Hammond, Indiana, Marina effectively destroyed

[jdkirkk]

About two weeks ago the local newspaper carried an article announcing that the Hammond Marina would close for the 2007 season and that all 900+ boats would have to leave and find new summer and winter slips/storage. (I have yet to recieve anything from the marina itself although I have a 34' sailboat slip there that has been paid for.) This is due to the enlargement of a gambling casino there, and the Mayor of Hammond has made it clear that boat owners are to be given no consideration and they can just go find somewhere else to put their boat. The yacht club will be destroyed and parking greatly reduced as well.
In Lake Michigan I doubt there are 900 slips available, and certainly not within a reasonable distance of this marina. Boat owners are therefore advised not to count on the Hammond marina in your future plans since they are totally irresponsible in their attitude towards the boatowners who have paid millions of dollars over the years to fund this marina. As the saying goes, "don't get mad, get even." Don't ever pay another dime to the city of Hammond to use their marina, take their advise, go somewhere else . . . and stay there.

[Irwin32]

Time to vote everyone out of office. I don't blame you for being angry. There are slips available around the lake, but you will have to drive. Up in Racine, I know there are a lot of slips available over at Skipper
Buds. They have some deal with the county that makes it better for them to charge high prices and have the marina half filled as opposed to lower prices and a full marina. Things in Racine are going to get tight for winter storage in the future, as one of the boat yards is working with a condo developer.

As you go north on the lake, slips are available. Sheboygan has a lot of room and

I wonder if things could start to get like there were in the 70's when a place for a boat was like gold. You did not buy a boat until you had a guaranteed mooring for it, which made selling boats pretty tough.

I digress. Can you get boaters to organize and change things?

[sailortjk1]

I heard that too, but I had heard that it was only a temporary issue. That the Marina would open back up the following season with a few hundred less slips. I know thats not what you want to hear, and that it would be very disturbing to be displaced, but it may not be a permant issue.

I would recommend Michigan City, its not very far from Hammond, probably less than an hour car drive, and if you are a resident of Indiana the waiting list may not be too long. For residence of Indiana it is about (1) year. (Thats what I was told last season).

Further up the Michigan shoreline, I know that Eldean's in Holland just expanded. I think they have slips available. I don't know where you reside, so Holland might be a bit of a drive. It is however a wonderful location to sail out of.

One thing is for sure, you have to act quick. There are 900 of you that don't have a mooring for next year. I feel your pain, its not a good situation. I know you have spent a lot of money over the years and that the boating community has contributed large funds into the city...... and this is how you get treated? For a casino? I guess we know where the mayor's loyalties are, and it is not with the boaters.

[Denr]

Please don't come to Waukegan, the harbor is full, water is polluted, lots of seaweed, too many power boats, more zebra mussels than you can shake a stick at, killer salmon lurk in the harbor and the slip rate is $5,000/month. Water and electricity are extra!

[administrator]

Originally Posted by Denr

Please don't come to Waukegan, the harbor is full, water is polluted, lots of seaweed, too many power boats, more zebra mussels than you can shake a stick at, killer salmon lurk in the harbor and the slip rate is $5,000/month. Water and electricity are extra!

well at least there are no Manatee to be concerned with