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That is a lot of money for a one time launch. Sad it's up to person there at the time. The cost to launch should be posted.

I know they constantly change firms that run the security and it seems so does the fee requirement.3 years ago it was ,for in state, first 20 boats were free,after that 20 dollars.It was always 20 for out of state.Now apparently it has gone up to 25 .​​​​​​​I will say i wasnt charged a thing all of last year and that was a new firm taking over last year- I plan on making it out this weekend so I will see what goes on this year.  

Me too Ltrain, unless the winds are howling out of SE, looks like they may be Saturday morning when I am planning on going.  May go out of Portage then and run to Gary Light.  Hoping some guys are out today or tomorrow and can post a report or two as well.  I know its been rough weather lately!

I’m a little late posting here but we paid $25 to launch a 18ft Lund Tyee.  I said to the attendant wow that’s crazy it’s usually $20.  He told me they had to raise the fee because of the increase in gas prices.  Don’t make sense to me how they tied the cost of the launch to gas prices.  

DM272 wrote:

DM272 post=33751 userid=744

I’m a little late posting here but we paid $25 to launch a 18ft Lund Tyee.  I said to the attendant wow that’s crazy it’s usually $20.  He told me they had to raise the fee because of the increase in gas prices.  Don’t make sense to me how they tied the cost of the launch to gas prices.  
 

Was that for Indiana resident or out of state?

Out of state

Can any IN resident testify how much and the circumstances if they had to pay the launch fee this year?

It is $25 for residents also. The first 30 boats are free.  It’s too bad we can’t get a nice state launch that is actually public.  It is very nice going to Lake Erie and having many options of public launches that are free to use with big parking lots(full of people using the launch.  Not a pile of ancient boats inhibiting the parking of current users). 

 

brooch wrote:

brooch post=33768 userid=805

It is $25 for residents also. The first 30 boats are free.  It’s too bad we can’t get a nice state launch that is actually public.  It is very nice going to Lake Erie and having many options of public launches that are free to use with big parking lots(full of people using the launch.  Not a pile of ancient boats inhibiting the parking of current users). 

[justify]I agree. A launch or two on the south end comparable to Mazuriks or Catawba would be great.[/justify]

How this all came to be is a long story involving local conservation groups, corrupt politicians, greedy bureaucracies, dumbass officials and questionable courtroom tactics.  The sportsmen could have gotten a better deal, but it could have been worse. Lessons were learned, thus the "all Indiana residents free" at Hammond Marina policy.  I was on a study group looking into a public launch on Lake Michigan and the decision of the DNR was "too expensive."  I argued, "but when you amortize the cost over forever, it only costs a few cents a year."  

Did you know when the Port of Indiana was being planned, it called for a public launch inside the port?  Launch operators in the ditch pitched a bitch, and greased the skids a little and the public launch became the public fishing site.  

There was once a study group that looked at the Dean Mitchell site as a development area including a launch. That one died or is still sleeping. Probably too many environmental issues in the soils and fill. 

When the Majestic Star/Trump Casino licenses were issued, the plan was to site them at the east end of the US Steel Landfill closer to downtown Gary to "revitalize" that area.  Again, environmental issues and at the time Gary was the murder capital of the US and the bond issues needed to raise the money couldn't get any support.    

A couple of other "non-starter" issues back 4 or 5 decades was Inland steel planned to extend their landfill another mile out into the lake. At the time they only filled the land up to the height of the current steel mill's elevation and then they'd build on it.  When it was denied, that's when the landfill started going higher and higher making all the nesting areas for cormorants and gulls.  

Another plan was when the Indiana Harbor was listed as a "superfund" site, the plan was to dig out all the polluted stuff, haul it out in the lake and create a big island somewhere between the 2nd light and Buffington Harbor.  

When it comes to elected officials and bureaucrats, there's no such thing as a stupid idea...... as long as there's enough $$$$ attached to the plan.