Amenities & Fun
Guest services
Wi-Fi, parking, dinghy and bike storage, safety resources and the spring salmon net pen.
Wireless internet
Wi-Fi service is available for the season. Current rate: $95 for the summer season (May – October). For a seasonal subscription, email or call Wade at the shipyard to set up your access and we will bill your account.
The pricing for our Wi-Fi is less than other options available in the area. This is intended to be a recreational service; those who need large bandwidth for business or downloading movies may need to explore another option. Contact Wade Eldean if you lose your log-on info or need to reset your password. You can connect from most anywhere in the marina and in our storage buildings — winter too.
Wi-Fi signup
Parking
Permits, lots and the parking garage
Parking permits are required. For security, and to make sure there are enough spaces for our customers, please place a parking sticker in the lower left-hand corner of your windshield. Stickers are available at the ship store, and temporary permits are available for your guests.
- Window stickers are $20 each, limit 3 per boat slip.
- Replacement stickers: bring in your old sticker after a new car or windshield and we'll trade you.
- Indoor parking is generally available Memorial Day to Labor Day in storage buildings #1 and #7; building #1 is exclusively for cars with parking stickers.
- If you plan on cruising past Labor Day, move your car out of the storage buildings — we begin moving boats inside.
- Waterfront parking in front of A-Dock is reserved for boat owners; guests should park in the gravel lot across the street.
- Race crew should park across the street so waterfront spaces stay available to boat owners.
- Only boaters and guests from A and Z docks may park in the east-end gravel lot; no trailers there from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
- On busy weekends guest passes will be directed to the parking garage (#7) on the south side of the road.
- Your permit is for visiting the marina — it does not allow parking for the beach or for visiting cottages.
Dinghies
Dinghies are a great way to putz around the marina, Lake Mac and the beach. Please keep your dinghy within your own slip. If there is not room in your slip for both your boat and your dinghy, then you do not have room for a dinghy and will need to make other arrangements — stop in and talk with Angela or Wade.
A few common problems: don't tie the dinghy off the stern so it hangs out the back of the slip, where it impairs other boaters when docking and may get damaged; if a dinghy is tied between two boats, make sure it is not repeatedly bumping your neighbor's boat; and make sure it is not positioned underneath an air conditioning or bilge pump through-hull fitting.
Dinghy and inflatable storage on the pavement adjacent to the playground is specifically reserved for mooring customers; other arrangements can be made to store your dinghy. All dinghies should be labeled with slip or mooring number and customer name — unmarked dinghies will be disposed of. A dinghy ramp is located between the playground and the pool; be careful, as the ramp can be slippery. The small beach next to the Piper building also works well for launching a dinghy or kayak.
Bikes
There are plenty of bike paths and scenic roads for great rides. Go explore on your own, or ask around and we'll point you in the right direction.
Bikes should be locked and stored inside the parking garage, on your boat, or in a bike rack. Please do not leave bikes on any of the long main docks (A–Z); there isn't enough space for traffic, dock carts and people to mingle.
The salmon fish-stocking program
For many years we have hosted the DNR fish-stocking program. Each year 45,000 Chinook salmon are held at the foot of A-Dock in a net pen. They usually arrive in April and stay with us up to 4 weeks, arriving at about 3 inches and leaving at 5 or 6 inches. The longer they stay, the more likely the fish imprint to Lake Macatawa and return to spawn in 4 years. There are usually three daily feedings — 7 AM, noon and 7 PM — where you can watch the fish eat. Because of changing fish counts the DNR often moves stocking locations; when they do stock here, you will see the net pen at the base of A-Dock in the spring.
Safety
Boating safety & education
An educated boater is a better boater. A few resources we recommend, and a word about life jackets.
Great Lakes Cruising Club
Cruisers helping cruisers — find remote anchorages, navigate locks and waterways, hone skills via online webinars and connect with other cruisers. glcclub.com
America's Boating Club
A wide range of boating courses and seminars for all levels: boat handling, navigation, rules and regulations, marine electronics and maintenance — in the classroom, online and on the water. americasboatingclub.org
Boaters University
Programs emphasizing boating education, water safety and environmental awareness. boatersuniversity.com
Life jacket safety
Small children and those who are not strong swimmers should wear life jackets while on docks and boats. Even good swimmers may panic when falling in the water or could hit their head on the way down, and with low lake levels it is more difficult to pull yourself out. Please familiarize yourself with the locations of swim ladders.
All the Eldean kids wore life jackets until they could prove they weren't necessary — the test was swimming from the end of C-Dock to the gas dock and getting out of the water. Fortunately for your kids, life jackets are much more comfortable than most of us remember. Check out our ship store for the most comfortable fitting life vest.
Ready to reserve your spot?
Tell us about your boat and we'll send slip availability, storage options and pricing.