Calls are being made to remove the dinghy racks from Pilot Bay after boats and dinghies were damaged in Monday night's storm.

Leigh Pettigrew emailed SunLive saying the recent damage 'further highlights the need to remove the dinghy racks, which are proving to be a nuisance to boat owners”.

A number of dinghies were damaged during Monday's storm.

Leigh says boat owners are continually having to repair or replace damaged dinghies when the wind gets underneath the hulls and lifts them off the racks.

'Council workers have difficulty cutting the long grass underneath the boats, and they're rapidly becoming an eye sore, as more and more boats are being abandoned after they become damaged.

'Some of the racks are damaged too and are becoming subject to erosion. So, not only was there an initial cost in building them, but there is now an ongoing cost in maintaining them.”

Leigh says the simple solution is to remove the racks, replace them with a series of chain lengths at ground level, and place the dinghies back on the beach in neat rows, so that the wind can't get underneath them.

Tauranga City Council parks and recreation manager Mark Smith says the council needs to balance the needs of everyone who uses the reserve.

'The racks were put in at the same time as the boardwalk to help tidy up dinghy clutter along the beach.

'The dinghy racks are there for boat owners to use at their own discretion. Owners of dinghies are responsible for securing their dinghies to the racks.

'We have not had any complaints from contractors about mowing access around the racks. Any damaged racks will be fixed and maintained, as are all reserve structures.”

Mark says before the dinghy racks were installed, boats on the ground were causing significant erosion where they prevented the grass from growing.