Short answer: Harbor Marine serves Gainesville and the Hall County shore of Lake Lanier with mobile service at docks, lifts and driveways, plus our shop at 6516 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford. Call or text (770) 967-8495.
Hall County holds most of the lake
Gainesville is the county seat of Hall County, and Hall County holds about 60 percent of Lake Lanier. Parts of the city sit right on the water. That puts a lot of boats within the 30501, 30503, 30504, 30506 and 30507 ZIP codes: boats on lifts behind lake homes, boats at community and private docks, and trailer boats in driveways a short drive from the ramps.
The city also has a place in the lake's history. In 1996, Gainesville hosted the Olympic rowing and canoe and kayak events on Lake Lanier, at what is now Lake Lanier Olympic Park.
How we work with Gainesville owners
Our shop is at 6516 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford, at the south end of the lake, and Gainesville sits at the north end. So for routine work, we come to you: your dock, your lift, your slip or your driveway. For repairs that need a bench, a lift or cure time, the boat comes down to the shop. Owners with trailer boats often tow down I-985, and for boats that live in the water we can help plan a haul-out and move.
What we do for Gainesville boats
- Engine repair and service: overheating, hard starts, tune-ups, cooling and charging.
- Sterndrive and outdrive repair: bellows, gimbal bearings, gears, props and strike damage.
- Gel coat and fiberglass repair: dock rash, chips, cracks and stump strikes.
- Detailing and ceramic coating: waterline stains, oxidation and cockpit care.
- Winterization and shrink wrap: fall prep for boats on lifts, at docks or on land.
- Mobile service and transport: work at the boat, or help getting it to the shop.
Life on the north end of the lake
The north end of Lanier feels different from the busy south end. The arms are long and narrow, and the coves run deep into the shoreline. Many boats live at private docks, and lifts are common. When the lake drops in a dry year, the upper reaches of the arms get shallow first, and hazards that are normally deep come closer to the surface. Drive strikes and hull damage tend to follow low-water summers.
Lifts make some jobs easier
A boat on a lift is often the easiest kind to work on away from the shop. With the hull out of the water, we can reach the drive, the bottom and the waterline. That makes lift boats a good fit for drive inspections, anode changes and waterline cleaning on site. Tell us when you book if your boat lives on a lift, and whether there is power at the dock.
A season on the north end
Spring: recommission, check the impeller and bellows, and clean off winter grime. Summer: watch the lake level, adjust lines and fenders, and keep the waterline clean. Fall: inspect the drive, detail the boat, and winterize before the first hard freeze. A boat cared for on a steady schedule is far less likely to break down in a far cove of the lake.
Bringing a boat to the Buford shop
For trailer boats, getting to the shop is a tow south to Lanier Islands Parkway. For boats that live in the water, the boat first comes out at a ramp or marina. If you do not have a tow vehicle or would rather not haul it yourself, see boat transport in Gainesville.
What affects the job
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 at the dock, lift or driveway.
- The boat type, size and systems.
- Parts found worn once we look.
- Whether the boat needs moving to the shop.
How to book
- Call or text (770) 967-8495, or send the form.
- Tell us where the boat is: dock or lift address, marina and slip, or driveway.
- Describe the problem and send photos if you can.
- We suggest mobile service, shop work or transport.
Close by, see boat repair in Flowery Branch, Buford and Cumming, or our Lake Lanier boat repair home page. Questions? Contact us.