New Sandy Creek Marina?

[rolmops]

On Sandy Creek just south and west of the bridge of the Parkway there is a lot of work (or so it seems) going on. The brush has been cleared out and they are advertising the availability of ice, fuel and, presumably, slips. But there is only one pontoon moored in that quite big place. It looks like a nice place, close to the lake and the creek is fairly deep over there already. Does it have a launch?. I would like to find out more, but the gate is closed all the time so it is hard to figure out what is going on. 

Any info?

[Gator]

We slipped there for fifteen years before the owner Bruce left for Florida and left most of us high and dry scrambling for dockage. It changed hands a few years ago; there seemed to be a push to renovate and re-open, but so far crickets. There may be a member here with better knowledge of the issues.

 

As for the facility: there is a small launch. The channel to the Creek is narrow but navigable. Optimally, I'd want to know that the gas tank was completely drained, cleaned, and refilled before purchasing. But it would be nice to have gas on Sandy again. 

[whaler1]

I texted with the owner a few years ago. Told me it was $65 a foot and if that didn’t work not to bother him. 

[rolmops]

7 minutes ago, whaler1 said:

I texted with the owner a few years ago. Told me it was $65 a foot and if that didn’t work not to bother him. 

I currently pay $35 ,so that is about half of what this other marina would cost. So unless this guy requires some common sense, he will have an empty marina.

[whaler1]

Sleepy Hollow Marina, where you dock is a great place and a bargain. If anyone needs a dock for $35 a foot, call Frank at 585-314-3569. Great guy and some of the best fishing on the south shore. 

[HB2]

I talked with Vince a few weeks ago. 

 

He said he blew out his back and was layed up for quite a while so things haven't progressed the way he would have liked . 

 

That being said , and this is strictly my observation running 2 businesses in my lifetime ,he has a huge outlay of capital out  over there with a lot more to be done . 

 

So he has to price it so it's profitable to even do it . I ran numbers and Bruce made squat over there . 

 

Those are some very nice docks he has made . Probably very costly . Also he has done a fair amount of work over there . So has has to charge accordingly . If he gets slips filled , well , let's see how that goes . And let the market decide if he is successful .  But I can see that place being very nice , pleasure boat friendly . Picnic tables , parking right by your slip , GAS , etc . 

[jlogger]

Gas tank is getting, emptied, cleaned, recertified and moved over to other side of marina in mid-summer. The new docks are getting anchored currently. The earthen fingers that anchored the docks previously were completely removed and were replaced with main docks. All of the docks attached to them are new.

 

I spent one season using the boat launch as my slip. I have fished out of Irondequoit, Port Bay and Sandy. Def like Sandy the best.

[whaler1]

51 minutes ago, HB2 said:

I talked with Vince a few weeks ago. 

 

He said he blew out his back and was layed up for quite a while so things haven't progressed the way he would have liked . 

 

That being said , and this is strictly my observation running 2 businesses in my lifetime ,he has a huge outlay of capital out  over there with a lot more to be done . 

 

So he has to price it so it's profitable to even do it . I ran numbers and Bruce made squat over there . 

 

Those are some very nice docks he has made . Probably very costly . Also he has done a fair amount of work over there . So has has to charge accordingly . If he gets slips filled , well , let's see how that goes . And let the market decide if he is successful .  But I can see that place being very nice , pleasure boat friendly . Picnic tables , parking right by your slip , GAS , etc . 

Empty docks bring in no money. 

[Gator]

It sure sounds like a heck of an investment. My wife and I ran the numbers when Bruce was selling the place, thinking long term investment, and we simply couldn't make them work for us. But then again, neither of us have the experience to establish sweat equity in a marine venture, either. 

 

I am rooting for him. It would be nice to have a more vibrant culture on the Creek, and the on-site gas would be great, even if it means that our not-so-hidden gem is exposed. The size of the marina may be it's undoing though. IMHO, a modest operation with twenty or twenty five docks would be feasible, but I'm no expert and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[rolmops]

It might be too many marinas chasing too few customers.

Even today Sleepy hollow Marina (Frank's) is mostly empty slips in spite of his very reasonable prices. Tom does well because he has a launch, a repair shop on the premises, a great loving golden retriever and just a happy attitude towards life.

[HB2]

2 hours ago, whaler1 said:

Empty docks bring in no money. 

As a life long carpenter , I can tell you that more than once , mostly early in my career , I underbid jobs and after , payroll , materials , and other overhead , it actually cost me money to go to work on that project . So just because those slips are full , doesn't mean you are profitable  

 

44 minutes ago, Gator said:

It sure sounds like a heck of an investment. My wife and I ran the numbers when Bruce was selling the place, thinking long term investment, and we simply couldn't make them work for us. But then again, neither of us have the experience to establish sweat equity in a marine venture, either. 

 

I am rooting for him. It would be nice to have a more vibrant culture on the Creek, and the on-site gas would be great, even if it means that our not-so-hidden gem is exposed. The size of the marina may be it's undoing though. IMHO, a modest operation with twenty or twenty five docks would be feasible, but I'm no expert and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The profit is in the numbers . It takes X amount of money to pay the mortgage,taxes , insurance ,etc etc 

Once that threshold is met , then profit happens . 

 

[whaler1]

Like a restaurant charge as much as you want but fill the seats. At $65 a foot that is going to be difficult to do. 

[HB2]

I just remembered . 

 

Back in 1990 I paid Oshman at Bald Eagle 800$ for my 21 ft . 

 

And that was the going rate and at the Oak it was more . So what's that in today dollars . You guys should be kissing Tommy's ass . 

 

Why would a pleasure boater want to dock next to some of you guys ? I mean , I've met some of you . A nice family with a hot mom in a bikini with some of you hounds around ? Come on . 

[whaler1]

52 minutes ago, HB2 said:

I just remembered . 

 

Back in 1990 I paid Oshman at Bald Eagle 800$ for my 21 ft . 

 

And that was the going rate and at the Oak it was more . So what's that in today dollars . You guys should be kissing Tommy's ass . 

 

Why would a pleasure boater want to dock next to some of you guys ? I mean , I've met some of you . A nice family with a hot mom in a bikini with some of you hounds around ? Come on . 

Hey hey hey don’t judge the rest of us due to the behavior of Scott and Keith. 

[Silver Fox]

20 minutes ago, whaler1 said:

Hey hey hey don’t judge the rest of us due to the behavior of Scott and Keith. 

And the suction rubber toys in Keith’s boat were not my idea…..

[Silver Fox]

That cut through to the marina should be trimmed. Not sure any fishing boat would want to donate rods to the trees. Jerry and I used to do it on occasion. It’s definitely not as easy as it looks. I’d bet we all wish him well as having a small businesses in NY are tough to begin with….

Billy, you should come to “craft night” at the marina sometime. We go eat ice cream like little kids at Kronys afterwards…

[chinook35]

On 5/30/2026 at 2:51 PM, whaler1 said:

I texted with the owner a few years ago. Told me it was $65 a foot and if that didn’t work not to bother him. 

 

[chinook35]

And you wonder why participation in the fishery is declining ? 
it is being priced beyond most people’s means 

 

[Shakemsam]

13 hours ago, Silver Fox said:

That cut through to the marina should be trimmed. Not sure any fishing boat would want to donate rods to the trees. Jerry and I used to do it on occasion. It’s definitely not as easy as it looks. I’d bet we all wish him well as having a small businesses in NY are tough to begin with….

Billy, you should come to “craft night” at the marina sometime. We go eat ice cream like little kids at Kronys afterwards…

30 years ago that cut was bad. Cant imagine how bad it is now!!

 

[GAMBLER]

14 hours ago, Silver Fox said:

And the suction rubber toys in Keith’s boat were not my idea…..

The reaction of the ladies kayaking up the creek that afternoon was epic!  

[GAMBLER]

$65 compared to half that price up the creek is steep.  Empty docks slips at $65 a foot will never pay the bills.  No one will pay that when there are much cheaper options up the creek for hundreds less.  The short ride to the lake isn't worth double the money.  When I started Gambler Rigs, I wouldn't have sold a rig if I doubled the price of my competitors..  I had to start off below their price and gain a customer base.  I didn't make a ton of profit the first two years but it paid off in the long run!

[whaler1]

At $1000 a slip he would probably get business. 

[HB2]

When I drive in to my cottage and look at the Marina as a whole , I see massive potential there . It could be really nice  with not a ton more outlay of cash . 

 

Trim trees , weed wack , a  picnic pavilion and tables. Good parking , easy access to your boat , gas , bathrooms , maybe a shower. Maybe get a mechanic in there . 

 

People of means would have no problem paying extra for that if there  is value there . You dump 100 k + on the boat and  cry about an extra 500$ . 

 

As a fisherman , I don't need that stuff , just a place to dock my boat . But as a pleasure boater , especially if women are involved ..... Well , you know the rest . 

 

Make the endeavor , shell out the capital , do all the sweat equity , risk loosing it all .  and then give away the product ?  When you do all that , come talk to me . 

Like I say you guys should be kissing Tommy's ass . 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 1 by HB2

[GAMBLER]

43 minutes ago, HB2 said:

When I drive in to my cottage and look at the Marina as a whole , I see massive potential there . It could be really nice  with not a ton more outlay of cash . 

 

Trim trees , weed wack , a  picnic pavilion and tables. Good parking , easy access to your boat , gas , bathrooms , maybe a shower. Maybe get a mechanic in there . 

 

People of means would have no problem paying extra for that if there  is value there . You dump 100 k + on the boat and  cry about an extra 500$ . 

 

As a fisherman , I don't need that stuff , just a place to dock my boat . But as a pleasure boater , especially if women are involved ..... Well , you know the rest . 

 

Make the endeavor , shell out the capital , do all the sweat equity , risk loosing it all .  and then give away the product ?  When you do all that , come talk to me . 

Like I say you guys should be kissing Tommy's ass . 

 

 

 

 

That marina in its Hayday wasn't full.  It doesn't have the potential you think it does.  Take out the parkway bridge, widen the channel leaving the marina and you have a little bit more potential.  Both of those things will never happen.  Those two obstacles keep a lot of bigger boats out of there.  Look at Bald Eagle.  It has a bar/ restaurant, it doesn't have the obstacles, and it still isn't totally full.  Bald Eagle charges those prices with a building with amenities, a bar/ restaurant, docks with electric and water, No parkway bridge to worry about, a wide channel and they are not just getting started!  

 

As for the endeavor comment, that is exactly how I got Gambler Rigs off the ground and still made profit the first year.  I didn't bust into the market by overcharge customers.  You will not get customers if they can get the same thing for half the price.  Busting into the market overcharging and not selling docks at all is a good way to lose it all.  Can't pay the bills on an empty marina. 

Edited June 1 by GAMBLER

[Shakemsam]

1 hour ago, HB2 said:

When I drive in to my cottage and look at the Marina as a whole , I see massive potential there . It could be really nice  with not a ton more outlay of cash . 

 

Trim trees , weed wack , a  picnic pavilion and tables. Good parking , easy access to your boat , gas , bathrooms , maybe a shower. Maybe get a mechanic in there . 

 

People of means would have no problem paying extra for that if there  is value there . You dump 100 k + on the boat and  cry about an extra 500$ . 

 

As a fisherman , I don't need that stuff , just a place to dock my boat . But as a pleasure boater , especially if women are involved ..... Well , you know the rest . 

 

Make the endeavor , shell out the capital , do all the sweat equity , risk loosing it all .  and then give away the product ?  When you do all that , come talk to me . 

Like I say you guys should be kissing Tommy's ass . 

 

 

 

 

 

This place was never geared toward the pleasure boater, due to its location. There were a few there, but most wanted to be Braddocks and East, for the restaurants, bars, and beaches. That cut is a serious PITA for most boats, and they can't just start cutting and clearing all the over hanging trees on the shorelines. It would really suck to have to wait to put your gear up, till after you get through. The Parkway Bridge was tough because a lot of us ran outriggers back in the day. Now  it just lìmits to the size of your boat. Throw in a good stiff N NE wind and that narrow exit to the lake can be a jaw breaker! There's a reason it closed and even a bigger reason it stayed closed. It's too bad because it's really a great location for the weekend warrio...If the price is right!