Reviews: Mentor Harbor Yachting Club-PRIVATE

Reviewed by: Kevin Williams , m/v Blue Tortuga, on Jul 29, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Enjoyed this very nice setting a lot. On the entrance found in other reviews- it's not much of an issue except if you have a strong sustained NE wind building into the entrance. Its more of a visual thing than an actual hazard, but care should be taken. This is a very busy marina, so it can't be that bad. There are 2 different sides to the marina- I'll call it the main side and the island side. I'd request the island side because it has much better protection. The only way to get off the island side is by A) dingy or the marina staff will pick you up in their very cool electric picnic boat. When we called for the ferry boat it was there in minutes. Local members are courteous and engaging. Pool is incredible.

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Reviewed by: Phillip Hopkins , Castaway, on Aug 16, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 33'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

The approach in the channel is a bit scary, but once past it everything else was great! Went to gas dock as directed and doc hands were very helpful (both at gas dock and at slip). Nice beach to sit at and chill out and even have a fire! It was an all around great experience for us.

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Reviewed by: Capt Sam , Here's To Us, on Aug 13, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

3 Aug 2023. This is a great Yacht Club with a wonderful restaurant. The dock hands met us at the gas dock as we were instructed to do. We got in about 2:30 p.m. and they said they had a slip for us. However because we were leaving early in the morning we asked to stay on the wall in front of the restaurant and they allowed us to do this. The restaurant and bar in the club are worth a trip to see. It was a Thursday night and there was a lot of activity and a band however everything ended around 10:00 p.m. We did get a little rolly during the night. The entrance could be a little tricky in rough weather so be prepared for that. I have heard that there is a project to redo the break wall. Wi-Fi was great. T-Mobile and Verizon signals were marginal but enough for texts and sometimes voice. The water on the wall at our pedestal did not work but I was able to use the nearby pedestal to run a hose and clean the boat. Sam & Rev on Here's To Us!!, 50' Carver at WhatYachtToDo.com

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Reviewed by: Tom Anderson on Aug 2, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

This is a very nice yacht club with good facilities and a busy social schedule. We ended up here after checking with several other marinas that had no available slips. My observations are based upon a three day stay while waiting out a windy and rough Lake Erie.

This is not a harbor entrance to take lightly in anything other than a calm sea. Any wind with a northerly component can make passage a challenge. Expect a tolerable roll at the dock. There is a very active sailing club here so be prepared for a heavy presence of novice sailors around the entrance.

A journey away from the harbor for any reason will require a vehicle. It was a bit of a challenge getting a Ride-share service to pick us up. We never did find a taxi service. While the Club has a very nice restaurant it was booked for our time there leaving zero local options off the boat.

The dock staff were friendly but very inexperienced. Be prepared to give very specific docking instructions.

We commiserated with four other boaters and came to the conclusion that this club has several vacant slips across the channel that require a launch service to the club facilities. They have chosen to rent them out to transient boaters but seem to take their needs for granted. The main contact person is a bit passive aggressive and provides little in the way of assistance or communication. In short, a good stop that could be a much better experience with a little customer service.

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Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Jul 31, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Mentor Harbor Yachting Center is everything you would want in a yacht club. Clubhouse, dining room, docks with tender service from dawn to late in the evening, gas dock, nice facilities that are clean and a staff that is there to help. Security, cleanliness, pool, and, in the summer, even a sailing camp and open area barbecue pits are the norm. Floating docks, good electricity and water, clean bathrooms and showers and a staff that takes care of everything on a daily basis. Pool and private restaurant including launch service. Good Cellular for AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. Pet friendly with a private park off the end of the pier overlooking the lake. What is not to love???

The only negatives that we found were that the transient slips are a little tight (17.5 feet wide) and the fairways are a little narrow for boats over 45 feet. Care needs to be taken. The club is an easy off and on the lake but this means that, given winds with any northerly component, will build swells that will find their way into the harbor. In bad weather the docks can experience swells coming into the harbor. We spend two nights with a bit of swell passing under the boat. Nothing terrible, but not comfortable.

Would we come back as transients? Yes. If we lived here would we join? Yes.

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Reviewed by: Jeffrey Brown , Sea Tiger, on Jul 29, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 4

The harbor includes the Mentor Harbor Yachting Club and municipal Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Marina. Channel entrance is reduced in half by a seawall extension presumably to protect the inner harbor, be mindful of boat traffic. The Mentor Harbor Yachting Club and its fuel dock is located immediately on the right. On July 23, I paid $3.99/gallon diesel. I did not patronize the facilities of the club which looked very nice. I surmise transients are placed across the turning basin which access to club facilities is by a ferryboat. At the end of the transient pier ring the bell for transfer; to return arrange transfer at the fuel dock. At the transient location is a restroom and shower facility. Water depth is 10 feet at the transient slip.

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Reviewed by: Robert Webb , Doc's Aweigh, on Jun 8, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Excellent stop. Facilities well maintained. Helpful dock hands. Took us in for refuge from thunderstorm and decided to stay overnight. Quiet, well protected but small harbor. Restaurant closed unfortunately when we were there. Definitely a good stop.

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Reviewed by: Rosita Sellers on Jul 30, 2017
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 2.8'

Rating: 5

Great yacht Club. Facilities are top of the line. Great place for transient boaters and even better to become a member.

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