Great Lakes - Lake Erie marina's.

I'm trying to get my wife to do a whole circle around Lake Erie next summer. We will be starting out in the islands area where our marina is, and heading east towards Cleveland. She doesn't like running more than a couple of hours at a time so we will be making a lot of marina stops along the way. I know some marina's offer a lot of services for transient boaters and I want to map out these marina's all the way around the lake. I have heard that the Canadian shoreline has more of these type of marina's but I don't know that for sure.

I want to have a plan but I don't really know how to find marina's that are transient friendly. If there is some kind of club I can join that would give me a list of these marina's, offer discounts, etc. I will join it for sure.

I have the Richardson's book which is helpful. I also am a Boat U.S. member and their cooperating marina lists is also helpful. A list of marina's created from "word of mouth" from people that have actually stayed at these marina's and can recommend them would be better than anything I can find in a book.

I would like to start a list of these "word of mouth" marina's and post the locations on a Lake Erie chart and figure out a plan to circle Lake Erie.

Can you guys either post marina names and locations or PM me with marina's that you are familiar with that is transient boat friendly? I would repay the favor by making a list that I can share with others that are interested in making the same trip.

Thanks
Russ

I'm trying to get my wife to do a whole circle around Lake Erie next summer. We will be starting out in the islands area where our marina is, and heading east towards Cleveland. She doesn't like running more than a couple of hours at a time so we will be making a lot of marina stops along the way. I know some marina's offer a lot of services for transient boaters and I want to map out these marina's all the way around the lake. I have heard that the Canadian shoreline has more of these type of marina's but I don't know that for sure.

I want to have a plan but I don't really know how to find marina's that are transient friendly. If there is some kind of club I can join that would give me a list of these marina's, offer discounts, etc. I will join it for sure.

I have the Richardson's book which is helpful. I also am a Boat U.S. member and their cooperating marina lists is also helpful. A list of marina's created from "word of mouth" from people that have actually stayed at these marina's and can recommend them would be better than anything I can find in a book.

I would like to start a list of these "word of mouth" marina's and post the locations on a Lake Erie chart and figure out a plan to circle Lake Erie.

Can you guys either post marina names and locations or PM me with marina's that you are familiar with that is transient boat friendly? I would repay the favor by making a list that I can share with others that are interested in making the same trip.

Thanks
Russ

I highly recommend either the Huron Lagoons marina on the Huron River and the public docks in Vermilion on the Vermilion River.

Thanks for the marina's OSU. At this rate it will take until next spring to put a list together! :roll

I know us Great Lakes guys are a minority compared to the saltwater crew, but you would expect more posts than the ones that appear in this forum. ;?


Russ

Give it time Russ. I am sure others will chime in.

Russ, Conneaut Ohio. Last stop in OH eastbound before Pa. We do reciprocals with most other clubs in and around Lake Erie. www.conneautboatclub.com Great people, a couple of good restaurants near by... VERY transient friendly! PM me if this looks like a stop for you... 2/3rd's of the way to Presque Isle, Pa. from Cleveland. :thumbsup:

Russ,

sounds like a fun trip, I hope you get a chance to do it.

I know that on the canadian side there are marinas at Leamington, Wheatley and Erieau that offer overnight slips. I have not used leamington or erieau, but at wheatley they are very nice folks to deal with, there is a bathroom facility, plus porta-potties and they sell ice for a good price.

another thing to consider: what will you be doing once you get to these ports? in wheatley there is nothing within walking distance of the marina in terms of stores or restaurants. there is one little mom and pop fish place that is about two miles walk and that is it(they do have great fried perch dinners for about $7). I just thought I would mention this as it may be something to think about. I bet if the ramp is not busy that the boat ramp attendant would loan you her golf cart to make a dinner run.

Good luck
jerry

Leamington public marina is beautiful. It is quite a walk into town but taxis are pretty cheap.

http://www.leamington.ca/visitors/marina.asp

Huron Lagoons Marina:

http://www.huronlagoons.com/index.html

Vermilion Municipal /Water Works Public Docks:

http://vermilionohionews.homestead.com/PortAuthority.html

Wildwood Marina a few miles east of Cleveland. Geneva State Park Marina or Snug Harbor Marina is about 60 miles east of there. All nice places.

Thanks guys, I have noted each location and will be plotting them on my chart.

What we are planning on doing at each marina is anyone's guess. Most of the time we will take cab to a place for dinner. Grab a bottle of wine on the way back to the boat. Probably do a little evening walleye or smallmouth fishing and watch the sun go down.

We don't need a lot of entertainment, my wife is an early bird. Usually a VERY early bird since she gets up every morning at 4:30a.

Russ

Try the Great Lakes Cruising Club.
They have an incredible amount of information for every port in the great lakes.

http://http://www.boaternews.ca/content/great-lakes-cruising-club-celebrates-75th-anniversary

www.glcclub.com (http://www.glcclub.com)

Russ, you're welcome to stay at our place if it makes sense as a stopping spot. Pier 53 Marine, West Harbor Catawba. I'll second Huron Lagoons (GREAT people) but that darn train can be LOUD for a light sleeper.

Russ, you're welcome to stay at our place if it makes sense as a stopping spot. Pier 53 Marine, West Harbor Catawba. I'll second Huron Lagoons (GREAT people) but that darn train can be LOUD for a light sleeper.

We docked at HLM for several years (overnighting on the boat most summer weekends) and never had a problem with noise from the trains. You must be sensitive to noise. If you want to know what loud trains sound like at a marina try docking at Romps.in Vermilion.:o:o:o:o

We docked at HLM for several years (overnighting on the boat most summer weekends) and never had a problem with noise from the trains. You must be sensitive to noise. If you want to know what loud trains sound like at a marina try docking at Romps.in Vermilion.:o:o:o:o

:rofl::rofl: I docked there for one year. I'm not a light sleeper but some in the family are. I lived right up the river from that marina (HLM) for several years and could hear the darn things there. Holiday harbor is really where it gets BAD.... That's the marina just north of HLM right on the tracks.

Jeff, thanks for the offer but I currently dock right next to you in East Harbor @ Bass Haven.

OSU- Yes I am familiar with Romps and the trains, did that several years ago.

MH321- Thanks for the link, I will join the club.

Jeff, thanks for the offer but I currently dock right next to you in East Harbor @ Bass Haven.


Not much of a trip... :grin:

When you get to Pennsylvania(presque Isle bay) there is the Erie Yacht Club. Nice club and showers. Nice floating docks(finally) or Wolverine Park behind the public dock(west basin behind the Sheraton Hotel) if you want to dock in downtown Erie.

In Erie Pa. (Presque Isle) another option would be Bay Harbor Marina "East or West" walking distance to the "Sloppy Duck" food, drinks, music. Also the outdoor theater music bands. Walking distance to downtown Erie.

Thanks RND, I will add this to my chart also.

Russ