Boatyards on Erie or St Clair

Blueone

Blueone

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jan 24, 2007
13,791
Lake Erie, Ohio
Boat Info
2004 420 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins 6CTA 450's
You see down in Florida for example where you can go and have your hull painted, interior redone, fiberglass repair, hydraulic lift installed...bow thruster installation... places you can go and get a refit of high quality work.
Where are these places on the Great Lakes?... Do they exist?... is there a one go to place?
 
Last edited:
I have seen the work being done in Mac Ray Harbor (both Bow Thruster installs and hydraulic Swim Platform installation) however I did not pay much attention as to who was doing the work.
 
rumrunner said:
I have seen the work being done in Mac Ray Harbor (both Bow Thruster installs and hydraulic Swim Platform installation) however I did not pay much attention as to who was doing the work.
Click to expand...
I have seen the same thing there and some big boats but they put them in the parking lot and go to town with subcontractors. Belle Maer next door has canvas and fiberglass repair onsite...but not a proper boat yard if you know what I mean
 
Blueone said:
You see down in Florida for example where you can go and have your hull painted, interior redone, fiberglass repair, hydraulic lift installed...bow thruster installation... places you can go and get a refit of high quality work.
Where are these places on the Great Lakes?... Do they exist?... is there a one go to place?
Click to expand...

Same at this end of the lake. The couple of the larger dealers are getting better with diesel, but they all allow in a couple of independents to do diesel work as well as Cat and Cummins etc. The canvas guys are all independent, as well as most of the good fiberglass guys. .
There isn't enough of a market to support one stop refit around us. About 5 years ago when a few of us were thinking of forming a group to bid on our marina lease from the state, research showed that there were less than 200 registered boats in Erie county 40' or larger.
 
I think that part of the difference between GL and FL marinas aside from the lack of larger yachts up here is how common marinas equipped with lifts are. If you think about it, most decent-sized marinas up here can lift boats, and probably lift and launch every boat in the marina each season. That makes it easier to distribute services across many facilities.

There are areas in FL where only about 1 in 5 or fewer of the marinas have have a strap lift.
 
Colony Marine in Saint Clare Shores, I would imagine they have a full service or could point you in the right direction.
 
Blueone said:
That is where I bought the boat so know them well...not alot of inhouse services
Click to expand...
I bought my 1st SeaRay, 16’ Jet Boat from them also, thought I was on top of the world.
Steve Yzerman was in the showroom, so I got to meet him, that made my day even better.
 
Blueone said:
You see down in Florida for example where you can go and have your hull painted, interior redone, fiberglass repair, hydraulic lift installed...bow thruster installation... places you can go and get a refit of high quality work.
Where are these places on the Great Lakes?... Do they exist?... is there a one go to place?
Click to expand...
C3B49088-512B-4AB9-94F5-014A419D1003_sRGB.JPG

Northshore Marina in Grand Haven does total refits including all mechanical/electrical work on boats up to around 60-70 feet, maybe larger. They have a dedicated paint shop for large boats. Work quality is first rate.
 
Brands Marina in Port Clinton can do most of the items on your list and over the years have turned out some very impressive jobs from complete rebuilds to engine work. Call Bryan or stop by. 419-734-4212
 
Blueone said:
You see down in Florida for example where you can go and have your hull painted, interior redone, fiberglass repair, hydraulic lift installed...bow thruster installation... places you can go and get a refit of high quality work.
Where are these places on the Great Lakes?... Do they exist?... is there a one go to place?
Click to expand...
I agree Blue, I hear these guys talking about the boatyard performing work. Boatyard? What the hell is that, lol. Everything is outside contractors that you bring in. Not sure if that’s the better option or not. It would be nice to have a one stop shop though.
Florida Bow Thrusters usually handles platforms and thruster work in MacRays.
 
New Horizon said:
Brands Marina in Port Clinton can do most of the items on your list and over the years have turned out some very impressive jobs from complete rebuilds to engine work. Call Bryan or stop by. 419-734-4212
Click to expand...
I was just at Brands the other day...some guy I met at a bar in Port Clinton a couple weeks ago said he kept his boat there and I should check it out. I see they put in a new pool and supposedly a tiki bar coming this summer.. but the marina itself needs a bit of an upgrade...a lot of sailboaters in there. I never checked out the service department I will put it on the list
 
Blueone: Brands is not your CIC or Skipper Buds. It is a boatyard. I have been there for three decades in the covered wells which is the one big reason I love it. If your looking for things like fiberglass repair, paint jobs, major engine work, thrusters etc. my personal opinion is they are excellent. Kevin, the paint and fiberglass guy has been there for over 30 years and really knows his stuff. I will bet you cannot find a better guy in this area. Davy and others there are excellent on engines and general things pertaining to the bilge. I have no interest in the place other than they have painted 6 previous boats of mine and have provided maintenance all these years. Your right, not the prettiest marina and yes lot a sail boaters but for me being under cover and all the above I can look the other way at some things. Good luck
 
New Horizon said:
Blueone: Brands is not your CIC or Skipper Buds. It is a boatyard. I have been there for three decades in the covered wells which is the one big reason I love it. If your looking for things like fiberglass repair, paint jobs, major engine work, thrusters etc. my personal opinion is they are excellent. Kevin, the paint and fiberglass guy has been there for over 30 years and really knows his stuff. I will bet you cannot find a better guy in this area. Davy and others there are excellent on engines and general things pertaining to the bilge. I have no interest in the place other than they have painted 6 previous boats of mine and have provided maintenance all these years. Your right, not the prettiest marina and yes lot a sail boaters but for me being under cover and all the above I can look the other way at some things. Good luck
Click to expand...
Thanks....that is why I was in there was to look at the covered slips....were the slips under water last spring ?
 
in my area on the Ohio River marinas are few, none easy on the eyes so much. However i have a covered slip and would never think going back out in the weather. Its nice to be able to enjoy working
on the boat or just drinking beer in the rain or even when the sun is burning down. We keep a gas grill
on the dock and full size fridge, all nice for a big meal.
 
RBB said:
in my area on the Ohio River marinas are few, none easy on the eyes so much. However i have a covered slip and would never think going back out in the weather. Its nice to be able to enjoy working on the boat or just drinking beer in the rain or even when the sun is burning down. We keep a gas grill on the dock and full size fridge, all nice for a big meal.
Click to expand...

This was me a few years ago when I was up there with the rifraf on St Clair :) ... really loved the covered slip
IMG_9459.jpg
IMG_9154.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: RBB
Blueone:Only the covered slips down toward the river had a little water once over the dock, about an inch. The covered slips down there are just slightly lower which is why that happens. I am up toward the ships store and had no water over the docks last year. THat is not the case in the open "stationary" docks by the pool. They were flooded. Just a caveat emptor though. If your thinking of going under cover the sparrows (birds) love to leave deposits on boats under cover in the spring but it tappers off after that. Spiders are another issue come July. They do spray for them which helps greatly. All in all, being under cover pays for itself in maintenance on your boat IMHO. That is why you see older models still looking like new plus when it rains your can continue to work outside on your boat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,119
Messages
1,426,565
Members
61,036
Latest member
Randy S
Back
Top