HISTORY

A LONG-TIME HARBOR SPRINGS STAPLE

The Pointer Boat has been a beloved presence on Little Traverse Bay for decades, offering a storied past that’s
become an essential part of the Harbor Springs experience. Check out the history of the Pointer Boat below.

ESTABLISHMENT

The area which is now The Pointer Room at Pier Restaurant in Harbor Springs, Michigan is literally “on the water.” Until 1962 it was the boat house for the Harbor Point Association’s water taxi, The Pointer, which ran between Harbor Point and Harbor Springs. As there were no cars allowed on Harbor Point, The Pointer provided a vital link for the residents of the association during the summer months.

a hand holding a wooden handle on a white ship steering wheel

FIRST VOYAGES

There were a total of three different vessels, all named The Pointer, which ran from 1930 until 1962. Pointer is now on display outside the Pier Restaurant, in the exact location where pedestrians formerly caught the boat for service to the Harbor Point Hotel.

a woman standing in a boat with food on the table

A BOAT MAKEOVER

Using vintage photographs by Virgil Haynes, Harbor Springs boat builder Steve Van Dam spent seven months creating an authentic restoration of The Pointer, including the blue upholstered interior seating and side curtains. He added a beautifully designed compass rose table, ice storage area and sink to make the vessel a bit more yacht-like. As close as Mr. Van Dam can figure, The Pointer was a work boat built in Chessel, Michigan in 1934, with painted wood construction typical of Scandinavian design.