Jet skiers can now rent a slip for their personal watercraft at Eichler's Cove Marina through the Parks & Recreation Department. Slips are available for single seat and multiseat machines.Parks & Recreation Department page to learn more about the marina, and to find application forms for rentals. Information for daily boat launch passes ($15 for residents, 30 for nonresidents), which must be purchased online, is also available online.

Located at the end of Old Bridge Road in Sandy Hook, Eichler's Cove is a town-owned property that offers a marina, boat launch, picnic area, and small beach. The cove offers the only public access to Lake Zoar. A Town of Newtown park permit is required for any vehicle entering the park, and a boat launch permit is required to launch a boat or jet ski.

"We had requests from people who were interested in renting them," Parks & Rec Director Amy Mangold said of the launching and docking points. Her department "had not had the ability to fulfill the requests" previously, but through "funding generated by marina operations," the department was able to add the six slips and six new boat slips, which are open for this season, she said.

"We are trying to accommodate the larger boats with these new slips," Ms Mangold said.

Personal watercraft spaces "are not yet rented, but boats slips and dry storage are filling fast," she said. She anticipates that once residents become aware of the new slips for personal craft, "I am sure they will go fast." The slips are very convenient, she said.

Personal watercraft fees for residents are $957 for a single-seat craft, and $1,144 for double- or triple-seats. Non-resident fees are $1,063 for single seats, and $1,433 for multiple seats.

Boat slip fees for residents with crafts at 19 feet and under is $1,144 for the season and over 19 feet is $1,424 for the season. Nonresidents with boats at 19 feet and under are $1,433 and over 19 feet is $1,726 for the season. Nonresidents also need a seasonal park permit of $150.

Eichler's Cove also offers 24 canoe/kayak dry-storage racks.

"We started with 12 but there was a demand so we added more," Ms Mangold said. Fees for the season are $75 for residents and $150 for nonresidents, not including state tax. Paperwork for rentals can be done online, and fees can be paid by credit card.

Jet ski and boating seasons run from May 13 through October 10.

Call the Parks & Recreation Department at 203-270-4340 or visit the 

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