CLE to Kelly's
 

Looking to run from downtown CLE to Kelly’s this Sunday in my little 245. Wanted to get some of your opinions on a few things:

• How long is it going to take to get there running about 45ish (everyone stop laughing…lol)?
o I have done the calcs off Google maps (~1 hr) and so forth – wanted the opinion of someone that has done the run.

• I have charts and a GPS, I do not have a ship to shore. Can you get cell phone reception on the way there in case I need to phone Tow Boat?
o It is in the plans to get a ship to shore over the winter. We have spent the last six years on lakes in the south that didn’t need one.

• Is there any depth issues that I need to be aware of that aren’t marked?

• Do you lose site of the shore?
o About an hour cruise one way is nothing new to us. We would run from the top to bottom of Lake Lanier and Lake Norman. You could always see the shore so my wife was very comfortable. She is very tentative in making this run to get some lunch.

• Is Johnny Law as bad as it is portrayed? My boat is still registered in GA. I assume I am a target.

Sorry for the monster post. Appreciate all the insight.

1. Time it takes all depends on the weather. I made that run last Sunday - 4+ footers from Cleveland to Lorain, averaged 55 or so, 2 foot chop therafter, averaged 70 or so. Total trip took about 75 minutes. But that is in a 42' OL - your performance may vary.

2. I've never had problems using my cell, but I don't use it that often from the boat. I don't think I would rely on it as my sole source of communication - spring $100 for a decent handheld - you should have one even with a fixed station.

3. I am not aware of any depth issues between here and Kellys that you would encounter in a boat your size. Do watch for fishing nets and there is one marker for a wreck (wreck is deep - just don't hit the marker). Also note that the sailing clubs have markers along the Cleveland/Rocky River area - I always swing outside the Crib and then head just North of Avon Point to miss them.

4. If you run a straight line, you will loose sight of the shore. You can hug the shoreline, it will just take longer.

5. No.

Here is the thing you didn't mention so I will bring it up - please disregard if you already know: Lake Erie is a MFer for changes in seastate and can be very tough to run even in a much larger boat. It can be calm as all get out one minute and 4' big rollers 2 hours later. And, because it is a lake without tides and has a shallow average depth, the direction and frequency of the waves can be very challenging. IMHO, the key word in your post is "little" - no disrespect to you or your boat, but if you asked me to go along on that ride I would pass unless I had unlimited time to spend at Kellys - even if you get there, a shift of wind may mean that you don't make it back that day. Adding to that, I presume you have a single engine - if you loose that engine in a rough lake, it is going to be a very bad time. If you have a trailer, I would strongly suggest that you trailer up to Sandusky (the public ramp is very good, free, and offers overnight parking) and run to Kellys from there.

My $02. Let us know how it goes and be safe out there.

db

I have a 24 footer and I now trailer up everytime. I went out of Avon, west of Cleveland once. We made it up there in around a hour, next day winds were blowing hard out of the north took us around 3hours to get back in big waves and rain/lightning. We were the only trailer at the ramps that day when we returned, not a fun trip.
I have went on some long rides on Lake Erie the same day, just seems its hard to perdict (even for the forecasters) for the next day, so as Duc said the lake can get nasty.
Go to Sandusky ramp or Mazuriks in Marblehead.
Be carefull around the NE corner of PNB (go out to markers) and I heard north side of Kelleys is shallow(stay farther out). Rest of the way offshore is deep. Watch out for fishing nets.
Gps straight from Cleveland will take you a ways offshore.

Its Lake Erie not an inland smaller lake like Norman. So if its rough out you can still make the slow ride to PNB from Sandusky/Marblehead.

I would trailer it to Sandusky Ohio. Run to Kelleys from there.

I have launched from here and went back and forth to all the islands (even all the way to Grosse Point). This will only be our second time out of CLE as we are recently back to the area. I bought the boat for Lake Erie and then four months after purchase, took a promotion to CLT (then to ATL). I have done a bit of boating on the lake, but by no means a vet. I agree much safer to trailer up closer and go from there. I don’t want to mess with the whole trailer thing, pain in the a** for us.

Maybe a back and forth to Kelly’s on a Sunday isn’t in the cards (don’t tell me wife she might be right…lol).

Thanks for the feedback guys – much appreciated.

You think a trip out East is a bit less intense? I.E. Pickle Bills, or Geneva on the Lakes?

p.s. I know what you mean about how rough Erie can be. We had boated for four months on it before Norman. My wife and I will never forget boating with some of the guys there and them telling us just how dang rough the water would get. We were skeptical to say the least coming from Erie but listening anyways. And after being on the LKN twice, over the busiest times, we just rolled our eyes as those inland lakes literally pale in comparison in roughness to Erie.

No worries! Appreciate your feedback and I aspire to have a fleet like yours someday.

Great advice on the radio. Didn't know they were so economical.

OOps I was thinking you were headed to PNB. Lol not that it matters.
Run from Cleveland to Pickle Bills for the day is not bad just more to do at the islands.

Joe -

When you going to come check out the new OL???:evilb:

Where do you have it? Lakeside? Let me know when your headed over to it. I want to see it.

I've been beaten up pretty bad between CLE and GOL as well. Things just go from swell to hell so fast on that lake. The resounding theme on this forum is keep a launch ramp close and one eye pointed at the sky when you boat on lake Erie, especially if you are running on one screw.

We are going from Marblehead to Cleveland Saturday if the lake lets us and back Monday morning again if the lake lets us. LOL We are praying for good weather, hopefully not the stuff that was there yesterday. We are going for the Kenny Chesney Concert.

yeah sell any tickets yet?????????

"Keep your eye on the sky cause the legend of the lake has its eye on you" - Pat Dailey

Well I think we have decided to try the Quaker Steak in Vermillion. Have looked at the weather a few times, seems 1-3 and winds out of SW. :evilb:

It's a nice ride over. It's about 25-30 miles from Edgewater Cleveland west side. Vermillion is nice. The canal homes are really cool. Reminds me of Florida a little bit.

Hidden Treasure Poker Run went from Cleveland to Vermillion this year. It was my first time on Erie, and from what was explained to me, the water conditions were normally not "this good". Almost as smooth as glass.

For you guys who didnt attend the run, you should sign up next year! Joe really did a graet job. Lots of fun and great food and prizes!!!

so did yo make the trip?? just curious cus i plan on doing it this friday

Nope............ Got as far as Huntington Beach and the wife was like "no more." Forecast said 1 - 3's but they had to been more like 2 - 4's

Maybe next time. Really wish the lake would cooperate (:party-smiley-004:) since there are so many places to explore....

yeah im hoping for some decent weather friday.. 1-3's i can do no problem. an hour of 4 footers gets old tho

Sometimes I think the meteorologist is doing a belly laugh when posting the offshore forecast. It never seems accurate, no matter what basin you are on. Then again, it may have been accurate 5 minutes before you got the boat wet:(.

What day did you go? We were at Huntington beach on Sun.

Sunday. Little 245 that is green, blue and black.

Did you anchor up at the beach? I was in my all dark red Baja rafted to another boat and with some jet Ski's. If I would of known I would of told you to raft off.
When my buddy left Cleveland on his ski to Huntington he said it was rough leaving Cleveland, he almost turned around.

the wind doesnt look good for doing the run this friday either.. where is a good place to launch in cleveland. i want to be near the rock and roll hall of fame

Use E72nd st. ramp or Edgewater park ramp. both are fairly close.

Edgewater is about 2 miles west of the R&RHF. Smelly though... Theres a sewage plant behind the ramp.

hows the parking there? do they care if i leave my truck for a couple days? fri-sunday maybe monday

I wouldn't leave my truck over night at edge water, Had a few buds have windows broken there to steal cd's and a wedding ring. During the day.........

I've left my truck and trailer at Edgewater for the whole weekend lots of times with no issues. I don't leave anything visible and it is not a flashy truck, but there is a lot more police presence down there than there used to be. No guarantees, but I wouldn't be too worried about it.

im not quite sure where im going to launch. it all depends on how the water looks. its just me and the g/f taking the trip and it will be a loooooonnnnnngggggg ride if its too rough. calling for winds out of the north all weekend so we will see what happens. might just tow to sandusky if the lake is snotty

Winds from the north, lake will be bumpy. Never had any problems at edgewater.

After I replied, I realized that was probably you. Will look you up next time! :ernaehrung004:

Have left the truck that I borrow to tow with there as well. No issues thus yet.