Updated at 6:43 p.m., Wednesday, February 28, 2007
State imposes higher fees on recreational boaters
Associated Press
Recreational boat owners will pay more to use state ramps and boating facilities starting this week as the Department of Land and Natural Resources raised rates to pay for harbor repairs.The state has created five levels of harbors, with each group charging a different mooring rate depending on the services needed. The higher fees at state-owned boat harbors and boating facilities will go into effect Thursday and rates for ramp permits will also increase to $40 from $25 starting May 1.
State officials said they plan to use the extra $100,000 expected each month to make much-needed repairs to small boat harbors and boating facilities.
The state will replace collapsed finger piers, fix and repave roads, and maintain plumbing lines, among other repairs, Peter Young, the department's chairman, said.
Ala Wai Harbor will have the highest mooring rates in the state because it has the highest level of services available to boaters, state officials said.
Commercial fees will also go up, with commercial tours giving 3 percent of their gross income to the state, up from the current 2 percent.
If more capital improvement projects are funded, the boat fees will rise again and the extra money will be used to improve services, DLNR officials said.
The state's Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation operates and manages 21 harbors, 50 ramps, 2,122 moorings and berths and 19 piers across the state.
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