The City of Manitowoc is applying for a grant to help a local boat manufacturer.
The Harbor Assistance Program Grant would go toward dredging 11,500 cubic yards of sediment from Burger Boat’s launch well and dock wall area to be able to launch a 180-foot yacht under construction.
The total cost for the dredging will be approximately $1.6 million, with the grant covering around $1.3 million and Burger Boat contributing approximately $326,000.
Over the years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has maintained the 12-foot-deep federal navigation channel to allow for lake trials and the delivery of yachts to Burger Boat customers.
But it’s the Manitowoc boat company’s responsibility to maintain adequate depths from their dock wall in the channel.
In a cover letter, Mayor Justin Nickels states that Burger Boat has been constructing high-end luxury yachts for over 60 years, and the dredging would enable the efficient construction and launch of current and future boats.
