Put In Bay, 1st time question
 

Hey guys,

Ive never been to put in bay and would like to head down mid August with a couple buddies and their boats (my 28' Saber, a 35 Cafe Racer, and a 40' Fountain). From reading, for the most part you raft off the city docks/channel, right? If that were the case, is it safe to leave your boat there overnight while you stay somewhere in town, ie one of the Island Club rentals. Would head over to the island early Friday morning and spend the weekend. Just wondering what to expect, ANY info/advice would be much appreciated.

Oh ya, forgot to mention, it is for a bachelor party:drink::drink:. Thanks, MIKE

Yes, you'll be rafted at the public marina on the North side of the island. You most likely will be rafted with a bunch of absolute drunks who will bang and stumble all over your boat with little regard to the damage you do. You quite possibly will be tied next to some maniac with a $500 Thompson cuddy. They run the dope-sniffing dogs on the docks and board & search boats so be forewarned. Arresting drunks and guys with open containers is the primary revenue producers for the city so be aware of that too. They fill the town with ferries-full of amateur hour kids who want to drink themselves into oblivion.

You can also get dockage at a private marina to the west- a better choice.

If I were you, I'd pay a visit to PIB but I'd hang at Kelley's Island. In an Ohio context, PIB is Panama City on Spring break, Kelley's is Key West.

I believe they go 4 out from the dock, so there would only be one more boat rafted off your group. If they have animals, ask that they stay on the wall. We personally don't want people's dogs walking across our sunpads.

Safe? Yes, no problem them. There will be boats in front and behind your, and pretty close to each other. They will party till the break of dawn. Or maybe that will be your boat? :evilb::party-smiley-004:

Regardless, everyone should experience PIB at least once. It does nothing for me anymore and we love Kelley's, but for a bachelor party, it'll be Mardi Gras all weekend long! :ernaehrung004:

I have heard it is not nearly as crowded this year because of the high price of fuel. There are only a few marinas that you can reserve a slip at, one was called ladds. The bad part of the public marina, is once you are docked you are stuck since you loose your spot if you want to come and go. I would definately plan on checking Kelly's Island out on Sunday with your boat, alot of offshores and several OSO members gather there at a bar called the Casino (no gambling) They charge you $20 or more to dock there and space can get tight. There is a web site called Island Pirates, several OSO members are on it, post on it and you will get more details than you want about Put In Bay

Barb do you have the links to the local web sites, they ones that guys from here started, is Thrills' the Island Pirates and what's the other one, is it Great Lakes offshore or something like that? Thanks

So, as long as we get there early, (what is early for a Friday) we would have a chance to tie up to one another and limit the chance an a$$ not respecting our boat. You said tickets for open containers. Is that only while walking down the city streets? I was looking for a spring break type of experience but not at the cost of damage or getting in trouble. That is why i thought staying in a house or something would allow a break from the madness and/or a good nights sleep. If you stay in a private marina, do you miss out on the action?

how'd you know i was gonna be there that weekend to :drink:


actually Jon (the dockmaster) does a great job grouping boats with "like minded" individuals:drink: and will also accommodate requests. be sure to tip these guys and it will be money well spent. They take care of you.


yes it can be pretty nuts over there but still pretty safe. It is possible to avoid the madness (if you want) by docking at one of the smaller marinas in the bay there. I prefer to go to Kellys and make runs over to Put-in-Bay or for that matter if you will be drinking you can take the ferry over. Kellys is way easier to deal with and i like the bars better. Brandy Alexanders at The Pump also the sunsets at WestBay. As said above the Casino caters to high performance boaters but i usually dock at the boardwalk next door. I am sure you will run into several members from here so keep us posted on your plans.

Guys in $500 Thompsons wouldn't give the "speed record" boat a second glance! Did you see the pink boat in DollaBill's avatar- you need to paint the old girl.

Head a few miles east on sunday and hit the Casino tiki bar on Kelleys Island !

Chris makes it sound so nice. But he forgot the part about drunk people screaming all night and seaweed in your water pickups. Add crappy food and it is nearly shangri la. :D
My cousin has a home there and teaches at the grade school. I am pretty sure that the island raises most of its revenue one ticket at a time. But hey... at least this year you can drink the water. ;)

oh, yes if you are looking for the spring break type thing than Put-in-Bay by all means :D

put in bay is my favorite place to go , i dock at a private club on the island(crews nest) but if had to choose another dock i would call ladds marina or miller marina both take reservations and do not raft unless you want to. take lots of money because it all about the benjimans down there. You will love it. I was down there two weeks ago and public docking did not seem to be too crazy probably gas prices had to do with that.

I've stayed away for several years now. Like Barb said, you reach a point...

You can drink in bars and on your boat. One foot on the dock and you'll regret it. The depend on these citations to pay their bills the other 9 months of the year.

The public marina is good if you want to stay up all night and drink. But the action is in the bars until last call. There's a certain social atmosphere on the docks, but it often depends who's there. Sometimes it can be adults with nice boats and sometimes it can be maniacs and trash.

It used to be Friday by noon if you wanted a good spot. As has been said, traffic is down. I wouldn't worry about the part atmosphere- while boat traffic is down, the ferries are still running and they charge way less than a ticket to Florida.

Hey, I'm a man of standards. Most of them are low, but at least I have them.

If you guys are single, under 40 and on a bachelor party PIB is your only option! Take Daves advice and talk to + Tip the dock master and you should have no problems!

Kellys is a great place and my #1 hang out but I'm not looking for (well I still look) but not trying to find anyone to replace the girl I met at PIB 12 years ago:eek:

It seems that "B" dock has been a tad bit quieter than it used to and yes I have heard the Bay is not doing as well this year. If you want a reserved dock to the West call Jim Drushel at 419-285-3318 Jim will take care of your group has free beer on Friday + Coffee and doughnuts in the morning.

Hope this helps

It has changed quite a bit in the last couple of years. We are spending the night there on Sunday and I may actually stay on "B" dock. I have no tolerance for the crap that goes on like you described I'm not a Kid anymore (I'm also not dead):drink:

Reaaaalllllly :D

F**** U:drink:

:p:drink:

Get a mooring ball at the Boardwalk,hit channel 10 on your ship to shore call the water taxi for a ride in and call it good.That's what we do all the time.

I dont think its nearly as crazy as it use to be. its pretty much just about right if you are looking for a party. Best time at the docks is after the last ferry leaves. its funny watching the people that got stuck there trying to weigh out there options (drunk). :drink:


foods pretty good at the Boardwalk and several other places out there to

I trust we'll see you at the Casino Sunday for church?

Ditto Scott as far as under 40 and bacherlor party. PIB is the way to go. They really should experience it at least once!

has anyone ever stayed somewhere other than on their boat over the weekend? Yes, most of us are under 30 and like to have a good time, but not to crazy:drink:, and no one in our group (around 10) has been there before so really looking forward to it. NOt sure of all the logistics yet, we are coming from north of Detroit and debating on puttin in somewhere south of Detroit and heading accross, that way we get a little ride in since it sounds like once your there your kind of stuck. Thanks for all the replys. MIKE

Other than boat? I have no clue other than calling the # I gave you and asking Jim.

I love going to the Boardwalk on Sunday afternoon for dinner:ernaehrung004:

Bolles Harbor in Monroe is a great place to run to the bay from. its about 35 miles straight east . Big ramps and plenty of 'em





oh . . . the first island you'll hit isnt The Bay :D . . .

Back in the day before I met Rob, you can stay on the island, but plan on spending at least $250/night and most require a two night minimum.

You can take the Jet Express back to the mainland and stay at a hotel there, not sure of the cost at the hotel. Jet is going to cost you $24 each way I believe.

Lobster bisque an a pound of shrimp :ernaehrung004: . . . . or Lobster sandwich . . . good stuff . . :drink:



whats that place next door to The Fishbowl? they have good food to . . . . oh yea, go have a few Fishbowls (some kinda mixed thing in a fishbowl) watch it though they will sneak up on ya.

If you are in a group of 4 boats and you can get all 4 in the same raft up. Then the public docks will be OK. If I cant get in raft up with my own friends I dont tie up and there is no guarantee that you will be able to do that. There have been many occasions that I have tied up to other high end offshores only to find that the captain and crew are just as fuking stupid and inconsiderate as the rest of the yahoos on the island.

PIB is something everybody should see at least once, I strongly reccomend some of the more private docking places mentioned above. If your going to be in that neck of the woods then you may as well check out Kelleys Island. Give us a heads up when your coming, there are about a dozzen of us there on any given weekend. www.islandpirates.net

Been at PIB on the city docks every weekend pretty much for three years. I was there last night for dinner actually. I've never had a problem with the safety of my boat. $100 tips to the dock guys doesn't hurt either. Stay on A dock. Adam and Joe are the main dock guys, they run a tight ship. PIB is as relaxing or as crazy as you make it. Police are very nice unless you are an idiot, then look out.

and I always thought that you were one of the Crazie's !!:evilb::rolleyes::drink:

RHC

Try the Commodore Resort. I've never stayed there but I know some of the LEOPA members who have. Never heard any complaints from them .....

Heres a link to a link :drink:

http://www.mredsputinbay.com/index.php

I'll watch your boat for $50 each time you hit the bay. I can quit my full time job than! :evilb:

Boardwalk is ok food, like the bisque. The boat house is ok for a fish sammich. Chicken Patio used to be ok. Speaking of used to be crazy.... I was standing in front of the old beer barrel when it went up in flames back in 89 or so. THAT was a crazy memorial day weekend.
Last time I took the stinger over I was docked behind the loudest, most drunken idiots ever.

That was probably Team Baja.:drink:

It was those dam cruiser boaters. ;)
Besides, I hear Team Baja would have been passed out at that point. And these people were conscious. :D

Elizabeth Park, just south of Trenton, on the road to Grosse Isle, has a great ramp and good security.

But if I was you and the date is the important factor in your weekend, I would go ahead and drive out to the state park on Cataba Island. Cross the pretty new bridge in Toledo and follow Hiway 2 around.

Woah is the man who has to make the run back back to Detroit on Sunday in 8 to 10's with a slight hangover.

Use the gas saved to go to Kelly's and Sandusky Bay...you will enjoy your weekend a lot more.

On Erie, it's better to want to boat, then have to boat, on some days.

Mike

Bolles Harbor has good launch but the big problem is it is a MI DNR launch site the DNR will not allow overnight parking. (at least as of last year) Lately Ian and I launch out of the Erie Metro Park and head over from there. However that being said we plan on taking a chance this Thursday and launch there to head to Toledo for two nights so we can join up with LEOPA for the the fireworks on Friday. Ian thinks if we get a ticket it will be cheaper then towing to Toledo and launching at Minkies.
Has anyone tried leaving their rig over night at Bolles I can't imagine they would tow the truck and 43' trailer.

Who plans on doing the LEOPA thing on Friday?

[QUOTE=fund razor;2610441]
and seaweed in your water pickups.QUOTE]

I think you were refering to PIB, but also we had a miserable time with that at the boardwalk in Kelly's last year. We left there early on labor day Monday and wound up so choked up that we limpted on one engine to the bay and Ian spent about 6 hours working on the hoses, pickup etc., he finally solved the problem and we left for home about a half hour before sunset. We have also smoked an impeller or two right around the area between the Ford Yacht Club and Erie Metro Park, thick floating seaweed seems to be a big problem, so be observent.