Trip to Cedar Point from Lake St. Clair, anyone?

xdude

New Member
Apr 27, 2014
19
Lake St. Clair, mi
Boat Info
320 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 350 MPI
Just curious if any one has made the trip from Lake St. Clair to Cedar Point/Put in Bay. Thinking of taking our 320 this summer and looking for advice/input/experiences. Thanks
 
Some general tips:

Cedar Point is 100 miles from Anchor Bay.

Watch for fishing nets around the eastern side of Middle Sister Island - that's roughly the halfway point between the bottom of the Det. River and Put-In Bay.

Consider stopping at Put-In Bay and/or Kelleys Island.

Request dock on Pier 11 at Cedar Point.
 
Some general tips:

Cedar Point is 100 miles from Anchor Bay.

Watch for fishing nets around the eastern side of Middle Sister Island - that's roughly the halfway point between the bottom of the Det. River and Put-In Bay.

Consider stopping at Put-In Bay and/or Kelleys Island.

Request dock on Pier 11 at Cedar Point.
thanks
 
No problem. If you're coming during peak season or if you're traveling with another boat, IMO that makes the less-expensive transient basin at CP an option. I steer people away from it during quiet times however, because all of your neighbors will be seagulls...

Let me know if you might stop at an island or want to anchor out, or plan to explore the area by dinghy etc.
 
No problem. If you're coming during peak season or if you're traveling with another boat, IMO that makes the less-expensive transient basin at CP an option. I steer people away from it during quiet times however, because all of your neighbors will be seagulls...

Let me know if you might stop at an island or want to anchor out, or plan to explore the area by dinghy etc.
our plan would be to spend a couple days at CP then a few days of both island stops and on the hook. We will bring our dinghy and would explore as well, nothing set in stone most likely go with the flow at the time. Which is why I was looking for some input to make the most of our time, thanks
 
This is basically the same trip I'm planning on taking but in reverse. I concur with pier 11 at CP. I would and do stay in pier 11 regardless of busy or slow time. You will need a 50amp adapter however. They do rent them at the marina office. If your coming during peak season call early for reservations.

Anchoring is going to be solely dependent on the wind. If it's a forecasted south wind, the North side of Kelleys is a great anchorage. Others can chime in but there aren't that many protected anchorages in the western basin.

At PIB if you are looking for a party head to the public docks A, B, C. If you are looking for something more quite and plan on being there in the middle of the week try the Crews Nest. Miller Marina is also an option and I believe they take reservations.


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Others can chime in but there aren't that many protected anchorages in the western basin.

You can almost argue that they're aren't ANY! Cedar Point Beach, State Park Beach at KI and the Bay Point "sandbar" are the most popular, but none of them offer cove-like protection.
 
Park Place also accepts non-members when there's space available

Park Place on paper and in appearance looks good, but i've heard and witnessed terrible rocking in there with anyting but light southerly breezes. Trying to get a video to load but not working out so well.

got the video to load

http://youtu.be/R8VCHRQ4rnA
 
Last edited:
Park Place is ok in even a strong southerly, but strong winds that include "N..." make a compelling case for moving to the insides of the public docks, Crew's Nest A or F dock, or Miller's back canal.

It was a good friend of mine whose boat pulled a piling right off the PP dock in those sustained NW'ers last summer.

Or heck with it - if strong northern winds are in the forecast, go to Kelleys!
 
If you are staying at Cedar Point Marina and plan to go into the park, Marina guests can get into the park one hour early at 9am. It's the best way to ride all the big rides with very little waiting. Be sure to use the Marina Entrance as that puts you halfway into the park.
 
Very useful information, especially about anchoring. Lake St. Clair has so many anchoring options we do it most weekends, but in unfamiliar territory (and much more open lake) I don't want to be sorry. Our trip will be during the week as to avoid peak times at CP and PIB. thanks guys
 
You can almost argue that they're aren't ANY! Cedar Point Beach, State Park Beach at KI and the Bay Point "sandbar" are the most popular, but none of them offer cove-like protection.

There are great anchorages inside the Sandusky Bay. But if you're that close, then it makes more sense to tie up to one of the marinas in town. But west of Johnson's Island is a great anchorage. Cozied up west of the break wall of Sandusky Harbor Marina is protected from most prevailing weather. And the East Sandusky Bay (back bay) should be good this year with higher water levels. But all of those are like camping your backyard; you can throw rocks at marinas and houses from all of them.
 
I fully agree with you guys that Pier 11 is the way to go at CP the amount of Seagull crap and fish bones will make your first mate and guest sick. You'll have a very enjoyable experience and makes life easy coming and going in and out of the park to relax and have a bite to eat at any time you please. The Crews Nest is the way to go unless you love rafting together with 3 or 4 other boats go to the public docks. We make this trip from Lake Saint Clair to Cedar Point then PIB every year. Make a week out of it and enjoy PIB it's more fun than any spots we have on Anchor Bay.
 
Just curious if any one has made the trip from Lake St. Clair to Cedar Point/Put in Bay. Thinking of taking our 320 this summer and looking for advice/input/experiences. Thanks

Do it every year. This is a must-do trip for anyone in lake st Clair IMO. If you have kids cedar pointe is great, and PIB is south beach of Lake Erie (not kid friendly on the weekend). With 2 kids we will do PIB on Thursday and cp on Friday, Saturday.

Did it in my 260 and 320. Lake Erie can get rough, but if you watch the wind forecast, especially look for wind from the S one SE at 10 knots or greater. I've had many smooth crossings and a few hairy return trips in 5' seas.

You'll love it.
 
Do it every year. This is a must-do trip for anyone in lake st Clair IMO. If you have kids cedar pointe is great, and PIB is south beach of Lake Erie (not kid friendly on the weekend). With 2 kids we will do PIB on Thursday and cp on Friday, Saturday.

What? No mention of KI? Is it because you docked stern-to-stern to a bunch of drunks in a 480DB with duct tape holding the ER vent cover on? Ah, naw - it was probably that Z-worthy guy who walked by the next day... (btw SB, I didn't realize that I knew you as a CSR member until just recently. Maybe I should cut down on those Bloody Marys?) 2015 Update: the vent cover has been repaired.

xdude - are you familiar with Kelleys? It has fewer restaurants and bars, but also fewer drunks (unless I'm there...) Unlike South Bass (PIB), KI has a great beach, although you'll need to rent a cart to get there. Portside marina is right in town with very nice floating docks. They take reservations. Seaway is just east of town, and is mostly seawall ties w/ a rafting policy, but nothing like the craziness of the PIB publics. It's also very dog friendly out there, with lots of open space for dogs to run, kids to play and to BBQ etc.
 
What? No mention of KI? Is it because you docked stern-to-stern to a bunch of drunks in a 480DB with duct tape holding the ER vent cover on? Ah, naw - it was probably that Z-worthy guy who walked by the next day... (btw SB, I didn't realize that I knew you as a CSR member until just recently. Maybe I should cut down on those Bloody Marys?) 2015 Update: the vent cover has been repaired.

xdude - are you familiar with Kelleys? It has fewer restaurants and bars, but also fewer drunks (unless I'm there...) Unlike South Bass (PIB), KI has a great beach, although you'll need to rent a cart to get there. Portside marina is right in town with very nice floating docks. They take reservations. Seaway is just east of town, and is mostly seawall ties w/ a rafting policy, but nothing like the craziness of the PIB publics. It's also very dog friendly out there, with lots of open space for dogs to run, kids to play and to BBQ etc.

Haah! That is funny. Thanks RollerCoaster, I do remember your tragic duct tape vent cover. Good to hear from you. I never mind some friendly drunks on the dock - all in good fun.

I was remiss - Kelly's Island is a great stop if you want something quieter than PIB. As we get older we'll probably do Kelly's more than PIB - but PIB on a summer weekend is a bucket-list item IMHO.

Scott
 
I would recommend staying at Middle Bass Island State Park. The state park docks are very nice and you can take the Sonny S to South Bass PIB.
 
What? No mention of KI? Is it because you docked stern-to-stern to a bunch of drunks in a 480DB with duct tape holding the ER vent cover on? Ah, naw - it was probably that Z-worthy guy who walked by the next day... (btw SB, I didn't realize that I knew you as a CSR member until just recently. Maybe I should cut down on those Bloody Marys?) 2015 Update: the vent cover has been repaired.

xdude - are you familiar with Kelleys? It has fewer restaurants and bars, but also fewer drunks (unless I'm there...) Unlike South Bass (PIB), KI has a great beach, although you'll need to rent a cart to get there. Portside marina is right in town with very nice floating docks. They take reservations. Seaway is just east of town, and is mostly seawall ties w/ a rafting policy, but nothing like the craziness of the PIB publics. It's also very dog friendly out there, with lots of open space for dogs to run, kids to play and to BBQ etc.
I am not real familiar with boating Lake Erie, I only know where these places are by looking at map. Ive been to CP countless times but not by boat. From the sound of things it sounds like KI would be up our alley, I don't mind partying a little but prefer to have a more laid back experience. I am not interested in rafting 3 or 4 deep as I have heard about at PIB, I wouldn't mind hanging out for the day but retreating to a less rowdy area for the remainder of the time. Sounds like overnight anchorage is not ideal and therefore a marina would be more suitable for the peace of mind and changing conditions of the lake. This is all real good info thanks guys
 

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