Lake Erie western basin boating questions
 

Going to Cedar Point area for a week in July. Where is a good ramp and where should I plan on going boating? Is the water generally suitable for a 25 foot cat?
Which island is the best to visit? I will be keeping my boat at the cedar point marina for the week so where should I go? what should I do and see?

Re: Sandusky Bay
 

The City of Sandusky has a great boat ramp with good parking ... It is about 1-2miles across the Bay to Cedar Point ,.,, Your 25ft Cat will handle the water just fine ,,,,,, as to the 2nd part ,,,, all of the Islands have there own flavor ,,, Put in Bay has the large party and with it comes the Amateurs,,, Kellys is a little laid back by comparison ,,, However ,,, The offshore guys will be there on the way to the Bay!!! Its all good ,,, Just bring time and money ,,, RHC

PS.. the ramp fee is $5. and the parking is free ;)

We, usually hit Kelleys friday night and PIB on Saturday everyweekend all summer long:rolleyes: let us know again when you are getting ready to head down, and you can hook up with us and we can show you around the isalnds. Just pack your wallet and spare liver:D

There are usually a handfull of OSO members on each island on any given weekend, not to mention the derilects that I run around with:p

AirPacker,
I dock at CP Marina and use the City of Sandusky ramps they are the best in the area and close to CP about 5 min. boat ride.
Two Islands to check out while in the area both are a must see, Put-in-Bay & Kelly's.
Many close ports and a lot of OSO guys come up on the weekends so when the time gets closer we can let you know whats going on.
As far as the boat goes its a tough call just have to see what the water is doing at that paticular moment but you should be fine as long as the winds are not out of the Northeast then all of us start to have trouble.
I almost forgot there is CP beach and the Sandbar to hang out at if you feel like a lazy day on the water:)
CP Marina #823

Scott , watch the sandbar it goes WAY out :D :D Air, your boat will be a hoot on Sandusky bay and all the way up the Sandusky river ( 25 miles ) a dead flat slalom course for you. The big lake is iffy, you're gonna have to choose your days carefully as it kicks up quick and small cats don't chug well in the confused slop between the islands and the Sandusky inlet.

Whats this about a "sandbar" ????:D

Sorry Jerry not that kind of "Bar":drool:

Watch out on Sandusky bay. Be sure to stay in the channel lots of rock walls under the surface.

Make sure you make it to the Winery on PIB and Peele Island is also great for a lazy afternoon. Not much of a party but there are a couple of pretty good resturants and the beach on the south west side of the island is nice and secluded. Be sure to check in with customs. You have to call them and check in it only takes a miniute or tow.

There is tons to do there on any given weekend. If you go once you will certainly want to go back. As mentioned above, just be sure to keep an eye on the forecast, becasue it can kick up pretty bad for a 25' cat. We had a few boats up last year and one of us had a 26AO and we had to turn around and dock it becuase the water was too rough.

It is a great place to be, very fun. Lots of guys on this and other boards know their way around pretty well. Have fun:)

Buy a chart
 

The water there will fool you!
I sold a 28" cvruiser I used to have up there and the new owners told me how well they knew the area (even gave them my chart).
Saw the owners of the marina I used to dock that boat and they told me they just saw my old boat.
It was just in for all new bottom harware (twin inboards) from being driven across a shoal!
Sandusky Bay is just as described above. Big fun but stay in the cahnnel no matter size/draft of your boat.
I've seen many boats try and cut across that sand bar they are talking about too. (none of them made it)
There are also many shoals in the lake itself too.
ON the weekends due to boat traffic and the confluence of it's opening with the open lake, you will not have any fun in a 25' cat unless the traffic is light!
Two up sides though. Go east under the CP bridge and check out some of the house on water there, and follow the channel back to the TGI Fridays on the water. It hops pretty well too.
If you go west under the Rt. 2 birdge it is usually nice over there but very, very shallow.
The best tip is to locate all the local ramps before heading that way.
There is one on Marble Head peninsula called "Mazurks Access" that points straight at Kellies island is about a 2 mile shot.
The lake is totally controlled/driven by wind direction/speed because it's so shallow. Check the weather, figure out where it's calm and trailer to it.
If you go to PIB on weekend/evening take a bunch of bumpers and be prepared to be rafted off 4 deep (manadtory) and have the typical PIB boater want to tie off you. He is the guy that borrowed his neighbors 25' BayLiner/Sea Ray and has no clue what he's doing.
I had one guy in a 28' Marinette (aluminum cruiser) try to raft off me with no bumpers:mad: :mad: :mad:
If I would have been in the pubs when he pulled in, he would have done it and I'd still be in jail.
The Casino (bar/marina) at Lellies attracts the offshore crowd and rocks on the weekends.
Pelee is a hoot as already said but not (typically) in a 25' cat.
You may get there and not have the weather/water to come back. Plus it's about 25 miles of open water to the south tip.
Gary