Put-In-Bay, Lake Erie

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Split Decision

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We are planning to boat from Lake St.Clair into Lake Erie for a two week boating vacation (first two weeks of July 2008).

We would like to spend a couple days in Put-In-Bay. Other years we have spent time at the Mooring Buoys, Municipal Docks and Ladd's Marina. Some of our boating friends prefer not to stay at the Municipal Docks due to the mandatory rafting and therefore we have gone over to Ladd's.

Question, we where at Ladd's back in the summer of 2005 and it is shallow in their marina basin. With the US Army Corp of Engineers forecasting water levels in the great lakes to be aproximately one foot lower in May 2008 compared to May 2007 is there anywhere else in Put-In-Bay area that would be a good alternative to Ladd's where rafting is not mandatory? The boats that travel in our group are all around the 30 foot size. Most of our boats have inflatables on davits on our swim platforms so we really don't want people climbling through our boats and over our engine compartments when rafting.

Thanking you in advance for any suggestions......

Mike.
 
Mike,

A lot of people don't realize that during the week, Crew's Nest Yacht Club accepts non-mebers as transients and will take advance reservations. By staying at CNYC, you'll get access to their patio/restaurant, facilities and pool.

If you insist on staying over a wkd, which is when CNYC members get priority, then Miller's is your best bet. They raft there, but it's not mandatory. Be good to Kenny the dockmaster and he'll be good to you.
 
"Most of our boats have inflatables on davits on our swim platforms so we really don't want people climbling through our boats and over our engine compartments when rafting."

The 4th will be busy. You could drop the dingy in the water. You could raft all your friends together. You can stern in on the finger pier of A dock if you get there early.

Get there late and be the last boat in the raft.

The guys at A dock are a little more flexible than B dock IMO.

Tell them you leaving in the am and they will keep you on the end. Then just stay.

Just some ideas, I bet Ladds will be ok though. You have inboards or I/O..I bet inboards.
 
SLW and ChuckSberg - Thank you for taking the time to reply......

Our boating group will be discussing our 2 week July 2008 Lake Erie boating vacation while staying at the Sheraton Hotel this weekend to attend the Toronto International Boat Show. I will pass on your comments.

Another question or two if I may.....

We plan to stay at Kelly's Island, Put-In-Bay, Vermilion, Battery Park, and Maumee Bay on our way back home. We'd like to spend a night or two in Catawba (West Harbour,Ohio) in July 2005 we stayed at Fox Haven. Would anybody have a better suggestion as an alternative to Fox Haven? There are a lot of marinas in that area and we find it an excellent area to dingy around in.

Is there any other other marina that you feel we would miss out on by not stopping in that general area? We've been down as far as Cleveland before but would not be heading down that far this time.

Thanks again,
Mike.
 
I think of Battery Park as a nice marina to stay at when you can't stay at Cedar Point. With additiona of the transient docks in the south basin at CP, they're hardly ever at capacity now. That's peak season, but it's still pretty early to plan. (although making reservations TODAY wouldn't be a bad idea, as the Cleveland boat show is this wkd and people will start to think about summer)
 
Mike,
Bay Point is a nice place if you are looking for a place to stop for the night. It is across from Cedar Point on the tip of Marblehead.
 
Mike,
Anchors Away marina has transient dockage and a few restaurants close. It is just down from Foxhavens. Mel's Crows Nest and Crabby Joes are two restaurants within walking distance.
 
Split Decesion:

I would highly recommend Millers if you are worried about depth and can't get into the Crews Nest. Millers takes reservations for groups, has a nice picnic area and is off to the west of the Crews Nest so it is nice and quiet.

I boat at Bay Point where someone mentioned you might want to stop for the night. It is a geat place but bring food to cook out. No place to walk to from Bay Point.

Enjoy your cruise,

Dan
 
We have made reservations for Cedar Point, Kelly's Island, Vermilion and Maumee Bay so far.

We are working on Put-In-Bay, Gem Beach and Bay Point. Apparently you can not be a transient boater at Bay Point without being signed in by a member. Anybody out there a member who would like to sign two boats in for July 7 and July 8th?

Mike.
 
Kenny the dockmaster at Millers at PIB Cell no. is 1-313-378-0664. Hope this helps.
 
Ever thought of staying at Middle Bass State park and going to Put In Bay in your inflatables?
 
If you're ILYA, and travel during the week, you might be able to get dockage at PIB Yacht Club.
You can contact the PIB YC Manager via an email on their website.

Otherwise, I'd suggest Millers as the others here have mentioned as well.

When you get over to Vermillion, say hi to dockmaster Ed.. He's getting to be a bit of an Old Fart... :) but is very nice and accmomidating. He lives on his boat down south over the winter.. comes back up for the summers..
 
Matt,

Great idea, but Middle Bass Marina is closed this summer.
The campground and marina will be closed for extensive renovation beginning October 1, 2007 until late 2008. (9/17/2007)
 
DogDaze and Matt,

Thanks for the suggestions.

My friend called the Vermilion Municipal Docks about three weeks ago to make reservations. The dockmaster advised that a boat club had already reserved (July 5th and 6th) all of their wells.

The dockmaster suggested they had alternative wells up at the Red Clay Restaurant (McGarveys Landing) so that is where we will dock for these two nights. Apparently renovations are to be completed (improvements to docks/showers) for the 2008 Boating Season?

I'll try to remember to say hi to dockmaster "Ed". I won't comment about being "an old fart" till after we've comfortably settled in. :)

Mike.
 
Hi Mike,

Yes, Ed and his wife Nancy belong to our yacht club.. They've been boating for years.. he's retired AF pilot. Bought a trawler and took it south a few years ago.. I believe they're down there now, but will be back come spring. Boat typically stays in Georgia, just north of the Hurricane line..

Matt, they shut down both the Middle Bass Yacht club and the State Marina last fall..

See:
http://www.mbiyc.com/

Here's some pictures of the closing:
http://www.middlebass2.org/Marina20070930LastDay.shtml
and
http://www.middlebass2.org/Marina200710.shtml

If not for the black water snakes, they'd be finished and open this spring.. Engineers working on the project said that if it weren't for the snakes having to hibernate, construction would continue all winter and the marina would be ready in the spring.
 
as if it wasn't easy enough already to have comtempt for those nasty things...

Endangered? I wish!
 
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