Reviews: Ludington Municipal Marina/Harbor View Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Oct 5, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

The Ludington Municipal Marina was a very pleasant stop. The fixed docks are very sturdy, well-protected, and well maintained. The marina dock hands were immediately at the slip to help with the lines, and the marina has a lot of very friendly locals. The docks are well-lighted at night. There is a lot of open grass areas around the property, to include the very large Ludington Waterfront Park, so the marina is very pet friendly. We did not use the restrooms/showers, so we cannot comment, but WiFi worked well, and their fuel prices were very reasonable. The marina is located at the foot of town, with a lot restaurant cuisine choices and local shopping.

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Reviewed by: MARK GLOVER , Cool Change, on Sep 28, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 4

Nice marina with fuel and pump out easily accessible as you come in. Nice lounge, laundry and bathrooms. Great view of the harbor and S/S Badger. Only stayed the night ….but would stay again.

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Reviewed by: Kevin Williams , m/v Blue Tortuga, on Sep 11, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Stayed here for multiple days due to weather. Marina has everything you need- not super fancy but solid docks, electric and friendly staff. Showers / Restrooms clean. Ludington itself is a gem with several great things including the S/S Badger, one of the best maritime museums we've been to and of course House of Flavors. Lots of fun things in the immediate area.

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Reviewed by: Paul Steindorf , Ohana, on Jul 27, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Helpful dock hands. Clean bathrooms. Docks and power pedestals in decent shape. Marina location great for access to shopping streets, restaurants, beaches, and parks. Fun to watch the Badger! Very good maritime museum. Decent bicycling town. Not close to any good grocery.

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Reviewed by: Douglas Morrow , Ripple, on Jul 23, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Rustic marina with lots of fishermen. There are charcoal grills and washers and dryers available. There is a nearby park. Ludington is a bigger town with shops and restaurants although some closed on a Sunday.

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Reviewed by: Lori Pickette on Sep 15, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 37'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 3

Minor current from the lake. Fixed finger docks are narrow but in relatively good condition. Single sex, password protected bath/showers are clean. Downtown is an easy walk away with a few restaurants. Marina has boaters lounge and laundry but we didn't use either.

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Reviewed by: Tom Taylor on Jul 17, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 0.0'

Rating: 5

Fine marina, and town. Easy walk to downtown. The sailings of the ferry "Badger" a daily event. Very interesting maritime museum. Children's museum kept the grandkids interested for two days. A good beach.

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Reviewed by: Graeme Walker , Confirmed Aquaholic, on Oct 21, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Spent a lot of time in Ludington waiting for engine work to be completed, not their issue. Very competent and friendly staff. Great maritime museum. Long walk to almost everything as transient is furthest out, good exercise however, great ice-cream store. Have done a good job on the whole waterfront.

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Reviewed by: Jim Ward , CLASSEA , on Aug 24, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 41'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

From the moment we arrived it was obvious that the management (Tony) had a well trained, young, helpful crew to manage the lines, secure the boat, handle the fuel dock (conveniently located at end of Dock A) and welcome you to the marina and address any needs you may have . . . The marina itself is conveniently located to the harbor as it's the first one you come to on your port side, almost hidden from your approach . . . Transient docks are separated from the Charter Fishing Boats, who were active during our stay but very respectful of other boaters . . . The facilities include, updated bathrooms and showers . . . Laundry (washers/driers) was $1.00 a load for both . . . Plenty of green space for walking your pet . . . Convenient to downtown restaurants . . . Great viewing area for the SS BADGER! Tony and Crew were GREAT, making our stay enjoyable!

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Reviewed by: Kerry Batty on Aug 14, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 45'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Protected spot in a decent marina. Nice staff. Facilities were fine. We were stuck an extra day due to bad weather so we made use of the facilities. 2 washers, 2 dryers - but they have a change machine! Showers were fine. Other boaters were super friendly! Lots of dogs at this marina!

Quick walk to town. We had dinner at Sportsman's. Good food & nice waitress. Chef John's Bakery & Cafe for breakfast - it was so busy we grabbed pastries from the case in back to go.

The park along the water was fabulous! After a long day on the boat the kids ran & ran & ran. Great playground!!

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Reviewed by: Dan Hendon , Arcadia, on Aug 12, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 4

Marina is clean and had helpful dock hands at the fuel dock and at the slip. Laundry got an A+ from my wife - they have coffee there too. Restrooms and showers were clean. Short walk to downtown. There are several places to eat (not sure how other reviewers missed them). Some are on James St. which is perpendicular to the main drag. If you walk along the water on the sidewalks past Harbor View marina you'll find Jamesport Brewery which is a favorite of ours. There are others nearby as well. It's a nice walk with great views of the harbor. We've stayed at Harbor View before - it's newer with all floating docks - but it is more expensive. We enjoyed LMM.

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Reviewed by: Linda McCormick on Jul 31, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Fuel, pump out, clean gang washrooms and showers, boater lounge, laundry, close to downtown but groceries are 3 miles away. Nice facilities and helpful dock hands. Interesting location in a parklike setting with sculptures. Fish cleaning station.

Not a provisioning stop, nor did we find restaurants close by.

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Reviewed by: Wade A. on Jul 28, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Stayed one night in July 2022. Just a dock for the night but a good one. Good power and water but no other amenities. No gate security on docks. Dock hands were very helpful. Short walk to downtown. Good dog walking. Good fuel prices when we were there.

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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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Reviewed by: Robert Hansen , Soulmate , on Aug 21, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 60'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 2

Ludington Municipal Marina was a disappointment.

First, I called 20,minutes ahead to get dock information. Upon arrival no Marina staff was there and a nearby boater helped us at the dock.

Second, the 50 amp power didn't work from our power pedestal. It did on the pedestal across the dock. I later found out this is a recurring problem on the dock.

Third, I went to pay for dockage at at the brick building in the front adjacent to the marina to the parking lot. A Marina patron let me know the "office" is at the end of the fuel dock, 5 slips away from my dock. I walked back to the "office" and saw 3 of 4 high school age boys charging and texting on their phones. Not one of them came out to assist us as we entered the harbor.

The marina docks and grounds are clean and in very nice condition.

The WiFi service was satisfactory.

We didn't use the bathrooms as they're far away from the outer docks.

The Ludington waterfront sidewalks and parks are very nice.

The business district was about 5 blocks from the west side of the marina. It was disappointing as it lacks places to dine and there are few good stores in what appears to be a business district.

Upon departing in the morning, I received a call from a marina person stating I didn't pay. I informed her I did. She said she didn't see the paperwork.

If you need a dock for the night, this marina will do. If you're looking for more, there are much better marinas and cities north and south of Ludington.

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Reviewed by: Robert Hansen , Soulmate , on Aug 19, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 60'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 2

Ludington Municipal Marina was a disappointment.

First, I called 20,minutes ahead to get dock information. Upon arrival no Marina staff was there and a nearby boater helped us at the dock.

Second, the 50 amp power didn't work from our power pedestal. It did on the pedestal across the dock. I later found out this is a recurring problem.

Third, I went to pay for dockage at at the brick building in the front adjacent to the marina to the parking lot. A Marina patron let me know the "office" is at the end of the fuel dock, 5 slips away from my dock. I walked back to the "office" and saw 3 of 4 high school age boys charging and texting on their phones. Not one of them came out to assist us as we entered the harbor.

The marina docks and grounds are clean and in very nice condition.

The WiFi service was satisfactory.

We didn't use the bathrooms as they're far away from the outer docks.

The Ludington waterfront sidewalks and parks are very nice.

The business district was about 5 blocks from the west side of the marina. It was disappointing as it lacks places to dine and there are few quality shopping opportunities.

Upon departing in the morning, I received a call from a marina person stating I didn't pay. I informed her I did. She said she didn't see the paperwork.

If you need a dock for the night, this marina will do. If you're looking for more, there are much better marinas and cities north and south of Ludington.

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Reviewed by: Tina Pickell on May 19, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 62'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Young friendly staff were eager to provide fuel and pump out before assisting with dockage. Being early in the season, they may have been training for the busy summer ahead. They were careful pulling fuel lines over the deck, trying to avoid any mess. The water level is high this early summer, so the fixed docks and wall are very close to the water surface (about a foot at the docks, and less at the wall). The facilities at the marina are outstanding-- clean rest rooms, large fishing cleaning station. Short walk into town for a good number of restaurant choices.

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Reviewed by: Jim McKnight on Sep 10, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

This is our home base marina & the staff is always very helpful, polite & knowledgeable. The facilities are top notch including a laundry area & a great fish cleaning station. We highly recommend this marina.

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Reviewed by: Art Gonzales on Jul 24, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

We love coming to this marina. Always friendly, clean and excellent location. Enjoy the fishing too!

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Reviewed by: Mike Powers on May 15, 2017
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 52'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Stopped for the night while transiting the area. Phoned the marina when we arrived at Ludington (no response to hails on VHF-FM CH09). Went to the fuel dock to fill out tanks - marina crew helped us dock, take on fuel, and helped us to our dock for the night - they were very friendly and helpful! Their facilities were excellent - both showers and restrooms were very clean. The grounds and docks area excellent. I would return when next in the area!

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