Welcome!

[dpmcgarry]

To those that Boat on Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence, and the Thousand Islands...
WELCOME!!!  

We take delivery of our '08 260EC on Sunday and will be keeping it in Clayton, NY.  If anyone wants to talk hot-spots or good crusing trips have at it!!!

[dazeoff]

I have a question for Clayton boaters , When you leave the Public dock heading for Wolf island , charts show a rock shoal in the centre of that bay .. yet is see locals boating right over it ..maybe they have local knowledge . any help ...?????????????????is  it really to be avoided ...

[dpmcgarry]

Do you mean the area between Wolfe and Grindstone?

[olsonsperformance]

I think I know what your talking about but I havent had a big enough boat up to TI yet to worry about them (15ft alum fishing boat). I will ask my father in law. He has been boating up there for 60 years.

[dazeoff]

Gremlins ... 2nd try ...The area i question is the area under the # 3  on the chart below ...i was told to avoid it , yet i see locals going thro there ...any idea what the working depth is there .. i have seen rocks under the surface there ,,,?????

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[dpmcgarry]

Are you talking about the 3' depth toward the back of the inlet there?  If so, there is actually a marina (French Creek) on the other side of the bridge.  I haven't personally been under the bridge, but I'm fairly certain that the working depth during the summer months is at least 4-5'.  I've been all the way back to the brdige, just not under it.  But I have seen a few 23' fishing boats go through there ok.  There isn't too much back there, except for that one marina.  If that's not the area you're thinking of, let me know and I should be able to help! 

[dazeoff]

Good information , i didnt know the depth at the bridge  , good to know . however i was questioning the depth at the 3 of the (23feet )indicated on the chart out near the channel ...

[dpmcgarry]

Ok yes....I have cut across that little bay a bunch of times when headed back from West.  That whole bay is about 12-20 feet with a muddy weed bottom.  Most of the time there are a bunch of bass fisherman out there.  I haven't run too close to the westerly shore, but there is the Clayton Yacht Club over there on Bartlett Point somewhere.  I try to cut in midway between the Fixed Green Channel Marker 227 and the Green 225 but haven't run into any depth problems there as long as you kind of stay in the middle of things.
Hope I got it right this time! 

[dazeoff]

Yes thats what i wondered about .. good stuff ..years ago on the other side of Clayton the water was high and i cut between the island and the mainland ..i almost made it , then i got sound that cuts to your heart ..when i stopped i was in 2 feet and rocks everywhere ...i got the chart out and it said ....rocks ....go figure .....the prop was munched thats all . i was lucky for sure ...i could not get a repair in Clayton so we limped over to the Gan.  and pulled it ....now i am paranoid of rocks . lol . so i restrict myself a lot in the St Lawrence ..If  you island hop , it amazes you that near the Ivy Lee Bridge you  can be in   2oo feet one minute and 15feet  in a heart beat .. Some docks you actually steer around the rocks to get in ...The Ports  publication is a Bible in that area ..I use it 100% of the time ...It shows every rock around the docks and ports ect ...However Clayton worried me ...one other question ..( local Knowledge )...have you ever instead of taking the Wolfe Island Cut to get over to the Cdn. side ...short cutted it and turned before Blanket island and cut up beside gull rock . whisky island , passing Hickory island on the left ???I have been tempted a thousand times as the chart shows a narrow channel thro there , it would cut a bunch ot time and miles of my trip home if i could ..Just wondering what your opinion is .. My wifes is stay the hell out .. lol ..

[dpmcgarry]

Haha..yeah I have gotten "lucky" more than once.  I was orignally an "open water" boater in the ocean so it definatly took some getting used to the abrupt changes in depth that occur here in the TI!!! 

I know exactly the "shortcut" you are talking about and have done it once before.  I don't think I would try that one without a chartplotter, as mine definatly saved my bacon when doing that.  There is a straight-through line that you can take through there, but it would be very difficult to figure where that line is without the help of GPS. 

I love the Ports book as well!!!  Although we stuck to closeby trips last year (except for the Rideau), I want to get up to the Navy Fleet and Admirality islands this year and pick up some of the moorings that are available and spend the night.  Something I do miss from the salt water is the sandy bottom (with no weeds) that you could feel more confident in setting your anchor in.  I never really feel like it's set in these parts as I've broken free more than once due to being caught in the weeds versus dug into the mud.  Being on the mooring would give me piece of mind for the night...

If you have any anchoring "tips" or good places that have a clean bottom to spend the night, by all means let me know! 

[dazeoff]

Thanx for the info on the short cut , i might do it slow and get a good plot line , i have a Standard Horizon Chart plotter so im in good hands that way ....
Ports is truly an amazing  re-source when youre dogging in the Islands , and as u know already they show good anchorages and the botton type ....i have moved myself , it is tough . i carry a second anchor that i use as a backup ..
But my Admiral prefers to tie up , so we do not do the anchor thing much ...Its what makes Cruising what it is i guess ...We average nearly 600 miles a year , we love it , and you are so central to all that is good on TI . You are lucky .. happy boating ..
Maybe we will run into each other this year , and i can off you a real  BEER ..lol 

[frodo13056]

Wow!
Lakeland Boating magazine has an article about the Thousand Islands in the March 09 edition with lots of aerial shots - I'm absolutely jealous!! After seeing the magazine pictures, I'm going to have to plan a long trip to your neck of the woods (some day!!). You guys have some incredible scenery out that way!

Steve

[dpmcgarry]

Yes definatly post on here if you are coming our way...It would be good to meet up and trade areas to go.  If you have the chartplotter you should be good for that shortcut.  Many people seem to anchor in that are as well.  Ports is definatly the "bible" of cruising in the TI.  I actually have mine out on the coffee table for reading during the winter months in anticipation of warmer weather!

[dpmcgarry]

yes it is very beautiful up there.  I was a strict open ocean boater before, but I'm converted now!  So many places to go, and the water is absolutly beautiful.  Very clean with many cruising destinations closeby.  Much fun!  If you ever come up our way, be sure to post here for a meetup!