The St. Joseph River Harbor is a commercial waterway, and freighters may enter and leave the harbor at any time. For safety purposes, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Marine Division have determined that all boats should stay well clear of the railroad swing bridge, rafting far enough away to permit the bridge to open and also to permit normal boat traffic to pass on both sides of the bridge. All boats rafting off the seawall on the south side of the St. Joseph River (next to the St. Joseph City Arboretum, between the railroad swing bridge and the Blossomland bascule bridge over the river) may raft only five boats deep. Boats are permitted to raft off the seawall on the east side of the Blossomland bridge (again, on the south side of the river), but due to the narrow width of the Morrison Channel, they may only raft one deep.

Boats may now also raft off the new SJRYC dock in front of the club up to 5 deep.  There will be no charge for racers.  Depth varies up to 8 feet.  Click here for SJRYC dock rules

There will be Coast Guard officers and Sheriff’s Deputies on duty in boats on the river early Saturday morning; Please feel free to ask for their help in rafting, and likewise, be prepared to follow their instructions. As before, The T-10s should form rafts in West Basin Marina, west of the Railroad Bridge on the north side of the river.   Please be wary of boat slips tied off for returning racers.

When rafting off the Arboretum wall, do not tie up to any trees or walkway fences or guardrails. Also, please be aware that the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the St. Joseph Arboretum proper is a violation of local ordinance, and the St. Joseph City Police will enforce that law.

The St. Joseph River is approximately twenty feet deep in the harbor area, and depending on conditions, there may be a strong current and/or surge from Lake Michigan.