The Miller Boat Line, the family ferry that carries the Bass Islands
The ferry service between Catawba and Put-in-Bay moves cars, trucks, groceries and tens of thousands of visitors each season.
If you have been to Put-in-Bay, you have probably stood in line at the Miller Boat Line dock on Catawba Island, ticket in hand, waiting for the next boat across. The ferry is the main link between the mainland and South Bass and Middle Bass islands, and it is one of the region’s most important small businesses.
A working ferry
Miller ferries carry cars, trucks and walk-on passengers on a short crossing from Catawba to South Bass Island. Service runs from spring into late fall, with the most frequent trips in summer. The islands’ groceries, construction materials, fuel and garbage often move on the same boats as tourists. Schedules and fares are posted on the Miller Boat Line website.
The company has been run by the Miller family for generations, and it has added larger vessels over the years to handle more vehicles.
Put-in-Bay’s tourism
Put-in-Bay is best known for its summer crowds, golf carts and bars, but it also has the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, caves, wineries and state parks. Island businesses depend on reliable ferry service; a weather cancellation can empty a downtown in an afternoon.
Jobs for mainland residents
The ferry line and island businesses hire seasonal workers from across the region, including Bellevue, Fremont and Sandusky. Deckhands, ticket agents and dock workers are common summer jobs for college students.
The islands are part of a shoreline economy that also includes Marblehead and the Lakeside area and Cedar Point. More in Business.