UPDATE: New floats at Don Armeni Boat Ramp to be removed for ’emergency repair’

(Reader photo, March)

12:03 PM: Just months after new floats were installed at West Seattle’s Don Armeni Boat Ramp, they’re being removed for emergency repairs. We just got word from Seattle Parks spokesperson Rachel Schulkin:

Due to abnormal wear, all floats at Don Armeni Boat Ramp must be removed for immediate emergency repair. All floats will be removed on November 7th, 2024. It may take until late January before they are reinstalled.

During this time, Don Armeni Boat Ramp will remain open, but there will be no floats to tie up to. For most, this will mean that a second person will be needed to launch and retrieve.

The nearest Seattle Parks and Recreation Boat Ramp with saltwater access is Eddie Vine Boat Ramp in Ballard, located at 8001 Seaview Ave NW, next to Golden Gardens Park.

We have a followup question out in hopes of getting more information about the problem.

8:46 PM: Parks sent more info tonight:

For safety reasons, the contractor for the Don Armeni Boat Ramp Replacement project, Bellingham Marine Industries (BMI), will remove all the concrete floats except those connected to the abutment on both the north and south side at Don Armeni Boat Ramp on Thursday, November 7, 2024. The boat ramp opened in March 2024 and over the past 8 months the hinges between the floats have been failing and the concrete on the floats is spalling and cracking.

BMI will remove the floats from the water individually using an off-road telehandler forklift and store them within the boat launch facility parking lot. BMI will work with Seattle Parks and Recreation on a retrofit design and anticipates the floats will be replaced in early 2025. During this time the final two floats on the south side dock will also be installed. The replacement project was partially complete in March of 2024 and we anticipated the additional south floats would be added in early 2025.

Don Armeni Boat Ramp, 1222 Harbor Ave SW is in West Seattle. Boats can still be launched at the site, however, the site will be closed on November 7 and after will not have the extended dock floats.

Seth November 6, 2024 (12:46 pm)

“Due to abnormal wear” means we f—ed up and I hope the contracter is footing the bill.

Curious George November 6, 2024 (12:57 pm)

Looks like very poor planing and or engineering. I wonder who picks up the tab on this, taxpayers❓

Bill#1 November 6, 2024 (1:34 pm)

Absolutely pathetic — wonder which “Golden Boy” design firm pulled this BS off? Hasn’t even seen a mild “almost” windstorm yet — two months was it? abnormal wear? What would “normal wear” be? Must of been designed by the same fools that designed the SeaCrest floats who had never been out in a boat in even moderate seas — didn’t realize that waves are 3 dimensional – ALL AT ONCE!!!! The Seacrest floats tore themselves apart several years back!These designers all need a couple trips out and back over the bar at West Port — no Dramamine allowed! No extra wind needed – heh heh heh!

Question Authority November 6, 2024 (1:43 pm)

Unfortunately typical for a City contract that was most likely awarded to the lowest bidder, then throw in a City assigned Project Manager that possibly knew little about the appropriate materials. It happens very, very often and here’s one instance that sets an example. City rebuilds an underground Wastewater pump station and assigns an inspector, the inspector is unfit/unable to climb a ladder underground and takes the contractor word for signing off, the entire project had to be re done at great expense of course.