The Story of Port Sanilac Marina
Four Decades on Lake Huron, and a New Chapter Beginning
A sailors’ marina with a welcoming community, now growing into a complete waterfront destination.
A Marina Built by Boaters, for Boaters
For more than forty years, Port Sanilac Marina has been a home port for Great Lakes boaters. Our purpose has stayed the same through every season: to offer a relaxed, welcoming place on the water and to work closely with each boat owner so their time on Lake Huron is everything they hoped for.
We are known as a full-service marina with an experienced, energetic crew and a community of boaters who return year after year. Safety and quality come first in everything we do, from the products on our shelves to the service at our docks.
A New Era Under On Water LLC
In 2025, Port Sanilac Marina was acquired by On Water LLC. The new ownership stepped in with deep respect for the marina’s history and a clear vision for its future: to carry the sailing heritage forward while building something more complete around it.
That vision keeps everything boaters have always loved about Port Sanilac, and adds dining, lodging, and casual fare to make the harbor a true destination on the lake.
Rebuilding the Marina, Piece by Piece
A season of construction, reimagining what the marina could be.
Soon after the acquisition, On Water LLC began an extensive renovation of the property. Rather than start from scratch, the team chose to honor what was already here, taking the existing facilities down to their bones and rebuilding them for a new purpose.
The work has been comprehensive. Full remodels are transforming the buildings into new hospitality properties, each designed to sit naturally alongside the working marina and its sailing culture. Throughout the project, the goal has remained constant: preserve the character that made Port Sanilac special, and give boaters, guests, and the village more reasons to gather at the water’s edge.
The result is a harbor reborn for its next forty years, opening for the 2026 season.
Lake Huron Resort
What’s New at the Marina
Three new ways to enjoy the waterfront, all on the marina property.
On Water Dining – Upscale Restaurant
Evated American fare and a full bar at the edge of Lake Huron. Reserve a table, book the chef’s table for a curated experience, or plan a private dinner for your group.
The Sail Inn & Harbor House
Stay where the lake is the view. The Sail Inn & Harbor House offers ten boutique rooms across two buildings, many overlooking the water, all just steps from the docks.
On Water Pizza & Ice Cream Co.
Detroit style square pizza, baked crisp in the corners, alongside hand scooped ice cream. Order online, via phone or from the walk up shop and enjoy it on the water.
Certified Michigan Clean Marina
Port Sanilac Marina is a Certified Michigan Clean Marina since October 2018. We are taking actions to reduce pollution and improve water quality in the Great Lakes, protect fish and wildlife habitat, and provide continued boating enjoyment for future generations.
Meet the Crew
The people who keep the marina running and make every visit feel like coming home.
Austin Ebbs
Service Technician
Tera Fox
Store Clerk
Marketing Assistant
From Bark Shanty to Port Sanilac
The village began as a lumberjack settlement on the Lake Huron shore named Bark Shanty. Its first sawmill, schoolhouse, and general store arrived in the late 1840s and 1850s, and its first post office opened in 1854.
In 1857, the settlement was renamed Port Sanilac, for its place in Sanilac Township and Sanilac County. Local legend traces the name to a Wyandotte chief named Sanilac.
The village still carries its history proudly. The Port Sanilac lighthouse, lit by kerosene from 1886 until its electrification in 1924, and the twenty room Victorian mansion built in 1872 by Dr. Joseph Loop, now part of the Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum, both stand as landmarks of the community we are glad to call home.
Come See It for Yourself
The best way to understand Port Sanilac Marina is to visit. Call our front desk at (810) 622-9651 to plan your time on the water, and watch the harbor come to life this season.