Waukegan Harbor & Marina

What Waukegan Harbor & Marina does

Waukegan Harbor & Marina is a full-service public marina on Lake Michigan in Waukegan, Illinois, approximately one hour north of Chicago and within walking distance of the Metra commuter rail station. The facility is owned by the Waukegan Port District, a government entity established in 1955, and is professionally managed by F3 Marina. The marina offers nearly 700 slips across three harbor areas — South Harbor North Pier, South Harbor South Pier, and North Harbor — accommodating vessels from personal watercraft to 65-foot luxury cruisers, and operates seasonally from March 15 to November 15.

The core product is slip rental, with annual subscriptions ranging from approximately $707 for PWCs to $8,178 for 65-foot vessels, plus transient guest dockage at $1.75 per foot per night bookable directly through the marina website or via third-party platforms Dockwa and Snag A Slip. Supporting services include a full-service fuel dock (premium treated gasoline and diesel with complimentary pump-outs), a ship store and boaters' lounge, three boat launch ramps with trailer parking, charter fishing operations through ten licensed captains, winter boat storage via on-site vendors, and complimentary amenities such as dock boxes, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, water and electrical hookups, 24-hour security, fish cleaning stations, and shuttle service. The marina also accommodates commercial shipping (cement and gypsum vessels) at commercial slips.

Revenue is generated through six streams: annual slip rentals, transient guest dockage, fuel sales, ship store merchandise, launch ramp fees, and miscellaneous services (vendor fees, portable pump-outs, slip transfers, key replacements). Distribution combines direct on-site sales, third-party online booking platforms, and a multi-channel marketing mix spanning Facebook, X, Instagram, website SEO, and cross-promotional partnerships with the on-site Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Waukegan, Green Town Tavern, Primo Italian American Cuisine, and other local businesses. The 2016 announced Chicago Yachting Center development with Bay Marine of Sturgeon Bay — featuring a new 85-ton liftwell, inside heated storage, certified service department, and yacht sales — represents the most significant recent product surface expansion.

Name

Waukegan Harbor & Marina

Legal name

Waukegan Harbor & Marina

Website

https://waukeganharbor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Waukegan Harbor & Marina is a public Lake Michigan marina in Waukegan, IL (owned by the Waukegan Port District and managed by F3 Marina) offering nearly 700 annual and transient slips, fuel dock, launch ramps, ship store, charter fishing, and ancillary boating services to recreational boaters, charter operators, and commercial vessels in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Waukegan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Slip Rentals: Annual slip rental fees ranging from approximately $1,344 to $8,178 depending on boat size and pier location. Requires $500 non-refundable deposit to reserve.
2. Transient/Guest Slip Rentals: Nightly guest slip rentals at $1.75 per foot per night with a 25-foot minimum. Available through Dockwa and Snag A Slip platforms.
3. Fuel Sales: Premium treated gasoline and diesel fuel sales at renovated fuel dock. Free pump-out service at fuel dock for customers.
4. Ship Store Sales: On-site ship store in Harbor Control Building open 7 days a week 8AM-4:30PM, selling marine supplies and convenience items for boaters.
5. Launch Ramp Fees: Daily boat launch at $20, recreational season pass at $250, commercial season pass at $350.
6. Miscellaneous Services: Fees for key replacements, parking keys, returned checks, portable pump-outs at slips ($75), and vendor fees ($350).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Waukegan Harbor & Marina rents approximately 700 boat slips on Lake Michigan on annual, seasonal, and transient bases across three harbor basins (South Harbor North Pier, South Harbor South Pier, and North Harbor). Supporting revenue-generating services include a full-service fuel pier selling premium gasoline and diesel with free pump-outs, an on-site ship store, boat launch ramps, winter boat storage, and charter fishing operations hosted at the marina.

Product overview

Waukegan Harbor & Marina is a full-service public marina operated by the Waukegan Port District and professionally managed by F3 Marina. The facility offers a comprehensive suite of boating services centered around nearly 700 slip rentals across three harbor areas (South Harbor North Pier, South Harbor South Pier, and North Harbor), accommodating vessels from 26ft to 65ft. Supporting services include charter fishing operations, a ship store with boaters lounge, full-service fuel dock, boat launch ramps, and winter storage. The marina operates seasonally from March 15 to November 15, with amenities such as complimentary Wi-Fi, DIRECTV, security, and shuttle services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Slip Rentals Annual moorage assignments for boat owners across South Harbor North Pier, South Harbor South Pier, and North Harbor basins, accommodating vessels from 26-ft to 65-ft including personal watercraft, sailboats, and luxury cruisers. Annual rates are tiered by boat size and pier location (e.g., 26-ft $1,985 North Pier; 30-ft $2,854 South Pier; 65-ft $8,178 South Pier) and require a $500 non-refundable deposit to reserve.
• Guest/Transient Slip Rentals Overnight and short-term guest dockage for visiting boaters at $1.75 per foot per night with a 25-ft minimum boat length. Reservations are available through third-party online platforms Dockwa and Snag A Slip, enabling self-service booking for Lake Michigan cruising travelers.
• Fuel Dock Services Full-service fuel pier offering premium treated gasoline and diesel fuel, with free pump-out service included at the fuel dock for customers. The fuel pier has been renovated and is available to marina tenants and visiting boaters.
• Ship Store On-site ship store located in the Harbor Control Building, open 7 days a week from 8AM-4:30PM, selling marine supplies, boat parts, snacks, and convenience items for boaters. A 24/7 Boaters Lounge with vending machines is also available.
• Boat Launch Ramps Three newly constructed boat launch ramps with 75,000 sq-ft trailer parking space. Daily launch $20; recreational season pass $250; commercial season pass $350.
• Winter Boat Storage Climatized winter storage and outside storage services for boats during the off-season, provided through on-site vendors at the marina.
• Chicago Yachting Center (Bay Marine) Long-term ground lease partnership with Bay Marine of Sturgeon Bay to develop the Chicago Yachting Center inside the Harbor's South Recreational Basin, featuring inside heated and outdoor storage, a fully certified service department, new/used/brokerage yacht sales, and a new 85-ton liftwell.

Named customers10 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

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Waukegan Port DistrictcoreOthers · 1 January 1955Public port district established in 1955 that owns Waukegan Harbor & Marina. The district oversees all harbor activities and operations, sets policies, and manages waterfront development.
• F3 MarinacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessional marina management company and national leader in responsible property management. F3 Marina professionally manages Waukegan Harbor & Marina operations.
• Bay Marine / Chicago Yachting CentercoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-term ground lease partnership with Bay Marine of Sturgeon Bay to develop Chicago Yachting Center. State-of-the-art facility with inside heated and outdoor storage, fully certified service department, new/used/brokerage yacht sales, and new 85-ton liftwell in South Recreational Basin.
• United States Coast Guard AuxiliarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivilian volunteer arm of the U.S. Coast Guard with office on marina property. Serving local area boaters for over 30 years with courtesy vessel examinations, public education classes, search and rescue, and communications.
• Waukegan Fire DepartmentcoreOthersFire department vessel located on marina property for emergency response capabilities.
• Larsen MarinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor5 Star Certified Dealership providing boat sales, service, and storage. Power and sail dealer for Jeanneau, Crownline, Seaward, and Island Packet. Mobile service fleet and summer/winter storage capabilities.
• TowBoatUSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNationwide boat towing service with on-site presence at optimusmarineinc.com. Annual membership fee provides free towing, fuel delivery, jump-starts, and soft ungroundings for freshwater boating.
• North SailsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld's premier sailmaker for racing and cruising sailboats. Provides sail repair, new sails, rigging, and marine consulting services.
• First Mate DetailingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBoat cleaning, detailing, buffing/waxing, teak interiors, wave runner sales/service, soda blasting, seasonal washes, shrink wrap, and carpet cleaning services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Burnham Harbor: Adjacent Lake Michigan public marina in Chicago operated by Chicago Park District offering similar full-service amenities including fuel dock, ship store, and charter fishing access. Directly comparable public-sector marina on Lake Michigan serving the same metropolitan boating market.
• Manitowoc Marina: Public marina on Lake Michigan in Manitowoc, Wisconsin offering seasonal and transient slips with full-service amenities. Comparable regional Lake Michigan public marina serving Midwest boaters.
• Belmont Harbor: Public Lake Michigan marina in downtown Chicago operated by Chicago Park District with similar full-service amenities, transient and annual slip offerings. Most directly comparable Lake Michigan public marina competing for the same Chicago metro boater market.
• Jackson Park Harbor: Public Lake Michigan marina on Chicago's south side operated by Chicago Park District offering similar seasonal slip rentals and recreational boating amenities. Comparable public marina competing for regional boaters.
• Michigan City Marina: Public marina on Lake Michigan in Michigan City, Indiana with approximately 500 slips. Comparable size and full-service amenity profile including seasonal and transient offerings; closest direct geographic competitor for Waukegan customers.
• South Haven Marina: Public marina on Lake Michigan in South Haven, Michigan offering seasonal and transient slip rentals with similar full-service amenities. Comparable regional Lake Michigan marina with charter fishing and recreational boating focus.
• St. Joseph Municipal Marina: Public marina on Lake Michigan in St. Joseph, Michigan offering similar seasonal slip rentals and charter fishing operations. Comparable Lake Michigan public marina with full-service amenity profile and transient booking.
• DuSable Harbor: Downtown Chicago Lake Michigan public marina operated by Chicago Park District with approximately 600 slips. Comparable full-service public marina with annual and transient offerings serving the same Chicago boating population.

Broad incumbents

• Suntex Marinas: One of the largest U.S. marina operators with a portfolio of full-service marinas across multiple regions. Comparable full-service amenity profile and broader geographic reach that competes for regional boating customers.
• IGY Marinas: Global luxury marina operator with multiple premium locations including marinas near Chicago. Larger portfolio player with overlapping premium slip offerings and yacht services that compete with Waukegan's higher-end positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/waukeganharbor
• Facebookfacebook.com/waukeganharbor
• Instagraminstagram.com/waukeganharbor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waukegan-harbor-marina

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Waukegan Harbor & Marina