The best of boating

COEUR d’ALENE — The Hagadone Marine Group recently completed the first phase of a program that creates a world-class boating experience on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The yearlong project on Blackwell Island included a new ramp, 36 valet boating slips and an aesthetically pleasing 500-foot retaining wall and riprap near the west entrance to the city.

Teamed with the popular Quick Launch Program, it puts boaters on the water almost on call — and the second phase will allow for continued growth.

Murphy Marine Construction Co. did the work and has built docks for the Hagadone Corp. dating back decades, including The Boardwalk at The Coeur d’Alene Resort, said Craig Brosenne, president of the Hagadone Marine Group.

“They did an amazing job,” he said.

Skip Murphy, owner of Murphy Marine Construction Co., was pleased with how things came together.

“I just thank the guys for giving me the opportunity to build it,” he said.

The fixed pier system is the finest and among the first in Idaho, Brosenne said, and the ramp “is probably the best commercial ramp in the state of Idaho. You’ll be able to pull any boat out, any size, including our small cruise boats.”

Phase two calls for a 65,000-square-foot building to be finished in 2022 that will house 380 boats.

“It’s basically a parking garage for boats,” Brosenne said.

Now, boats in the Quick Launch Program at the marina operated by Hagadone Marine Group are kept on trailers and are brought to a boat slip. The boat owner just calls ahead, is greeted by staff, and can go out and enjoy a day on the lake. At day’s end, the owner simply cruises back into the slip, and the boat will be taken care of and returned to its holding area.

Boats can go from the trailer to being in the slip and ready to go in about 15 minutes.

There are more than 100 boats in the Quick Launch Program, which is in its third season.

Chase Grove, Quick Launch manager, said the idea behind the unique program was that there is limited slip space available. By storing the boats on trailers — and soon in a building — it created, in a way, exclusive dock space.

“It adds another element of moorage to Lake Coeur d’Alene,” he said.

The program grew from a handful of boats the first year to about 75 last year and about 125 this year.

“It’s proven to be a real popular option for mooring and it’s getting more and more popular every year,” Grove said.

It makes boating easier, with a number of available amenities, and eliminates the hassles of towing, launching and cleaning boats.

“It just makes boating really easy,” Grove said.

The Hagadone Marine Group also operates marinas at Silver Beach and The Boardwalk Marina at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

Skip Murphy said there were challenges to overcome with the changing water levels during the year, and older docks were removed, but the project was completed as envisioned.

“Everything you see there was built in our shop, right here in Coeur d’Alene," he said.

“I think it’s nice,” he said. “It turned out just right.”

Combined with the company's landscaping along U.S. 95, the project enhances the entrance to the Lake City.

Shaughn Murphy, Skip Murphy's son, said it was a great project.

“It was fun to build,” he said.