Great Lakes - new to larger boat on Lake Erie

I just purchased a 27' Baha Cruiser this last fall and Im looking forward to the early spring to get her out on Lake Erie. We will be launching out of Lorain Vermilon area. I am looking for anyone that would be helpfull in what kind of equipment i should have on board to get a good start at the season. I have had other boats (16-18' ) and have been on the lake numerus time but am new to the larger vessels. Any help would be appreciated. Also wondering how long the run is from Beaver Park to PIB. PS the boat is a cabin cruiser not a go fast. Thanks.

If you are familiar with Lake Erie then you already know how snotty she can be. I make sure I have ALL the safety gear with me that one would venture offshore in saltwater.

There are many mapping websites where you can measure distances. Or you can give google earth a whirl.

Welcome to THT and have fun with the new rig.

1. Marine Radio
2. Depth Sounder
3. GPS Unit
4. All CG required safety equipment
5. Basic tool kit
6. Charts of Lake Erie and other waters you plan to boat in OR a chartplotter
7. A good anchor with 8~10 feet of galvanized chain and at least 200 feet of line
8. A stern anchor with line if you like to hit swimming areas
9. At least four 1/2" (minimum) to carry with you
10 At least three 6" (minimum) sausage type fenders to carry with you
11 A shore power line

Heck, the list can go on and on. My suggestions serve only as a starter and I am sure that others will provide additional suggestions.

Beaver Park is about 30 to 35 miles from PIB by boat.

Welcome to the forum!

Knowing it is not easy to navigate forward on the Baha to drop anchor, a windlass would be a good choice of equipment to have. Much safer to spend the extra bucks on a windlass than to fall overboard trying to walk to the bow (especially if your alone).

A good friend has the 27' and your really going to like it.

Other equipment he has besides the windlass is electric reels for the planer boards and autopilot for trolling. He has a great set up. Assuming you have the single screw inboard, a bow thruster is almost a neccessity.

What would a best guess on bow thruster for cost be and were could i get one installed, or is it something i could do on my own with decent wrenching know how?

I have a thruster for sale off of a 26 ft. 10 ft. beam E/C little use very reasonable. call Rick 5183579285 eves.

The only dealer I know of that does this work is Happy Days on Port Clinton (a Baha Cruisers dealer). I am sure there are others but I know Happy Days does great work. I think the work is pretty extensive where a hole is bored into the leading edge of the bow and after instalation it is glassed in. Also you'll have electrical hook ups along with an additional battery and switch. I'm n ot sure of the cost but a phone call could get you a ballpark price.

the run to PIB from lorain is 35 miles.

4-5k for the thruster complete install at Happy Days Boating; contact our fiberglass shop at 419 732 2116 and ask for Ryan--he'll give you more details and more exact pricing We probably sold that boat new, so we are familiar with the hull etc.

want type of power --- I would not get in a big Hurry to spent 5K on thruster-- I fish off a 26 sportscraft w single inboard with a kicker in the middle--- took some getting used to in backing in but would not spent 5 K------- if I/O or twins you have it made

Dawson,
OSUDaddy gave you the essentials. You had the smaller boat; just be smart, listen to the weather. Don't ignore those hairs on the back of your neck; if it feels wrong . . . it is. Get into trouble slow and you'll get out fast.

Keep your cell phone charger on board too . . . redundancy, redundancy, redundancy. I'm with Eyehooker; a thruster exceed luxury. Get to know your boat, and you'll be able to control it easily.

I had one boat at Romps, Vermillion for years, trailered my boat to Hot Water, Lorain and will be docking my new boat at Spitzer Lakeside. SEE YOU IN THE SPRING!!!

I own a 277GLE Baha, if you have the inboard, get the bow thruster. Try docking in a tight marina with a good wind, not fun. Get a kicker or a hydraulic trolling plate for slow trolling but you could also use bags. If you want photo's, I made my own plate, I will tell you everything you need. Get every piece of safety gear you can. Chris

. Assuming you have the single screw inboard, a bow thruster is almost a neccessity.

Or just learn how to dock a boat. I have a Baha 272 with a single inboard and dont have any issues at the dock. It is alot easier to dock port side. A little practice and there is no need for a bow thruster.

I see you are from MN, what marina do you stay at?

I fish out of Duluth, Silver Bay and the Apostles. This summer I will be slipped at Harbor Cove. Where is your boat located?

. Assuming you have the single screw inboard, a bow thruster is almost a neccessity.
Not at all true, most boats of this size that are single IB dont have a thruster, takes a little practice but its not hard, think ahead, watch the flags for wind direction, the trick is to do all the manuevering in forward, using reverse only to stop forward progress, if backing in, when you are lined up with the slip it only a matter of a few reverse thrusts and your in,when you master this, you will be able to do a 360 in about the length of the boat, Im sorta local to you and will gladly help you out if needed next season, a really good exercise is to toss a buoy in a secluded place and pratice manuevering around it, also depending on the prop rotation your boat will pull to one side in reverse, you will also learn to use this to your advantage when docking

Not at all true, most boats of this size that are single IB dont have a thruster, takes a little practice but its not hard, think ahead, watch the flags for wind direction, the trick is to do all the manuevering in forward, using reverse only to stop forward progress, if backing in, when you are lined up with the slip it only a matter of a few reverse thrusts and your in,when you master this, you will be able to do a 360 in about the length of the boat, Im sorta local to you and will gladly help you out if needed next season, a really good exercise is to toss a buoy in a secluded place and pratice manuevering around it, also depending on the prop rotation your boat will pull to one side in reverse, you will also learn to use this to your advantage when docking

Agreed. One of my friends has a single screw 26 foot Lyman and can walk the boat into any dock, even when docking alongside a sea wall with little bow and stern clearance between boats already docked. His older son can do the same.

I slip in Quarterdeck marina in Sturgeon bay, WI. I own a 277 Baha. Bow thrusters in tight quarters are awesome. Try backing down a single screw with a 15 knot cross wind 3 feet from a Viking with only a 40' wide lane and get back to me, I do it all the time. My slip is 12 feet wide on a boat with a 9'6" beam. Side slipping is easy, for those with experiance, yes. A thruster is worth every penny. When I back down with my inboard I have almost no steering backward, bouncing off a 48' Viking is not cool around here. Get one if you can, you won't be sorry.

I am looking at restoring a 1989 331 xle does anyone have photo, specs or manuals on this boat the interior needs to be redone thanks

Bouncing off a 34' Stamas aint too cool ether ;)

1. Marine Radio
2. Depth Sounder
3. GPS Unit
4. All CG required safety equipment
5. Basic tool kit
6. Charts of Lake Erie and other waters you plan to boat in OR a chartplotter
7. A good anchor with 8~10 feet of galvanized chain and at least 200 feet of line
8. A stern anchor with line if you like to hit swimming areas
9. At least four 1/2" (minimum) to carry with you
10. At least three 6" (minimum) sausage type fenders to carry with you
11. A shore power line




12. million candle power spotlight
13. flares
14. telescopic boat line hook (also useful for retrieving things that fall overboard)
15. utility knife
16. small blow torch

17. Assortment of hoses and hose clamps of all sizes

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That boat is a great boat, but still of the size to watch the weather still to small to take what the lake can do with a hot summer day storm. As far as a thruster, learn how to handle the boat, thrusters on a 27 are for people who can't really handle a boat like that and should not be on the lake.

Better sell your boat Pioneer. JimPend doesn't want you or anyone else on the lakes with bow thrusters. Isn't it nice to have someone to decide who can, or who should be on the lakes? Nice.......

That boat is a great boat, but still of the size to watch the weather still to small to take what the lake can do with a hot summer day storm. As far as a thruster, learn how to handle the boat, thrusters on a 27 are for people who can't really handle a boat like that and should not be on the lake.

Thrusters on a 27' boat???

geezzzz

:) Too each his own, I love mine. Heck I still have the training wheels on my bike!:rofl: