In my opinion the 14 day quarantine makes sense.
| AN IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL BRISTOL YARD CUSTOMERS: Thank you for your patience as we continue to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. We realize that some of these changes have impacted your plans and schedules. Unfortunately, as things are changing so rapidly, we've needed to move quickly so that we can prioritize the safety of those in our yard. We are trying to communicate through emails (like this one) as changes are made, so please continue to check regularly for updates. Recent internal policy changes have been implemented to help our employees reduce the risk of exposure to themselves and others. For the foreseeable future, all employees will be wearing covers over their faces, eye protection and gloves while working at the yard. They've also pledged to continue safe practices while at and away from work. With all these changes we've made, our employees will not feel safe unless we get a commitment by customers and other visitors to our yard. Therefore, effective immediately, we will be implementing the following additional safety measures: Boat owners cannot enter the boat yard until 2 weeks before their launch date. For example, an owner who has signed up for a launch week of 4/27/20 will not be allowed into the yard for work until the week of 4/13/2020. By doing this, the total number of people in the yard will be reduced so that social distancing can safely be maintained. If unsure of your launch date, please contact the office (marilyn@bristolmarine.com) before coming to the yard. We do not like denying customers access to the yard, and it is particularly difficult doing so in person, so please check in before heading our way to avoid frustration. Also, access into the yard is only permitted through the main entry so that it can be properly monitored. Access hours to the yard will be reduced to evenings and weekends. Because of limited parking and tight quarters at the yard, customer access will be allowed only after 4pm from Monday through Friday, and 6am-6pm on weekends. Remember that bathrooms and buildings will be closed and locked, so please plan accordingly. Per Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo's order last week, "any person coming to Rhode Island from another state for a non-work-related purpose must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days". Boat owners currently living outside of Rhode Island are therefore not allowed to come to Bristol to work on their boats. Those who fall into this category are encouraged to reach out to our office and discuss options for their boats at least 3 weeks before their launch date. "Do-It-Yourselfers" must finish their work completely, and follow these specific steps for safety, before we can schedule a launch. In order to reduce exposure while on these boats, they must be left in a condition that minimizes our employees' contact with the boat and personal effects on board. Therefore, if you have ANY involvement with the prep on your boat (including simply getting on and off of it), the following steps must be taken: All seacocks must be left in the closed position, and their coverings must be removed or opened (floorboards, hatches, etc) to leave them visible. Access hatches to the shaft and/or rudder stuffing boxes and main bilge must also be left open. This will allow our employees to do our post-launch leak check with minimal exposure. If there are leaks that cannot be easily remedied, we will be required to haul the boat back out of the water (as usual). Door and companionway access inside the cabin must be left unlocked. Combo or key locks should be removed completely. Boat should be left tidy, with lines and fenders connected (if needed to get the boat to its slip or mooring). Access ladders are to be removed from the premises. Once steps 1-4 have been completed, please send an email or place a call to your normal point of contact. If unsure, email marilyn@bristolmarine.com. Once we receive this update, we will schedule your launch. If you are not able to launch on your expected date for whatever reason, please also reach out to Marilyn in advance of your launch date so that we can help plan accordingly. Those who have hired Bristol Marine to do some (but not all) of their work must leave the boat safe to work and not return for a minimum of 4 days before our techs can begin work. There must be a gap of time between owners and employees on boats. Once owners have done all they can do, they should sanitize their boats, tidy up and then please contact marilyn@bristolmarine.com with an update so we can schedule work. This extra time may impact the launch schedule, so please plan accordingly. All boat owners must wait for approval by the Bristol Marine office before accessing their boats. Whether Bristol Marine is just launching or is also commissioning and performing other services, we must give our techs time to safely complete their work. The boats will not be "ready for pickup" until the office calls or emails with an approved hand-off. Please do not expect to hop on the boat shortly after launch, and cause undue stress on yourself and employees. If you are unsure of the status of your boat, please just check in before making plans to use the boat. We will do our best to update you regularly. We understand that these are drastic changes in policy from a "normal" spring, and they will require extra patience and cooperation by everyone. Our Bristol yard was built with the help of "hands-on" boat owners, and to limit access is a hard but necessary measure to take. These rules are put in effect so that we can safely work together and maintain the hope of enjoying our boats on the water. Thanks for your help and please contact us if you have any questions or comments. |
situation! Be safe everyone!!!I hadn’t looked at Gov. Baker’s list of essential services yet but I looked it up and here it is:Happy Birthday Dave!
This Covid 19 has really but a damper on everyone's plans. I got this a week ago from my marina:
Dear Marina Patrons,
Thank you for choosing Pope’s Island Marina as your home port. We hope this email finds you and your families safe and healthy.
With the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts and nationwide, Governor Baker has extended the social distancing guidelines and closure of non-essential businesses until May 4th. Following those orders, and to ensure a safe environment for our customers, guests and marina staff, we will be postponing our opening date until the order is lifted. The date is subject to change pending any further state or federal guidelines extensions.
We thank you for your patronage and your patience as we collectively deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be certain to update you if and when the situation changes.
Please call or email me with any questions or concerns.
Thank you again for your understanding and cooperation, and please stay healthy and safe!
Like you Rich, I'm not sure we'll have much if any season. I'm not rushing to splash and probably will decide to sit this season out also. Truth is I don't see this going away until a vaccine is developed and even then it will take some time for it to be produced in a volume large enough to inoculate the general public. A real
Happy Birthday, Dave. Best wishes.
While I agree with the one size fits all part and it is frustrating in the extreme to be the ones who have to live daily with these decisions, it isn't just one person's opinion. They generally ask for and listen, as best as they can, to recognize experts in the field. There is never likely to be a time when a regulation aimed at the "greater good" fits everyone. I have no doubt that those people making these monumental decisions believes they are working for everyone's well being. No one wants to do a poor job; no one goes into to work saying to themselves, "I'm not going to do a good job today."
, but I'm not jumping forward to dive into that cesspool. They have my gratitude for being willing to put up with and sort through the . It needs to be done. As much as we may not like government, at this point in our history, life would be miserable without it.
Boat is not on the hard, since it is in the water year road, so sailing out and back or anchor at a destination as long as we are social distancing.
