WATER FUN | family fun + traditions
Slippin’ and Dockin’! Why Knot? A Guide to Docks + Boat Slips + Knots by John C. Gill photos by Main Channel Marina
A gateway to open waters, the dock extends an invitation to lake lovers. It serves as a passageway to excitement and recreation, to serenity and reflection.
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osciusko County’s 100+ lakes offer countless opportunities for aquatic activity, but accessibility is a prerequisite to the action. Public docks and boat ramps across the area guarantee visitors, and locals, access to sport and leisure. Discovering the ideal lake access point requires some planning, as facilities vary by location. Certain lake communities may provide entry, for example, from a narrow boat ramp situated beside a winding stretch of road. This could prove difficult to navigate with a trailer. Other lakes, however, maintain wide or dual ramps adjacent to docks, and offer ample parking, restrooms, and picnic areas. Both the Indiana DNR (in.gov/dnr) and Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams (lakes. grace.edu) provide excellent resources on their websites. There, visitors may examine lake directories and maps to pinpoint public access locations and the amenities available at each site.
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LAKElife Magazine August 2021
Docks
Often dismissed as simply a space to secure watercraft, the dock supports additional pursuits. It may function as a platform for fishing, sunbathing, or diving; as an open-air cafe; as a reading haven; or even as a meditative retreat. Moreover, the dock affords anglers, birdwatchers, photographers, and onlookers a perfect vantage point for observing nature’s artistry. The public dock, when utilized as a way station, engages the user and enhances the lake experience. As Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Jill Boggs explained, “We promote ‘From Waves to Shores.’ It’s connecting your main activity with things to do, and places
to eat and explore along our shorelines.” Indeed, when the main activity involves water, the dock becomes a springboard to Kosciusko’s lakeside venues. Boaters may choose to dock and shop, dock and dine, dock and play, dock and sleep. Customizing an itinerary begins at visitkosciuskocounty.org.
Getting The Slip
When the lake captivates its visitor and encourages a long-term relationship, a boat slip may seal the union. Available as rentals for all types of watercraft, slips provide accessible spaces for docking between trips.
