SailorGuides.com:
A Trailer Boat Cruising Guide to Presque Isle, Erie Pennsylvania
Presque Isle Bay
The bay depth is inconsistent with shallows stretching well offshore in several places that you wouldn't expect and deep water close to shore in places that would also surprise you. Be sure to have a copy of NOAA chart 14835 on hand and refer to it often. The bottom is generally mud and weeds, so a grounding, while always embarrassing, is usually not dangerous.
There is plenty of room in the western two-thirds of the bay for a spirited day of sailing, fishing, or skiing. Things get trickier in the area south and west of Crystal Point and the Perry Monument, with shallows all the way south to the red shipping channel markers and all the way west to the mouth of the Marina Lake channel.
If you feel an uncontrollable compulsion to sail up close to the monument, it is possible to slip safely into Misery Bay by taking the narrow channel between the end of the north channel wall and the red and green striped "M" buoy just beyond it. Once in this relatively deep pocket, you can sail quite close to the monument in 4 to 8 feet of water. Keep a close watch on your depth sounder if you have one (and you really should!), and be sure to exit the area through the same channel you entered.
Water skiing is permitted in the bay so long as you stay at least 500 feet offshore. Once again, check your chart to stay clear of the shallows.
The northern and western shore are part of the state park, which will be covered below. At the south end of the bay is the city of Erie and its assorted marine facilities. Starting at the west end of the bay, you will find a somewhat exposed anchorage on the west side of the Erie Yacht Club breakwater. The yacht club is a members-only facility with nothing to offer a visiting trailer sailor. On the east side of the Club is a bizarre-looking collection of private homes reminiscent of a set from the old "Popeye" movie with Robin Williams.
Next is a much more modern-looking condominium complex, followed by Perry's Landing Marina. The good folks at Perry's Landing Marina tell me that they do not offer transient slips but that one could be arranged for in an emergency. They do have a public fuel dock and pump-out is available to non-members for a $5 fee. Unfortunately, the on-site restaurant is not open to the general public.
West of Perry's Landing Marina is Liberty Park, which hosts numerous entertainment events during the summer. There is no public dockage available at the park, but water taxi service is available from the transient docks on Dobbins Landing. The park is also accessible from the transient docks via a bike and hike trail that runs along the shoreline.
Next is the entrance to the west basin of Bay Harbor Marina, which has no services available to unaffiliated boaters. Just past that are the twin channels to the Commodore Perry Yacht Club, with no transient facilities, and the east basin of Bay Harbor Marina, which does offer transient slips via reservation with showers and ship's store.
Behind Bay Harbor Marina (east) you will find the Sloppy Duck Saloon and JRs on the Bay Restaurant featuring live music at their tiki bar.
Next is an empty stretch of waterfront, followed by the imposing buildings of the city's Water Department, with the little Chestnut Street boat launch next door.
Now you come to the cross-shaped heart of the downtown waterfront called Dobbins Landing, which is covered in detail below. East of Dobbins Landing are the various industrial docks, where you can often see huge oceangoing ships conducting various missions of commerce. From there the shoreline takes a sharp turn northward to the channel entrance that takes you out to Lake Erie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
