(Aug. 3, 2017) Organizers with the annual Pocomoke Boat Docking Challenge are striving to complete dock repairs prior to the event, on Aug. 26.
Mike Shannon, boat docking committee chairman, said sprucing up the decades-old pier, in addition to improving the town’s appeal, would also help maintain the docking challenge, now entering its fifth year of competition on the river.
“I just want that place down there to look better,” he said. “To me, it doesn’t look as nice as it should.”
Although Shannon has inquired with city officials, the exact age of the pier is still in question.
“The mayor can’t seem to remember,” he said. “It was probably built in the 1970s [or] 80s maybe.”
Shannon said the intent is to perform repairs that will last for the foreseeable future.
“I’m going to make all the poles the same height,” he said. “Make it look uniform.”
Shannon said parts and labor expenses associated with dock work could become exorbitant. He said the poles alone would probably cost $1,000 each.
Anticipating the desired repairs requiring up to a dozen poles, Shannon managed to source a less-expensive alternative.
“We have a gentleman that graciously donated, believe it or not, hardwood trees,” he said. “They skin the trees and they look just like the poles and they’re solid.”
To further reign in costs, Shannon was able to coordinate with the Craig Stevens, who operates Stevens Marine Construction in Marion Station.
“It cost so much for these guys to bring their barges up the river to work on these docks – and you have to catch them at the right time,” he said. “If not, you could easily pay $10,000 to have your dock worked on around here and half of it would just be bringing the barge up.”
Luckily, Shannon said Stevens had other work in the area, which will result in further cost reductions.
“It’s costing us nowhere near what it would if we just had to bring him up there just to do our piece of work,” he said. “You’ve got to know how to finagle the job process.”
Shannon said he is beyond grateful for donations from area businesses and residents, without which the event and dock repairs would not be a reality.
“Without sponsors and people who give money to these events, it would never happen,” he said. “Not only does the money we raise go to the event, [but] we also donate to local charities.”
After numerous years of being involved with organizing local events, Shannon said the community outpouring of support never ceases to amaze.
“We have tons of great sponsors that have jumped onboard with us and donate a significant amount of money,” he said. “This is all money that has been donated by people within the city, or within the area, to our event to help us fund this.”
Although the competition is a one-day affair, Shannon is working with Pocomoke Downtown Coordinator Karah Lacey to lure in the boat-docking participants for an entire weekend beginning with the monthly 4th Friday Street Festival.
“I have been in contact with her to try and make this a weekend activity in Pocomoke,” he said. “We’re trying to figure out something to do Friday evening to bridge the gap between 4th Friday and then the Boat Docking the next day so people will come to town before Labor Day Weekend.”
With the repairs likely to cost over $4,000, Shannon said he is determined to make it a long-term investment to foster future tourism in Pocomoke.
“I’m going to make sure it lasts for years to come,” he said. “The committee is not dishing out this kind of money again to repair that dock.”
Mike Shannon, boat docking committee chairman, said sprucing up the decades-old pier, in addition to improving the town’s appeal, would also help maintain the docking challenge, now entering its fifth year of competition on the river.
“I just want that place down there to look better,” he said. “To me, it doesn’t look as nice as it should.”
Although Shannon has inquired with city officials, the exact age of the pier is still in question.
“The mayor can’t seem to remember,” he said. “It was probably built in the 1970s [or] 80s maybe.”
Shannon said the intent is to perform repairs that will last for the foreseeable future.
“I’m going to make all the poles the same height,” he said. “Make it look uniform.”
Shannon said parts and labor expenses associated with dock work could become exorbitant. He said the poles alone would probably cost $1,000 each.
Anticipating the desired repairs requiring up to a dozen poles, Shannon managed to source a less-expensive alternative.
“We have a gentleman that graciously donated, believe it or not, hardwood trees,” he said. “They skin the trees and they look just like the poles and they’re solid.”
To further reign in costs, Shannon was able to coordinate with the Craig Stevens, who operates Stevens Marine Construction in Marion Station.
“It cost so much for these guys to bring their barges up the river to work on these docks – and you have to catch them at the right time,” he said. “If not, you could easily pay $10,000 to have your dock worked on around here and half of it would just be bringing the barge up.”
Luckily, Shannon said Stevens had other work in the area, which will result in further cost reductions.
“It’s costing us nowhere near what it would if we just had to bring him up there just to do our piece of work,” he said. “You’ve got to know how to finagle the job process.”
Shannon said he is beyond grateful for donations from area businesses and residents, without which the event and dock repairs would not be a reality.
“Without sponsors and people who give money to these events, it would never happen,” he said. “Not only does the money we raise go to the event, [but] we also donate to local charities.”
After numerous years of being involved with organizing local events, Shannon said the community outpouring of support never ceases to amaze.
“We have tons of great sponsors that have jumped onboard with us and donate a significant amount of money,” he said. “This is all money that has been donated by people within the city, or within the area, to our event to help us fund this.”
Although the competition is a one-day affair, Shannon is working with Pocomoke Downtown Coordinator Karah Lacey to lure in the boat-docking participants for an entire weekend beginning with the monthly 4th Friday Street Festival.
“I have been in contact with her to try and make this a weekend activity in Pocomoke,” he said. “We’re trying to figure out something to do Friday evening to bridge the gap between 4th Friday and then the Boat Docking the next day so people will come to town before Labor Day Weekend.”
With the repairs likely to cost over $4,000, Shannon said he is determined to make it a long-term investment to foster future tourism in Pocomoke.
“I’m going to make sure it lasts for years to come,” he said. “The committee is not dishing out this kind of money again to repair that dock.”