Cruises may go ‘port to port’

Rita Dahmen (standing), of the Port Sanilac Downtown Development Association, explains the idea of launching pleasure cruises between Lexington and Port Sanilac, as an added tourist attraction. Her listeners include (from left clockwise) Regina Roegner of the Town Shop, Lexington; Connie Currie, owner of Blue Water Winery, Carsonville; Peg Stencel, owner of Lexington’s A&W and chair of the Lexington Business Association; Diana Lukascewski from Radio First, Port Huron; Carol Watson of the Lexington LBA; Elise Root of the Lexington General Store; and Nancy Powell, of Powell’s Bed & Breakfast, Lexington. Photo by Margaret Whitmer The idea is exciting – pleasure boats carrying loads of passengers between Port Sanilac and Lexington to enjoy the activities in both villages.

Visitors could sample wines at the Sanilac Historical Museum in Port Sanilac, then take a boat to Lexington to enjoy a show. Or they could enjoy an art fair in Lexington, then take a boat to Port Sanilac for dinner.

That is the basic idea behind “Port to Port,” an idea launched last week by the Port Sanilac Downtown Development Authority in conjunction with the Lexington Downtown Development Association and the Lexington Business Association.

Nearly 30 representatives from businesses and attractions in both towns took a cruise Sept. 2 on the “Miss Port Sanilac,” from Port Sanilac to Lexington and back again.

In between the two trips was a 45-minute layover to have lunch in Lexington.

The purpose of the pilot cruise was to explore the possibility of having similar cruises on a regular basis, said Chester Kolascz of the Port Sanilac DDA.

The idea for the venture grew from a Michigan Port Collaborative seminar held in Lansing sponsored to promote the concept of a “Blue Water Highway.”

“It was widely felt from the state level on down that harbor towns are not being utilized to the extent that they could be,” Rita Dahmen of the Port Sanilac DDA marketing committee, told the group on board Miss Port Sanilac.

“We have multi-million dollar harbor structures in both towns. It was drilled into us that we should develop more port-to-port cruises.”

Kolascz said he and Acheson Ventures in Port Huron tried the venture earlier.

“But bigger ships ran into issues of homeland security,” he said. “It was concluded something on a smaller scale might work.”

If small day trips are successful, they may occur on a regular basis. Hopefully those would grow into overnight stays, he said.

Brainstorming sessions were held, developing possible themes. For example, sunset cruises, or historical tours of the shoreline with a detailed description of the Great Storm of 1913 and viewing underwater wrecks in the Sanilac Underwater Preserve with sonar.

Restaurant owners could bring groups by boat from one town to dine in the other town. Or Bed & Breakfast owners might package a night stay with a cruise.

“We should link all the businesses via web page, including an events calendar,” suggested Hollis Barker, owner of Blue Heaven Scuba, a Port Sanilac dive charter operation.

“That way whichever site you visit will list things you can do, whatever your interests are. It’s like fishing. You send out a bunch of lures,” he said.

Should it be completed, organizers would like to include the proposed bicycle trail between Port Sanilac and Lexington in a package, with passengers taking a cruise up or down, and biking back again.

After exploring the many possibilities Ron Cutler, who runs a fishing charter boat out of Lexington, supports the idea.

“I get calls weekly from people on vacation with pocketfuls of money wanting something to do, especially during the week,” said Ron Cutler, who runs a fishing charter boat out of Lexington.

“With something like this, I’d think up to sixty percent would be walk-ons.”

But both Cutler and Barker see difficulties, too.

First, boats would have to be purchased. Then they would have to be equipped and fueled. Insurance, licenses, dockage, gas and crew all require money and training.

On the other hand, if passengers are charged too much, they might stay on shore.

“I’d think subsidizing would be an absolute necessity,” said Cutler.

Barker agreed.

“I think if we do the program, we’ll need state funding,” he said.

Gloria Jerome, from the Sanilac County Tourism Council, said subsidies wouldn’t necessarily have to come from the state.

“The annual countywide Visitors Guide we publish is fully supported by businesses,” she said. “They are very committed. If this is something they want to support, I think that could get done.”

Linda Hall, representing the Sanilac Historical Museum perhaps, summed it up when she said, “You need a plan. You need a goal for a year from now, three years from now. You need to work with the community.

“Everyone can promote this, but you need a vision. This is a great first step.”