Michigan Harbor Advice

Kyle L

New Member
Sep 2, 2018
5
Boat Info
2004 Sea Ray Sundancer 280
Engines
Twin 4.3L Mercury
We are already looking forward to some weekend trips from Chicago to Michigan, what harbors would everyone recommend in Michigan? Looking for something within 3-4 hr boat ride from Chicago. We did New Buffalo last year and had a great time, what other locations does everyone enjoy?
 
South Haven is a ton of fun. Saugatuck too, but harder to find dockage. And then Grand Haven. Grand Haven is about the furthest you'll be able to go with a 3-4 hour max drive goal. Anything else I'd consider enjoyable to the north of Grand Haven is quite a sail.

I did the opposite last year and had a blast. From Grand Haven to South Haven and then on to DuSable for a 3 night stay. Had a blast. South Haven was a highlight for us but only because we've done Saugatuck before. Both are really enjoyable towns on the water. Many options in both.

Eventually you should consider extending your sail time and make a week of it going north. Getting up to areas like Frankfurt, Leland, Manitou islands...man those are some really, really cool places.
 
I'll also put a plug in for Grand Haven and South Haven. We've done a few days stints in each and plan to be back! Everything within walking distance from the public marinas. That being said, the further north you go, the nicer it gets.

Also, St Joe isn't much further than New Buffalo and has a nice beach, old time carousel, Silver Beach Pizza and nice downtown.
 
With the 280DA in ideal conditions I would say all of the recommendation mentioned above are great, South Haven is one of our favorite. With the water levels projected for next year most all of the marinas mentioned have fixed docks and water will be at dock level or above. Last year we had to cancel New Buffalo because water was above docks. Check before you go.
 
I like South Haven and Grand Haven and especially Saugatuck. Saugatuck built a new dinghy dock just north of Sargents Marine last summer. We anchored 3 times last summer and used the dinghy dock. The restaurants, shops and music is awesome. All of downtown is set up as an old quaint Michigan village. I would highly recommend them. Tower Marina is on the south side of the river. They are about $70 a night. Sargents is a bit more money but tough to get into as it is on the north side and next to town. There are multiple larger yachts anchored out almost every weekend. Dinghy into shore and be right in the heart of everything. Don’t listen to the hype about Coral Gables. It’s old and run down. Kind of a 1980 type watering hole. Bowdies Chop House, pumpernickels, Morrows, The Butler are all great food. Most weekends there is live music and outdoor seating.

South Haven is pretty nice but once you have been down Main Street you are done except for the partying at Admiral Jacks or Captain Lou’s. Both places are on the river and have dinghy docks. Plenty of festivals all summer long. Municipal marine is usually easy to get into.

Grand Haven is the longest sail but is also a blast. You can tie up to the wall downtown for about $10 a night. No hookups but right in the action. You would be within a block of all food and bars. There is also good anchorage across the river. A dinghy is essential. Really tough getting a spot on the wall during Coast Guard festival or July 4th weekend. If you make reservations early you can get into municipal marina. As mentioned in another post the water levels will be in question. Could be a lot of docks underwater at all 3 of these ports
 
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Water levels are going to be very interesting this year. I'd imagine South Haven will be the most impacted (negatively) if we go wicked high? As mentioned above you can anchor out in Saugatuck within a short dinghy ride to town, Grand Haven also has plenty of anchorage on the river or even up in Spring Lake. But South Haven...not so much. Mostly fixed docks and all narrow river? The municipal marina on the south side of the river is just one good gust of wind away from being under water already :)
 
Last year the end slips in Sargents (Saugatuck) were under water. Thankfully, we were able to move further up the wall to higher slips. This year should definitely be interesting.
I haven't been to South Haven, but based on the feedback here, that may be a trip for this summer. I love up north. Definitely need more than a few hours, but worth the time.
 
I don't mean to instill thread drift into this discussion but I'm curious about why more marinas don't install floating docks. They are the norm out here but don't seem to be used on the Great Lakes.

Any thoughts on this?
 
Last year the end slips in Sargents (Saugatuck) were under water. Thankfully, we were able to move further up the wall to higher slips. This year should definitely be interesting.
I haven't been to South Haven, but based on the feedback here, that may be a trip for this summer. I love up north. Definitely need more than a few hours, but worth the time.

@jsed where are you slipped? My gut tells me South Haven Municipal Marina is out for this year due to water levels. We'd love to go back and Grand Haven for a week...

This is Grand Haven and South Haven, summer 2015. Our last boat barely fit on the floating docks around the bend in Grand Haven....our new boat won't.

upload_2020-1-18_12-40-20.jpeg

upload_2020-1-18_12-40-34.jpeg


@Gofirstclass my thoughts exactly. The last marina we were at had floating wooden docks. Only issue we ever had was they had to extend the pilings as the docks floated off them. Where we're slipped now, fixed metal docks. That's my only complaint about our new marina.
 
@Gofirstclass my thoughts exactly. The last marina we were at had floating wooden docks. Only issue we ever had was they had to extend the pilings as the docks floated off them. Where we're slipped now, fixed metal docks. That's my only complaint about our new marina.[/QUOTE]
I'm surprised at the number of marinas with fixed docks. When my dad was alive he had a boat moored at a marina on the west side of the Saginaw River, just upstream from the bay. They had fixed docks and several times they had to wade through water that was above the docks to get to their boat. Scratching my head over that one.
P3020028.JPG

Our marina was built about 10-11 years ago. All concrete docks, all floating. About 10' wide main docks, 9' wide finger piers. We get about as much water level change as the Great Lakes does and these docks handle it well.
 
I don't mean to instill thread drift into this discussion but I'm curious about why more marinas don't install floating docks. They are the norm out here but don't seem to be used on the Great Lakes.

Any thoughts on this?
Most marinas in Michigan built or updated in the past 20+ years have installed floating dock systems. All state harbors are floating docks...at least the dozen or so I've visited the last several years. Private and municipal facilities aren't as likely to have floating docks. I'm on one of a dozen or so floating docks at Mackinaw City Municipal. Those were updated using state funds but there hasn't been enough funding to convert the entire facility. The state constructed a new facility in town as well.
Straits State Harbor...Mackinaw City
DSCF6028.JPG
 
Most marinas in Michigan built or updated in the past 20+ years have installed floating dock systems. All state harbors are floating docks...at least the dozen or so I've visited the last several years. Private and municipal facilities aren't as likely to have floating docks. I'm on one of a dozen or so floating docks at Mackinaw City Municipal. Those were updated using state funds but there hasn't been enough funding to convert the entire facility. The state constructed a new facility in town as well.
Straits State Harbor...Mackinaw City
View attachment 79026
Love the area. My father has a place over on Duncan Bay and when we have gone that far north by boat, we stayed at Duncan Bay Boat Club. Nice facility.
 

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