Cedar Point

JMBSEARAY

New Member
Sep 25, 2009
15
Great Lakes
Boat Info
2006 340 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 8.1 Horizons with V Drives
I am looking forward to going to Cedar Point this summer leaving from Mac Ray Harbor. I jsut purchased a 2006 340 Sundancer :smt038and this would be my first time by boat.
Any one could give me any pointers about this type of boating trip. How long will it take, any ports worth stopping at on the way.
 
Congrats on the new boat it's a great one! We want pictures and specs on the boat posted. Can't help you with that region though...
 
Plan on staying over night!

The marina will give you a guest pass that will let you into the park 30 minutes before everyone else.


Do not go past Go, Do not collect $200, go straight to the
Millennium. It is one hell of a ride. :)

Then proceed to the Top Thrill Dragster, and then onto the Raptor.

Hit them all again if possible and then work your way back to the Maverick.

 
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Congrats on the new boat it's a great one! We want pictures and specs on the boat posted. Can't help you with that region though...

I am working on putting some pictures on the site. It is cold and losts of snow so teh pictures will take some time to get.
 
Stay two nights unless you want to ride back up the channel in the dark and wiped out.Although coming into livingston channel at night is beautiful with the lighted backdrop of the city of detroit,windsor and the ambassador bridge the area can be unsafe at night because of anglers and large ships.If you do go at night just be safe ,the other alternative is the trenton channelbut you may have to deal with anglers and bridges there also,not to mention its a favorite ride for the people returning from the various "clubs" along the river or returning from the islands .Speaking of which you may enjoy stopping at kellys island for a lunch and walk or tour.moorings are usually available but call ahead you will most likely have to water taxi to the docks DONT BUY GAS THERE unless absolutly nessecary its $$$$$.do have a great trip though!!!!Also check your charts carefully near the islands there are some large submerged rock piles to avoid.The ships used to dump balast rocks there before getting near the river mouth.
 
JMB,

Not sure how long of a trip you are planning, but you should try to include a stop at Kelly's Island and Put-in-Bay. Kelly's is a little more quiet, laid back than PIB. Both offer pleanty to do.

As for dockage, I would suggest calling ahead to make reservations. Definitely do this if you are planning these stops on a weekend.

Two marina choices at KI are Seaway Marina and Portside Marina.

http://www.seawaymarina.com/

http://www.portsidemarinaki.com/

As for PIB the city docks get pretty wild on the weekends. There are other options. It all depends on what type of experience you want.

http://www.putinbay.com/boating.htm

Enjoy your trip and let us know if you need any additional information.

PS - Make sure you ride the Millenium at Cedar Point. As LTD said, it is a great coaster.
 
If you've never been to PIB on South Bass Is. It's a must see. You'll go right past on your way to CP. If you have your family along try Millers Marine, plenty of water and away from the mayhem. Call ahead like a month ahead. We've made the trip up and down the lakes many times. The one thing I will say is if there is a North wind blowing across Lake Erie when your down bound, The mouth of the Detroit river into the Lake will pound your brains out. Current is down bound and wind up bound makes for some mean chop!!!!!!!!!! We dock at Catawba island O. You'll enjoy your time at CP don't miss the islands if you can.
 
JMB, congrats on your 340, and welcome to CSR, MacRay (if you're new here) and CP!

It's a great 100 mile trip, and you've already been given some good advice. (Millenium is a must-ride and PIB and Kelley's are great stops)

I recommend taking the Livingstone channel, and using the downbound "highway". Soon after the mouth of the river, you can set your heading for the SW tip of South Bass Isand. There's no reason to pass more than a few buoys in the shipping channel before heading into open water, so don't make the common mistake of going all the way down to the Detroit River light before setting your course.

This course takes you very close to Middle Sister Island, which you can use as a visual waypoint. There's deep water on all sides of Middle Sister, but it's also a VERY common spot for fishing nets, so keep a lookout for flags on sticks and small white floats, and continue that lookout until you're close to South Bass.

The South Passage between the islands and Catawba / Marblehead is an easy shot. As you turn into Sandusky Bay, I recommend that you aim for the first few coasters on the skyline and stay north of "Red 2". You'll see many boaters cutting it closer, but they fall into 2 categories: local knowledge, and no knowledge... Once you clear Red 2, you can enter the Mosely Channel and travel along the park and into the marina.

If you're traveling alone, consider paying an upcharge for a 50' well. Those are on Pier 11, close to the gate, Famous Dave's and the store etc. Otherwise you'll be assigned a well in the south basin over by the parking lot. Those docks tend to be dirty and far away and don't have uprights, so docking in wind can be challenging.

If you choose to visit PIB, I agree that Millers is a good option over the public docks. If you'll be there during the week, The Crew's Nest will also accept transients, and that allows you guest usage of their restaurant and pool etc.
 
JMB, congrats on your 340, and welcome to CSR, MacRay (if you're new here) and CP!

It's a great 100 mile trip, and you've already been given some good advice. (Millenium is a must-ride and PIB and Kelley's are great stops)

I recommend taking the Livingstone channel, and using the downbound "highway". Soon after the mouth of the river, you can set your heading for the SW tip of South Bass Isand. There's no reason to pass more than a few buoys in the shipping channel before heading into open water, so don't make the common mistake of going all the way down to the Detroit River light before setting your course.

This course takes you very close to Middle Sister Island, which you can use as a visual waypoint. There's deep water on all sides of Middle Sister, but it's also a VERY common spot for fishing nets, so keep a lookout for flags on sticks and small white floats, and continue that lookout until you're close to South Bass.

The South Passage between the islands and Catawba / Marblehead is an easy shot. As you turn into Sandusky Bay, I recommend that you aim for the first few coasters on the skyline and stay north of "Red 2". You'll see many boaters cutting it closer, but they fall into 2 categories: local knowledge, and no knowledge... Once you clear Red 2, you can enter the Mosely Channel and travel along the park and into the marina.

If you're traveling alone, consider paying an upcharge for a 50' well. Those are on Pier 11, close to the gate, Famous Dave's and the store etc. Otherwise you'll be assigned a well in the south basin over by the parking lot. Those docks tend to be dirty and far away and don't have uprights, so docking in wind can be challenging.

If you choose to visit PIB, I agree that Millers is a good option over the public docks. If you'll be there during the week, The Crew's Nest will also accept transients, and that allows you guest usage of their restaurant and pool etc.

It was so nice for you to give me the information it is so helpfull, my boat name is Phase II so I hope we can meet sometime in the summer and my wife and I can thnkyou in person.
 
I'm happy to help JMB. It's obviously a trip I enjoy, since I can't seem to decide which of these marinas is "home"!

I guess my third home, (or at least the boat's third home), is the village of Put-In Bay on South Bass Island. It's a worthwhile stop.

If you want to party, or witness a party, make reservations with Kenny at Miller's Marina on a wkd. If you want to HOST a party, give the city docks a shot. (not recommended)

If you want a quieter experience, plan a weeknight stay at The Crew's Nest. (wkd reservations are members-only)

To clarify a post above, PIB offers mooring balls and a water taxi as an alternative to the city and private marinas. Kelley's Island does not. (the poster was thinking one island, but typed the name of the other)

Re: Fishnets

I try to avoid them altogether, but they can be hard to spot. You can get over them, and I have done so more times than I want to admit. I also have several friends who have snagged them with their props. They didn't confess, but I suspect they got too close to, or ran over a white float... A few years ago I spent an afternoon on the phone calling the U.S. and Canadian agencies trying to get details about nets: such as notices, co-ordinates and what the colors of the flags indicate. I got no-where. Apparently, the fishermen drop them where they want to and we just have to avoid them.
 
They are well below the surface when set right. There are flags marking the ends and floats in between. One single flag marks end close to shore, one double flag marks end farthest from shore.
 
Any idea about the colors? The nets in the area of Middle Sister are tricky: the nets can be on either side of international border, so there's the "shore" of an island and two countries to choose from.
 
Both flag sets are red, Thats upto said Fisherman?
 
Where are you at in MacRay's? A couple of us are on Spindrift.

PIB is must if you've never been.

Welcome
 
I didn't see if have children or not. If you do have children, DO NOT visit Put in Bay on a weekend. Go to Kellys Island or across the Leamington. PIB during the week is a nice place to visit, but the weekends are scary unless you are an all out alcoholic/drug abuser. (Or from New Orleans, where you are used to such things)


Only after Dark. To be more clear if you have kids dont go to the city docks on the weekend. A,B or C. Also a good alternative is to dock at Middle Bass Island, which has a brand new Marina, take the Sonny S ferry over to the Bay, spend the day and get back to peacefull Middle bass for the night.
 
Zorba has a good plan there. There are caves to explore, Perry's monument and visitor's center, All kinds of shops, tons of restaurants, golf carts, bikes, mopeds, merry-go-round, fish hatchery, museum, and much more.
 
Only after Dark. To be more clear if you have kids dont go to the city docks on the weekend. A,B or C. Also a good alternative is to dock at Middle Bass Island, which has a brand new Marina, take the Sonny S ferry over to the Bay, spend the day and get back to peacefull Middle bass for the night.


Agreed. We regularly go to PIB on the weekends during THE DAY with kids. After about 9pm you really have to be carefull. Not that it can't be done, I've spent a few nights on mooring balls with our kids. I've stopped at the city docks during the day with kids but always have them off by dark. During the day it is fine with supervision. There is alot to do with kids on the island, just be aware that the evening brings out a "different" crowd. I just have them off the island by 9pm or so, or at least out to a mooring ball. After 9 it really becomes an adult playground. Great place to visit with/without the whole family, just be aware that the island caters to partiers...especially after dark. Prior to Memorial Day and after Labor Day you own the island. Great family spot, even on the weekends. Just use your own judgement.

Middle Bass is the best of both worlds. Quiet and peacefull, with an easy ferry ride over to the bay. Highly recommended. Lots of room between slips. We spend most of our evenings either at Middle Bass or Kelly's.
 
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Sorry for posting late on this thread. We travel to Lake Huron every summer and I'm guessing it'll take about 3 1/2 hours from Windsor to Cedar Point, if the water is desent on Lake Erie. Not sure how far you are from the mouth of Detroit river at Lake St Clair. You never know about the water on Lake Erie. 1 - 2's and this time should be pretty accurate.

I agree with the other posters. As per RollerCoastr, DO try to get a dock on Pier 11 as the transit docks are a LONG way from everything. The side closest to Famous Dave's on pier 11 is for transient dockers. The other side is for permanent slip holders. I'm at 1137 so please stop by and maybe I can give you some "local" info...

They only have 50 amp power on 11 but the Marina office will have 1/50 to 2/30 adapter rentals if you don't have one. Call ahead to reserve one as I'm not sure how many they might have. The transiant docks are have 30 amp service.

Again, please stop by 1137

Capt Bob
 
A third for pier 11. While our jouney to CP is only about 2 miles (or less), we always stay there as you are closest to the whole "atmosphere" of the park and its surroundings.
 

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