Lake Simcoe 2009
- Thread starter sticks
- Start date
jmunro123
Member
Funny - I also had questions about Lake Simcoe and the Trent Severn Canal heading to Port Severn. I was wondering about marinas on Lake Simcoe. As far as I can tell there are three 'nice' ones: Crates in Keswick, Lefroy Resort and Lagoon City. There is an anchor spot not far from Barrie at Carthew Bay (on the way to the Narrows) and McPhee Bay near McRae Point Provincial Park.
Perhaps you can provide some addition info - please add you boat info + how long to want to drive the boat to get somewhere 1hr, 2hr etc.
One more place I have read about it Big Chief on Lake Couchiching.
Perhaps you can provide some addition info - please add you boat info + how long to want to drive the boat to get somewhere 1hr, 2hr etc.
One more place I have read about it Big Chief on Lake Couchiching.
dgrumm
New Member
I boated this area for 3 summers. We kept the boat at a small family run marina in the narrows call Blue Beacon. It is a no frills marina, but it is cheap. We were about the biggest you could fit there at 30'. It can be shallow upon entry. The "hot spot" for day and overnight anchoring is definately Big Chief. It is a younger crowd, but all ages always welcome... just be prepared for some crazy stuff goin down on long weekends. Very nice sandy bottom, always protected. We actually stayed there about 70% of our weekends on the hook from Fri-Sun.
The other anchorages that were mentioned above are less populated.
As for marinas, keep in mind it is about a 1hr run from Lefroy to the Narrows (Big Chief), so you will want to figure out where you will spend the majority of your weekends. Crates is even further. This area is called Cook's Bay, and there are no decent anchorages around there. Barrie is about 45min run to the Narrows. There is a small area directly across the bay from Barrie (maybe called Chickens Cove?) that is okay for a day spot, but not protected for overnight. It is only about 5 min from Barrie. Hot Knots and Mariposa are the most popular marinas in the narrows. There are a few just outside the narrows that are okay as well (Ojibiway, Starport Landing, can't remember the rest). Boating on the Trent-Severn can be great as well. We have run both direction (Barrie to Georgian Bay, and Barrie to Bobcayjun). There are a few spots to anchor on the way, or pay to stay on the wall at a lock, you can find a transient dock.
If you have specific questions, just ask. We will be in Georgian Bay this year.
The other anchorages that were mentioned above are less populated.
As for marinas, keep in mind it is about a 1hr run from Lefroy to the Narrows (Big Chief), so you will want to figure out where you will spend the majority of your weekends. Crates is even further. This area is called Cook's Bay, and there are no decent anchorages around there. Barrie is about 45min run to the Narrows. There is a small area directly across the bay from Barrie (maybe called Chickens Cove?) that is okay for a day spot, but not protected for overnight. It is only about 5 min from Barrie. Hot Knots and Mariposa are the most popular marinas in the narrows. There are a few just outside the narrows that are okay as well (Ojibiway, Starport Landing, can't remember the rest). Boating on the Trent-Severn can be great as well. We have run both direction (Barrie to Georgian Bay, and Barrie to Bobcayjun). There are a few spots to anchor on the way, or pay to stay on the wall at a lock, you can find a transient dock.
If you have specific questions, just ask. We will be in Georgian Bay this year.
- Feb 5, 2009
- 827
- Boat Info
- 560DB
2 x Raymarine e125's
Walker Bay Generations 360 Centre Console w. Yahama 60HP
2 Seadoos
- Engines
- CAT 3406e (C15's) @ 800HP
Welcome to boating Sticks! There will be a lot of exploring options available for you as you build up your comfort level with your new vessel. Dave covered a bunch of them already. I kept my boat in the narrows to Lake Couchiching at Hot Knots marina for 8 years and have pretty much covered every nook and cranny in both Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching.
A word of caution first, Lake Simcoe can get downright ornery very quickly. Kempenfelt Bay, where Barrie is, is up to 130 feet deep, but the main part of the lake is mostly around 35 feet so the breaking waves can be challenging. Also be sure that you don't venture anywhere without charts. Certain areas can look wide open, but may be only a foot or two of water. Behind Stawberry Island is one such place. Not long after I first started boating, Pope John Paul stayed on Strawberry Island (which is a monastary) for three days of recovery prior to touring Canada. During his stay, he did a little tour of Lake Simcoe on a Sea Ray 480DB. You wouldn't believe the security at the time.
There are a few anchorage spots where you can go for a swim around Georgina Island in the south east end of the lake. There are no places on Lake Simcoe where I would feel comfortable anchoring for the night though. It is simply too open.
There are a few spots at the south end where you can tie off an go for lunch. One is in Pefferlaw and another is in Beaverton.
Most of my time was spent in Lake Couchiching though. Beig Chief Island is "the" destination spot. As Dave pointed out, it can get pretty crazy on the north side, however there are anchorages on all sides of the island. The east side is well protected and is alot calmer if that's your desire. The bottom is a little weedier though, but the swimming is still good. The south side of the island is also nice and alot calmer than the north, just as long as the wind is not out of the south or the east.
There are also very nice transient docks at the Port of Orillia, which is also very close to all the important amenities (groceries, pharmacy, liquor store).
As you venture further afoot, and up the Trent Severn towards Georgian Bay, there are a number of places to explore. Lock 42 is about a 40 minute run north of Orillia. Much of the Severn River is a 10km speed restricted zone.
After Lock 42, about 30 minutes of slow cruising will get you to Sparrow Lake. Just north of Sparrow Lake is a great anchorage called Deep Bay Cove. It's a little shallow at the entrance, but stay in the middle of the channel and you'll soon be back in 30 feet of water.
Continuing up the Trent Severn, the next lock is at Swift Rapids. It's also the deepest lock in the system. You can spend the night at the lock if you so desire, and you don't have to worry about interruptions as there is no road access to this lock.
Another half hour or so beyond Swift Rapids is "Big Chute - the marine railway", which is a neat experience in an of itself. On the top side of the lock, you pull your boat onto a submerged railcar, which will take you out of the water, across a highway and 67 feet down a rock face prior to dropping you back in the water on the oher side.
It's about another 30 minutes or so to get from there to Port Severn and the last lock (45) in the system. When we ventured up into Georgian Bay (which was a lot), we usually stayed at Driftwood Cove Marina, which is near the top of the lock.
After clearing lock 45, it is still another 30 minutes or so of navigating before you get into the open waters of Georgian Bay.
Anyway, this is all very summary information. If you have any specific questions, let me know and I'll do my best to respond.
Always remember, "The art of boating is to have the knowledge, skills and experience to stay out of situations where you need to use knowledge, skills and experience."
In the middle of last summer, we moved up to the Bay permanently and are now based out of Beacon Bay marina in Penetanguishene Harbour.
Paul
A word of caution first, Lake Simcoe can get downright ornery very quickly. Kempenfelt Bay, where Barrie is, is up to 130 feet deep, but the main part of the lake is mostly around 35 feet so the breaking waves can be challenging. Also be sure that you don't venture anywhere without charts. Certain areas can look wide open, but may be only a foot or two of water. Behind Stawberry Island is one such place. Not long after I first started boating, Pope John Paul stayed on Strawberry Island (which is a monastary) for three days of recovery prior to touring Canada. During his stay, he did a little tour of Lake Simcoe on a Sea Ray 480DB. You wouldn't believe the security at the time.
There are a few anchorage spots where you can go for a swim around Georgina Island in the south east end of the lake. There are no places on Lake Simcoe where I would feel comfortable anchoring for the night though. It is simply too open.
There are a few spots at the south end where you can tie off an go for lunch. One is in Pefferlaw and another is in Beaverton.
Most of my time was spent in Lake Couchiching though. Beig Chief Island is "the" destination spot. As Dave pointed out, it can get pretty crazy on the north side, however there are anchorages on all sides of the island. The east side is well protected and is alot calmer if that's your desire. The bottom is a little weedier though, but the swimming is still good. The south side of the island is also nice and alot calmer than the north, just as long as the wind is not out of the south or the east.
There are also very nice transient docks at the Port of Orillia, which is also very close to all the important amenities (groceries, pharmacy, liquor store).
As you venture further afoot, and up the Trent Severn towards Georgian Bay, there are a number of places to explore. Lock 42 is about a 40 minute run north of Orillia. Much of the Severn River is a 10km speed restricted zone.
After Lock 42, about 30 minutes of slow cruising will get you to Sparrow Lake. Just north of Sparrow Lake is a great anchorage called Deep Bay Cove. It's a little shallow at the entrance, but stay in the middle of the channel and you'll soon be back in 30 feet of water.
Continuing up the Trent Severn, the next lock is at Swift Rapids. It's also the deepest lock in the system. You can spend the night at the lock if you so desire, and you don't have to worry about interruptions as there is no road access to this lock.
Another half hour or so beyond Swift Rapids is "Big Chute - the marine railway", which is a neat experience in an of itself. On the top side of the lock, you pull your boat onto a submerged railcar, which will take you out of the water, across a highway and 67 feet down a rock face prior to dropping you back in the water on the oher side.
It's about another 30 minutes or so to get from there to Port Severn and the last lock (45) in the system. When we ventured up into Georgian Bay (which was a lot), we usually stayed at Driftwood Cove Marina, which is near the top of the lock.
After clearing lock 45, it is still another 30 minutes or so of navigating before you get into the open waters of Georgian Bay.
Anyway, this is all very summary information. If you have any specific questions, let me know and I'll do my best to respond.
Always remember, "The art of boating is to have the knowledge, skills and experience to stay out of situations where you need to use knowledge, skills and experience."
In the middle of last summer, we moved up to the Bay permanently and are now based out of Beacon Bay marina in Penetanguishene Harbour.
Paul
