Marinas in Holland, MI

July through early September is usually the best time to boat Holland’s Lake Macatawa and nearby Lake Michigan, when the lake is warmest. At Holland, average Lake Michigan water temperatures climb from the mid-50s in May to the low-to-mid 60s in June, reach about 70°F in July and August, and ease into the mid-60s in September. Ottawa Beach Marina, just inside the Lake Michigan channel on Lake Macatawa, is open April 15 through October 31. On any date, check the Holland nearshore forecast for wind, waves, thunderstorms, fog and changing water levels.

Source: Ottawa County Parks (miottawa.org)

From Holland, you can boat on Lake Macatawa, explore Pine Creek Bay and Big Bay, pass through the Holland Harbor channel, or continue onto Lake Michigan. Put in at the Lake Macatawa boating access site on Ottawa Beach Road. Lake Macatawa is the inland cruising choice; watch the charted shoals outside the dredged channel. Pine Creek Bay provides good small-craft anchorage, while Big Bay has shoals at its entrance and a seasonally buoyed channel. The Narrows is a marked slow-no-wake area. The harbor channel runs between breakwaters and connects the lake with Lake Michigan.

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (michigan.gov)

From Holland, three practical boating destinations are Pine Creek Bay on Lake Macatawa, downtown Saugatuck on the Kalamazoo River, and Grand Haven on the Grand River. Pine Creek Bay offers good anchorage for small craft over a mud bottom. In Saugatuck, Coghlin Park’s Shoppers’ Dock provides short-term boat access to downtown shopping and dining. Grand Haven’s Municipal Marina sits near Chinook Pier and offers dockside water, ice, electricity, restrooms and showers. NOAA describes harbor channels from Lake Michigan into both destination rivers.

Source: NOAA (nauticalcharts.noaa.gov)

Michigan requires a boating safety certificate rather than a recreational boating license for anyone born on or after July 1, 1996, operating a motorboat over 6 horsepower. A child under 12 may operate 6 to 35 horsepower only with a certificate and direct onboard supervision by someone at least 16, and may not operate more than 35 horsepower.

For personal watercraft, no one under 14 may operate. Ages 14 and 15 need a certificate plus either accompaniment by a parent, legal guardian or designated adult 21 or older, or operation within 100 feet of one; operators born after December 31, 1978, need a certificate. A renter who completes livery safety training may use the written rental agreement as a certificate only for the listed rental dates. Michigan DNR administers the program.

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (michigan.gov)

Michigan boaters should follow Michigan Department of Natural Resources rules on life jackets, sober operation, registration, personal watercraft and invasive species. Carry a Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person; children under 6 must wear a Type I or II jacket on an open deck while underway. Operating with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher is illegal. Unless exempt, watercraft must be registered and display a decal. PWC operators must be at least 14, with certificate and supervision rules for ages 14 and 15, and PWCs may not operate from sunset to 8 a.m. Before launching or transporting, remove plants and debris from boat and trailer, and pull drain plugs and drain all water before hauling; local no wake rules may also apply.

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, michigan.gov/dnr (michigan.gov)

The legal minimum depends on vessel class and power: Michigan has no minimum operating age for a motorboat of 6 horsepower or less. For more than 6 horsepower, unsupervised operation starts at 12 with a boating safety certificate. Under 12, operation through 35 horsepower requires that certificate and direct onboard supervision by someone at least 16; stronger boats are prohibited. Personal watercraft require age 14. Ages 14–15 need a certificate and either a parent, legal guardian, or designated adult 21 or older onboard, or within 100 feet while that adult operates another personal watercraft; independent operation starts at 16. Certificates are compulsory for motorboat operators born on or after July 1, 1996, and PWC operators born after December 31, 1978. Rental operators set their minimums, so confirm when booking.

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (michigan.gov)

Alongside the marinas on this page, Holland has 1 boat rental, 2 boat clubs and 10 boat dealers.