New name for divers -- "You People"

[scratchmyback]

Just wanted to let you know, we have very similar issues with a place we dive out of on Lake Ontario. The loading/unloading is ok - we move the vehicles up to the parking lot when we're done unloading. But the dive boats are clocked when they arrive and if they take longer than 30 minutes to load or unload divers and gear, they get a nice letter in the mail and who knows, possibly a fine for repeat 'offences'. This is a town dock, and a town park. When we tell them we are helping their economy by spending money on accommodations (2 nights) plus food, entertainment etc, it seems not to matter.

They also won't let dive boats tie up to one of the islands near a wreck so we are no longer able to do the wreck as a shore dive, it must be a boat dive.

I think what it boils down to is the locals vs the 'transients' (tourists). The locals say, we pay our taxes here, these people just come in and think they own the place. I'm not aware of any municipality that doesn't have some kind of tourism board that's probably funded by the same taxes the locals pay. Perhaps they need to take their beef to their local town council and ask them to stop spending money on tourism?

 

[DOkie]

"You people" are such good listeners.... Ha ha....

 

[wb416]

Just wanted to let you know, we have very similar issues with a place we dive out of on Lake Ontario. The loading/unloading is ok - we move the vehicles up to the parking lot when we're done unloading. But the dive boats are clocked when they arrive and if they take longer than 30 minutes to load or unload divers and gear, they get a nice letter in the mail and who knows, possibly a fine for repeat 'offences'. This is a town dock, and a town park. When we tell them we are helping their economy by spending money on accommodations (2 nights) plus food, entertainment etc, it seems not to matter.

They also won't let dive boats tie up to one of the islands near a wreck so we are no longer able to do the wreck as a shore dive, it must be a boat dive.

I think what it boils down to is the locals vs the 'transients' (tourists). The locals say, we pay our taxes here, these people just come in and think they own the place. I'm not aware of any municipality that doesn't have some kind of tourism board that's probably funded by the same taxes the locals pay. Perhaps they need to take their beef to their local town council and ask them to stop spending money on tourism?

Having lived and worked formerly in Southwest basin of Lake Erie (Pt Clinton/Sandusky area), you don't bite the hand of the tourists that can happily take tourist $$ elsewhere. Instead, we just made seasonal adjustments to driving and shopping patterns to accommodate the "influx" of people visiting the lake or Cedar Point.

Even now, I live near Kings Island amusement park and just last night cussed myself for taking the road in front of the entrance gates..... those tourists with unpredictable driving habits that are paying big $$ into my city's coffers weren't the problem... my taking the wrong road was the problem.

What would Mackinaw be without the tourists? Sounds like some Marina worker(s) in Mackinaw need to get their heads out of their nether regions and stop being so selective about whose $$ they want.

 

[dsc2679]

I agree with the comments above, re:Mack City vs. St. Ignace.
St. Ignace is a much nicer place to be based out of. There are more affordable family run motels that welcome divers. The city boat launch is superb, with lots of parking and clean toilet facilities. The air fill station is not far from the launch. And you can buy your "Straits of Mackinac diver" T-shirt at the chamber of commerce in S.I., across the street from the dive shop, and show your support of the wrecks & preserve (proceeds of t-shirt sales help pay for the buoys, etc... and hopefully help get a mooring block on the Sandusky (see related post in this forum, re: Straits)). Lastly, I'm glad the "Rec Diver" was able to help, it is superb boat to dive off of and Larry is a great guy.

 

[brewmasher]

I was on the Rec Diver last Sunday. Did 3 dives! And only 3 divers! Most capitans would have cancelled due to lack of intrest. Larry is the best!

 

[CMAN]

Does the launch in St. Ignace have transient (overnight) dockage?

 

[dsc2679]

The boat launch does not have transient dockage. The city marina, almost directly across the bay does, and it is a wonderful, clean and new facility. I have kept and slept on my boat in the boat launch parking lot too.

 

[Nitrox_scuba_diver]

Paybacks are hell -- stay in St. Ignace next time and dive with rec Diver.

The Driftwood Motel will welcome you and the boat leaves from right across the street.

Send an email to the Mackinac city chamber of commerce and let them know you're spending your money in St. Ignace instead.

I went diving out of St. Ignace in June. Even there you have to move your car after unloading. The shop must not get any parking spaces from the Star Line who run the lot. We weren't hasseled or anything, the Capt. just told us to move our cars behind the Driftwood after we got unloaded. My wife did leave the car in the lot Sat. afternoon as the lot was only 1/2 full and no one seemed to care.

The Driftwood is the closest place to stay, right across the street. You could grab a cart from the dive charter and walk across the street with your gear. There are also other motels such as Best Western, Comfort Inn etc. within 1 -2 miles of the dock as well.

 

[sleepdiver]

The parking at StarLine that you are referring to only applies to customers of Straits Scuba/Rec Diver. It rents dockage and the air station but no parking in the main lot because it is their day parking lot for StarLine customers. They make their overnight parking lot that you used behind the Driftwood available for scuba divers.

There is no public or private launch facility at StarLine.

This dive boat and parking are not a municipal function. It is entirely a private contract between the dive shop and StarLine and the dive shop does not pay for its customers to use it. One small trick is that, if you plan to go to the Island, buy a starline ticket and stick it in your windshield. That makes you their customer and you have the right to park in the paved lot.

After Labor Day, StarLine does not object to where divers park.

This is all explained in some detail on the www.straitsscuba.com website.

The 2 municipal marinas are entirely different. They provide parking in the paved lots without charge.

The Driftwood is often full. The Huron Motel is just 2 blocks north on the waterside and matches the Driftwood price.

 

[Dean810]

I received this email this morning:

Date: Wed Aug 29 09:43:31 2007
From: Village of Mackinaw City <village@mackinawcity.org>
[ Add to Address Book | Block Address | Report as Spam ]
To: <deannolan@excite.com>
Subject: Scuba Divers are welcome to Mackinaw City Marina


Dear Mr. Nolan:



The Mackinaw Area Chamber of Commerce has provided me a copy of your E-Mail concerning the treatment of Divers at the Mackinaw City Marina. Divers are welcome in Mackinaw City. I apologize for the incident that occurred with DOkie and would like to be able to discuss this incident with her. I do not have her contact information, can you please send her a message to contact me.



Thank you.



Sincerely,



Jeffery B. Lawson

Village Manager