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| Summit Daily News |
Dillon Marina on the northern shores of the reservoir and Frisco Bay Marina on the western end — are busy getting boats, slips, lakeside patios and the rest ready for Memorial Day weekend crowds.
"Summer is definitely in the air here at the marina so it's time to kick off our boating season," said Jenn Shimp, guest services manager at the Frisco Bay Marina. Both marinas welcome the 2017 summer boating season tomorrow (Friday, May 26) with rental fleets, food and other services. Here's everything you need to know before dropping by the docks.
DILLON MARINA
Home to Dillon Yacht Club — dubbed the "nation's highest" yacht club at 9,017 feet — Dillon Marina offers sailboat, powerboat and pontoon rentals throughout the season, beginning with opening day on May 26, followed by canoe, kayak and SUP rentals in early or mid-June. (It all depends on weather, of course. Call before you go.) The marina hosts youth programs through the yacht club's junior sailing program, starting in June, along with the biggest, baddest sailor's bash of the summer: the Dillon Open Regatta from Aug. 4-6.
New this season is an updated Tiki Bar with renovated deck and exterior — officials hope to open for happy hour tomorrow, around 11:30 a.m. — but be wary of early June detours and delays caused by construction in downtown Dillon. Lodgepole Road (aka the main drag leading to the marina parking lot) is open from May 26-29 for the holiday weekend, giving boats, trailers and cars access until closing on May 30. The road is closed again from May 30 to Jun 1, then reopens from June 2-4, then closes from June 5-8, and then finally reopens in full for the summer on June 9. There will be pedestrian access to the marina along the Summit County recpath the entire time, and marina officials ask that boaters and Tiki Bar patrons park at in-town lots before walking to the marina. Please don't walk through the nearby condo parking lots.
FRISCO BAY MARINA
The Frisco Bay Marina and Island Grill officially open for the 2017 summer season tomorrow (May 26). From opening until closing in mid-September, the marina will have canoes, single and double kayaks, and a number of powerboats available for rent. Stand-up paddleboards are available starting in mid-June.
The Frisco Bay Marina is a full-service marina, offering boat storage and expert repairs, as well as slip and mooring rentals and a complimentary boat launch-ramp, which is available early in the season based on water levels. It's also home to a sandy beach and playground with a large grassy area, plus the nearby Summit County recreation path for walking and biking.
There isn't much happening at the marina for Memorial Day weekend, other than simply getting back to the water, but officials have plenty planned for the rest of the season. In honor of all things summer, the marina hosts its annual "Rock the Dock" party on Saturday, June 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The celebration includes a $6 burger-and-beer deal from the Island Grill, free live music with Lola Rising, a chance to check out the rental fleet of paddle crafts and powerboats, and giveaways from the marina.
The next week on Saturday, June 10, the Frisco Bay Marina celebrates National Marina Day with a boat swap, free demos and lessons with the Frisco Rowing Center. The center offers a free breakfast and introduction to rowing from 8-10 a.m., followed by the boat swap from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The swap is open to anyone and everyone in the boat market, according to a release from the marina, and participants may trade, sell, buy or barter kayaks, rafts, stand-up paddleboards, sailboats and everything in between.
Along with the swap, the Frisco Bay Marina is also offering free, 20-minute canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard demos from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will also be an exclusive chance to try out the marina's new fleet of Hobie Stand-Up Pedalboards, which feature a stepper propulsion system and a handlebar — think an elliptical exercise machine on the water. The Pedalboard demos are also free, which makes it an ideal time to check out a new sport.
