Amenities & Fun
On the water & around town
Sail, fish or paddle — or explore the beaches and trails just around the corner — whether or not you keep a boat here.
Sailing charters
Captained sailing on Lake Michigan
Deeplake Ventures — charters & captain services
- Captain Jeremy Smith, departing from Eldean Shipyard on a 2000 Catalina 28 MKII.
- Enjoy a relaxing sailing cruise or hands-on sailing instruction. Captain Jeremy is also available to captain your boat so you have more time to enjoy the ride and socialize with your guests.
- Your group departs from slip A-38 (please park across the street in the gravel lot).
- Charter rates: $100 per hour.
- Email jeremy@deeplakeventures.com · Cell 616-403-5491
Nancy Anne Sailing Charters — captained sailboat charters
- Come sailing on Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa aboard the Nancy Anne, a 2013 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 379.
- Enjoy a one-hour cruise after dinner or sail a bit longer for a beautiful sunset. Charters are also available for races and overnight cruises to other ports.
- Pick up at Eldean Shipyard is available.
- Email pnowak342@att.net · Cell 616-403-3896
Fishing charters
Lake Michigan salmon and trout
Charter fishing is offered out of Macatawa and Holland Harbor at Eldean Shipyard by Black Pearl Sportfishing at slip E-12 and Rod Boss Sportfishing at slip E-1.
Black Pearl Sportfishing — slip E-12
Black Pearl Sportfishing is focused on providing fun, safe and successful fishing excursions on Lake Michigan for Chinook (king) salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, lake trout and brown trout. The Black Pearl is a fully inspected, licensed and outfitted charter vessel.
- 6-hour morning or afternoon salmon & trout charter: $650 for 4 people, $50 more per person up to 6.
- 8-hour full day (6 AM – 2 PM): $850 for 4 people, $50 more per person up to 6.
- Captain Mark Rapson — 517-449-5543, hollandsportfishing@gmail.com
Rod Boss Sportfishing — slip E-1
- Fishing Lake Michigan out of Holland, Michigan.
- Chinook and coho salmon, steelhead, lake trout and brown trout.
- 6-hour morning or afternoon salmon & trout charter: $700.
- All day (8 hour maximum): $850.
- Captain Mike Flinsky — call to reserve your date.
Rentals
Paddle boards, kayaks, bikes and boats
Mac Adventures provides paddle board, kayak, bike and boat rentals at the shipyard. High quality, comfortable equipment with outstanding service, and easy access to both Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa.
You can usually find them in their rental trailer — weekends in May from 10 AM – 6 PM, and June through Labor Day from 9 AM – 8 PM — or helping customers with rental boats at slips R-5, R-6, R-7 and R-8.
Phone 616-377-8322 · Email Info@macadventuresllc.com
Beaches
Where to find the sand
Ottawa Beach & State Park — Ottawa Beach Road
This 142-acre site is one of Michigan's most popular. The facility includes restrooms, parking, camping, a picnic area with benches and tables, grills, playground equipment, volleyball and badminton, a scenic walkway, river and lake frontage, and a pier.
The park is on the Holland north pier, a stone's throw from Eldean Shipyard — though to drive or bike you'll have to go around the entire Lake Macatawa. It is possible to anchor off Ottawa Beach; just stay outside the swim buoys.
More information: Park Township office, (616) 399-4520.
Laketown Township Beach & Dunes — 6710 142nd Avenue
Climb the steps at Laketown Beach for a spectacular view of Lake Michigan. The stairway leading up and over the dune protects the fragile dune environment while giving visitors access to the lake. This is one of the largest dunes in our area; it has been covered in dune grass for preservation and visitors are no longer allowed to climb the dune's face. The beach is seldom crowded. By boat it is about halfway between the Holland and Saugatuck piers, and on weekends you will see boats anchored in front.
Directions: from the shipyard, turn onto 32nd Street. After the curve, turn right onto 66th Street and continue south about 3 miles. After the curvy section where you pass a lake on the east side, turn right (west) at 142nd Street; the road ends at the dune.
Nature trails
Sanctuary Woods Preserve
Just around the corner is a beautiful 40-acre nature preserve with wooded walking trails that overlooks Eldean Shipyard. You can see both Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan from the top of this dune. A creek runs through the lower portion of the park, and about 200 steps take you to the top, where several trails and spectacular views await. Birds, deer, squirrels, turkeys, raccoons and chipmunks all inhabit the preserve.
The former Interurban Railway passed through this site and part of the old bridge remains. The Interurban brought vacationers from Chicago and Grand Rapids to Macatawa from around 1898 until 1926.
Directions: from the shipyard, turn onto 32nd Street. After the curve, turn right onto 66th Street; the park entrance is about ¼ mile south on the right (west) side of the road. More information: Laketown Township office, 616-335-3050.
Ready to reserve your spot?
Tell us about your boat and we'll send slip availability, storage options and pricing.