Looking For Georgian Bay Trip Info

I

Instant Insanity

New Member
Apr 29, 2020
11
Boat Info
1989 340 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 454 Mercruiser
Hello All! New to Club Sea Ray. Currently running a 340 Sundancer but in the market for a 2005-2008 380 Sundancer. We are looking for a good resource and info on taking a about a 10-12 day trip up through Georgian Bay and the North Channel. Coming out of Erie at the Mouth of the Detroit River. Plan to stop for a night in Lexington then head over to Georgian Bay. Any Recommended Fuel stops, must see bays, and ports etc. Do you recommend the Small Craft route or the express route? Pretty much just want some advice and ideas from anyone who has already done this trip. The planning stages are fun and love seeing and hearing about everyone's past trips and must do's. Any insight is greatly appreciated.
 
We did the North Channel trip about 10 years ago coming from Charlevoix. Great trip. Recommended from our experience are the Benjamins, Bear Drop Cove, Gore Bay, Little Current. Lots of other places we didn't visit.

There's some sort of US government re-entry certificate you need before you go, if I remember correctly. Overall, it was a great memorable trip.

These folks (and others) may have some stuff you'll enjoy: https://www.portsbooks.com/georgian-bay-the-north-channel-lake-huron/
 
Welcome to the forum.

Wee made this trip last summer for our first time. We however came from the west. We spent our time in the north channel and did not make it to the Georgian bay.

In the North Channel there are many spots to stop and fuel up.

Killarney - Stay at Killarney Mountain lodge. If they are full stay at Sportsman INN.
Little Current is a great spot to fuel up and get provisions. They have a nice grocery store and a few hardware stores.

A few must sees
**Covered Portage Cover
** Baie fine / The pool / don't forget to hike up to Topez lake
**South Benjamin Islands

I had some questions before we made the trip last year. Here is a link to that page where there is some great info from members here.
http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/north-channel.93831/
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Well certainly some great info so far. A great start to my research and planning. Love the detailed cruising log of the Tik Tock.

Definitely looking forward to this trip. Keep the info coming.
 
Instant Insanity said:
Well certainly some great info so far. A great start to my research and planning. Love the detailed cruising log of the Tick Tock.

Definitely looking forward to this trip. Keep the info coming.
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Thanks for reading it! Tim was an awesome guy. He had dry, quiet sense of humor and you probably noticed his writing and graphics skills. He just "didn't wake up" one morning, which was an incredible loss to everyone who knew him. He and Gina lived life to the fullest and I'm so glad that their adventures can inspire others. Gina and I started a go-fund me back then to keep the website up. Some of the details will get dated of course, but I think their passion for cruising will be an inspiration as long as we keep it out there.
 
A question for those who cruise the North Channel and Georgian Bay--In the summer of 1964 went with a friend and his parents on their boat through this area. One of my favorite places was a small island where we stayed, the name of which was Harbor Island. It had a small resort on the island. That's about all I recall about it.

I can't find it on any maps. Anyone know of its location?
 
Instant Insanity said:
Creekwood- Of course I want ideas and recommendations on the 30,000 Islands area. We are coming from the South so that area would be ideal. I was reading some blogs about that area and Henry's fish shack etc..
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See my map. North Channel and 30,000 islands are circled. Coming up from Detroit is not the south I am talking about. The Trent-Severn Canal (part of the Great Loop) enters Georgian Bay at the bottom right corner of the 30,000 islands area. It's a long way from the North Channel. But if you are coming down our way, I have some good advice and great anchorages to suggest.

Capture.JPG
 
Creek i knew exactly what you meant. And I of course would love any info and ideas for ports along the 30,000 Islands.

This would prob have to be two separate trips. One to the North Channel and then one to the 30,000 islands area.
 
For all of you that are considering boating the 30,000 islands areas of Georgian Bay, there is a guy in Ontario that has a Youtube channel where he runs his 330DA (used to have a 40DB) around and gives DIY tips and install video's as well. He has been posting some video he calls "Isolation inspiration" recently that cover some of the great boating up here in our area. Here is a link to his latest. His channel is called BoatingWithBoogaboo. Its not a bad channel, but sometimes you have to skip past some long dialogue sections. I wish he would have the camera pointed at scenery with voice over rather than as selfy video. Not not a bad channel, and he loves Sea Rays.
 
Creekwood said:
For all of you that are considering boating the 30,000 islands areas of Georgian Bay, there is a guy in Ontario that has a Youtube channel where he runs his 330DA (used to have a 40DB) around and gives DIY tips and install video's as well. He has been posting some video he calls "Isolation inspiration" recently that cover some of the great boating up here in our area. Here is a link to his latest. His channel is called BoatingWithBoogaboo. Its not a bad channel, but sometimes you have to skip past some long dialogue sections. I wish he would have the camera pointed at scenery with voice over rather than as selfy video. Not not a bad channel, and he loves Sea Rays.
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Been to Henry’s many times over the years... a must stop if in the area... a great blueberry picking spot too
 
Blueone said:
Been to Henry’s many times over the years... a must stop if in the area... a great blueberry picking spot too
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Ownership of Henry's Sans Souci changed 2 years ago. It is not as good as it was. Its still a good place to stop for a quick bite to eat since it is right on the way and gives a break in the travel day though. Henry's is right near the Massasauga Provincial part area though. Inland from Henry's is some of the best area of freshwater anchorages in the world. Hundreds of well protected coves and inlets. Its my happy place.
 
Creekwood said:
Ownership of Henry's Sans Souci changed 2 years ago. It is not as good as it was. Its still a good place to stop for a quick bite to eat since it is right on the way and gives a break in the travel day though. Henry's is right near the Massasauga Provincial part area though. Inland from Henry's is some of the best area of freshwater anchorages in the world. Hundreds of well protected coves and inlets. Its my happy place.
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Did the Henry’s in Victoria harbor make it?..... I was there yeArs ago when it first opened... I never got the feeling it would last

I have been back in the park... we would find an anchorage and put the kids in a tent on shore... camp fire. Then about 12:00 they would be scared and come back to the boat... beautiful back in there.
 
Blueone said:
Did the Henry’s in Victoria harbor make it?..... I was there yeArs ago when it first opened... I never got the feeling it would last

I have been back in the park... we would find an anchorage and put the kids in a tent on shore... camp fire. Then about 12:00 they would be scared and come back to the boat... beautiful back in there.
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I didn't know there was one in Victoria Harbour. The one in Midland at Wye Heritage Marina is still open, or at least it was last year.

It sure is beautiful in the park. Not many cottages and great places to anchor and stern tie to shore. Lots of black bears around though so you have to be careful going ashore at night. Campers have to use normal bear safety tactics like food caches away from camp and strung high. I am always nervous taking the dog to shore for the last pee of the night. Dog is always on high alert and looking back at the forest and sniffing. They are out there, and he knows it. I have never seen one, but have heard them rolling rocks and breaking up stumps at night.
 
Creekwood said:
I didn't know there was one in Victoria Harbour. The one in Midland at Wye Heritage Marina is still open, or at least it was last year.

It sure is beautiful in the park. Not many cottages and great places to anchor and stern tie to shore. Lots of black bears around though so you have to be careful going ashore at night. Campers have to use normal bear safety tactics like food caches away from camp and strung high. I am always nervous taking the dog to shore for the last pee of the night. Dog is always on high alert and looking back at the forest and sniffing. They are out there, and he knows it. I have never seen one, but have heard them rolling rocks and breaking up stumps at night.
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You’re right my mother in-law lived in VH... first town that came to mind.... good to hear it’s still open
 
Blueone said:
You’re right my mother in-law lived in VH... first town that came to mind.... good to hear it’s still open
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We boated out of Queens Cove Marina in Victoria Harbour for fifteen years and it is the gateway to some truly beautiful cruising grounds as Creekwood mentioned. So we could never understand all the fuss people made about the North Channel when you have the Thirty Thousand Islands which offers better protection on the "Small Craft Route" than the N.C. does.
Someone mentioned Henry's and we would stop there and then anchor in Echo Bay or Spider Bay nearby. Good protection but watch your charts. Parry Sound is a great town with good dockage. We plan to get back there this summer again if they finally get us launched.
 
Jaws said:
We boated out of Queens Cove Marina in Victoria Harbour for fifteen years and it is the gateway to some truly beautiful cruising grounds as Creekwood mentioned. So we could never understand all the fuss people made about the North Channel when you have the Thirty Thousand Islands which offers better protection on the "Small Craft Route" than the N.C. does.
Someone mentioned Henry's and we would stop there and then anchor in Echo Bay or Spider Bay nearby. Good protection but watch your charts. Parry Sound is a great town with good dockage. We plan to get back there this summer again if they finally get us launched.
Click to expand...
We kept our boat at Driftwood Cove for 2 years... because my mother in-law kept her boat there for years....The Trent is incredible and the islands there are insane..Christian island was our favorite.....probably the best boating in the world
 
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