ramp.

Some boat repair businesses have branded the fee "ludicrously'' high and are refusing to pay up.

And they are threatening to take a protest petition to the Premier the Hon.

Sir John Swan.

They want Government to buy the Waterville Park ramp off the Trust and allow it to be used for free.

But Mr. Robert Duffy, the Trust's horticultural officer, yesterday hit back at the protesters.

He said the ramp -- used for launching boats into Hamilton Harbour -- was meant for recreational use, not commercial.

A licence fee was introduced in 1991 for boat trailing services because they were "abusing'' the privilege of using the site.

Companies were using heavier and heavier trailers for towing away boats, Mr.

Duffy said.

"We were getting complaints from people in the area,'' he said.

He added the $500 fee was based on the number of boats launched at the site.

It amounted to about $5 per use.

Alternatively, there was a $25 charge for each individual use.

The ramp on Pomander Road was donated to the Trust about 15 years ago by the Trimingham family.

Boat repair businesses had been allowed to use it for free until three years ago.

Mr. Scott Johnson, who runs Johnson's Outboard Marine Services in Church Street, said he had offered to pay the Trust $200, but had been turned down.

And he claimed the Trust had promised to build a dock and slipway at the site.

"But they have done totally nothing. It's not even a proper ramp. It's just stones and rock down there.'' Mr. Johnson said he was now refusing to pay the licence -- even though the decision had hit his business. He was now forced to use ramps at Riddells Bay or Devil's Hole. This was incovenient for himself and customers.

Mr. Johnson pointed out his business was seasonal, and dropped dramatically from November to March.

"During the off-season the ramp is not used very much, so why should we have to pay for it? "Government should purchase the land from the National Trust and let us use it for free again.'' Mr. Johnson rejected Trust suggestions he should pass on the fee to his customers.

Mr. Mark Selley, from Selley's Boat Trailer Service, accused the Trust of building a Berlin Wall around the site by fencing it off, and locking it.

He said the $25 charge to unlock the gate was of limited use.

"We can't get the key during weekends or after 4 p.m. weekdays,'' he explained.

Mr. Selley described the ramp as so rocky it damaged the axles of trailers.

"It's really nothing but a wild-life area for ducks. It's ludicrous to charge us $500, and I have never agreed to pay for a licence. I use other ramps.'' Mr. Anthony Mello, who runs his own boat trailing service, said he had used the ramp for 25 years.

"It's just too much. The Trust should do more for people instead of worrying about how much money they can make.'' Mr. Duffy, however, said the Turst had originally agreed to allow boat businesses to use the land for free -- provided they maintained the area, acting as wardens.

"They declined to do that, and we waited a long time before we introduced the licence fee.'' CASH CRUNCH -- Mr. Scott Johnson, left, and Mr. Mark Selley, stand at the gate blocking access to the Paget ramp.