Thinking about taking the boat with us to Cedar Point

[brian2001ss]

Thought I would chime in and ask a few questions. We drive up there from NC twice a year to spend some relaxing time at the Breakers Hotel spending quality time at the park. With our purchase this past winter of the Sea Ray, I was thinking a week next summer at CP with the boat may be in order. Here is what I am unsure of...

-We would like to boat from CP to Put-in-bay, but is a 200 Select to small to make the trip? I have been told it would do fine and its only about an hour trip by boat. What do you experts think?

-When is Lake Erie to rough to make the trip (for my boat)? I guess I would be talking wave height and bad weather.

-Where is the best place to dock at the islands and spend the night? It would be nice to stay and dock at the same place.

-Do any of you have any experience where the nearest ramp is from CP?

-Would you recommend I get a boater gps for this trip? Or is it close enough were that extra expanse isn't needed.

Thanks guys for any info. Please feel free to give this new boater any tips for the trip. :thumbsup: I really think it would be alot of fun.

 

[Petep]

brian, Sounds like a great idea. Put - In - Bay is a great destination by boat. There are many private marinas and a big public one. It depends on what you are looking for. The public docks an weekends are CRAZY- I would not stay there. I have been going to "the bay" by boats for years- I was a small boy with my dad on our sailboat when I first went to P.I.B. a long time ago. Stay at Millers dock, Ladds, or one of the other private docks, or when I go, I like to tie up to the mooring balls off of the boardwalk. You will maybe need a hotel if you don't sleep aboard- can't help you there as I stay aboard, but there are many available. The best way to enjoy these waters are during the week when the seas are not so kicked up. Week-ends make for choppy water there. I cannot help you with the ramp locations as I do not keep a boat in Lake Erie, I'm sure there are many in Sandusky area. As far as a GPS, if you don't have one, you should on your boat but paper charts will work also, and you should have one to understand where you are going at all times. Enjoy, Explore. I'd skip the Park and see the Lake erie islands instead!

 

[Buckeye Boater]

Brian,

I have spent many years boating in the western end of Lake Erie - great area with alot to offer.

Making the trip from CP to PIB is doable. The only thing that you need to be concerned about is if a storm front moves through while you are at the islands. Since Lake Erie is relatively shallow, it can kick up in a hurry. However, being stranded at PIB is not the worse thing that can happen.

I beleive that the nearest launch site would be Catawba Island State Park. It is located on the mainland near the point of Catawba Island (really a peninsula) and about a 30-45 minute ride by car from CP. It is about a three mile trip from Catawba to South Bass Island. From the launch site to PIB, I would have to guess it is a four mile ride. In good weather and calm seas you can make it under 20 minutes.

If you plan on staying on the island, book a room early as they have a tendancy to sell out. Weekends are exceptionally busy.

Also note that annually, sometime in July, the Inter-Lake Yachting Association (ILYA) holds their regatta at the bay. Docking is usually tough to come by. You may want to check their website for future dates.

Enjoy the islands. Also consider Kelly's Island and a possible trip across the border to Pelee Island. All can be done in a day!

 

[brian2001ss]

Thanks guys for all the info. That helped a bunch. It looks like for us we need to boat over during the week to help with all the traffic and confusion for first timers.

 

[BruZerII]

Be careful around the island. It's real shallow in spots. If you stay between the buoys, you'll be fine. It makes the approach to the bay a little longer, but best to be safe.

We stay at Millers Marina. http://millerferry.com/marina.htm Ken, the dock master, is a GREAT guy and is always willing to help. If you look at the pictures on the site, there is one with a tree and people sitting around it. Ken took the tree down and now has a great picnic shelter there. Very nice. It's a short walk to downtown, but like petep said, the public docks get CRAZY from Thurs. night til Sun. morning.

Millers is $1.50/ft. and they rent golf carts for marina guests. $50 for 24 hrs. They are $12/hr. in town.

Never stayed at a hotel on the island. Check out http://www.putinbay.com/ for that.

The lake is shallow and can get a good chop on it. In a 20' boat, I think anything over 3ft. waves would be too much. Especially if the winds are out of the North or East or combination. It's gets pretty dicey in those conditions. The area between Kelly's Isand and South Bass, island Put-in-Bay is on, is almost always choppy.
Talk to the locals. They'll let you know if it's too rough for your boat.
Sandusky Bay is GREAT for a boat your size.

Good luck and have some fun.

Email me if you'd like some more info.

 

[brian2001ss]

Thanks alot for that info. I will chat with the locals indeed.

 

[dpvandy01]

I stayed the the Venitian Marina next to the Cedar Point Causway and made the trip ti Kelley's Island and PIB a few times in my 250 sundancer. I am an OHIO RIVER BOATER and the Garmin GPS with the Lake Erie cartography and a good map for back-up were a must for me. I've mostly done weekends and the chop gets crazy and my little 250 Dancer got really small really fast. advice to watch the weather is also strongly heeded. We launched out of the Sandusky public ramp for a small fee and they have plenty of trailer storage. Any of the private marinas on PIB or Kelleys are great and not all to terribly over priced.

Garmin GPS 176c w/ Lake Erie cartography and spare batteries.

Enjoy

 

[BobK]

Weather: It changes so much that you will take your chances. Sometimes the marine forcast is great all week and then goes to crap the moring I am planning to leave. Chances are you'll get some good days. Peak summer is best.

Dock: City dock is great at PIB. Not good for kids on the weekend though (Friday and Saturday night).

Easiest ramp to put in for CP Marina is Battery Park (google them). You can leave your trailer there too. Pice of cake. CP Marina is great?

GPS: Use this as an excuse to get one. In reduced visibility, it's nice to know where you are along the shoreline.

Distance: no problem on your boat in good weather. We did Vermilion to CP last weekend.

Alternative Ramp: if you want to launch close to PIB, use Catawba Island State Park. It's an easy 7-mile run to the bay, and free.

WATCH OUT FOR FISHING NETS!!!! Look at ODNR's web site -- the have a page showing what to look for and how to avoid them. Bad news if you get fouled.

Where are you staying at CP? We stayed in a cottage last year and it was a blast. Except the mouse. Wife+mouse = screaming.