Miller Boat Line

What Miller Boat Line does

Miller Boat Line is a privately held, family-owned passenger and vehicle ferry operator founded in 1905 in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, and continuously run by the Market family since 1978. The company runs scheduled service from its mainland Catawba Dock at Port Clinton across Lake Erie to Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island) and Middle Bass Island using a five-vessel drive-on/drive-off fleet headlined by the 2023 M/V Mary Ann Market, a 140-foot, 600-passenger, 28-vehicle ferry with wheelchair-accessible cabins and forward-facing lake-view upper decks. It is the only scheduled passenger and vehicle ferry from Ohio's mainland to Middle Bass Island and operates the shortest and most frequent route to Put-in-Bay (under 20 minutes, up to every 30 minutes in summer), backed by five free mainland parking lots.

The business model is direct-to-consumer ticket sales — primarily per-trip transaction fees for passengers ($9.00 PIB / $11.50 Middle Bass one-way adult) and vehicles ($23 / $30), supplemented by annual season subscriptions ($550-$590), 20-ticket "Frequent Floater" packs, reloadable gift cards, and discounted group, school, military, and bundled "Family Fun Pack" packages. Distribution is hybrid: ticket booths at both ends, embedded FareHarbor online booking, Shores & Islands Ohio Welcome Centers, group sales via a dedicated coordinator, and bundled resellers such as E's Golf Carts and 12+ lodging partners. Customer segments are predominantly tourist and leisure, with smaller but structured student, motorcoach tour, wedding, and corporate-meeting segments (~175+ school groups and 5,500+ educational visitors annually), all served seasonally from spring through fall.

Name

Miller Boat Line

Legal name

Miller Boat Line

Website

https://millerferry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Miller Boat Line is a family-owned Lake Erie ferry operator, founded 1905, running five passenger/vehicle ferries from Catawba, Ohio to Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Island. It serves leisure tourists, school groups, and tour/wedding/corporate groups seasonally, and is the sole scheduled ferry to Middle Bass Island.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ferry passenger and vehicle transportation

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Passenger Ferry Operators (Interisland/Intercity) (TLAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Island & Archipelago Ferry Services (THAEAGAB), Island & Remote Community Ferry Services (THAIAJAG)

Keywords

• Passenger ferry service
• Vehicle ferry transport
• Lake erie islands
• Scheduled ferry routes
• Maritime transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Put In Bay

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ferry Tickets: Revenue from one-way and round-trip passenger fares for Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Island routes. Adults, children, and infants priced differently. Free parking provided at mainland.
2. Vehicle Transport: Fees for transporting vehicles including cars, motorcycles, RVs, trailers, and boats on trailers. Vehicle fares do not include passenger fares.
3. Season Passes: Unlimited passenger travel during printed schedule season. Personal, non-transferable photo ID cards. Put-in-Bay adult pass $550, Middle Bass adult pass $590.
4. Frequent Floater Tickets: Pack of 20 one-way passenger tickets at discounted rates. Adult Put-in-Bay $170 (saves $10 off regular fare), Child $25.
5. Gift Cards: Reloadable gift cards purchasable in any amount, usable for passengers and vehicles.
6. Package Deals: Commission or revenue from bundled packages including ferry tickets with golf cart rentals, lodging, and attraction tickets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Miller Boat Line operates scheduled passenger and vehicle ferry transportation between Catawba, Ohio and the Lake Erie islands of Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island) and Middle Bass Island, with crossings under 20 minutes and approximately 40 minutes, respectively. Using a fleet of five drive-on/drive-off ferries carrying up to 600 passengers each, the company offers one-way and round-trip passenger and vehicle fares, annual season passes, frequent-traveler ticket packs, group and student rates, and bundled tourism packages including golf cart rentals and lodging.

Product overview

Miller Boat Line operates a fleet of five passenger/vehicle ferries providing scheduled ferry service to Lake Erie islands. The core products are Put-in-Bay Ferry Service (18-minute crossing to South Bass Island) and Middle Bass Island Ferry Service (40-minute crossing). The company is the only scheduled ferry to Middle Bass Island. Ancillary products include Season Passes for unlimited seasonal travel, Frequent Floater ticket packets, Group and School Group fares for 20+ passengers, Travel Packages bundling ferry tickets with lodging and attractions (E's Golf Cart Combo, Family Fun Packs, lodging packages), Gift Cards, and free mainland parking. The fleet includes the M/V Mary Ann Market (newest, 2023), M/V Put-in-Bay (extended 2010), M/V William Market, M/V South Bass, and M/V Islander.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Put-in-Bay Ferry Service Scheduled passenger and vehicle ferry service between Catawba, Ohio and Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island) with crossing time under 20 minutes, free mainland parking, frequent daily trips, and fares from $9 one-way adult passenger and $23 vehicle.
• Middle Bass Island Ferry Service Scheduled passenger and vehicle ferry service between Catawba, Ohio and Middle Bass Island with crossing time approximately 40 minutes; Miller Boat Line is the only scheduled passenger/vehicle ferry service from the Ohio mainland to Middle Bass Island. Walk-on passengers do not require reservations; vehicle reservations are required.
• Miller Ferry Fleet Five drive-on/drive-off passenger/vehicle ferries: M/V Mary Ann Market (2023, 140 ft, up to 600 passengers, 28 vehicles), M/V Put-in-Bay (1997, lengthened 2010, 136 ft, 600 passengers, 28 vehicles), M/V William Market (1993, 96 ft, 500 passengers), M/V South Bass (1989, 96 ft, 500 passengers, 17 vehicles), and M/V Islander (1983, 90 ft, 385 passengers, 17 vehicles).
• Season Pass Unlimited passenger travel during the printed schedule season. 2026 Put-in-Bay: Adult (12+) $550, Child (6-11) $70, Under 6 free. 2026 Middle Bass: Adult (12+) $590, Child (6-11) $110. Personal non-transferable photo ID cards.
• Frequent Floater Tickets Discounted ticket packets of 20 one-way passenger ferry tickets. Put-in-Bay: Adult $170 (save $10 vs. regular), Child $25. Middle Bass: Adult $220, Child $50. Includes Advance Vehicle Discount option for 5+ round trips.
• Group Fares Discounted fares for groups of 20+ passengers: Adult round trip $16 (Mon-Fri) / $17 (Sat-Sun); Child (6-11) $3 round trip; Bicycle $4 round trip. Includes complimentary motorcoach driver and tour guide passes and dedicated group coordinator support.
• School Group Fares Educational field trip pricing for K-12 student groups. Through 6th grade $3 round trip; 7th-12th grade $7.50 round trip. Adult chaperones $16 (Mon-Fri) / $17 (Sat-Sun); Bicycle $4 round trip.
• Travel Packages Bundle packages including ferry tickets with lodging, attractions, and on-island transportation. Options include E's Golf Cart + Miller Ferry Combo, Anchor Inn Couples Retreat, Getaway Inn Island Splendor Package, and Put-in-Bay Family Fun Pack (ferry, bus, tour train, Perry's Cave, Butterfly House, mini golf, antique car museum, winery tour, Crystal Cave, wildlife center).
• Gift Cards Reloadable Miller Ferry gift cards available in any amount, usable for passengers and/or vehicles to Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Island. Available for purchase at ticket booths or by phone.
• Free Mainland Parking Five free parking lots available at the Catawba mainland dock for passengers visiting the islands for the day or longer; complimentary with ferry ticket purchase.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transit time under 20 minutes to Put-in-Bay
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• America 250 OhiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Miller Ferry featured on America 250 Ohio Lake Erie to Ohio River Trail and Transportation Trail celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary. Put-in-Bay hosting Declaration 250 celebration in August 2026.
• E's Golf CartscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offering bundled golf cart rental and ferry ticket packages available online. Customers book through E's website and receive discounted combined pricing for ferry tickets and cart rental. Located at Miller Ferry Lime Kiln Dock on Put-in-Bay.
• Shores & Islands OhiocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism organization partnership including live webcam sponsorship at Miller Marina, visitor guide distribution, Welcome Center ticket sales with $1.00 discount, and cross-promotion of Lake Erie island destinations.
• Lake Erie Island Lodging PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of 12+ mainland lodging partners (hotels, motels, B&Bs, campgrounds) offering Miller Ferry passenger coupons with stay. Includes Lakeside Hotel, Surf Motel, Camp Sandusky, Commodore Perry Inn, and others within the regional tourism area.
• Sonny-S BoatminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWater taxi service operating from Put-in-Bay Boardwalk to Middle Bass Island, providing additional transportation option for island hopping between the two destinations (216-644-4220).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Arnold Transit Company: Long-running Mackinac Island ferry and tour boat operator offering passenger service, lighthouse cruises, and island transfers from Mackinaw City; shares the family-owned heritage and seasonal island tourism model with Miller.
• Jet Express: Operates high-speed passenger-only ferry service from Port Clinton and Sandusky to Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island on Lake Erie, directly competing with Miller on the Put-in-Bay corridor with a faster, downtown-to-downtown crossing.
• Shepler's Ferry: Operates passenger and vehicle ferry service to Mackinac Island, Michigan, with similar drive-on/drive-off vehicle ferry vessels, package deals, group fares, and seasonal tourism-driven operations comparable in scope to Miller Boat Line.
• Star Line Ferry: Mackinac Island passenger and vehicle ferry operator using catamaran and traditional ferries from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace; comparable to Miller in serving a tourist island destination with frequent seasonal departures and group/season-pass products.
• Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line: Family-run passenger and vehicle ferry serving Kelleys Island on Lake Erie from Marblehead, Ohio with a similar short-crossing island-access business model, vehicle reservations, and seasonal schedule to Miller's Put-in-Bay service.

Regional players

• Lake Express: High-speed catamaran vehicle ferry across Lake Michigan between Milwaukee and Muskegon; comparable as a Great Lakes vehicle/passenger ferry serving a tourism and regional travel market, though operating on a much longer open-lake route.

Broad incumbents

• Cape May–Lewes Ferry: Operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority, runs passenger and vehicle ferries across the Delaware Bay between Cape May, NJ and Lewes, DE; comparable in offering scheduled vehicle ferry service tied to leisure destinations.
• Washington State Ferries: Largest ferry operator in the United States, providing passenger and vehicle service across Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands; shares the inter-island scheduled vehicle/passenger ferry model but at vastly greater scale and as a public agency.

Emerging players

• Sonny-S Boat: Water taxi service between the Put-in-Bay Boardwalk and Middle Bass Island, operating in partnership with Miller Boat Line and providing supplementary island-to-island access; overlaps with Miller's Middle Bass market as a niche alternative.

Others

• Shores & Islands Ohio: Regional destination marketing organization that cross-promotes Miller Boat Line, sponsors the live Put-in-Bay webcam, and resells tickets at its Welcome Centers; an ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor but central to Miller's go-to-market reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MILLERBOATLINE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/miller-boat-line-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Miller Boat Line