ESCANABA — The Escanaba Municipal Marina just concluded its 2024 season — the first under the new management of the City’s Recreation Department.

“We had a great season and all learned a lot,” Recreation Director and Harbormaster Kim Peterson said.

At the southwest end of Little Bay de Noc’s mouth, Escanaba’s harbor has the largest marina in the bay and is also the first to greet transients as they enter. Duties of the Harbormaster’s Office include coordinating the bookings for seasonal and transient boats docking or mooring at the 165 available spots; providing electric, water, storage, fuel and pumping services and sales; maintaining fishing piers, docks, boat launches, shower, restroom and laundry facilities; working with other governmental bodies; and other general operations.

It was a tall order this year, especially considering the Recreation Department had previously been involved with marina operations only in partial capacity and never before stood at the helm. The last time the department had handled the contracts of seasonal boats, accepting payment at the Catherine Bonifas Civic Center, was three years ago; that duty was relegated back to the Harbormaster (then not bundled with the Rec Department) in 2022 and 2023.

Following the departure of the former Harbormaster, the reins of the marina were handed to Recreation Department Director Peterson in February of 2024, but not entirely without guidance: Escanaba’s Harbor Advisory Commission, a five-person body, is charged with advising administration. Prior to the start of the boating season, some concerns were conveyed; some have since been addressed, and others are being incorporated into a five-year plan for the marina.

“The biggest thing that has to be done is working on grant opportunities to update the marina, docks and boat launches,” said Peterson this week, and pointed to many things that have been discussed: the replacement of Pier 1, replacement of fish cleaning stations, repairs to fishing piers and boat docks, a new roof at the North Shore Boat Launch, harbor buoys, dredging, weed treatment, security camera upgrades, updating the fuel station, advertising and more.

“We are having discussions of inviting the boating community, fishermen, citizens, visitors, etc. to help formulate the (five-year) plan,” she said.

This year, staff had to learn many elements of marina operations quickly, especially the fuel station, state reporting, and work with the Department of Natural Resources and Michigan Waterways Commission, Peterson relayed. Besides seasonal employees, two Recreation Department employees from the Civic Center came to work at the marina this summer. Changes from last year included extended hours by about 25 hours per week, landscaping work, a new wi-fi system for boaters, and cleaned up launches and piers, Peterson said.

Visiting boaters from the Great Lakes Cruising Club (GLCC), who were in Esky the better part of a week for a rendezvous this summer, gave rave reviews.

“Kim Peterson and the City of Escanaba were great to work with,” GLCC member and Port Captain Craig Shantz told the Press after the event.

34 transient vessels had been in for the GLCC rendezvous, requiring slip assignments, changes and reviews. “We heard lots of positive feedback from the group and from the boating community, so we were excited to pull that off with no problems,” said Peterson.

In total during the 2024 season, the department reported a total of 233 transient boaters — slightly down from last year — in addition to the 108 seasonal boats that made Escanaba their home port.

The official closing date for the marina was Oct. 5 — last Saturday. On Monday the 7th, though, more than 20 boats were still docked or moored in the harbor. An employee in the office said that extensions had been allowed but that water, power and fuel would be off.

Peterson said that 13 boat owners had made arrangements to stay beyond the Oct. 5 deadline; nine of those cited intentions to stay on their boats after Uptoberfest, which will be held in Ludington Park this Saturday, the 12th.