News Photo by Julie Riddle In the Alpena harbor, fishermen Bobby Kowalski and Terry Lemcool pull their boat to a pier after its motor died during their first outing since the governor revised her no-motorboats restrictions.

ALPENA — On Saturday evening, a boater lovingly wiped the hull of his snappy white boat, perched in the parking lot of the Rogers City Marina.

When he’ll be able to put it in the water is a question the city is struggling to answer, said Harbormaster Wayne Saile, as boaters around the coast of the lower peninsula gear up for boating season while trying to figure out what marinas and boaters can — and can’t — do as the state fights to control the spread of the coronavirus.

On Friday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a revised stay-at-home order, to remain in effect until May 15, that, among other things, loosened restrictions on boating as an approved outdoor recreational activity.

According to the state’s frequently-asked-questions page, boating, including motorized boating, is one of the outdoor activities now permitted under the governor’s updated “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order.

Earlier in April, the FAQ page specified that, while use of kayaks, canoes, and sailboats was permitted, motorboat and jet ski use was prohibited under the then-current stay-at-home order.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Fishermen try their luck on the quiet waters of Grand Lake near sundown on Friday, the day Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order re-authorized the use of motorized boats after a stay-at-home order had prohibited their use to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

As with all other outdoor activities, boaters must stay at least six feet away from anyone outside their household members.

In Rogers City, Saile said he’ll know more after a meeting on Monday morning, when the city manager and other city personnel will weigh in on what the revised order means for the Nautical City harbor that, at this time of year, is usually preparing for a bustling spring boating season.

The revised order doesn’t specify whether marinas can re-open to help boaters boat, Saile said.

He’s received plenty of text messages asking why the marina can’t use its equipment to get the white-wrapped boats out of the parking lot and into the water, Saile said.

Launch ramps at the marina have been put back in the water for the season, but, for now, it’s looking like the city’s marina won’t be open by its hoped-for May 1 date.

A reliable employer for teens and college students each summer, Saile has told everyone who applied for a job that this will have to be a wait-and-see summer as the marina moves forward with caution.

“If we do go back to work — which I want to do in the worst way — what happens if we start this whole thing over again?” said Saile.

Harrisville Mayor Jeff Gehring is ready to put in state-owned piers at Harrisville Harbor at the city’s expense as soon as he’s given the go-sign from the state, he said Saturday.

State harbors are closed until at least May 15, per state order. He’s hopeful Harrisville Harbor will be able to open in mid-May, Gehring said, but, as mayor, he’s obligated to follow the governor’s orders to keep his community safe.

Harrisville State Park and the harbor are “big players in the dynamic of the city,” Gehring said, “and we want those open, but we want to do it safely.”

He hasn’t been overwhelmed with requests to get the harbor up and running, and, Gehring said, he’s not surprised.

“It’s northern Michigan, right?” Gehring said. “It’s 60 degrees downstate, and it’s 40 here. There’s a little bit of difference.”

Motorized watercraft, which may require parts or gasoline that cause someone else to come to work, for a time were not allowed on the water, according to the governor’s order — a decision which set in motion several lawsuits against the governor in federal court, challenging the boating ban.

From what Alpena Harbormaster Don Gilmet has heard, not everyone in Northeast Michigan was understanding of the temporary stay on the use of motorized boats.

“They were pissed off,” Gilmet said. “It didn’t make any sense.”

Normally, the Alpena marina is operational when ice clears away for the winter. This year, with a mild start to the year, marina employees could have been working the whole month of April, had it not been for the uncertainties related to the coronavirus outbreak.

“The good news is, people are fishing,” Gilmet said.

Fishermen Terry Lemcool and Bobby Kowalski had their boat out on the water Sunday for the first time since the lockdown. The pair only made it out of the Alpena harbor before their motor died.

“It hasn’t been a very good day,” Kowalski said — but, he conceded, at least they were able to fish from their motorboat legally.

While the bathrooms, fishing-cleaning station, and other buildings at the Alpena marina are closed to the public, customers can call to arrange for socially-distant help getting their boats into the water or to order parts, which are set outside on the curb for pick-up.

Damage to the marina from the high waters of the past year will have to wait for repairs, Gilmet said, because fixing them is not considered essential work.

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693, jriddle@thealpenanews.com or on Twitter @jriddleX.