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Looking for sailing destinations on Lake Erie

9K views 25 replies 10 participants last post by  Lou452 
#1 ·
I am looking for some places to sail to next summer. I will be leaving out of Buffalo. This will be my 2nd year on a sailboat but I have many years of boating and boat ownership. As a motor boater I never went any farther than sunset bay and that was only a few times. Now with a well equipped 26 foot sloop I feel like I could go anywhere. I most likely will be looking to bring my Wife, and 2 girls 9&11 years old, with for the trips and would prefer to be no longer than 1 or 2 days at sea. I also dont think I want to go through the hassle of going through customs so Canada is out for now. My wife hasnt spent any real time at sea and gets sea sick if she dosnt take something for it. She didnt have any problems with the power boat. Something about the motion of the sailboat is bothering her. Thats the reason for the short time frame. I think if she gets some time out in the open lake, away from all the wakes and choppyness of the harbor, she will become more comfortable and enjoy sailing quite a bit more. Anyone have any good destinations for me?
 
#2 ·
I have been waiting to see what others would say but it doesn't look like anyone is coming forward. There really isn't too much on the US side without going far. Its too bad you want to stay out of Canada because there are some nice places on that side. Keeping on the US side there is Dunkirk, Barcelona and Erie. I'm not sure how much farther than that you would make in a day or two. I have never taken my boat to any of those places so I can't really comment on them. It seems like heading that direction is always straight into the wind. For sailing it seems it would be easier to hop from the US side to the Canadian side and vise versa. Let me know where you end up going, I'd like to find a destination myself.
 
#3 ·
I think if you do some searching you will find Erie to be a very nice place. The bay or harbor is large and you have the city side with a few clubs The Erie yacht club and other clubs. The park Presque Isle is very nice. Real beach but better nature get away from the water and into the woods! Flag ship Niagara Maritime Museum on the city side.Waldameer amusment park and water park. www.visteriepa.com and park phone # 814-833-7424 state park 814 454 1000 city info Winter time now so I do not know if the phones# will be of any use. This is my old haunts I could go on but you will find your own way. Erie is a small town next to Buffalo but lots of good stuff on a smaller scale. I am stuck in kentucky and miss the lake . Use care as you know the lake can change fast. Have Fun and drop me a line and share your good times!!! Regards, Lou
 
#4 ·
I am looking for some places to sail to next summer. ... My wife hasnt spent any real time at sea and gets sea sick if she dosnt take something for it. She didnt have any problems with the power boat. Something about the motion of the sailboat is bothering her.
Hi,

Does this mean you're likely to keep your sailboat at least another season? I remember your post a few months ago about whether you could afford to continue sailing.
 
#5 ·
Quitting sailing was never really on the table. My wife is not on board with funding the dock with our family finances. That means I will need to make some extra money to fund it or worst case scenario I will have to trailer it. I am currently working on a remote controlled wench system for raising and lowering my mast single handed. Obviously not the choice way to go but one way or another I will be sailing next summer. I also plan to get my enhanced licence so I can travel to Canada. I think if there is a destination the wife would be more likely to want to go.
 
#6 ·
#10 ·
I hope for more tall ships visiting Lake Erie this year too. The Buffalo Harbor and outer harbor was filled with events last year and there are over 300 events planned for this year. I think the people of Western NY have finally figured out how to make our waterfront a real attraction. The development is happening at lightning speed compaired to the last 30 years. With all that said I am still looking for some other destinations within 1 day of Buffalo. Its fun to have a destination.
 
#19 ·
Sunset Bay great beaches park for the kids' great food and nitelife great fun bands,,, campfires and fireworks o the beach----

Tons of kids--- my kids love Sunset six hour sail from canal side-

State run marina clean showers and baths locked...1.00ft. D.E.C Irving NY
To reserve a slip... we anchor often in the ha or and dingy in the kids like that too.

Happy Sailing
 
#12 ·
Lou452. I only have experience on the north eastern end of Erie so my comments are specific to there. I love living close to Lake Erie. I Moved back here almost exclusively for it. The water is clean, the people are nice, and the prices are reasonable. The fishing is world class and the origonal reason for spending so much time on it. This will be my 2nd season with a sailboat but I have been fishing on the lake my whole life except for the time I spent in the Navy. I have herd some complaints of shallow water but havent expirenced it. It might have something to do with inexperience as I only find shallow water close to shore. When my keel is down my draft is 5'6" and when its up 2'6" and I can leave it down when pulling into my marina. Traffic in the harbor and behind the break walls is never too busy and it only takes a few minuets to get out into open water. Obvously there is a huge benifit to being on fresh water instead if salt. The maintance is minimal expecially with a good bottom paint applied. When the weather kicks up the waves tend to come up fast and the frequency tends to be very tight so I dont spend a lot of time out on crappy days but they seem very few and far apart. Buffalo has more sunny days than Orlando Florida and has more wind than the windy city of Chicago. Although every sailor dreams of a bigger boat my 26 is big enough to handel anything the lake can hand out within the time it takes to get to a sheltered area. Now that I'm focused on sailing instead of fishing I plan to do some port hopping and hopefully be able to sail throughout the great lakes some day.
 
#13 · (Edited)
I have been away for 20 plus years. The first round of outsource US. jobs put me on the move. Now the lake means so much more to me. I do not take it for granted. I miss it. All you have said about the lake is true I think the shallow water is on the west end and it is not like it is empty. The sand bars move. You see this near Presque Isle at Erie Pa. The midway point in the lake on the US. side I can not say about other places in the lake as to depth and draft. The water is very clean. I like the joint effort the USA. and Canada has done a great job to promote clean water management. I am thrilled every time I get to visit. I would like to know more abot buffalo harbors. Most of the trips to buffalo have been to see the falls and the locks. I am thinking about the tall ships this year. They are something to see. Regards, Lou 452
 
#15 ·
well if you can get to Sandusky Ceder Point would likely appeal to the kids, then you are not too far from the Bass Islands, touristy but fun for a day or two. I grew up sailing out of Catawba Island on a friends boat.
 
#23 ·
WELCOME to Harold's World lol...
That's where I am I was at Sunset for two months and moved to Erie Basin G Dock which I liked but we had to boat bow to bow.

So when Kathy called I went to see what docks she had for me I took an A dock ... few bumps I in the road getting docks in - Mine wasn't ready to July 9 but they found me a slip at Erie Basin from May to July...

Its nice there... a few slips down from me you can access the new sailing school your children might like it over there... coffee and great conversation always for adults.

Love hearing the concerts and the ease of going back and forth ...and the new park and beach is nice too.
 
#24 ·
there are no slips available yet for this season so I decided to do dry dock there with hopes that one will open up. My boat is a 26ft swing keel trailer sailor, always had it at a dock until now. Every season I launch and recover it without a problem so backing it down the ramp every time I go out shouldn't slow me down too much. Not quite as convenient as a dock but at least I can keep my mast and rigging up.
 
#26 · (Edited)
I would like to know about Conneaut Ohio ? I would like to visit a stone railroad bridge that is up the creek. I have been looking at google earth but it has been a long time ago. We jumped off the top of this bridge and always needed a look out to see if a small motor boat or canoe was around they would have know idea of the human rain from the top of the bridge. I have no idea how far up the creek this spot is or the depth. To shallow I would think but maybe I could anchor and hike? I might want to see if I could gunk hole this spot in my Catalina-22 if I left from Port Erie. Presque Isle It might be a great trip. I have never been in Conneaut harbor. Thoughts anyone?
Good day, Lou
 
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