Everett needs to deal with silt

The Everett Yacht Basin is the largest yacht basin on the West Coast and is “The “Boater’s Choice!” Really? Everett would like all the cruisers to come in and stay at the guest docks and enjoy what the basin has to offer. When cruisers typically stop off at marinas on their cruising route, one of the most important things is to provision — food, fuel, water, pump out, shower and then continue on their journey.

I’ll admit the basin has something to offer, but their maintenance schedule is weak at best.

The Lowell Park boat launch has been closed for months due to the silting up at the launch and they can’t even keep a stock of pay envelopes in the kiosk at the Langus Park ramp. The 12th street launch has signs stating that at low tide there’s a risk to launch, due to silting as well. What does it take to dredge the silt out? The pump-out stations at three locations are all out of order and it’s been this way for months and a theme for the past few summers. You’d think they could keep at least one operational.

This is pretty bad for all those cruisers Everett wants visiting. And it’s extremely upsetting when you’re heading out for a cruise and this is your first chore before you head out of the river. There’s a pretty hefty fine to pump out overboard, but Everett won’t be able to help you out here (other than accepting your money from the fine) unless you hit that two-day window when something may be working.

Howard M. Burpee

Tulalip