Gloucester Waterways Board Refers Commercial Moorings Question to Subcommittee

GLOUCESTER — February 4, 2025 — Gloucester Waterways Board unanimously referred a proposal to create commercial moorings to the Public Facilities subcommittee and sent a tiered transient mooring fee structure to the Finance Committee at its February 4 meeting. Mike Duncan, owner of Gloucester Boat Rental LLC, appeared before the board for a second time seeking commercially designated moorings to expand his nine-boat rental fleet, but members warned that no such classification exists in the city's waterways ordinance and that any change would require a full City Council ordinance process — making the earliest possible implementation the 2026 season. The board also received a Dockwa platform data analysis showing the harbor's transient mooring operation grossed approximately $106,925 in 2024 across 1,645 mooring nights, with a 72 percent booking yield from 1,321 inquiries and July alone generating $35,165, or roughly 33 percent of annual revenue. Analysis showed adding a tier at $75 per night for vessels 40 feet and over — versus the already-approved flat $70 rate — would add an estimated $8,308 in annual gross; the board voted 8-0 to package that proposal with kayak rack, 10A flow permit, and waitlist fee reviews for Finance Committee consideration in next season's rate cycle. Outgoing member Peter, whose term expires February 15, produced the data analysis; commercial fisherman Callan O'Malley, recommended by Sean Nolan, was introduced as his replacement in a newly designated commercial fishing seat.