With a new dock still a year out, Southport Harbor Master Jim Gagnon floated some potential problems and solutions.

A week after the August 21 meeting in which Southport Selectmen green-lit the new float in Cozy Harbor, the selectmen again met with Gagnon, who was worried that the new float could challenge Southport ordinances.

Gagnon said he was concerned about spaces on the dock being misused with boaters using the temporary spots for longer visits.

Town ordinances about time restrictions also posed a problem, Gagnon said. The town ordinance has stipulations for time and offloading of fishing gear, and no boats over 13 feet are allowed to park for extended periods of time on a certain part of the dock.

But, Chairman Gerry Gamage said there is plenty of time before the town will need to worry about the new float.

“The new float will go in well after Oliver's has closed,” Gamage said. “After that, we'll look at it and see if there's any problems.”

One suggestion was to delineate the dock for separate purposes, and make sure boaters were up to date on where fishing gear can be loaded and loaded, and where restaurant patrons at Oliver's can and should park.

Gagnon said he planned to post the town ordinances and state regulations at the water, so that boaters were aware of time limits.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen