PORT ANGELES — After 64 years, the Faires family will no longer manage the Port Angeles Boat Haven.
Chuck Faires, who owns Port Angeles Marine — the company that manages operations at the Boat Haven as part of a contract agreement with the Port of Port Angeles — is retiring and is in the process of selling his company.
The port has agreed to pursue a recommendation from Faires that Masco Petroleum take over his agent duties short-term.
As part of managing the marina, Port Angeles Marine leases a room within the harbormaster office, the fuel dock, the land containing the underground fuel tanks and a retail space within the Boat Yard building, port staff said.
Faires has been the port’s agent at the Boat Haven for the past 43 years and at the Boat Yard for the past 29 years.
In 1952, Joe Faires — Chuck Faires’ father — began managing the marina.
Chuck, the Boat Haven harbormaster, took over management in 1976.
On Jan. 4, Chuck notified port officials via letter he intends to retire effective May 15.
“For the past 43 years, it has been a great honor and privilege to work with, and be affiliated with, each and every port commissioner and staff member that have come and gone,” Faires wrote in the letter to Karen Goschen, the port’s interim executive director.
“Their straightforward approach and fairness has always made my position interesting and workable.”
As part of Chuck’s retirement notice, he requested permission to transfer ownership of his agent agreement and lease to Masco Petroleum for the rest of his current contract, which expires Dec. 31.
“I plan . . . to transfer ownership as soon as possible,” he said during the Jan. 12 port commissioners meeting.
“I will stay with Masco to the middle of May just to assist them and to help them with the transition.”
Masco currently owns and operates the marine fueling facility at the Westport marina and is licensed by the Coast Guard to transfer fuel to marine vessels, port staff said.
The company is headquartered in Aberdeen.
“I have full confidence in Masco as they [have] been in business for many years and in the past 10 years have successfully operated the fuel facility in Westport,” Chuck wrote.
“Also, Masco has agreed to employ the people who have been with Port Angeles Marine in operating the Marina for 28 years.”
Port staff have met with senior management of Masco and found no reason to believe Masco would not be able to fulfill the responsibilities of the agent agreement, John Nutter, the port’s interim finance director, said during the meeting.
Port staff is not aware of any legal reason to prevent Chuck from transferring ownership of his business to Masco Petroleum, Nutter said.
Masco’s stated business plan of retaining all Port Angeles Marine assets and employees, as well as their general business experience, appears sufficient to meet the contractual obligations for the remaining months of the agreement, Nutter said.
Following Nutter’s comments, the three port commissioners voted to provide direction to the port’s interim executive director to respond in writing to Masco Petroleum concerning the Boat Harbor agent agreement and associated lease.
If commissioners agree to the requested contract and lease assignment at this time, it does not preclude the port from pursuing a full marina management request for proposal to select a long-term partner to be effective Jan. 1, 2017, port staff said.
The Port Angeles Boat Haven was constructed in 1946. Six years later, Joe Faires began managing the marina under an agency agreement with the port.
The original agreement was for 10 years with two 10-year options.
From 1965 to 1980, Joe also managed the port-constructed marina at La Push until the lease ran out and the tribe took control of the marina.
In 1976, Joe turned over operations to Chuck, who operated the Boat Haven, also under a series of 10-year agency agreements.
During Chuck’s tenure, the marina’s tenants transitioned from consisting predominantly of commercial fishing boats to a diverse mix, ranging from private sailboats to Westport yachts, port staff said.
Many fishing boats continue to base their operations at the Boat Haven, but the commercial tenants have expanded to include whale-watching tours and six to eight Arrow Marine vessels at any given time, port staff said.
In 1987, Chuck took over operations at the adjacent port-owned boat repair yard and has continued with a full-service boat yard, fuel dock and moorage in partnership with the port under a series of continuing agency agreements.
“There have been a few bumps along the road, but overall, it has been a wonderful life,” Chuck said.
“It has been amazing. The time zipped by.”
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
