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 !