Short answer: Harbor Marine serves Dahlonega and Lumpkin County boat owners with mobile service where the boat is kept, work on boats at Lake Lanier, and our shop at 6516 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford. Call or text (770) 967-8495.
From the gold town to the lake
Dahlonega is the county seat of Lumpkin County, best known for Georgia's first documented gold discovery in 1829 and the gold rush that followed. Today it is a college town, home to the main campus of the University of North Georgia, and a weekend spot for wineries, Bear on the Square in April and Gold Rush Days in October.
It is also closer to the water than many people think. The Chestatee River runs by Dahlonega on its way south, and since Buford Dam was finished in 1956, the river ends in Lake Lanier. The lake's northwestern arm, Chestatee Bay, covers the river's lower 18 miles, and the lake reaches the southern tip of Lumpkin County.
How Dahlonega owners keep their boats
Most boats in the 30533 and 30597 ZIP codes live on trailers, in garages, barns, driveways and storage lots, and head down to Lanier on the weekend. Others stay in a slip or at a dock on the north end of the lake through the season. A few owners use the boat on smaller mountain lakes too. Each setup has its own needs, and we plan our work around how and where your boat is kept.
Services for Dahlonega boats
- Engine repair: hard starts after storage, overheating, tune-ups and pre-season checks.
- Sterndrive and outdrive repair: bellows, gimbal bearings, gears and strike damage.
- Gel coat and fiberglass repair: ramp scrapes, trailer wear, chips and cracks.
- Detailing and ceramic coating: pollen, mildew, oxidation and stains.
- Winterization and shrink wrap: protection for colder mountain winters.
- Mobile service and transport: work where the boat is, or help getting it to the shop.
Colder winters up north
Dahlonega sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, and winter nights there tend to run colder than down at the south end of the lake. Boats stored in unheated garages, barns and open lots need a full winter plan: the engine, cooling system, drive and water lines drained or protected, the fuel treated and the batteries cared for. A boat that is not winterized can crack a block or manifold on the first hard freeze.
Mountain roads and trailers
Getting a boat from the hills down to the lake means long grades and winding roads. That puts extra work on trailer brakes, bearings and tires, and on the tow vehicle. Check the trailer before each season, keep the bearings greased, and watch for hot hubs at stops. A trailer that fails on a mountain road is a far bigger problem than one that fails in the driveway.
Where the work happens
For routine work, our mobile service can come to the boat. For bigger repairs, the boat comes to our shop at 6516 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford, at the south end of the lake. Many Dahlonega owners plan shop work around a lake weekend, dropping the boat off on the way down or at the end of the season. If towing is not an option, see boat transport in Dahlonega.
Pricing and travel
Pricing is set when you call for a quote. These are the things that change the size of the job:
- Whether the work can be done where the boat is kept, or needs the shop.
- The boat type, size and systems on board.
- Parts found worn once we look.
- Where the boat is and whether it needs moving.
Ask about any travel charges when you call for your quote.
How to book
- Call or text (770) 967-8495, or send the form.
- Tell us where the boat is: home, storage lot, or dock or slip on the lake.
- Describe the problem and send photos if you can.
- We recommend a mobile visit, a shop drop-off or transport.
Nearby, see boat repair in Gainesville and Cumming, or our Lake Lanier boat repair home page. Questions? Contact us.