Meridian Belle II Launch in the Kent Reporter!

The Kent Reporter covered the Meridian Belle II launch event with Mayor Cooke christening the Belle!

Click here to go to the Kent Reporter site.

The Meridian Belle Beyond Repair

It has been determined that the Meridian Belle's repairs are too costly so the board is looking for someone who has the time to dismantle her. The lumber would have to be properly disposed of and the board would provide the funds for this. This could be an excellent Eagle Scout project or also a community service project for a group of high school students who need volunteer hours for their junior project or college applications. If any of you have teenagers in the house or living in your neighborhood, please pass this information on and have them call Ellyn Ricker, 253-631-2021, or Michelle McDowell, 253-639-0124 for more details.

Our Aging Belle

The board assessed the structural condition of our beloved Meridian Belle and determined she is unsound. Unfortunately, she requires much more than cosmetic work. Her decking and railings have rotted to the point of being unsafe and she is in bad need of a thorough paint job. She also needs a stronger motor. To repair her properly, the Belle would need to be pulled from the water and we are not sure she will hold up structurally; also, none of the members has a trailer large enough for this task. The time and expense involved in restoring the Belle isn’t feasible for the board. Sadly, after weighing all options, we have decided the best course of action will be to dismantle her. We will save what we can in case another Belle is built some day, and dispose of the rest of her pieces. None of us is happy with this decision and we didn’t make it lightly. We will all miss seeing her lead the boat parade on the 4th of July. The Belle won’t be dismantled until summer. We will discuss the state of her condition at the General Membership meeting. If anyone has the time, money and desire to consider the enormous task of restoring her, we would love to hear from you.