Repair Work Begins on Schooner Dock

April 2, 2009
Almost alongside. April 2, 2009

Repair work on the Village of Suttons Bay's Schooner Dock began last Thursday. Balcom Marine is the contractor. Don Balcom had a bit of trouble getting his floating plant alongside due to ice that was 8" - 10" thick. Kal Escavating delivered a piling to replace the one broken off by the ice last week. As of Monday, the ice in Suttons Bay is about 2/3 gone. Ice is still in place from the new condos to the head of the bay. Strong winds today are beginning to break it up.

Piling ready to be driven in place.

Moving Ice Damages Schooner Dock, Finger Piers

Looking north at Inland Seas' finger piers.
Looking NE at ISEA's destroyed finger pier ramp.


View under the Schooner Dock, with broken piling.

Ice Damage to Schooner Dock.

Strong winds from the south pushed ice against the Schooner Dock in Suttons Bay, snapping one piling and knocking out power to the underwater camera. Luckly the underwater camera is on another piling and was not damaged. Don Balcom, whose tug and barge have been moored near the dock all winter, will attempt repairs on Thursday. The dock is owned by the Village of Suttons Bay and used by ISEA's education schooner Inland Seas. Many of the S. B. Marina's finger piers on the Coal Dock were also damaged or moved out of position by the ice. ISEA's two finger piers also sustained damage.

-Tom K.