PART 4: THE WATERFRONT: MOORINGS TO SLIPS
The evolution of the Clubhouse is detailed in classic pictures and notes from early Club members. But what of the docks and slips? How did the Club’s waterfront facilities evolve from the day-sailing recorded in September 1954, to the 50-slip configuration the club enjoys today? From the archives of Club Logs and communications, a waterfront development timeline can be followed through three stages:
1955-1976: Moorings for All
1977-1985: The Required Move to Slips
1986- 1992: Into the Future
Moorings for All
When the intrepid sailors first started sailing on Carter Lake in the fall of 1954, they reported “no dock, plenty of mud,” obviously referring to the rustic conditions they endured to get their sailboats into the water. In 1955, each boat owner had an option to provide and install their own mooring ball. The Club built a dock and had a donated dinghy to get sailors out to their boats. Boats listed in the club were small: Finns, El Toros, Stars, Crescents, Lightnings, Scows, Cougars and Catamarans.
Having boats on moorings proved to be challenging. In 1963, the club experienced a windstorm seen in Picture 1. Notice the wind line, the heeling and capsized boats. This picture also shows the docks, painted green, and the dingy boats.
Of course, dock facilities required work hours from club members. In Picture 2, we can see the 1964 method of putting in the docks. In the background, the first dock and moored boats can be seen. The Club was limited to 35 moorings on the lake at this time, but in 1976, the number was increased to 50.
THE REQUIRED MOVE TO SLIPS
The Club’s renewed lease with Larimer County in 1976 first indicated that the Club would be required to move from moorings to slips. Mention of the impending move to docks came in Commodore Kurt Plache’s Log note: “It appears the Federal Government will be insisting on the use of boat slips sometime in the future to save on mooring space.” Taken from County Rd. 31 around 1980, Picture 3 shows what the moorings field looked like.
In 1982, a Club task force studying slip development reported to the membership: “We are required by the Bureau of Reclamation (through the Larimer County Commissioners) to replace all of our moorings with slips by 1986. We are expected to provide two slip docks, each connecting to the shore on one end. We may place locked gates on the slips. The reason given is that our (50) moorings take up too much of the lake area. Apparently, it is felt that the CLSC is unfairly privileged over members of the general Public.”
Commodore Phil Goedert formalized the Club’s strong objections to this dock and slip requirement in a 1984 letter to the Bureau of Reclamation and Larimer County Parks. Club objections fell into two categories:
- Physical Restrictions of Docks: Proposed dock area is unsheltered, water level of the lake fluctuates, sailboats without auxiliary power would be difficult to dock, and slips would require a breakwater which would actually increase the space taken up by the Sail Club.
- Economic Considerations: As a non-profit, low-budget club, Carter Lake Sailing Club is unable to access financing from commercial lenders which would require bonds, the docks would provide access to boats and increase the possibility of vandalism, and establishments at Horsetooth and the Carter Lake Marina were both allowed to install 60% slips and 40% moorings to accommodate sailing craft as well as power boats instead of being required to transition to all slips the first year.
After much negotiation with Larimer County, Commodore Don Waldburger signed a lease renewal in 1986 that graduated the transition from moorings to slips, from 10 slips and 40 moorings in 1986 to 30 slips and 20 moorings in 1987, ending with 50 slips and no moorings in 1988. The Club planned to sell bonds for the purchase and/or construction of slips.
INTO THE FUTURE
In February 1986, Don Waldburger informed the membership that the first bond of $6,000 was to be used to purchase 16 slips from Horsetooth Reservoir and build a breakwater. The remaining 34 anchorages were in moorings.
Interestingly, Log reports indicate that the docks were left in the lake over the winter. Linda Frome, Commodore in 1987, commented that the “Lake iced up for only 10-14 days. The slips did drag the shore anchors, but it looks like they survived their first winter on Carter Lake.” Log records are incomplete and don’t indicate when the procedure was changed to remove the docks each year.
The Club floated another bond in 1988 for $22,500 to allow the club to build 16 more slips. The slips were very popular and a wait list for members was formed. Scott Williams, Commodore in 1989 wrote in the May Log: “When you round the Southeast end of the lake, it sure is a warm and welcome sight to see the slips, mooring balls, docks and boats. For the most part, the workdays were smoothly. What would a workday be if we didn’t run the boom truck out of gas and need to siphon some to keep the work moving? We had a fantastic turnout and were able to get almost all the work done in three days.” Eight more slips were built in 1990 without a bond, and the cost required the postponement of Clubhouse renovations. Picture 4, taken at the 1990 Regatta, shows the growing dock configuration.
A third bond in the amount of $46,000 was used to complete 24 slips during the 1991-92 winter. Paul Kresge, Commodore, reported that the membership felt “we need to replace the existing wooden slips and add the total number of slips to remain in compliance with our lease and the federal requirements to eliminate all moorings. The membership feels that this should be done at one time rather than spread out over several years.” Picture 5 shows the 50 slips in 1992. Fortunately, every year is not a low water year!
The Club now had a complete set of 50 slips allowed by every Lease since 1976. As with the Clubhouse facilities, members stand on the shoulders of hundreds of Club members as they continue to maintain, improve, and replace dock facilities as needed.