Kayaks

Avalon considers fee for seasonal storage of kayaks
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, 609-463-6713
Published: Saturday, February 9, 2008

AVALON - The borough is considering charging $25 to store kayaks through the summer near a public access spot to the bay near 57th Street.
Avalon is building storage racks for kayaks, as well as Sunfish and Sailfish boats.

Borough officials said previous storage of private kayaks there cluttered the area and could make them more susceptible to theft.

The area had been used for years for people to keep their kayaks for a season, sometimes chaining them to a nearby fence and leaving them there, said Council President Joe Tipping.

"People would chain these kayaks to the split-rail fence," Tipping said. 'But all you have to do with a split-rail fence is you can drop it away and take it. And those things are expensive," he said.

The area is a popular entranceway for recreational kayakers to the bay.
"It was getting a bit messy looking," said Borough Councilman Charles Covington. "It'll be a little more organized."

Covington said the fee applies only to those who will store kayaks at the site.

"The history of the thing is residents have been using that area for quite a number of years and just randomly putting their kayaks in there," Covington said.

Avalon will limit the permits for kayaks to 90 in the area and 20 for the Sunfish and Sailfish.

Permit holders must also sign a waiver and indemnification form for damage claims to the watercraft.


To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:BIanieri@pressofac.com