Bridge comment on LaBelle (SR 29) Drawbridge

Comment by: Scott Vanderstoep, Hope and Dreams, on Mar 16, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'

The new number is 863-675-2055. The bridge tender said notice of three hours is no longer required. Simply hail on CH 9 as you approach.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  Schedule change confirmed in CFR's. Explorer listing updated.

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Marina Review for Pebble Isle Marina

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep , Hope and Dreams, on Nov 6, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

This is a fabulous stop for loopers or probably anyone taking a river cruise. They give fast response on Dockwa. Good prices. Billy, the senior harbor master, is so kind. He stayed late on a Sunday to help us fuel. At 8:30am the next day he delivered his famous home-made cinnamon rolls. He will bend over backwards to help you. There isn't really a town to go to, but it's bucolic and serene. I am so glad we stopped here.

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Marina Review for Green Turtle Bay Resort (Boat Works)

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep , Hope and Dreams, on Nov 4, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

This marina has everything. Great staff. Shane and the dock and the dock/fuel folks are amazing. There is a courtesy car, golf-cart shuttle, and so much more. Christina in the ship store and service coordinator is also outstanding. She is great at managing the crew of techs, who give prompt and informative service. We stayed five days because we love it so much. A must stay for loopers and anyone else on the Cumberland.

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Marina Review for Heritage Harbor Ottawa

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep , Hope and Dreams, on Oct 13, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Jeremy is the most knowledgeable boatsman on the river we have met so far. His lecture (a bit long for tired loopers) is super informative. And he gives his cell phone number and will respond with advice after you leave. Staff was excellent. And food and drink at Red Dog Grill hit the spot after a long day.

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Marina Review for Hammond Marina

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep , Hope and Dreams, on Oct 13, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

The Hammond folks are overwhelmed. It's a huge marina and it's hard to keep up with bathroom cleaning, and other essentials. The folks at the front desk are very kind. And the price is right. They also will drive you to Wal-Mart if you don't want to walk across the bridge. We thought the casino would be cool to hang out and watch football and have fun. But Indiana allows smoking in their casinos, so we lasted 10 minutes and had to leave. Even the non-smoking section is like the 1980s bars. That was unfortunate.

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Marina Review for Henry Harbor Marina

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep , Hope and Dreams, on Oct 13, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Fran is very responsive and does what she can to fit everyone in. You raft on the old lock wall. We were rafted to a 40', sandwiched between a 92' at the boat and two 60's at the stern. Tight quarters, but it all works. She treats guests like family. Small town but decent restaurants within walking distance. People in Henry are very welcoming of loopers.

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Marina Review for Illinois Valley Yacht Club-PRIVATE

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep , Hope and Dreams, on Oct 13, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 1.5'

Rating: 5

We stayed two nights, tired from the journey from Hammond and several travel days in a row. Ron and Anita are excellent hosts. Great communication. We ate at the yacht club one nights, but it is only open certain nights in the off-season. As others have said, it was very shallow when we were there. My depth gauge read 1'6" in my covered slip. I assume I was sitting on soft silt so be careful when you bring water in for toilet for AS or engine. Water did rise when we were here. Excellent place to stay.

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Marina Review for West Basin Marina

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep , Hope and Dreams, on Sep 27, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 3.6'

Rating: 5

Staff was amazing. They were in the middle of haul-out season but still gave full service. Sheila actually called me after she had an opening and said she had a spot for us. The fuel and pump (only five bucks) is done professionally. I felt like I was at a 1950s Texaco gas station with so many attendants. The showers and bathrooms are clean. And they have two new W&Ds and they are currently free (Sept 2023). They even put out servings of laundry. They will recycle for you, but the only recycle bin is in the service shop across the parking lot, which is open M-F. You can dinghy across the river and tie up at the wall and access Silver Beach Pizza, Silver Harbor Brewing, the beach, and the rest of downtown. This is a great place to stay.

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Marina Review for South Haven Municipal Marina - Southside Marina

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep , Hope and Dreams, on Sep 27, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 3.6'

Rating: 5

Staff is great. Nice boaters' lounge both inside and outside (partially covered)--loopers had a huge docktails gathering there. The locals are super friendly. Marina has bikes, laundry (quarters). No uber or ground transportation. Walking distance to almost anything and lots to do. Marina shop at Gull Lake has essential boat stuff. Coffee, food, drinks are all good. The only thing we needed outside of walking distance was grocery store, which we did with a bike, but it was a bit dicey because a couple of the roads were busy, 10-minute bike ride.

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Marina Review for Ship N Shore Motel Boatel

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep , Hope and Dreams, on Sep 27, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 3.6'

Rating: 5

Marina has lots of space on their wall and only three slips. Courtney is the owner. She was not on the grounds when we were there but is very responsive to texts and phone calls. Staff was very nice. This is also a hotel on land (hence the name Boatel Motel). The hotel has a pool, hot tub, and free breakfast, all of which are available to slip renters. It's expensive, but also a cash discount. The pricing is the same as other marinas, so the prices are about the same as down river in the marinas. We liked the privacy, yet you are still within walking distance to all the cool stuff. It is right next to The BARge restaurant. We really liked it.

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Anchorage Review for Big Bay

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep, Hope and Dreams, on Sep 5, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 3.6'

We are starting the loop in two weeks and had never anchored overnight. This was our first night on the hook (8/31/23). We found 5 to 7 feet in mud. The wind shifted overnight but was mostly quiet. Even on a windy night, the area provides nice protection. You can get pretty shallow without getting too close to houses. It's a one- or two-minute dinghy ride to Yacht Basin Marina, which also is home to Lolo's, an outdoor restaurant. The ship's store is also there, as is Down the Hatch party store (in what locals call the "yellow building"). It's also a brief walk to Playa: Tacos and Tequila for great food. And you can get provisions (and awesome ice cream) at Holland's classic The General Store.

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Marina Review for Frankfort Municipal Marina

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep on Jul 24, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

This town and marina are hidden jewels. Mark was super helpful working with us on weather. We ended up staying 4 nights partly because of the weather. We probably could have left earlier, but we were having too much fun. They are reserve/day-of-arrival folks, so call at 8am if you think you want to stay there that day. And the town is a classic northern Michigan beachside town. Great marina and great stay.

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Marina Review for Manistee Municipal Marina

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep on Jul 24, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

These guys are great. Young staff, but there is always a more experienced person to help at the fuel dock, work the credit card machine. Facilities are very nice. Clubhouse is cool. We were able to do remote work. Internet is intermittent, but rural northern Michigan struggles in general. It worked fairly well most of the time. I would definitely stay here again. The current is rough for docking, but the guys are really fast to come to the dock and help. They are also good about monitoring Channel 9.

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Marina Review for Ludington Municipal Marina/Harbor View Marina

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep on Jul 24, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Stayed July 2022. It's our second trip to Ludington. Easy access. Clean facilities. Close to everything in the town. Staff is great--young but they are experienced and usually a grown-up is on duty to assist. They are very good about monitoring Channel 9, which helps with arrival. Two thumbs up.

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Marina Review for White Lake Municipal Marina

Reviewed by: Scott Vanderstoep on Jul 24, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 3

I don't think this is a great spot for loopers. First, it takes an hour (sail or trawler) to get from the pier head to the marina. The staff, young and not terribly experienced, is very kind and they try very hard. The credit card and reservation software were buggy and it took a while to get things done during check-in. If you stay here, make sure you talk to someone who knows boating. We were put in a very tough slip for our boat. It was inches/feet deep with duck weed and very shallow. It got us very close to the bottom and our thrusters were gummed up and took a while to clean out. They were kind of enough to find us another slip, but not until we first went to the bad slip. I recommend going to the fuel dock first and get a preview of the slip assignment that you're given.

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