Western Lake Erie folk - How's Traffic?

[Island Time Buffalo]

Ahoy Ohio boaters (Geneva, Mentor, Vermillion, the Islands, etc.). With all the new COVID boaters out there, and us regular boaters boating more, how has availability been for slips this year? In the past we were able to travel without reservations (mostly), but I sense traffic is up this year. Are you seeing much difference?

 

[my3sons]

It’s definitely busy but there is space if you call ahead. Weekends are tough.
PIB was weekday only unless you want to hang on a ball or go to Middle Bass and Middle Bass was booked on the weekend we wanted. Ended up at Park Place for a Tuesday and Wednesday.
We got into Vermilion Thurs and Fri but had to leave Sat morning. Geneva no problem during the week, booked solid weekends.
We got into Oasis NC in Cleveland Sat and Sunday but it was full. We got lucky.
There were 12 looper boats there, they’re in the lakes this year because Canada is closed. Met countless people on boats in marinas that are now “working from boat” adding to the masses. We only got flat out refused at two places, both on Lake Huron, we had to anchor behind their break walls for the night. Just call ahead.

 

[northshore]

All our slips at Edgewater YC in downtown Cleveland are member occupied.
First time in a long time.

 

[WinkBuilt]

All our slips at Edgewater YC in downtown Cleveland are member occupied.
First time in a long time.

That’s crazy!

Glad this post popped up. We’re heading to Vermilion/Huron area soon. We’ll be trailering but we love heading out to the islands. Hadn’t thought about slip availability.

I’m assuming most issues would be if you wanted to overnight? We usually are only on the islands for half a day or so and then head back to the main land around sunset.

 

[Innominata]

This is my first season boating at all, so I don't know how common this is in general, but I haven't found anywhere in the Erie islands that will let you reserve a spot just for the day, so you have to call same day and hope they haven't filled up with overnight reservations. I booked an overnight reservation at Middle Bass one Friday in July even though I knew I'd just be there for the day just to be sure I had the spot. It wasn't all that much more than the day rate and I told them that I was leaving and to feel free to rent it for the night to any late arriving boats. It was the last slip that could accommodate my boat. I lucked out that the slip was already booked Saturday and Sunday or there would've been a two night minimum. We're hoping to get a spot on Kelleys next weekend, but are on the waitlist everywhere so far.

 

[WinkBuilt]

This is my first season boating at all, so I don't know how common this is in general, but I haven't found anywhere in the Erie islands that will let you reserve a spot just for the day, so you have to call same day and hope they haven't filled up with overnight reservations. I booked an overnight reservation at Middle Bass one Friday in July even though I knew I'd just be there for the day just to be sure I had the spot. It wasn't all that much more than the day rate and I told them that I was leaving and to feel free to rent it for the night to any late arriving boats. It was the last slip that could accommodate my boat. I lucked out that the slip was already booked Saturday and Sunday or there would've been a two night minimum. We're hoping to get a spot on Kelleys next weekend, but are on the waitlist everywhere so far.

That’s crazy! Must be a lot of new boaters. We’ve always just pulled in and been able to snag a day spot. There was one time maybe like 15 years ago when we had to raft off a couple other small bow riders in Put in Bay.

Although when you have a 19’ BR you tend to not have the same thought processes as the cruisers. There was one year we had to tie off to a tree near the city park next to a row of Jet Skis. Place was packed.