A dream boating destination, the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica draws elite yachts from around the world. Owners and crew of these luxurious vessels expect premier facilities. As part of an ambitious enhancement of its entire property, Enjoy Group complemented an aluminum dock array at Marina Bahia Golfito with a floating concrete pontoon solution from global leader SF Marina. The addition doubles the facility’s superyacht capacity.
“Marina Bahia Golfito is a secluded tropical gem,” said Peter Santesson, SF Marina international project manager. “During the design phase of the project, we worked extensively with the Enjoy Group to ensure the new docks would complement the quality and aesthetic of the extensive up-scaling they were undertaking.”
The new array runs perpendicular to the unique 36 foot-wide walkway and consists of three piers: 295 feet long, by 20 feet wide; 197 feet long by 16 feet wide; and 147 feet long by 16 feed wide. This allows Marina Bahia Golfito to host two 300-foot superyachts, two 200-foot vessels and two 150-foot yachts.
While Marina Bahia Golfito is nested within sheltered Pavón Bay, SF Marina floating concrete pontoons are built to withstand hard commercial use and extreme weather conditions. By virtue of their incredible mass, they are inherently stable—sufficient for vehicle use. Maintenance-free and virtually unsinkable, they have two feet of freeboard. The docks are equipped with 400-amp/400- volt electric, and potable water and other utilities in concealed ducts.
The individual floating concrete pontoons are joined together with SF Marina’s innovative connectors that have a breaking load of two-by-99 tons per joint. The piers are anchored with Sea-flex® mooring hawsers. Each can withstand a substantial drag force then retract to its original size.
“We chose SF Marina because it is a well-recognized dock company–one of the best worldwide,” said Pedro Abdalla Slon, marina director. “The project fulfilled all our expectations and looks great.”
Roughly 325 nautical miles from the Panama Canal and only a 45-minute flight from Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, Marina Bahia Golfito is a state-of-the-art private marina. Accommodating vessels with 29-foot drafts and from 40 to 350 in length, it offers a wide range of services including separate crew lounges and eateries. A separate high-capacity fuel dock can service two superyachts simultaneously. Adjacent is Enjoy Group’s expanded beachfront hotel, new condominium development and restaurant. The comprehensive property provides a cosmopolitan flair within stunning natural surroundings.
The marina’s website is www.marinabahiagolfito.com. For more information about SF Marina, visit www.sfmarinausa.com.
Reprinted from Marine Construction Magazine Issue VI, 2023.
