SAUGATUCK, MI – The sun was on its downward arc over the Kalamazoo River on a recent late afternoon when Lauren Stanton broke off a conversation mid-sentence because something on the water caught her eye. She walked briskly down a new wooden dock, past small colorful boats hooked up to electric charging stations, and reached off the dock’s end to help grab a bright orange donut boat that was trying to pull alongside. Stanton gave the driver a few simple instructions to end the boat ride, then tied it securely to the dock so the family could disembark.
While she was handling this, a large bachelorette party of young ladies wearing matching sailor hats were finishing their drinks at the outside patio, and a family with children was checking out the inside game room before it was their turn to board a waiting boat.
In its fourth summer along the water in this Lake Michigan beach town, Retro Boat Rentals at the Old Boat House has found its sweet spot. Its vintage stars are the five little brightly-colored retro boats converted to feature electric motors. If they look like they chugged right out of the late 1950s, it’s because they did.
Added to the rental fleet have been the round donut boats, the larger Duffy boats and pontoon boats. The spot at the end of downtown’s Water Street has expanded along with its customer count. Three years ago, they added a liquor license and a bar inside the big white boat house. Two years ago, they added a kitchen and a creative menu of meals and snacks.
But some things haven’t changed.
“We have a lot of first-time boaters,” said Stanton, who opened the business in 2017 with her husband, John Sharar. “We help teach them how to take it out for the first time. Basically, because they are electric, they are a little less intimidating than having that high-powered gas motor behind them,” she said of the retro boats.
While growing their own business here, the couple has forged a partnership with Chicago Retro Boats, and is also laying the groundwork for a new retro boat recreation spot on a lake in Austin, Texas. That’s set to open later this fall.
Retro boats, Donut boats, pontoon boats and Duffy boats all run out of the Old Boat House in Saugatuck. Image courtesy of Saugatuck Retro Boat Rentals.
Searching for Little Boats
Stanton, a longtime WZZM news anchor before her departure in 2018, started boating in her 20s and for years kept a boat in Saugatuck. The Saugatuck-Douglas area is a favorite spot of many boaters and paddlers alike because of how Kalamazoo Lake narrows into the twisty river channel before flowing out into Lake Michigan.
Creating a water-themed business became Sharar and Stanton’s mission when they found out the Old Boat House property was for lease. They knew they wanted to rent the big white building, which sits snugly against the river’s edge, but weren’t sure exactly what they wanted to do with it. Initially, they looked into using “river queen” boats to make a floating “boatel” business, but eventually decided a boat rental business would be a better fit and give them more business expansion opportunities in the future.
That kicked off a hunt for the cute retro boats. Some were found parked and for sale in local backyards, on Craigslist, or with owners as far west as California and Washington state. Their search window was pretty specific: They wanted ones made from 1957 to 1960. “They are just a sweet spot for when those boats were made,” Stanton explained. “They’ve got the cool fins, the chrome and the headlights,” much like the cars of that era.
Sharar arranged for them to be outfitted with electric motors. Stanton explained it’s not only a cleaner and greener switch when it comes to the environment and local waters, but it keeps the speed moderated and lets novice boaters feel more comfortable taking them out for a spin. The retro boats all have Hollywood-era names, too. The lineup includes Dottie – a racy red number with a cuddy cabin below – Jane, Gidget, Ruby and Alice. Some are dog-friendly. Some are better for swimming and others are built for cruising. See the Retro Boat website for details on each boat.
Their first season saw about 700 boat rentals. So far this season, their fleet has been rented more than 2,000 times.
Dottie, one of five boats in the lineup in Saugatuck. Photo courtesy of Retro Boat Rentals.
In addition to the retro boats, the bright orange, round donut boats are in high demand. They seat up to 10 people. “Sure enough, those darn things are so popular,” Stanton said. “They are booked constantly. We have three donut boats now. It’s really a fun thing for families.”
The Duffy boats are options for larger groups, too. They are easy to step in and out of, and can seat up to 12 people. Stanton notes they’ve been a good fit for family reunion rides, or grandparents taking their grandkids out on the water.
The boats can be rented for 90 minutes or a three-hour trip. “There is a lot of area they can explore,” she said. “They can do three hours if they want to anchor for a while and swim in the cove area before Lake Michigan.”
Inside the Old Boat House, customers will find dart boards, cornhole games, sidewalk chalk and other activities. The vintage theme carries over inside, too, with a bright aqua upright freezer stocked with frosty mugs for customers’ beverages, and colorful low-slung chairs that Stanton said were both antique store finds.
“It’s very kid-friendly,” she said last weekend, as a few families were playing games in the area while social distancing.
For more information or reservations, boat rental rates and rules of the water, check the Retro Boat Rentals website here. There also a list of frequently asked questions – and answers – about the boat rides to check out before you go.
To see the latest updates, check Retro Boat Rentals’ Facebook page.
READ MORE
Beaches, trails, waterfront eats make Ludington the ‘front door to Up North’
Crystal Mountain unveils Spa Days lineup with special rates
Ugly Anne boat cruise in Straits of Mackinac now offers weddings on the water
"sweet" - Google News
August 20, 2020 at 07:13PM
https://ift.tt/2FAiRQE
Retro Boat Rentals finds its sweet spot on the river in Saugatuck - MLive.com
"sweet" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2PcPlld
https://ift.tt/2KSpWvj
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Retro Boat Rentals finds its sweet spot on the river in Saugatuck - MLive.com"
Post a Comment