From Vision to Reality: Clinton Marina Builds Solar Dock
Wendy Larimer
At Clinton Marina on Kansas’ Clinton Lake, innovation and sustainability are steering the course forward. The family-owned marina, operated by Erin and Peter Meiusi, recently completed a landmark solar marina expansion that blends growth with green energy. By developing what is believed to be the first covered slips in the nation powered entirely by solar panels, the Meiusis are reshaping what modern marinas can be, bigger, better, and more sustainable.
Boating and sunny days go hand in hand, but what if you took that partnership a bit further? That’s just what the owners of Clinton Marina on Clinton Lake in Kansas has done just that with a groundbreaking solar marina expansion; a new covered dock powered entirely by the sun. With the idea sparked, Erin and Peter Meiusi turned to Maricorp to transform their plans into reality.
The Meiusis took over the family-owned marina in 2020 and quickly realized it needed to grow. The 100-slip sailing marina that opened in the 1970s was no longer meeting the demand from the upsurge of boaters and increased boat sizes. Their vision was to not just add more slips but to make them bigger and better.
A keen awareness of the need to protect the environment made even more important with the birth of his first child, Peter Meusi set to work designing what he believes to be the first covered slips run solely on solar power. From the preliminary work of determining power needs by looking at the drawdowns of a busy weekend to the lengthy permitting process to the actual construction, completing the new H-dock took about two years. There are now 62 slips ranging in size from 10’ x 24’ to 15’ x 36’.
The project was not without challenges starting with the schedule. The marina’s lease terms begin April 1 so they wanted the dock finished by then so work would have to happen when it was likely the lake would be frozen. Sitting on Corps of Engineers property meant both state and federal permits were required adding months to approval times. There was also the learning curve of undertaking a project that had not been done before.
Clinton Marina Builds Dolar Dock
From Vision to Reality: Clinton Marina Builds Solar Dock                                              |
Maricorp’s team was onsite for about 75 days and the Meusis quickly built a relationship with the workers. “When you see them every day you build a rapport. I still text the head of the installation crew regularly. Our head maintenance person learned so much from Maricorp which is a huge benefit,” said Peter. The Meusis see Maricorp as not just a vendor but a partner who always picks up the phone to answer questions, and manage down to the smallest detail.
Once the dock was completed, plans began to add in-slip patios for slipholders to provide space for storage as well as for lounging and hosting friends. The marina had previously built wooden patios for other docks, but this time they wanted something easy to move and that stopped the wasted wood that came from constructing the former patios. They found modular patio inserts that fit the bill and have now installed the patios in about 25% of the slips. The owners love the ability to personalize their slips and the added gathering spaces have helped turn the H-Dock into its own community even hosting a slipholder facebook page.
With the approval of customers and the overall success of the solar dock, there are already plans to transform more of the existing covered docks to solar. “As we continue to grow the business, we’ll be looking to grow with Maricorp,” Peter said.
Clinton Marina’s journey from concept to completion highlights both the challenges and the rewards of innovation. With the successful launch of their solar-powered H-Dock, the marina has expanded capacity, enhanced the customer experience with modular patios, and established itself as a pioneer in sustainable marina development. The project also reinforced the strong partnership between Clinton Marina and MariCorp, built on shared vision and trust. As more docks are slated to go solar, this solar marina expansion is only the beginning of a brighter future on Clinton Lake.
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About MariCorp
Maricorp is one of the largest floating boat dock manufacturing and construction companies in the United States, specializing in galvanized steel floating docks and boat lift systems. With projects spanning coast-to-coast, Maricorp provides marina consultation and design, marine construction, marina repair and renovation, and boat dock disaster response and demolition.
