Miami Boats & Marinas Hit Hard in Storm
Massive marina damage leaves area shaken

Posted Tuesday, October 25, 2005

 
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Reports are coming in from all over Miami-Dade county about damage to boats and marine interests here. In downtown Miami, a 10 boat dockominium on the corner of Brickell and 25th Road sustained massive damage and only two of the 10 boats are accounted for.

On Key Biscayne, early reports tell that Sundays by the Bay is practically destroyed, with much of the roof being ripped off and a large catamaran partially sunk at the restaurant docks.

Nine Coconut Grove Sailing Club boats were pushed ashore at Seminole Boat Ramp by the wind and the waves, and a houseboat used as area headquarters for Sea Tow sunk at its dock at Dinner Key Marina.

Members of the Miami Yacht Club on Watson Island are reporting that approximately 50% of the boats at the docks are sunk. Pilings are damaged, and also many boats are missing from the anchorage field, some having drug up into the club docks and others have not been found yet. The club lost its electricity also, however phone calls can be received.

Many boats were also blown from their moorings near the Venetian Causeway in Miami Beach, blocking the Causeway with broken masts.

North Bay Village on the 79th St. Causeway, home of a marina full of houseboats also suffered catastrophic damage to boats and property. At least twelve houseboats at marinas in North Bay Village sunk during the storm leaving owners homeless. An 81-year-old man had to be rescued from the debris of his houseboat after it was hit by Wilma's fury.

A man was found dead, floating in the water next to a sunken sailboat in Maule Lake, Aventura. In Sunny Isles, Fort Apache Marina suffered major damage to two boat storage hangars, and saw its 300 boat dry rack storage unit collapse.

Heading north on the ICW gives one a different perspective of the damage sustained during Wilma, where damage has caused Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show organizers to postpone the boat show for the first time in 46 years. The show is normally held at six different locations in Fort Lauderdale, including the Convention Center, Bahia Mar Marina & Resort, and Pier 66.