.html Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution – Cedar Island Marina)] Retrieved 12-08-2008]

Costs and benefits

In 1995, Cedar Island Marina spent $38,500 to staff and operate its private marina research laboratory, including two full-time marine biologists. Its aquaculture project and public display aquariums attracted new boating families into slips for the season and helped retain other customers, resulting in an estimated $46,000 gross slip income. The special docks designed by Cedar Island for the aquaculture project cost the company no more than conventional docks. Marina management estimates that the aquaculture project brings them around $5,000 worth of publicity each year and has extended their dredging season, saving another $5,000 annually. [http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/marinas/ch6.html Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution) – Cedar Island Marina - Costs and benefits] Retrieved 12-08-2008]

Environmental improvements

The Cedar Island Marine Research Laboratory is entirely owned, operated, and funded as part of Cedar Island Marina. Its laboratory and in-water field station are also in the marina. Studies have included assessment and long-term monitoring of water quality, marina habitat, coastal birds, and finfish communities in the marina, as compared to other natural habitats in Clinton Harbor.

Noticing that many marine species grew more rapidly and remained healthy under marina docks and boats, Shapiro's lab staff started growing shellfish on trays suspended below the floating docks. Indeed, they grew faster than those placed in neighboring natural marsh flats and were just as safe for human consumption. Oysters, it was determined, could be grown to market size 1 year quicker under boat docks than outside the marina basin. [http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/marinas/ch6.html Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution) – Cedar Island Marina Environmental improvements] Retrieved 12-08-2008]

Two key factors inhibited use of marinas for oyster farming. First, U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards require the filter-feeding oysters to be relocated to "clean" waters for several months of depuration before being eaten, and that extra handling is costly. Second, oysters take 4 years to grow to market size. Shapiro switched to another shellfish-bay scallops-and seems to have solved those problems. [http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/marinas/ch6.html Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution) – Cedar Island Marina Environmental improvements] Retrieved 12-08-2008]

Full Service Facilities Include

* Full Service Fuel Dock
* Year Round Service -Restaurant
* Overlooking the water -Children's Playground
* With a big climbing structure
* Seasonal Dockage -Children's Activities Director -In-Ground Pool
* Night Security -Depth at M.L.W -12-Seat Whirlpool
* Dock persons Service -Professional Repairs -Laundromat
* Unlimited Electricity -Cable TV -Pool Side Bands
* Unlimited Pump-Outs -Hauling Boats Up to 30 Tons FREE shuttle bus to
* Clinton Crossing Outlet & Center of Town In-Season [http://oaspub.epa.gov/enviro/fii_query_dtl.disp_program_facility?pgm_sys_id_in=CTD072139892&pgm_sys_acrnm_in=RCRAINFO U.S. INVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY - Facility Detail Report] Retrieved 12-08-2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.cedarislandmarina.com/ Cedar Island Marina Official Site]