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I want to comment on the new boat launch down at the Port of Orillia. I will start by saying if it was designed for jet ski launch then it is terrific and the city accomplished their goal very well. However try launching a 30-foot boat (that is about 45' in total length truck/trailer) as these are the issues they need to overcome:
1) Upon entering this area, the designer has closed one lane to circle your boat around to square up with the launch ramp. This is an issue as your trailer is not square with the tow vehicle when you pull into the launch area. Instead of an additional open lane (as they had before), they closed it off and now have a couple of cemented in picnic tables and a bicycle lock up in the middle of the parking lot. WHY? Move that over to the grass area on the north side so people can watch the action, if that was the design feature?
2) There used to be one way in and one way out. Now you have to struggle with one exit/entrance making two right-angle turns when leaving (left and right) in a busy parking lot while another person is trying to come in. Don't forget there are trucks and trailers parked in this area as well you need to negotiate. If the parked vehicles are not squared properly in their spots then you are stuck with no place to go. Tow vehicles will find there is no room to backup and jerk around because your truck is now angled with the trailer. It is just too tight of an area for 45 feet.
3) Before there was two lanes to back two boats down into the ramp. Now they added (let's call it "design wave") you need to negotiate when backing into the water on the north side. Result here is two boats cannot launch at the same time.
4) When you do pull out of the ramp loaded there is no place to tie the boat down before leaving as people are waiting to also launch their vessels.
5) The biggest mistake is the pedestrian walkway still goes through the launch area as before. This was the chance to move the pedestrian walkway around the parking lot and launch ramp away from the loading/unloading area. This is dangerous for all parties as pedestrians still think they have the right of way. And maybe they do but I am backing a boat down with other things on my mind other than some person thinking they have the time to walk behind the boat as it is moving slowly backwards. Yes it would make a longer walk for these people but they would not be in harm's way of the boat launch area. Any and or all pedestrians have no business being near, around or in the launch ramp. This area is for captains and crew only.
I need to know if the designer, architect or city official has ever towed and launched a boat before? The city pays for enough consultants, how did they miss these flaws? The good news is, they can take this information from me for free and correct the mistakes.
Steve Boss
Orillia
