2018 July August Marina World

PONTOON/DOCK SYSTEMS & DECKING
Storm-proofing
Skull Creek Marina
Having completed a phase one rebuild of Skull Creek Marina, Hilton Head
Island, South Carolina, Marinetek North America (NA) now has a second phase
side-tie dock extension for large yachts and transients at permitting stage. But
before the marina confirmed stage two, Marinetek’s expertise was required as
a matter of urgency.
When Leon Moore, a seasoned
buyer, manager and operator of US
marinas, purchased Skull Creek
Marina on 15th September 2016, it
had sustained serious storm damage
and was generally in a poor condition.
Twenty-two days later, the marina was
two docks and a fuel dock down as
Hurricane Matthew hurtled through.
Moore urgently needed strong, durable
replacement docks.
Marinetek NA contracted The
Industrial Company (TIC) from
Docks severely damaged by
Hurricane Matthew (below)
were replaced by Marinetek (right).
Savannah, Georgia, to clear the
site and install new docks and piles.
Marinetek’s Heavy Duty series floating
concrete pontoons were selected and
used throughout to create 7ft (2m) wide
main piers and 5ft (1.5m) wide finger
piers. The fuel dock was upgraded to
become a 12ft (3.6m) wide floating
attenuator to help protect the marina
from wave action and was fitted with
stainless steel internal pile guides.
Hilton Head is a very popular
vacation spot with pristine beaches and
a welcoming atmosphere but when the
weather turns, the seas can be rough.
Marinetek realised the specifications of
the original docks could be improved.
“We upgraded the 14in [35cm]
pre-stressed piles to 18in [46cm],”
Marinetek NA general manager and
sales engineer Bob Berry explains. “We
also raised the pile height by 3 feet [1m]
to allow for extreme surge and wave
action. Hurricane Matthew brought
9ft [3m] of surge to the region. The
marina is now designed for a Category
1 hurricane with waves up to 4ft [1.2m]
high.”
The rebuild also included new
pedestals, electrical wiring, water
pipes, fire suppression, fuel pipes and
dispensing equipment. The transformed
fuel dock now offers gasoline and
high-speed diesel and, according to
Moore, looks better. “A nice feature the
Marinetek docks provide is that all the
utilities are hidden inside the dock –
nothing is exposed or hanging under
the fenders,” he reports.
The project was completed in mid
2017 and the marina is now fully open
and ready for tenants and visiting boats.
Amenities include pump-out, courtesy
golf carts and a courtesy car, and a
community swimming pool, golf and
dining privileges at the adjacent country
club. The marina also hosts a 24-vessel
Freedom Boat Club fleet.
“Since the marina has been rebuilt,
we have been very busy,” Moore says.
“The weather has been warming nicely
this spring and the boaters are showing
up! Hilton Head Island is a beautiful
place and now boaters have a safe and
modern marina from which to explore
it. The Marinetek docks are absolutely
beautiful and robust. I couldn’t be more
pleased,” he adds.
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