SailorGuides.com:
A Trailer Boat Cruising Guide to Sandusky Bay
Facilities for Boaters
The shoreline all along the bay is dotted with dozens of marinas large and small, with the waterfront east of downtown being an almost solid wall of boat basins stretching all the way to the Cedar Point causeway. The majority of these marinas are private operations reserved exclusively for their seasonal dock holders, but the bay does feature four facilities that offer transient docks. Cedar Point is a huge draw during the summer and the transient slips in the bay tend to fill up during the weekend, so it is a good policy to make reservations as far in advance of your trip as possible. If you plan to visit during the fall months, the scenery is absolutely beautiful if you can get the notoriously flakey Ohio weather to cooperate, but you may have to search to find a marina open later than October.
The marina at Cedar Point Amusement Park is by far the largest in the bay and offers the greatest range of amenities. It is also, not surprisingly, the most expensive option, but if you are planning to spend a day at the park, it may be worth paying up for the convenience factor alone. Also, marina patrons are allowed into the park a full hour earlier than the general public, giving you a shorter line to wait in for your favorite ride.
Cedar Point Marina has a fuel dock and a pumpout available to transients for a $5 fee. Short-term dockage is also made available for those wishing to visit one of the waterfront restaurants and the dock fee will be refunded if you make a minimum purchase. One of the little known features of the Cedar Point Marina is that the southern basin is designated as a special anchorage area which is available for public use free of charge.
South of Cedar Point, identifiable by its distinctive red decorative lighthouse, is Lyman Harbor which is an interesting cross between a marina and a party center. The marina docks are free to use during daytime hours for visiting the restaurant and overnight transient slips can be had for a nominal fee. The restaurant features a robust schedule of live music and concert events are frequently held on the outdoor grounds. Jet ski rentals are available here and you can even arrange for a professional fishing charter on the lake. One item of note is that Lyman Harbor shares the basin entrance with a much larger private marina; upon entering the basin, make an immediate left turn toward the single row of docks directly opposite the lighthouse.
Just south of the main shipping channel is Battery Park Marina which offers 50 transient slips. Battery Park is the most conveniently located marina to downtown Sandusky and is a short walk to several attractions and eateries. The marina is also located between two public parks and has a restaurant on the grounds. A fuel dock and four pumpout stations are available here in addition to showers and a convenience store.
In the northwest corner of the eastern bay, near the rail bridge, is the Kamp Kozy marina and campground which was mentioned in the launch facilities section. You can either use Kamp Kozy as a transient marina or rent a campsite there and make use of their launch ramp for day trips into the bay. The marina features a fuel dock in addition to showers and a convenience store.
One other facility of note is Sandusky Harbor Marina, located just west of the coal dock. Sandusky Harbor does not offer transient slips but they do have a fuel dock and pumpout very conveniently located at the mouth of the basin entrance. Here you can tie up to the dock outside of the breakwall for a fill-up, which sure beats having to maneuver inside a marina basin for a tank of gas.
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