Taking a vacation to the 1000 Islands. Need some advice

dev6315

dev6315

Member
Jul 11, 2009
371
Myerstown, PA
Boat Info
2005 SeaRay Sundeck 240
Engines
5.7mag Mercruiser with bravo 3
We are going to be going up to the 1000 Islands for a short vacation next week. We have friends who have a nice sized camper and they are staying at Grass Point State Park. They also have slips for rent so that is where we are going to be tying up.
My question is, what should I know? I know its pretty vague, but I've never run a boat in this area before. I've been told the bottom is rocky and it get pretty shallow very quick. Good marinas for gas and pumpout, etc. ?
Also, what are some attractions that would shouldn't miss? Bolt Castle is on the list, but that's about it.

Any insight would be awesome. Thanks guys!!:smt038
 
Great boating area! The glaciers worked overtime to scour out deep canyons and just yards away left pink Granite outcroppings that formed one of the most picturesque recreational playgrounds anywhere when they melted. Get some charts and look them over carefully, because you can be in 200 feet, and run aground in a blink of an eye. Boldt castle is a must for first timers and I also recommend Singer Castle if you can fit it in. Buy some tickets for the boat tours so that you can see the really good stuff (American and Canadian Millionaires row) that you will miss if you don't go, and you will learn the history behind it also. A couple of restaurants that I like are The thousand Islands Inn in Clayton and Cavallarios in A-Bay, but there are other good ones also. The Sea ray dealer there is Hutchinson's Boatworks in A-bay, in case you need something, (hopefully just hats and shirts). There's much to do on the Canadian side also, so take the required paperwork along if you are so inclined. There are several CSR members from the area, so I'm sure they can give you some more ideas.
Have fun and don't come home untill you hear at least "one" of the legends of how 1000 Island salad dressing came about.
 
Get the charts!!! We liked Bella's in Clayton - get a table on the deck overlooking the water.
Go to the Antique Boat Museum in Clalton (Several buildings-boats on the hard and in the water)
You could also do a trip over to Gananoque, Ontario and back. If you go, you can get an overnight reservation at the public marina or stay overnight at the 1000 Islands Playhouse and see a play.
Make sure that you have your passports even if you don't intend to go to the Canadian side.
I wish that it was me, I would like to spend more time in that area. Have a good time!!!!!

Bella's in Clayton:
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Thousand Islands Playhouse:
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Public dock at Clayton: (It is in about the center of Clayton-tie up, walk around town)

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Antique Boat Museum-Clayton
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These buildings are part of the boat museum:
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Alex bay has a nice public dock (no fee) and usually has dock hands. There is alos a US Customs video phone if you need to report back to the US from a Canada trip.
Right next to it is Hutchens Boat works where I dock, they have full service fuel / pump out. (tell Steve Jimi Hendrix said hi)
Bolt castle is right across the way and has dockage and a dockhands.

If your in the channel your fine, however, there are SEVERAL places that just next to the channel marker is 3' of water. Have a current nav map. Water goes from 150' to 3' very fast in areas. In the alex bay harbor near the fuel point I mentioned, look for the milk cartons... several boat renters have found out the hard way what floating milk cartons mean.

If you feel like another castle, further upriver is Singer Castle on Dark Island. They also have docks and dock hands.
Piction Island (north of Clayton) is a popular tie up spot, as well as Lake of the Isles (near Alex Bay)

There is a poker run for PWC coming up.. I believe its starting in Clayton area.
Clayton is a nice town, but I hate their docks. Not many slips and the water is very rough. I dont think they have deck hands usually.
 
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As said, all of the above are great stops and good advice. Hutchinson's Boat Works is where I bought my current boat. Great people there. Alex Bay is the heart of activity for the region IMO. Great food, shops and things to do. Both castles are a must on your trip. You may also enjoy a run up river to Wolfe Island. Make sure you know the rules for boarder crossings and where you are on the water in relation to borders. You do not need to check in when "on the water", but the moment you "touch land" you must follow procedures to check in, which includes dropping anchor, as that is "touching land".

Enjoy, great area to explore...
 
Wow all great advice guys, we thank you all very much. Everyone we have talked to said its a boating heaven up there and we will always want to go back. Talked to my buddy and the campground/marina is called Grass Point State Park. I will definitely have our passports and baby's birth cert with us.
First stop up there will be to get a current paper NAV map. I have a Garmin 441s with no additional preloaded maps, do you guys need additional cards to get good readings on NAV and depths, or are the pre-loaded base maps good enough?
 
Hi Folks, I know you already took your trip. But I was wondering if a 21 footer was able to handle the 1000 Islands.
 
People take 13 ft. boston whalers all over the place up there. Best to have a charter plotter or nav gps. There are shoals in that river, 250 deep and boom.
 
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