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Boat Service & Repair near Big Creek Lake

Find vetted boat repair, motor service, and marine specialists near Big Creek Lake — serving Des Moines, Ankeny, and Polk County
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Big Creek Lake is a 900-acre impoundment in Polk County just north of Des Moines — Iowa’s most accessible metro recreational lake and the primary day-use boating destination for the Des Moines metropolitan area. Big Creek sits within 20 miles of downtown Des Moines in the Big Creek State Park corridor, making it the most heavily used lake in central Iowa for family boating, personal watercraft, and casual fishing. The lake’s proximity to the Des Moines metro creates high seasonal demand from Memorial Day through Labor Day with the Iowa DNR managing a largemouth bass, crappie, walleye, and bluegill fishery across the lake’s varied shoreline structure. Find Boat Services lists verified boat repair, motor service, electronics installation, trailer repair, and storage providers serving Big Creek Lake within 15 miles across Polk and Dallas counties. The Des Moines metro location gives Big Creek boaters access to the largest concentration of marine service providers in Iowa — more options within a short drive than any other Iowa lake in the directory.

Big Creek Lake

Boat Service Providers near Big Creek Lake

Showing 7 verified providers within 30 miles

Hicklin’s Waters Edge Marine

4.94 miles
1413 NW Polk City Dr, Polk City, Iowa

Mon
9:00 am – 4:00 am
Tue
9:00 am – 4:00 am
Wed
9:00 am – 4:00 am
Thu
9:00 am – 4:00 am
Fri
9:00 am – 4:00 am
Sat
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sun
Closed

Steve’s Marine Service

7.92 miles
608 NE 53rd Ct, Ankeny, Iowa

Mon
Closed
Tue
11:00 am – 6:00 am
Wed
11:00 am – 6:00 am
Thu
11:00 am – 6:00 am
Fri
11:00 am – 6:00 am
Sat
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sun
Closed

KMK Outboard Services

10.79 miles
218 NW Main St, Elkhart, Iowa

Mon
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Tue
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Wed
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Thu
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Fri
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Sat
Closed
Sun
Closed

Brightwell’s Boathouse Inc

11.39 miles
2300 SE 37th St, Grimes, Iowa

Mon
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tue
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wed
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thu
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Fri
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat
Closed
Sun
Closed

Dave’s Marine & Sports

11.84 miles
5950 NW 2nd St, Des Moines, Iowa

Mon
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tue
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wed
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thu
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Fri
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sun
Closed

Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Boating Center Altoona

15.69 miles
1000 Bass Pro Dr NW, Altoona, Iowa

Mon
9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Tue
9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wed
9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thu
9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Fri
9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sat
9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sun
10:00 am – 6:00 am

Halaley Custom Marine

17.44 miles
4850 E Hull Ave, Des Moines, Iowa





Browse Big Creek Lake Boat Services by Category

Select a service category to find vetted specialists near Big Creek Lake


Detailing



Electronics Installation



Fiberglass Repair



Mobile Marine Mechanic



Motor Repair



Storage



Trailer Repair



Trolling Motor



Upholstery

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Look for the Featured Pro badge. These shops have passed our verification for responsiveness and verified marine expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions about Big Creek Lake


Big Creek Lake, an 814-acre lake within Big Creek State Park just north of Des Moines, has marine mechanics serving the park’s marina and five boat ramps, offering motor and outboard repair, prop and lower unit service, and detailing.


Yes — the entire lake is a 5 mph no-wake zone, unusually restrictive since it applies lakewide rather than just near shore or docks, even though any size motor is technically allowed. This makes Big Creek a slower-paced, calmer alternative to neighboring Saylorville Lake, which doesn’t carry the same lakewide restriction.


Each of Big Creek’s five boat ramps includes a designated sailboat rigging area, and the park maintains an 88-berth dry dock specifically for sailboats. Combined with the lakewide 5 mph limit, Big Creek has built real infrastructure around sailing and slower-paced boating rather than high-speed watersports.


While Big Creek averages about 17 feet deep, it reaches a maximum of 51 feet in places, and boaters unfamiliar with the lake’s depth changes can be caught off guard running near these deeper stretches. A shop familiar with Big Creek’s specific depth profile can advise on inspection after exploring an unfamiliar area.


Yes — mobile marine mechanics serve the Big Creek Lake area and can reach boaters at the park’s marina and boat ramps without requiring a haul-out.

Iowa Boater FAQ


Professional service typically ranges from $175 to $500. Standard 4-stroke outboards average $175–$300, while I/O systems reach the higher end.


Iowa is in the 2025–2028 three-year cycle. Prorated fees for a standard 16ft–26ft boat are currently $29.65.


Trailers under 2,000 lbs do not require a title or registration plate in Iowa. Trailers weighing 2,001 lbs or more must be titled and carry a $30/year fee.


Boaters between the ages of 12 and 17 must possess a certificate to operate any motorized vessel over 10 HP or a PWC.


Boaters must drain all water and keep all drain plugs and valves removed or open while in transit on public roads to prevent the spread of invasive species.

Official Iowa Resources

Iowa Boating Laws & Regulations

Official DNR manual detailing safety, including the mandatory 10mph limit within 300 feet of any inland shoreline. Safe Boating Tip: Submerged wood and fluctuating reservoir levels make lower unit and propeller repair high-demand services in the Hawkeye State.

Iowa Boat Registration & Titling

Instructions for the current 3-year cycle. Note that all boats 17 feet or longer must be titled.

Iowa Fishing Licenses

2026 licenses officially went on sale December 15, 2025.

 SERVICE ALERT: Mississippi River shops near Dubuque and Spirit Lake mechanics on the Iowa Great Lakes typically hit capacity for spring commissioning and electronics installs by April. If your boat needs motor work or hull repairs before the walleye opener on the Mississippi backwaters, book your service appointment now.

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