Innovative Bellingham Marine has given Jantzen Bay Moorage an exciting new look. Located on the Columbia River in Portland, Oregon, it features Bellingham Marine’s patented Unideck covered moorage and Unifloat docks.
During the four-year, five-phase project, Bellingham Marine, contracted by Winmar Inc., replaced most dock sections and rearranged the entire marina layout. It also engineered the pile driving, utilities, metal roof erection, placement of four gangways, float installation, construction of fixed piers for upland access and a 125-space parking lot. The marina basin, separated into Unideck covered moorage for the 458-slip marina and Unifloat docks for Island Cove’s 56 floating homes, was extensively dredged.
A full-time job site, up river from the marina basin, provided dock and roof subassembly for efficient installation. The covered moorage features a galvanized steel framework that supports the roofing structure and wide walkway. Unideck floats, which utilize polyethylene encapsulated foam-filled tubs, provide superior stability with concrete decking. The project began with three dock sections that were built and installed in phase one and later relocated to their final alignment in phase four. Five tugboats and delicate coordination, in 30-mph winds, helped move a 445′ x 53′ section from one end of the basin to the other.
The marina features three access points including a low-angle, handicap ramp system, utilizing a sloped, fixed pier and two 100′ ramps with an intermediate floating landing. Other features include a floating four-restroom and shower facility. The home moorage’s low-maintenance, concrete Unifloat docks utilized stabilizing steel through-rods in the floats, wood walers, and steel piling for dock anchoring. Located at one end of the basin, it features a controlled-access 120′ long single span gangway.
The new 125-space parking lot, built for the homeowners, provides easy moorage access. The project presented several challenges, which included maintaining electrical power and utilities for the full-time marina and home moorage tenants, as well as two yacht clubs. Also, fluctuating river levels and currents made dock section relocation, installation and underwater work difficult. In 1996, the river experienced a 500-year flood level event, with an 8-knot river current and water levels near the piling top.
The Jantzen Bay Moorage reconstruction makes it the largest, newest and possibly the best covered moorage facility in the Pacific Northwest. “Its design and construction have proven excellent. Even before construction was complete, the new dock structures remained stable and reliable during our worst winter weather conditions,” said Dave Brugato, assistant manager of Columbia Crossings, the marina’s management company. “We congratulate Bellingham Marine for its key role in Jantzen Bay’s re-creation,” he added.
Both Columbia Crossings and Winmar Inc. are held by Safeco Properties.
From Bellingham Marine, P.O. Box 8, Bellingham, WA 98227. Website: www.bellingham-marine.com. Unifloat and Unideck are registered trademarks of Bellingham Marine.
