Marine service is a very curious thing around southern Lake Michigan. For every sad story, there's an equally opposite glowing review it seems. One thing most boaters can probably agree on, however, is the ability to expedite maintenance or repair given how short and precious the season is in this part of the country. I spent a week-long trip around northern Michigan/Traverse Bay, and Saugatuck was my last stop before heading home to Chicago. On my trip between Ludington and Saugatuck, one of the engines gave off a fuel system code and it was struggling to maintain cruise RPMs. Not a good way to end a vacation where the boat was problem-free for 680 miles. Upon arrival into Saugatuck, a mechanic was on my boat within an hour and diagnosed the problem as a fuel filter. They didn't stock my particular filter, so they had them delivered the next day, and I was able to get home just fine. No problems since, and no more error codes. The cost of repair was far less than I'd pay in Chicago, and it was wrapped up within a day. For that alone, I can only say good things about Tower. Moreover, the marina facility is rather nice; showers are clean, and it has a friendly community feel. read more

We had a great experience with the transient slip option for a long weekend. Robbie and his team were great to work with and responsive.

Service department stinks. Tell the truth. Good help is hard to find. Keep looking. read more

Safe Harbor Tower Marine - Boat Repair Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

New ownership but condition of docks and repairs are minimal at best ... bandaid repairs at best .., one board replaced when there are dozens within 10 feet .... read more

We love Tower. The marina common areas are clean and well kept. It has a community vibe, the staff is helpful and friendly would recommend to friends. read more

The only reason that I go to this place is for the excellent service that Tower offers. They have helped me with many issues on my boat over the years and are always kind and professional. Sometimes people like to use Yelp reviews to try and get 'revenge' over their own personal problems. However go to tower and find out for yourself. Also note how ALL the slips are sold out EVERY year.... read more

See all

If I could I would give them .5 star or no stars at all. These are specialists on overcharging and nickel-and-dime-you-to-death. It is well known that the lake is shallow so they would not help you with any advise, because if you need new prop you have to go to them.. etc etc etc Make sure you question every number on your bill- do not trust them read more

Did a terrible job....charged to drain and pickle both engines and generator....completed work on one engine....other engine and generator frozen over winter....cracked engine block....did not honor work order....or back up workmanship.....cost tens of thousands to fix....stay away. read more

Love the facility, cleanliness of grounds and the location. I have yet to get a yard bill, so I can't say

AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS. I agree with other reviewers this is the worst possible maintenance disaster you could imagine. While I was there (1 and a half seasons) they went through 3 maintenance supervisors. Something would get started, then I'd check in a few weeks later after hearing nothing, and they'd tell me that guy no longer worked there and no one knew anything about it. Not only that, the billing was a mess, as I was charged for work that was not completed. I paid for my boat to be in "inside storage," but they parked it under a leak in the roof and there was 6 inches of water in my boat when I came to check on it. The maintenance guy said "yeah, I keep telling them to fix the roof!" No compensation. Not only that, I was brought in to the 90 year-old guy running the place and insulted to my face because I tried to explain I was billed for things that were not done, and the things I asked them to do were not done at all. The staff was afraid of him and had to work behind his back to fix what was wrong. He said I was a liar, wouldn't release my boat when I finally took it out of there, and stood by the credit card machine because he said I would try to use a bad credit card and scam them. It gets worse. When I FINALLY was able to get my boat out of there, I paid a guy to sail it to Chicago. Within hours, the onboard engine had thrown a rod, and the mechanic here in Chicago said it was because of a lack of lubrication. I'm looking at a $7000-$13000 repair, and I only paid $5000 for the boat. It is a disorganized, disastrous joke of a marina, at least as far as the maintenance shop is concerned. Take your boat ANYWHERE but here. I am regretting the day I first made contact with them, and my wallet has suffered and will continue to suffer because of their incompetence. read more

Can't get lower, so 1 start it is. About as shady as maintenance services as you can find. After 3 months of working on our boat, breaking things, staff drinking the beer that was in our fridge and leaving empties in the boat, never actually fixing what was originally asked to be fixed (but they did a bunch of other work that would "fix the problem") the boat actually ran worse than it started. At one point, the maintenance guy called at 715 in the morning before work to pitch us on how Tower didn't really want to work on the boat anymore and how he could "do it after hours on his own and we could just pay him directly." We told Tower about this and they still kept him employed. In the end, they came up with a bill for nearly $8000 on a boat that was worth maybe $12,000. But, you know, in lieu of the bill, we could just sign the boat over to them. We said to heck with the mess, signed it over (since we had purchased a different boat while we waited for them to fix that one), found slip slip and storage at a more reputable marina. Seem like a scam? Yeah, even more so considering within 3 days of us signing over the boat they had it "fixed" and it was sold to the maintenance guy's dad. This is the very short version of the story, but if you talk to many customers, they will all have similar ones they have experienced or are aware of that have affected others. I couldn't imagine a less qualified or reputable marina. Don't trust them and don't bother to give business to this business. read more