April 2019 marked the 20th anniversary of Dave and Michelle Hinton operating Loyalist Cove Marina, located in the quaint, historical Village of Bath, just west of the entrance to the St Lawrence River and Thousand Islands in Ontario.
“We are kind of like a midpoint for many travellers. People on their way to Kingston coming from the West end or American side of Lake Ontario, don’t have to traverse any long channels or worry about shallow draughts,” said Michelle Hinton, co-owner and operator of Loyalist Cove Marina.
A convenient marina with approved Canada Customs Port of Entry check-in, many boats cruising the Great Lakes Loop stop and stay to enjoy our services and local amenities. Boaters heading to the sunny south, like the Caribbean, use Loyalist Cove Marina as their final preparation stop before heading for the Oswego Canal.
Loyalist Cove Marina is environmentally conscientious and in 2018 has attained it’s Boating Ontario Diamond Clean Marine status and now in May 2019 is the first non-municipal marina to obtain their International Blue Flag Status from Environment Defence in South-eastern Ontario! Environmental stewardship is very important to us and we are proud to be the industry leader for “Private” marinas and promote Blue Flag initiatives. We look forward to continuously meeting and exceeding the Blue Flag certification standards and carrying on our operations to the highest standards possible.
“We’re happy to present Loyalist Cove Marina with their first Blue Flag,” said Kelsey Scarfone, Water Programs Manager with Environmental Defence. “Loyalist Cove Marina is a world class facility, and this designation marks their commitment to environmental excellence, safety and sustainability.”
“It’s easy for people to go into the Historical Village of Bath, shop and get groceries and just have a nice visit. We have a bank, liquor store, pharmacy, museum, restaurants – all within a 15-minute walk. People just fall in love with Bath and its amazing little community as soon as they get off their boats. We’re so lucky to be able to live and have our business here.”
Since Michelle and Dave Hinton began their work in turning a humble little waterfront property into the “Full Service” boating facility that Loyalist Cove Marina is today, they have continuously upgraded their facilities and infrastructure, including ensuring that larger boats with deeper draughts can still utilize the marina. By broadening the scope of its repair, transportation and storage operation 5 years ago with additional offsite storage and a Boat Repair facility, the family-owned and operated business will help ensure that the Village of Bath will continue to grow in popularity as a destination for boaters.
“In 1989 we basically started with zero docks. We had eight boats here and needed docks. And now we have slips for about 85 boats, accommodating boats up to 52 feet and up to 10 feet draught. We have invested in our facilities and our staff to give the best services possible,” said Michelle Hinton.
Loyalist Cove Marina has worked hard to provide what amounts to one-stop-shopping for boaters. From a great location to dock to storage and repair facilities, every need has been anticipated and this has helped to draw in owners of both sail and power craft to the shores of Bath over the years. With the expansion of both the indoor and outdoor storage spaces, Loyalist Cove Marina can now accommodate approximately 250 vessels over the fall and winter months (indoor and outdoor), making it one of the largest, most accessible and most comprehensive Marina service facilities in the region.
Preparing a vessel for storage is of paramount importance for boaters. Loyalist Cove Marina specializes in providing a full suite of maintenance and storage services, ensuring that your vessel is boating season ready in the spring. All mechanics are fully-certified by the American Boat & Yacht Council.
Loyalist Cove Marina can service your boat and do any of the repairs you need, whether it’s mechanical, electrical, structural, restorative, boat washing, waxing, polishing and carpentry – we do it all in-house. We also offer winterizing and spring commissioning packages. The service extends to picking up and transporting your boat from wherever it is now, to the secure facilities at Loyalist Cove Marina. The company has a 25-ton travel lift, hydraulic and air-ride trailers for safe boat transport and access to an 80-ton crane if need be.
With a location that allows for quick and care-free access from the many navigation channels, and stem to stern service for all four seasons, Loyalist Cove Marina is not only the most logical choice for a base of operations for the boating public, but continues to be a proud business representative for the Village of Bath and Loyalist Township as it continues to grow, thrive and prosper, offering both visitors and residents alike an unparalleled quality of life.
For more information on the transportation, servicing and storage services offered by Loyalist Cove Marina, visit www.loyalistcoveMarina.com, or call 613-352-3478.
