BajaNomad - Loreto Boat Ramp repairs

Loreto Boat Ramp repairs

Phil S - 4-27-2007 at 06:59 AM

An email campaign is being asked by local boat owners to the tourism office in Loreto for consideration of repairing the ramp. Seems if enough folks respond to this, some consideration by the authorities might get their attention. Anyone in Loreto like to jump in and give the necessary information as to whom to address the email to and the address to send it???? Thanks.

Here is the E-mail

Don Alley - 4-27-2007 at 07:25 AM

Quote:

After the 2006 Hurricane Juan and the subsequent dredging of the Loreto Port, using the boat ramp at anything but very high tide became and is very difficult. I simply tried to find out what was going to be done to fix the ramp. At a brief encounter with Sr. Julio Caesar Magdalena, he asked me to bring him suggestions and questions from the foreign community.

On March 27, a two-hour meeting was finally arranged with Sr. Julio Caesar Magdalena of API with Sr. Jesus Jacques from the Loreto Tourism Office there to translate. Senor Jacques’ help was very much appreciated.

What follows is my brief interpretation of that meeting.

The kindest thing I can say is that there does not seem to be an appreciation for a functioning boat ramp that permits launching at the Loreto Harbor at most tide depths. It was pointed out to me that Puerto Escondido’s new ramp can be used when tides do not permit the use of the Loreto ramp or when cruise ships are using the Loreto harbor and recreational boats are not supposed to come into the area nor use the dock. There was much discussion about how many users really need a repaired or new and improved ramp now or in the future, especially when a panga ramp is planned for Colonial Zaragosa.

I pointed out that Loreto’s connection to the Marine Park, the nearby islands, and all parts of the Sea of Cortez mandate a functioning harbor and ramp if Loreto’s growth is to continue.

I was told that they needed letters from the users in support of a repaired or new ramp. That is difficult to do….They finally agreed to accept emails at the Loreto Tourism office that will then be passed on to La Paz to show that there are many in the Loreto area who want an improved ramp.

I think it is very important that you send an email because I am not certain much is going to happen if we do not let them know that this concern about the existing ramp comes from more than a dozen people from the foreign community.

If you have a boat larger than 20 feet the tide dictates when you use the ramp…If you have a home and no boat, you ought to send an email anyway because you may want to sell your home in the future and the next buyer may want a functioning ramp in Loreto.

Emergencies: the day after the meeting, a friend of mine lost his engine in his boat. We had his location from the GPS waypoints but I could not respond because we could not put our boat in the water. That extra time that it takes to haul a boat to Puerto Escondido and then come back north may not be soon enough next time.

Here is the email address: turismo_0508lto@hotmail.com

Be sure and put La Rampa in the subject line.

Thank you and if you have any questions email me.

Ron Beitelspacher

mailto:lnrb@connectwireless.us

Don Alley - 4-27-2007 at 07:29 AM

Also,

At the informe in Loreto Tuesday, a local councilman asked Governor Agundez to intervene with Singlar to reopen the closed ramp at Puerto Escondido. The new ramp and rates have effectively locked out local area Mexican boaters.

flyfishinPam - 4-27-2007 at 12:39 PM

I'm afraid to say you're wasting your time with this. They will improve the town's ramp whenever they want to. Letters, e-mails won't work, they don't even listen to the Mexicans who have been bringing up this subject for many years, what makes you think they'll entertain the ideas of the foreign population here or the visiting private boaters. They are only interested in the multi-million dollar yachting community to whom a $28 fee is a literal drop in the bucket. And a ramp in zaragoza? Heard that rumor for several years. Will believe it when I see it.

Don Alley - 4-27-2007 at 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by flyfishinPam
I'm afraid to say you're wasting your time with this. They will improve the town's ramp whenever they want to. Letters, e-mails won't work, they don't even listen to the Mexicans who have been bringing up this subject for many years, what makes you think they'll entertain the ideas of the foreign population here or the visiting private boaters. They are only interested in the multi-million dollar yachting community to whom a $28 fee is a literal drop in the bucket. And a ramp in zaragoza? Heard that rumor for several years. Will believe it when I see it.

Pam, I think you're wrong. They will fix the Loreto ramp, and they will build a ramp at Colonia Zaragosa. Think Positive!

flyingpig.gif - 19kB

jerry - 4-27-2007 at 03:45 PM

the boat ramp has been repaired a few times over the years it just needs a permanent fix that will last insted of a patch but id expect a patch if anything easy patch would be about 30-40 bags of concreet mix stacked in the hole leaving the bag on them they will get wet and set up under water it they use enoff of them it will stop the boat moters from washing another hole

Pigs Fly

Don Alley - 4-29-2007 at 06:30 AM

Got this report:

Note from Jesus Jacques: Just to let you know that I had a meeting with Julio Magdaleno from A.P.I. and the ramp is going to be fixed pretty soon. People from A.P.I. came in the other day and made measurements. So, hopefully we'll have good news.

(Jesus is the local tourism official)

backninedan - 4-29-2007 at 07:27 AM

Thats good to hear Don. I hope they follow thru on these badly needed repairs. Have you decided what motor to put on your panga? Just curious.

LaTijereta - 4-29-2007 at 07:36 AM

Good News...
The next question will be "How long will the ranmp be closed for the repairs?"
With our luck they will start repairs around July 11th

vandenberg - 4-29-2007 at 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaTijereta

The next question will be "How long will the ranmp be closed for the repairs?"

Probably the Dorado season to give the Escondido ramp a boost :?:

Don Alley - 4-29-2007 at 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by backninedan
Thats good to hear Don. I hope they follow thru on these badly needed repairs. Have you decided what motor to put on your panga? Just curious.

115HP Mercury. Yamaha mucho mas dinero. And the color of the Merc goes good with the boat. Completion in mid May, "mas o menos." The boat in line ahead of us is due out May 10, also a Loreto-bound boat.

The ramp: trust me and Pargo, my flying pig. The ramp repair will be started SOON and finished quickly!

flyingpig.gif - 19kB

Patches - 5-5-2007 at 06:31 AM

There was an old ramp just north of Nopolo (Loreto Bay) that I used to use. Is it still around or did it get swallowed up in the development?

vandenberg - 5-5-2007 at 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Patches
There was an old ramp just north of Nopolo (Loreto Bay) that I used to use. Is it still around or did it get swallowed up in the development?

About good enough for launching a canoe, if there is no wind.

Don Alley - 5-5-2007 at 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Patches
There was an old ramp just north of Nopolo (Loreto Bay) that I used to use. Is it still around or did it get swallowed up in the development?

I've seen locals launch an old bay boat of about 18-20 ft there a couple of times recently.

It's outside of the Loreto Bay development, and the turf of the condos planned for the Whale's Inn site. So it's Fonatur's turf and I doubt that they will do anything with it. Hurricane Marty wrecked the adjacent pier, no effort to repair or repace it.