USA: Historic yacht club invests in floating docks

As part of an ambitious ten-year redevelopment, the St Petersburg Yacht Club in St Petersburg, Florida has replaced its aging dock system. The new SF Marina configuration provides for oversized vessels and gives infrastructure needed to host larger national events.

Due to the private club's busy event calendar, marina designer Applied Technology & Management (ATM) and marine contractor Speeler & Associates had a tight timeline to complete the project. To meet this aggressive schedule, SF Marina used multiple production lines at its Gothenburg, Sweden facility to manufacture the concrete pontoons.

ATM specified an extensive list of utilities that would need to be routed through the concrete pontoons: power, fuel, potable and large-volume fire suppression water, waste, communications and security, and wiring for future EV chargers.

SF Marina customised the ducting within the dock sections during casting to ensure quick and trouble-free installation and facilitate future utility maintenance. Once completed, SF Marina transported the sections via ship to a staging area in Tampa Bay where they were towed to the marina.

The new docks comprise 33 SF Marina Type 1200 floating concrete pontoons secured with 34 internal 20in piles with HDPE sleeves. The marina now has 50 wider-than-average leaseholder slips, and over 620ft of alongside tie up dockage for larger and transient yachts and the fuel dock.

"The transition from fixed concrete to floating concrete docks has been a dream come true," said Corey Hall CMO, waterfront and club communications director. "Our members and guests are extremely impressed with the new layout and attractive appearance, and there's a palpable excitement surrounding the marina."

Founded over 115 years ago, St Petersburg Yacht Club is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the USA and has a rich history and strong tradition of boating and community engagement. It offers year-round access to Tampa Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway and frequently hosts national and international regattas.