Boat Lifts Ny

Developer to clear major marina

John Wilson, Stamford, tosses a line to dock staffers Lauren McGaughey, Stamford, and Maris Indursky, Stamford (foreground), from a yacht captained by Tony Cologero, Stamford (blue shirt), at Brewers Yacht Haven West in Stamford, CT on Sunday July 31, 2011. The yacht, called "It's a Keeper," is out of Stamford.

STAMFORD -- Brewer's Yacht Haven West, one of the Northeast's largest full-service marinas with a boatyard for major winter storage, will shut down in the fall after losing its lease from a developer that plans to remediate and develop the land.

Unable to gain an extended lease or purchase the 14-acre-site, Jack Brewer said he was told by Norwalk-based Building, Land & Technology two months ago that the boatyard must be off the property by Oct 31.

"We certainly would have liked to have purchased the site but the BL&T people have never told us it was for sale," Brewer said. "We kept hoping that somehow something would work out but about two months ago we learned we would have to get off."

Customers who rent slips and storage from Yacht Haven West have been offered winter storage in Shelton, Mamaroneck, N.Y., and other yards operated by Brewer.

"The only thing is that it will be more inconvenient for them and maybe too inconvenient to remain with us," Brewer said.

BL&T is the developer of Harbor Point, an 80-acre complex of residential and commercial space on the west branch of the harbor.

Brewer said the disappearance of roughly 360 slips in the marina and the full service boatyard would be a blow to recreational boaters and competitive sailing contests that originate in the harbor.

"It will definitely be a major loss to the sailing community in the Northeast and the idea of Stamford having a working harbor," Brewer said.

John Freeman, executive vice president of the Building, Land, & Technology, declined to address how BLT plans to use the site.

The closure of Yacht Haven West had been anticipated as a necessary step for several years before beginning environmental remediation on the property.

"I don't think anybody is surprised ... Now that we've remediated Yale & Towne and the Pitney Bowes site it is time for us to take on that work," Freeman said. "Unfortunately, we can't accommodate the boat yard while we do that work and asked them to exit."

On Sunday, several customers of Yacht Haven West questioned BL&T's decision to close the marina and boatyard.

Beware of Viking Boat Lifts - Offshoreonly.com

It all started great last fall when I was searching for a shallow water boat lift that could hoist my 8k lb 2007 Eliminator Daytona. There are few options, but I found Viking and liked the fact that they claimed their design allowed the lift to remain in the water during winter seasons. I even spoke with a customer of theirs that had left the lift in over the winter without issue. They were easy to deal with through the sales process. Unfortunately, I needed 2 of these lifts to hoist a boat of my length. They asked for $10k deposit, of which I was very uncomfortable with. After dealing with Angelina through the entire sales process, I finally told here there was no way I was going to send $10k out of the country as desposit. She got the owner and founder of the company on the phone, Bo Moeller, and he began to explain how everyone gives him a minimum of 50% down. After some discussion, he understood my concern and said he'd settle for a $2k deposit. Begrudginly, I agreed. In early April I reached out and asked when they were going to do my install. Several days went by without a response. I sent another email...again several days went by without a response. I then called and left a message. A few more days go by and I get an email from someone named Toni stating that they don't have an install date and they'll have to get back to me. End of April rolls along so I call back. Mailbox is full. I send an email asking when my install date was as we agreed it was going to be first week in May. Several days go by, it's now first week in May. I call, able to leave a message. several days go by. No returned phone call. The following week, I get an email from Toni with some cryptic verbiage around them having a few set backs, and they still can't give me an install date, but it definitely won't be the first 3 weeks in May. After seeing this, I put Viking Boat Lift on Notice in writing and gave them 2 weeks to have my lift installed. If not, I wanted my deposit back and was seeking another solution. If they chose not to return my desposit I was going to seek legal action and let others know of my experience. That date has now come and gone. I have purchased an RGC lift from another vendor and am moving on from this company. Thought I would give an update on my Viking Boat Lift Saga. On June 14th, I finally received an email from Angelina at Viking Marine.

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