Grand Haven

Not to change topics completely, but what are your thoughts on the new waterfront stadium? I thought it was a vast improvement over the metal bleachers. Great crowds this year!
 
Not to change topics completely, but what are your thoughts on the new waterfront stadium? I thought it was a vast improvement over the metal bleachers. Great crowds this year!
I like it as well. Our riverfront just keeps getting better. Lots of generous people in West Michigan.
 
Figure out how to cure the surge at the Municipal docks, and it would be almost perfect. Got beat up again this year. Love Grand Haven, though.
 
Figure out how to cure the surge at the Municipal docks, and it would be almost perfect. Got beat up again this year. Love Grand Haven, though.
Spent a night once in slip 1 during a gale force wind that came up. Never take that slip.
 
I agree. Tough to stay there when the surge is coming up river.
Not sure what your thoughts are about the dinghy dock situation there in the city marina, but we have voiced our concerns, and have made a number of suggestions to the marina manager this year. There is not enough space to tie up zodiacs on that short end of the dock. They could easily add a floating dock for dinghies only, between the charter docks and the current dinghy dock.....
 
Grand Haven is not a particularly well run city marina. They have installed docks that are two short for many of us to use, only to tear them out a few seasons later once they realized the mistake. The dock hands like to sit in the office instead of helping people come in. I've even had my reserved slip taken by an unauthorized boater and missed my dinner reservation because the harbor master was too timid to ask the person to move out of my slip. We don't use the marina much any more but when we do, we notice it is not as user friendly as most of the places up north. The city needs to put someone in charge of it who has experience taking care of transient boater and who understands how the better places are run. Frankfort, Leland, Charlevoix and Harbor Springs all do a nicer job of taking care of the public.
 
I wonder if they'll add docks to the other side of the river now with the land deal done on that dune area. Could be another neat destination in Grand Haven.

I use the dinghy dock in Grand Haven quite a lot. It was interesting this year to see that they removed the cleats from the river side of the dock. I'm assuming they continue having problems with dinghys ending up in that last slip. But they seemed to make an already tight dock even tighter.
 
I wonder if they'll add docks to the other side of the river now with the land deal done on that dune area. Could be another neat destination in Grand Haven.

I use the dinghy dock in Grand Haven quite a lot. It was interesting this year to see that they removed the cleats from the river side of the dock. I'm assuming they continue having problems with dinghys ending up in that last slip. But they seemed to make an already tight dock even tighter.
I've not heard anyone mention docks on that side of the river. Interesting idea. There is not much over there for transients, but it is a very nice nature area. There is a long range plan for its improvement but I believe it is slated to remain as a nature area. At one time there was discussion of condos and a marina with Lake Michigan access. That was short lived.
 
What length are the muni slips? We like staying at Holiday Isle.

MM
Slips vary in length. 75-80 foot boats fit in the larger ones and the marina can accommodate most sized boats from 18 feet on up. The fixed docks are used for larger vessels and the floating docks for the smaller. We are 38 feet over all and can fit in the floating docks which are very nice and much more protected from surges than the fixed. The facility is very nice.
 
Slips vary in length. 75-80 foot boats fit in the larger ones and the marina can accommodate most sized boats from 18 feet on up. The fixed docks are used for larger vessels and the floating docks for the smaller. We are 38 feet over all and can fit in the floating docks which are very nice and much more protected from surges than the fixed. The facility is very nice.

Thanks, We have stayed there but it was years ago.

MM
 
I haven't had a problem with the marina. Albeit my slip is right across the river. But when we ask for a slip for a couple hours (when they are not busy), they normally accommodate us. They moved the cleats to the other side of the dinghy dock to supposedly keep dinghies from going into that first slip. That didn't work. Pentwater has a perfect dinghy set up.
If enough people contact the marina manager, and the city of GH, maybe something will get done(?).
 
We are across the river also at North Shore and quite often will just tie the Dinghy up to the wall to grab a quick dinner but it gets so dirty, use the Dinghy dock when going to the farmers market on Saturdays. The municipal is run by the DNR, I don’t know if complaining to the City of Grand Haven will do much, the marina manager could be a good sounding board. I know that the DNR is always looking for ways to improve their docks.
Docks across the river would really stir-up the environmentalists ! Great nature trails all through those dunes that we like to take walks on.
 
Photo of the new stadium i took this summer
DJI_0025-1.jpg
 
That, Sir, is an understatement. LOL

MM
They would also be expensive to maintain. The ice would likely take them out every year, so there would need to be some way of removing them in the fall. Water is pretty deep there so floating docks would need engineering solutions that could be expensive as well.
 
They would also be expensive to maintain. The ice would likely take them out every year, so there would need to be some way of removing them in the fall. Water is pretty deep there so floating docks would need engineering solutions that could be expensive as well.

The ice doesn't take out the docks at Grand Isle?? Well....a few got smoked a few years back I suppose.

I'm sure this is a pipe dream. It's fun to talk about. It would be interesting if they could use those existing pilings for future docks but this all seems a bit far fetched the more I type :)
 

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