Tropics

Jan. 16, 2008 The 2008 slip rate has been set at $68.00 per foot for the summer season. Some other protected harbours are charging in excess of $78.00 per foot !

Jan. 5,2008 Happy New Year ! It's hard to believe that 2007 has flown by so quickly, however since the holidays are over we can now look forward to the boating season of 2008.

This page is for our long-time boaters and new "neighbors" we hope to see in the harbour this summer, either for a day or for the whole season.

As many of you on the Ohio River know, Watertown Yacht Club was recently purchased by DCI Properties. This is the same company that is developing most of the Dayton, Ky shoreline for condo, retail and green space. The entire project is known as Manhattan Harbour.

There are many exciting projects being discussed for Watertown, both for this summer and for the future.

Jan 24, 2008 Dirt everywhere ! Yes, there are large mounds of dirt pretty much everywhere you look around the harbour. Yes it is a pain (don't get me started) but the key word is Temporary ! These large piles of dirt are nothing more than large weights to compact the ground for the new sewer lines. Long before the summer boating season, these huge piles of dirt will be gone, the landscapers will roll in, and we'll have a beautiful harbour to look at.

March 2, 2008. All fired up from the warm weather (and the beach party the night before), Jack and Pam (President and First Lady of The Commodores Club) fired up their boat, cruised over to the docks outside Tropics and invited several other people to join them, in what was arguably the first pleasure cruise of the season on the Ohio River. This Harbour has SPIRIT !

March 8, 2008. Blizzard party. How many inches of snow were dumped on us this weekend ?? In what may have been THE ONLY marina restaurant open during the heavy snowfall this weekend, Tropics hosted an impromptu blizzard party. The first phone call started with Margie and Pat, (asking if we were open) then Karen and Kevin and before we knew it half the harbour ( and their friends) were here.

The food was hot, the drinks were cold and cabin fever was no-where in sight. Shouldn't this be your harbour ?

April 18, 2008. Warm weather, lot's of dirt leaving, boats returning.

What a great sight ! Looking out the riverfront windows, there are boats on the river heading into the harbour, docking in their slips. Looking out the street-front windows, there are large mounds of dirt leaving ! For the first time in months, cars are parked in the lower lot and the drive, by the docks. Bands are being hired, staff recruited, new menu items being tested. The Reef will be opening May 2nd.

Be here next Saturday, April 26 for the Annual Commodore's Club cookout, starting at 1:00 PM . The party continues later in Tropics.

May 9, 2008. It's been a few weeks since your "marina web blogger" has had a chance to write anything on here. It certainly hasn't been because nothing is going on ! In-case you haven't been to the harbour lately, a-lot has changed. Both parking lots are now accessible. Repairs and upgrades are happening everywhere. Boats are moving in, people are having fun. In no particular order : The Commodore's Club grill-out was a huge success, The Reef is now open weekends, The new menu's for Tropics and The Reef are being served ( check elsewhere on this website for the complete menu's) , The boater's lounge is 95% complete....words like classy, elegant and....WOW come to mind, the headboat (main building) is receiving a fresh coat of paint, the swimming pool has been stripped of 20 years of built-up paint and will soon re-open with a sparkling new finish, repairs and upgrades are on-going on The Reef.

I know "Miss Manners" will cringe, and I have to agree....bathrooms just aren't a subject that many people care to discuss ( myself included). The new main level "facilities" are quite nice, and the upgrades to the 2nd floor "facilities" are almost complete. Words like new fixtures, automatic, touchless and granite counter tops would be appropriate.....enough said about that. Dock pedestals and electric meters are being reworked and replaced as needed. The list goes on. The underlying theme is that everything is being done right and the thought on everyone's mind is QUALITY. Speaking of quality, are you aware that Tropics is now using beef (steaks) from the ONLY

tri-state area slaughter house (Stehlin's meats) ? From local cattle ranches ? Not many area restaurants, can make that claim, and certainly not any of the "chain" restaurants. Tropics owners are at the slaughterhouse every week, Again, it's all about quality.

June 23,2008 - Our stretch of the river is looking better. A big thanks to all of the people that gave of their time and energy to make Riversweep a success this past weekend. I don't have the exact figure of the tonnage of debris that was removed from the shores of the river, however from what I saw being loaded into the dumpster it was substanstial ! Unless I am misstaken, I don't believe this had ever been done at this marina before. Besides the many volunteers, I don't think this could have been done without the tireless efforts of our Commodore's Club President (Jack). Sometimes the "behind the scenes" phone calls, meetings, planning and organization get overlooked for an event like this............not in this case. Thanks, Jack for making this happen. I think you have paved the way for this to become an annual event at Manhattan Harbour. Our hats are off to you !