The Boatport, the Island's first purpose-built indoor boat garage, will be unveiled in St. George's by the end of the summer enabling residents to store their pleasure crafts in a secure location.

Craig Faries, Edward Lawrence and William Lawrence have formed a partnership to build a fully enclosed boat storage facility able to store more than 100 vessels up to 40 feet in total length, offering protection from all weather conditions in a safe and clean facility.

Planning approval has been granted for the building of the Boatport, modelled on a design similar to boat storage racks in Florida. The building is also designed to withstand hurricane force winds.

No mooring or access to mooring will be required as customers will have the convenience of using this boating garage seven days a week, equipped with a marine fuel station and amenities adjacent to the boat storage building located at Wellington Road, in St. George's.

Boats may be stacked four high on a rack by a forklift and launching may be made with one to four hours.

Business operation hours in the summer months will include a 12-hour launch/haul and each vessel will be washed down with fresh water before it is placed back on its personal rack storage birth.

"The Boatport is a low maintenance solution, protecting your investment. You will not need to paint the bottom of the boat because they will not be moored in the water, they are dry and out of the sun, and insured," Mr. Faries said.

William Lawrence said first time boat owners are not fully aware of how much time and money it takes to maintain a boat in Bermuda as they are to exposure to rain, wind, sun and salt spray or water.

He said exposure to the elements can rapidly reduce the value of a vessel within a year of its purchase.

"A boat rack storage facility has not been tried in Bermuda before but if you travel anywhere where there are a vast amount of boats such as on the Great Lakes or in Florida, they don't use moorings they way we do. Boats take up all the waterways in Bermuda," Mr. Faries said.

"You could make a call a day before and the next day that boat will be in the water in a staging area in front a floating dock ready to go when the boat owner arrives," Mr. Faries said.

For more information on the Boatport call Craig Faries on 334-8979, William Lawrence on 534-959 or Edward Lawrence 505-0088.