I am going up to put in bay the 11th - 14th for a friends bachelor party. We are staying at Islander inn on the island. I have never been before so looking for info on some things. I am bringing my 26' runabout and would like to know the best place to arrange for docking nearby the islander inn? Also, where is the best place to launch/ keep my truck on the mainland (as well as the other vehicles in our group). Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Also looking for any good "must see" type things to do/ places to go boat around. Thanks!

ask your question in boating by region/great lakes

The best spot to drop in is Mazurik's

http://www.shoresandislands.com/what...Mazurik-Access

Where to dock depends on what you are looking for... Do you want the PIB Party Dock up all night stereo blasting or I hope to get some sleep dock?

Oh and be sure to hit the Casino on Kelleys Island,... It's just a few miles away...

http://www.kelleysislandcasino.com/

The low cost PIB "dock" is to tie up to one of the numerous floating balls. There is a free (I think) shuttle service that takes to and from your ball. The ball is much less $ than the docks and no one climbs over your boat. Depending on the crowd, the PIB docks can require you raft off 3+ boats deep. Not so bad during the day, but a PITA at night when canvas is out.

If you are planning on using your boat over the weekend off and on to run around, then a mooring ball is about the only thing that's going to work for you. The rest of the docks, pretty much once you are there, you are there. If you leave, then you are going to lose your dock.

Personally, having been to quite a few bachelor parties up at PIB, I haven't once taken my boat if there was a hotel or condo involved. Everybody just ends up wanting to party on the island anyhow, and there is so much to do on PIB, you don't really need to go anywhere else. My friends are party animals and seem to lose their minds once they step off the ferry (like pretty much everybody else does) so I figured I would rather party too than have to be the sober skipper and try to wrangle everybody on and off the boat...but that's just me.

Middle Bass has really nice slips and shower facility. We leave our boat there and take the Sunny S shuttle to PIB (South Bass). Not a big fan of rafting off at PIB for overnight. Had an incident a few years ago with a young lady wearing pointy heels walking across canvas and poking holes thru and into the sunpad of a friends boat. I rather avoid having to deal with a problem.

If you don't mind a 10 minute walk to town the state docks west of the Boardwalk are nice. Day rate is $12 I think overnight is only $20 or $25. No one to collect your money,sign yourself in and pay. Honor System!

I wasn't even aware of this place, does it fill up quick on the weekends?

I'm not too worried about having to raft off as the boat I am bringing has a large swim platform for crossing traffic. I was hoping for a dock with power so I can plug into charge batteries overnight after a loud day of blasting the stereo.