The 2023 America’s Boating Club of Saginaw Bay (formerly called Saginaw Bay Sail and Power Squadron) will be at SSYC for boat safety inspections this summer  on Saturday, June 17, starting at 10:00 am.   Sign up sheets for a boat inspection will be posted at the bath houses. This is a good way to learn a little more about your boat and boating safely on the Saginaw Bay. It helps avoid (but not necessarily stops) those untimely  inspections by the Coast Guard too.  Hope you take advantage of this great opportunity.

Good news – The contractor has started dredging.

Bad news – channel access is very limited due to the dredging equipment. It is recommended that you check the channel before trying to enter or leave and proceed with extreme caution.

Equipment is starting to arrive so channel dredging should start soon. Please be patient and careful when the equipment is in the channel. You may need wait a bit when entering or leaving the channel if dredging is in process.

Also, keep in mind the channel is currently very shallow. We have received INFORMAL reports that some area of the CHANNEL WATER DEPTHS RANGE FROM TWO TO FOUR FEET depending on wind velocity and direction and ever fluctuating water levels.  Boaters have experienced greatest success by keeping ten feet off the BCYC seawall. ALL SSYC MEMBERS AND RENTERS SHOULD EXERCISE DUE CARE NAVIGATING THE CHANNEL INTO SSYC. 

Please select the following link to view the June Hailor – SSYC 2023 June Hailor

The contractor is planning on moving in the dredging barge the end of next week. Target completion (depending on weather and unforeseen issues) is estimated to be in mid-June.

In the meantime, we have received INFORMAL reports that some area of the CHANNEL WATER DEPTHS RANGE FROM TWO TO FOUR FEET depending on wind velocity and direction and ever fluctuating water levels.  Boaters have experienced greatest success by keeping ten feet off the BCYC seawall. ALL SSYC MEMBERS AND RENTERS SHOULD EXERCISE DUE CARE NAVIGATING THE CHANNEL INTO SSYC. 

Attached is an UNVERIFIED chart of reported current channel conditions that some boaters have used and is the contractors’ area of dredging.   SINCE THE SSYC BOARD CANNOT VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THIS CHART, WE CANNOT RECOMMEND ITS ACCURACY.  PERSONS USING THIS CHART FOR ANY PURPOSE DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK AND SSYC ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES OCCASIONED BY USE OF THIS CHART. 

We will update this post as additional information becomes available.

SUNSET SHORES YACHT CLUB

DREDGING UPDATE MAY 10,2023

After a lengthy and arduous two-year process with State Officials, SSYC and Bay City Yacht Club (BCYC), we have secured a dredging permit and hired Slevin Lake Services, Hale, MI to dredge the entrance channel to a depth of seven (7) feet. The most recent update from the contractor indicates they will be on site the week of May 15 to set up for the work. Once the work starts the contractor estimates it will be completed in about two weeks. Please keep in mind that weather or other factors may delay them in completing the work in that amount of time.  The contractor removes the bottom material by vacuum extraction and piping the material/water to the berm basin on Bay City Yacht Club property.      During the operation the entrance of the channel may be closed for lengthy periods of time.  Please be patient during the construction and check the location of the dredging barge before using the channel. 

In the meantime, we have received INFORMAL reports that some area of the CHANNEL WATER DEPTHS RANGE FROM TWO TO FOUR FEET depending on wind velocity and direction and ever fluctuating water levels.  Boaters have experienced greatest success by keeping ten feet off the BCYC seawall. ALL SSYC MEMBERS AND RENTERS SHOULD EXERCISE DUE CARE NAVIGATING THE CHANNEL INTO SSYC. 

Attached is an UNVERIFIED chart of reported current channel conditions that some boaters have used and is the contractors’ area of dredging.   SINCE THE SSYC BOARD CANNOT VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THIS CHART, WE CANNOT RECOMMEND ITS ACCURACY.  PERSONS USING THIS CHART FOR ANY PURPOSE DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK AND SSYC ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES OCCASIONED BY USE OF THIS CHART. 

We will update this post as additional information becomes available.

The exit gate is now up and running in the same manner as last year. Please ignore the red mark on the drive as you can pull up to the gate and the photo eyes will sense your vehicle and open the gate.

Keep in mind when renewing your Boat US towing insurance that SSYC is also a member. As such, you are entitled to a discount in your renewal fee. Just tell them you are a member of Sunset Shores Yacht Club and the Boat US membership is #898640.

Happy Boating!

Saginaw River Mouth Boating Access Site

We’d like to remind our boaters that the Saginaw River Mouth BAS will be closed starting May 1st, 2023 for about 2 weeks for the final upgrades. During the closure of our site, we encourage you to use one of the other local boat sites listed below.

Bangor Township launch near Edson Navy Ship

806 Morton St, Bay City Mi 48706

Golson Boat Launch

1598 N Johnson St. Bay City Mi 48708

Smith Park

1005 Burns St. Essexville, Mi 48732

We’ve also learned that on April 24th, 2023 a section of Patterson Rd will be closed for about month from Wheeler Road north to the Dow Deer Viewing Area.

To access our site, you’ll need to take Bangor Rd north from Wheeler about 1 mile to Zimmer Rd, turning right. This will bring you to the intersection near the Party Dock on Shady Shore leading to the boat site.

To see alternate route select the following link – Saginaw River Mouth Boating Access Site

Improperly installed cleats cause stress and wear on our docks, resulting in premature deterioration of dock surfaces and support structures.  There are 54 total incorrectly installed cleats at this time.  The violations committee will conduct another inspection when the chains are removed from the gates this spring.

    Slip owners are required to replace or remove offending cleats at the start of the 2023 boating season and will be given 30 days after the club opening to complete this task. Slip owners will be charged accordingly for failure to complete the removal or replacement.

   If you are unable to complete this action, contact a director or Charlie Brown (violations director) for assistance and we will help you make arrangements to have the cleats removed.

   The following docks and the number on each dock that have improperly installed cleats that need to be removed:

3/4 (2) ,11/12 (2), 33/34 (1), 55/56 (4,) 63/64 (5), 67/68 (5), 79/80 (1), 81/82 (1),

83/84 (1), 85/86 (4), 99/100(1), 133/134 (1), 135/136 (8), 137/138 (2), 153 (4), 161 (1),

166/167 (2), 178/179 (3), 183/184 (2),185/186 (4)

Please see the following link showing proper cleat installation – Proper Cleat Installation