Put-In-Bay, Lake Erie

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Split Decision

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It's been three years since we last cruised from Lake St.Clair and into Lake Erie to enjoy Put-In-Bay. We normally stayed at Ladd's and the last time at Put-In-Bay, Ladd's was now Put-In-Bay marina.

I understand Put-In-Bay marina has been bought, renovated and no longer accepting transients?

Where would you recommend the best marina in Put-In-Bay to stay now? I'd like to spend four nights in Put-In-Bay as part of our July 2013 boating holiday. I'd prefer to not raft.

Thanks,
Mike.
 
Crews Nest, I'm not a member so I have to be there during the week which for me is the best because I am not much of a party guy. Look through the old threads in this forum on a new place that got discussed this past summer. You can always stay at the state marina and ferry over to PIB.

We will be there sometime around then also

Good luck
Niles
 
Thanks for the reply Niles. I'll check out Crews Nest, and I'm fine with staying at Put-In-Bay during the week instead of weekends as well.

One thing I did like about Ladd's (Put-In-Bay) marina was the fact that I could load the BBQ, food and some drinks in our folding cart and enjoy our BBQ dinner in the park that faces the municipal docks. Great scenery there while BBQing.

Where is the "state marina" you reference? Is it worth hitting there for a night or two?

Mike.
 
Mike, the state marina is over on Middle Bass where the old Lonz Winery was. I have never been there but I havn't heard anything bad about it.

How was last storm up your way?

Good luck
Niles
 
Try Miller Marina on Put In Bay. They are past the Crews Nest. They take reservations and have a website. Call them at 419-285-5902.
 
Ironworks - Thanks, I have sent Miller Marina an email requesting a dock layout and suggestion for what would be considered a preferred well for a boat of our size. Looking forward to getting back to Put-In-Bay. Always have had fun there.

Niles,last evening (Monday) and overnight was very windy with mixed in rain. In London, Ontario where we live only some isolated power outages. Our boat is on blocks and shrink wrapped for the winter so no real worries there.

Mike.
 
My shrink wrap did not survive. I am third from left. I have a new sheet coming tomorrow and will need a ½ day of good weather to get it on.
Niles

shrinkshreaded.jpg
 
Wow Niles, sorry to see the damage to your shrink wrap. Did you happen to look at what the maximum hourly wind strength was for your area?

I would think there would be more stress on a shrink wrapped fly bridge boat as compared with a similar sized express style cruiser, but dang not nice to have your boat exposed in a storm.

Mike.
 
I feel quilty typing this after seeing the picture in NJ and LI. Our club is also called AYC and I just looked at the pictures that Walter posted on his AYC...real sorry to see that.

According to two area wind stations the highest gusts were close to 70 but the the substained was up there for hours. No real damage, the only probems was all my hatches were open under the shrink and things got a little wet in the front berth and salon.

Niles
 
Niles,

I hear you, I think most of us really feel for all the folks who experienced property damage and worse as a result of Sandy....

Mike
 
We pefer staying at Millers. Great docks, quiet, no rafting. Large Gazabo for grilling and getting out of the sun. More new showers installed this year, very clean. They also have golf carts that you can rent and keep over night. There is a womens boutique on site that the ladies will enjoy. Rich is the contact person at Millers.
The new state marina on Middle Bass is only a few years old. $11 million up grade. I think 125 transit docks. Also a great place to stay with ferry service to Put N Bay aboard the Sonny S.

Ron
 
For you guys familar with Crew's Nest and Miller's, what would be your preferred choice (well #) at either of these two marinas and why?

I'd like to book probably 4 nights and will likely book mid week to try and get a preferred dock.It's always nice to be happy with your well location especially when spending more than a night or two.

Thanks,
Mike.
 
During mid-week you can't go wrong with either one. Crews nest is pirvate on weekends, Friday, Sat, Sun. With Millers you can leave and return to your same dock during your stay. Always a pleasure to stay at Millers. You can reserve months in advance.

Ron
 
Going during the week increases your options (provided that you avoid the week of the 4th), including Park Place Boat Club (Ladd's / PIB Marina). If you enjoyed Ladd's, you'll be impressed with PPBC. We're hoping that they'll move ahead with their plans to expand and renovate the marina basin, but the renovations of the restaurants and facilities make it worthwhile nevertheless.

The Crew's Nest has a lot of docks, and they offer very diverse environments. "A" Docks are immediately behind The Boardwalk. They offer great protection from wind, wake and waves, and are the closest to town, but the view is compromised by the Boardwalk, it's far from TCN facilities and golf cart parking can be scarce. My favorite area is C Dock, unless the forecast holds any northern winds. D is where the dock shop / office is, which can also block your view, but it's convenient. After E Dock is PIB Yacht Club, then Millers, and way in the corner are Crew's Nest Docks F & G. I doubt they would put a boat your size on the small floating pier G. Like A Dock, F is a great place to seek shelter from northerlies, but it's far from everything.

TCN amenities have no equal, not just on the island, but just about anywhere: A large pool with snack bar and bar, a kiddie pool, tennis courts, basketball court, an indoor hot-tub, sauna, raquetball court, sidewalk cafe, formal dining, patio bar, and important note: the new fleet of carts are among the fastest on the island.

If you decide to stay at Millers or Park Place, you can buy a daily membership to use TCN amenities. One of the few things TCN lacks is a pavilion near the docks. If you enjoy grilling out, Miller's pavilion is great, and PPBC has good options too. TCN's E, F & G Docks don't have very comfortable places to grill.
 
Thanks for taking the time to add further details on Crew's Nest, PPBC and Miller's.

PPBC's web site does mention "A surprise drop in will be welcomed" so I'm assuming normal transient fees would apply without the mentioned "one time initiation fee" of $250.00 etc.?

I'll likely take the first two weeks of July 2013 off for our annual boating vacation.

Would I be correct to assume the midweek of July 1-5 would be busier in Put-In-Bay as compared to the mid week of July 8-12?

Thanks,
Mike.
 
The "surprise drop in" comment is in reference to members without reservations. The official dockage priorities go to reserved members first, then non-reserved members. On a less official basis the priorities continue to: guests of members to raft, guest of members non-raft, and finally when space allows, non-members (no membership / intitation fee). That's the kicker - you won't know that you can get in at PPBC until they know that they have accommodated all of the member requests first.

Yes, the week of July 1-5 will be very busy, followed by the wkd of July 26-27, which is Christmas in July.

What are your other stops? Kelleys? Cedar Point?
 
Thanks SLW for the insight into PPBC. I think I'll lean towards doing Put-In-Bay during our second week of boating vacation if that week would be considered less busy than the first week of July.

I'm now wondering if I should plan on grabbing a mooring buoy for my first night stay and take our inflatable into Crew's Nest, Miller's and PPBC and see what works out the best to spend another three nights? We really enjoy Put-In-Bay and after not being back for three years will look forward to our return.

I'm thinking that with our ten year old son that Cedar Point may win out over Kelly's. :)

Thanks again for the feedback.

Mike.
 
If you can manage to lock-in Miller's, you'll have peace of mind of a confirmation at a nice marina. A buoy is a good plan B, and there's a good chance that even the public docks would be tolerable for a day during the week. (particularly DeRivera Public B Dock, which is independently and professionally managed and even has it's own frequently updated Facebook page)

As for Cedar Point, ask for a 40' Dock on Pier 11.
 
I gave Millers a call but voice mail advised they are closed until April. I'd like to look at a dock layout of Millers on line but couldn't find one.

If we stayed at Millers I'd prefer to bow in so we can launch the inflatable off our davits.Assuming most wells are fingers?

Would anyone know the docks well enough to recommend a good well at Millers that might capture a nice view out into Put-In-Bay if we went bow in?

SLW, my wife and I will be favouring your recommendation of Pier 11 at Cedar Point.

Thanks,
Mike.
 
I didn't have time to label the docks on the map, but here's a view of PIB from Miller's to The Crews Nest A Dock:

PIB.jpg


Miller's is all the way to the left. As you can see, they don't really have "wells". The channel with the "1" marker is ideal if it gets rough, but otherwise you'll want to be on one of the 3 long finger docks or their pier. On wkds, they'll stack 2-3 boats on each sides of those fingers - they're long, but I wouldn't think you'd have trouble launcing your dinghy, even if it gets busy.

"2" designates the pier of the PIB Yacht Club. Ironically, the "F" shaped dock to the right of that is TCN E Dock. "4" is TCN D Dock (and shop). Then C Dock, B Dock, Doller Dock, and the A Docks.
 
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