Cruising the Lake Erie Islands

[SheCaptain]

Hello Rinker Owners,
We are planning a week long criuse from Algonac to the Lake Erie Islands this August. It will be our first trip down there and we are looking for advice on picking islands, restuarants and marinas. All suggestions are welcome.
Thanks 

[PartsMan]

Here's a thred with great info:

http://www.rinkerboatowners.com/forum/index.php/topic,3425.0.html

[SheCaptain]

Thanks Parts Man! Still looking for info on the other islands. Everyone talks about PIB is there anything else to see down there? We can't party for a whole week, its too hard to recover these days!
 

[Tony Walker]

I spent my weekends with my family during the 1950's and 60's on PIB.  I learned all the bad habits I have while there.

Lots of fun although much more regulated than it was then.

We spent a week there last year, while on our loop cruise.  We wound up at the "L" dock.  It is run by a the group that operates the park.  The other big dock is operated by the city,  Great rivalry between them.  No effect on the experience, just interesting to know and watch.  We arrived on a Monday and there were no spaces available except at the shore end of the dock.

We got to know the dock masters on the "L" dock and they were very capable and very accommodating.  They asked us if we liked roudy or to be near the roudys or all they way at the far end from the roudys.  We said we would like to be maybe nearby but not where we would be affected.  The roudys are really a weekend phenomenon.  During the week, PIB is on the quiet side.

During the course of the week, they moved us up, a space or two at a time as they would come available and by about Thursday we were at the very far end of the dock, at the inside of the "L".  We had the only space where mandatory rafting was not possible because of the inlet restrictions.  During the weekends, the place loads up with so many boats it becomes a zoo of all types and sizes of watercraft.  It was the best location possible.

Another island you might be interested is Kelly's which is very large and very subdued and very pleasnant if quiet is what you like.

Middle Bass Island, (PIB is on South Bass) may be interesting.  There is a yacht club there and maybe some other things.  There is a lot of summer home development there.  Middle Bass is where the old Lonz Winery" was and during the '50's and later, that is where the hard core people whose intention it was to become stoned drunk went.  There are numerous ferry boats that go between all the islands and the mainland.  So the folks would depart PIB sober and would return, blasted beyond all recognition.   Ah, Those were the days.

You may have already googled for things that are on these islands.  The PIB chamber of commerce can be helpful.  There is a lot of history on PIB related to the war of 1812.  And the Put-in-Bay monument that commemorates that war and celebrates the friendship between the US and Canada and the fact that we share the longest unfortified boarder in the world is truly beautiful when lit up a night.    One of the stone panels fell off the top a couple of years back and landed within a few feet of a lady sitting on a park bench under the observation platform 352 feet above.  You can imagine her shock and surprise.  It has been closed to the public for needed renovation since then.

My commentary is not how their chamber of commerce would put it but the Lake Erie islands are a wonderful place to spend time on a boat.  You will really enjoy your time there.

Tony
Salt Shaker 342

[Spacelord]

There are a few public docks at PIB.  I believe they are A, B and C dock.   Seems like they are run by different entities.  As you come into the bay, I believe thats A dock.  Going to the right from there  you have B and then C docks.  A dock is nearest the Jet Express ferry,  and not as sheltered if waves come in from the lake.  B dock isn't too exposed, but it will be VERY busy on the weekends.  It is the party dock.  That's where I've always stayed.  C dock is further from the public restrooms.  If you didn't want B dock, I would pick C dock.  Be prepared to be rafted off up to 4 boats deep.

The cops are STRICT about open alcohol.  DO NOT SET FOOT OFF YOUR BOAT ONTO THE DOCK WITH AN OPEN BEER OR CUP.  You've been warned... they are nasty about it.

There are also some private marinas which you may be able to get reservations for.  Sometimes you can rent golf carts via those marinas for several days.. that way you have a cart at your disposal.  That would be awesome!  Golf carts are a great way to get around on the island.

Pool Bars are fun. try not to think about the water.

If you have dinghy you can go around the island and explore.  I've never done that myself.

Also, Lake Erie can get nasty as far as wind and waves.  I've been fortunate both trips I've made where its been decent.  I've heard of plenty of people who have had rides from Hell on Lake Erie.  Broken TV sets.. all kinds of stuff from the pounding their boats took.

[PartsMan]

Also, Lake Erie can get nasty as far as wind and waves.  I've been fortunate both trips I've made where its been decent.  I've heard of plenty of people who have had rides from Hell on Lake Erie.  Broken TV sets.. all kinds of stuff from the pounding their boats took.

How true!! Welcome to Lake Erie ... Can turn on you in just an hour.

[Tony Walker]

One of the premier entertainers at PIB, Pat Daily, has a song about that very thing.  Don't have the words exact but one of the verses goes something like this:


When you are headed out of the Bay
And it seems like a pretty nice day,
Keep your eye on the sky
Because the sky has its eye on you.

When he does this song, one would conclude that it is pretty accurate.

Tony
Salt Shaker 342

[SheCaptain]

Thanks for the info, good stuff guys! What about Kelly's island or middle bass? Some folks at our marina told us about some nice party places over on Middle Bass. Any input on those islands?
As far as the weather goes I have heard horror stories about how the storms kick up. We are planning on playing out the weather, if we have to take a few more vacation days, oh well good for us. LOL....

[Tony Walker]

MS Captain,

I do not have much that I can add about Kellys or Middle Bass but one thing about PIB I forgot to mention is "West Side Steve."  He is a one man stand up musician/comedian who performs in the afternoons outdoors next to the Round House.  I hope he is still performing there next time I visit.  He is an entertaining fellow.

Tony
Salt Shaker 342

[Spacelord]

I've heard that Kelly's Island is nice too.  A little quieter.  Never been there myself.

[Tony Walker]

Yes, Kelleys Island is very quiet and very pretty.  One of the intresting features on the island are the "glacial grooves" that are prominent in a few areas.

Tony
Salt Shaker 342

[earl1z19]

If you make it to P.I.B give me a call, I live about 6 miles away on the main land.

[GJH442]

Love the Lake Erie Islands.  Nothing like a day at PIB.  We have really come to like the marina at Middle Island. It is all  new including showers. As has already been mentioned it is just a quick ferry ride over to PIB.  The Casino Bar on Kellys Island is also a great time.

Not yet mentioned is Pelee  Island in Canadian Waters. The only Marina is called Scudder. The Island has a great winery and lots of dirt roads. Sprinkled in a a few great restaurants and bars. The whole island comes to life on the weekends then remains very quiet during the week.  It offers a great place to relax with very friendly people. One of those places where you ask someone for directions and they give you their car.

[SheCaptain]

Thanks for the good info, I really appreciate it! I was wondering about Pelee Island and making a stop there on our way to Leamington. Thanks for all the posts, now all we need is the weather to get nice and get the boat in the water! I stopped by the marina yesterday and there was still ice in the boat basin! Last year we splashed on April 20th, don't think it will happen this year.

[chriscraftowner]

I've been going to PIB for years.  I like it as a base and utilize ferry boats to get to the mainland or other islands.

There are two municipalities on PIB the village and the township.  The Village owns "A and "C" docks while the Township owns "B" dock.  The place is pretty calm Monday thru Wednesday when it begins to fill up for the week-end.  B dock is the rowdiest of the three.  My preferred dockage is on the inside of C dock.  It is generally sheltered.  In addition to the municipal docks there are several privately owned docks where you can make reservations - check the PIB or Chamber of Commerce websites.

From PIB you can take one of two ferrys (Miller Boat Lines and Sonny S) to Middle Bass Island.  There are a couple bar/restaurants on MBI - Walleye's and Hazards.  In Port Clinton, a Jet Express ride away, there is a bunch of bar/restaurants. I can't really recommend any of them.

On PIB there is Frosty's Bar, The Round House, Mossback's, The Crescent, the Boardwalk, The Boathouse and the Beer Barrel Saloon - home of the world's longest bar.  These are just the ones that ring the park across from docks.

Besides sobering up and curing the previous night's hangover, there is a lot of shopping to be done.  One day I took my wife to PIB for lunch on a little 17' Chris Craft.  I figured this couldn't cost all that much.  WRONG!  It was one of the most expensive days I've had at PIB.

Depending on how fast you cruise and the water conditions, you should be able to get to PIB from Algonac in approx'ly 2-1/2 hours.  I've experience some killer storms on Lake Erie.  One summer Wednesday I got to the Bay by 2 pm, the next boat arrived around 4 pm; the one after that was Thursday pm.  I've seen it the other way where there weren't any wind ripples or cat's paws for days.  Check the weather and have a good time.

CC owner