New & Used Yachts Boats Dealership & Sales in Michigan City, IN
Family owned on Trail Creek since 1953. Sea Ray yacht sales, brokerage, slips up to 60 feet, service and indoor storage on one property.
At 38 feet and up, the boat stops being something you take out and starts being somewhere you go. Two staterooms, a full galley, a generator running the air conditioning at anchor, and the range to cross to Michigan and back without planning around fuel. Our current yacht listings run from 38 to 50 feet in gas and diesel, all at our Michigan City location, and we order new Sea Ray models direct from the factory. Visit us at 31 Lake Shore Drive or start with what is on the docks today.
- 73+ Years in Business
- Authorized Sea Ray Dealer
- Top 100 Marine Dealer
- NMMA 5-Star Certified Dealer
Where a cruiser ends and a yacht begins
There is no legal line, but on this lake the practical one sits right around 38 feet. Below that you have one sleeping area and a boat you run yourself on a Saturday. Above it you get a second stateroom, a separate shower, a generator sized to run air conditioning overnight, an inverter so the refrigerator keeps working at anchor, and usually diesel inboards with V-drives instead of gas sterndrives. The difference shows up in how you use the boat more than in the brochure: a yacht makes a Friday-to-Sunday trip to South Haven or Chicago feel like staying somewhere rather than roughing it.
Weight is the other change. A 44-foot Sundancer carries roughly three times the displacement of a 32-foot express cruiser, which is why it tracks through a two-foot chop instead of pounding across it. That weight has to be hauled, blocked and stored every fall, and it needs a slip with the length, beam and depth to take it. Those logistics are a real part of the purchase, and they are the reason most yacht buyers end up shopping for a dealer and a marina at the same time.
B&E Marine has been on Trail Creek since 1953 and has been selling larger Sea Ray models for most of that run. We are a Top 100 marine dealer, a Brunswick Ambassador Dealer, and an NMMA Marine Industry 5-Star Certified Dealer. Our service department works on diesel inboards, generators and shore power systems year round, not seasonally. More on our background on the About Us page and our certifications and awards.
Find the right yacht for how you will use it
Our yacht listings sit between 38 and 50 feet, which covers most of what makes sense on Lake Michigan. Here is how the sizes break down in practice.
38 to 40 ft Sport Yachts
The entry point. Two sleeping areas, a real shower, and a boat one person can still dock in a crosswind with a thruster and twin engines.
44 ft Sundancers
The sweet spot for a family that cruises. Full-beam mid stateroom, generator, and cockpit space that works for eight people at the dock.
50 ft and Up
Diesel power, serious range, and the interior volume to spend a week aboard. This is where crossing to Michigan stops being a planned event.
Motor Yachts
Raised bridge or double cabin layouts that trade cockpit space for interior room and better sightlines from the helm.
Sea Ray Yachts
Every yacht currently on our docks is a Sea Ray, and we order new Sundancer and Coupe models direct from the factory.
Not Ready for 40 Feet?
Plenty of buyers land on a 32 or 38 instead. Compare the cruiser category before you commit to a slip length.
Looking at other styles? We also stock cruisers, center consoles, bowriders and deck boats, and jet boats, or browse our complete inventory.
New build or brokerage, an honest comparison
Almost every yacht that changes hands in this region is pre-owned, and there is a good reason for that. Here is how we lay out both paths for buyers.
Ordering New
As an authorized Sea Ray dealer we build to order, which means you choose the layout, canvas, hardtop, upholstery and electronics package rather than settling for someone else’s choices. New boats come with full factory warranty and current joystick and digital helm systems that make a 45-footer meaningfully easier to dock. The trade-off is build time and the first years of depreciation. Talk to us early, because build slots for the following season fill well before spring.
Buying Brokerage
This is where most of the value sits. A ten to twenty year old Sundancer that has spent its whole life in fresh water and wintered indoors can be a fraction of replacement cost with decades of service left in the hull. Our brokerage program lists boats from owners we usually know by name, with service history we can actually verify. Start with our used and brokerage listings.
Selling instead? Our MLS listing service puts your yacht in front of brokers nationwide, We Want Your Boat gives you a number outright, and the brokerage listing form starts the process.
Why Great Lakes yachts are worth shopping for
Buyers fly into Chicago to look at boats in this region for one reason, and it is worth understanding before you compare a local listing against something on a coast.
Fresh Water, Not Salt
No salt means no galvanic corrosion on outdrives, shafts, struts and raw water systems. A Lake Michigan yacht at fifteen years often shows less wear below the waterline than a coastal boat at five.
Short Seasons, Low Hours
A five-month season means Great Lakes yachts accumulate engine hours slowly. It is common to see twenty-year-old boats here with hours a Florida owner would put on in four seasons.
Indoor Winters
Boats that spend the off-season inside rather than baking under UV hold gelcoat, canvas and upholstery far better. Ask us which listings have wintered indoors and which have not.
We also maintain pages on Sea Ray boats near Chicago and boat brands compared around Chicago.
What yacht ownership actually involves
These are the points we make sure every buyer understands before they sign, because the boat is the easy part.
Survey and Sea Trial
Never skip either on a pre-owned yacht. A hull and engine survey costs a fraction of one repair and gives you real negotiating ground. Most insurers require a current survey anyway.
Slip Length and Beam
Confirm the slip before the boat. We offer private slips up to 60 feet on Trail Creek with drive-up access, but the large ones are spoken for early.
Diesel or Gas
Diesel inboards burn less, last far longer and carry higher repair costs. Gas makes sense under 250 hours a season. Above that, diesel usually pays for itself.
Systems, Not Just Engines
Generator, air conditioning, inverter, water heater, holding tank, bow thruster and shore power all need annual service. Budget for the boat as a house, not a motor.
Documentation and Registration
Vessels of five net tons or more, which covers roughly everything over 26 feet, can be federally documented with the Coast Guard instead of state titled. We walk buyers through which fits.
Haul-Out and Layup
Nothing stays in the water here past November. Plan for haul-out, winterizing engines, generator and plumbing, and indoor storage or shrink wrap.
Everything that comes after the sale
A yacht needs a dealer with a service department, a slip and somewhere to put the boat in November. All of it is on one property here.
Yacht Financing
Marine lenders offer twenty-year terms at this price point, which changes the monthly number considerably. Run it before you shop.
Explore Financing OptionsTrade-In Valuation
A straightforward number on your current boat, applied directly toward the yacht you are moving up to.
Start a Trade-InYacht Insurance
Coverage quoted through partners who understand agreed value, survey requirements, layup periods and navigation limits.
Request an Insurance QuoteService and Repower
Diesel and gas engine work, generator and air conditioning service, canvas, gelcoat, commissioning and winter layup.
Schedule Service OnlineSlips and Dockage
Private slips up to 60 feet with drive-up access, a seasonal fuel dock, pool, bathhouse and laundry.
See Slip AvailabilityIndoor Winter Storage
Indoor storage that protects gelcoat, canvas and brightwork through a Northwest Indiana winter far better than wrap alone.
See Storage OptionsOwners also use our dockside pump-out service, the Vantage Protection System for extended coverage, and the Ship’s Store for parts and gear. Visiting by water? Request a transient slip.
Serving yacht buyers across Northwest Indiana
Our showroom and marina sit on Trail Creek in Michigan City, and our yacht customers come from across Northwest Indiana and the greater Chicago area. Here is how we support each community.
Yachts for East Chicago, IN
East Chicago buyers come to Michigan City for a dealer that can survey, service, slip and store a 40-foot boat rather than sending each job somewhere different. Financing, brokerage and dockage questions get answered in one visit.
See how B&E Marine serves East Chicago boatersYachts for Gary, Indiana
With direct Lake Michigan access, Gary owners get full value from a yacht’s range and hull weight on longer runs along the shoreline and across to Michigan. We keep the diesel and generator work in house all season.
Learn more about our services for Gary, Indiana boatersYachts for Hammond, IN
For Hammond buyers we offer brokerage depth in the 38 to 50 foot range plus the chance to compare a sport yacht and a motor yacht layout back to back on the same docks. Slips and indoor storage are on the same property.
See what we offer Hammond boatersYachts for Valparaiso, IN
Valparaiso families have made B&E Marine a regular stop for yacht shopping, seasonal dockage and spring commissioning. Buy the boat, slip it and service it here without heading into Chicago for dealership support.
Explore our services for Valparaiso, Indiana boatersComing from farther out? We also maintain pages for boats for sale near Chicago, Northern Indiana, and Southwest Michigan.
Come walk them on Trail Creek
Listings photos flatten a yacht interior. Step down into a 44 and the headroom, the berth width and whether two people can pass in the galley are either right for your family or they are not, and thirty seconds aboard settles what an hour of scrolling cannot. Our docks let you walk several boats in the same afternoon and compare layouts side by side rather than from memory.
We are on Trail Creek, minutes from Lake Michigan and roughly 38 miles from downtown Chicago by water. The marina offers private slips up to 60 feet with drive-up access, a seasonal fuel dock, pool, bathhouse and laundry, so the boat can stay where you bought it.
Planning a visit? Use our quickest route tool for directions, check current fuel prices, meet the people you will work with on our sales team page, or contact our team ahead of time so we can have specific boats open and ready.
What yacht owners say about B&E Marine
The real test of a dealership is whether customers come back for their second and third boat. Here is a sample of what ours have shared.
“They found the survey issues before I did and told me about them. That is not what I expected from the selling side, and it is why I bought the boat.”
M. Alvarez, yacht owner“Third boat we have bought from B&E. Same service department, same people, same honest communication every time we bring it in.”
D. Kowalski, boat owner“Generator went down on a Friday in July. They had someone on the boat that afternoon. You do not get that from a broker who only sells.”
T. Reyes, yacht ownerFrequently asked questions
What size boat is considered a yacht?
What is the difference between a yacht and a cruiser?
Does B&E Marine sell new yachts or only brokerage?
How much does a yacht cost?
Do I need a marine survey to buy a used yacht?
Do I need a captain’s license to operate a yacht?
What maintenance does a yacht need?
Can a yacht stay in the water year round on Lake Michigan?
Can I finance or trade in toward a yacht?
Where is B&E Marine located?
Ready to find your yacht?
Browse current listings online, or come walk the docks at our Michigan City location. Our team will compare a new build against brokerage honestly, talk financing and slip availability, and give you a real number on your trade.
