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A Trailer Boat Cruising Guide to Sandusky Bay

Posted by Dan on March 10, 2010


 
 

Things to Do on the Water

A fellow small-boat sailor enjoys an afternoon sail near the entrance to the shipping channel.

A fellow small-boat sailor enjoys an afternoon sail near the entrance to the shipping channel.

If you enjoy sailing, skiing, or swimming, the bay itself is a major source of entertainment. As mentioned above, the vast majority of the harbor east of Bay Point is only lightly used by the locals. The bay is completely free of obstructions and deep enough throughout for even a deep-keel boat. You can sail, ski, or tube without much interference from other vessels. This part of the bay lends itself particularly well to night sailing, which if you've never tried it on a calm summer evening, can be one of the most relaxing pastimes around.

Being a sailor, I've never been in the western half of the bay, but the sandy beaches and wild shoreline I've seen from the highway bridge look intriguing for a powerboat or a sailor who doesn't mind lowering his mast on the water to clear the rail bridge. Like everywhere on Lake Erie, the bay is full of fish for the catching. Western Lake Erie bills itself as the "Walleye Capital of the World" and fishing throughout the region is world-class.

The little mini-harbor between Bay Point and Johnson Island is a popular anchorage. I spent many afternoons there during my big-boat days lying at anchor, swimming from the transom, or just enjoying the sun and the sights over lunch or dinner aboard. The bottom there is mostly mud and offers excellent holding (in fact the holding is so good that I've occasionally had trouble breaking my anchor free from the bottom). If your boat is beachable, you can run right up onto the western shore of Bay Point and hop ashore. If you have a deeper keel, you can easily get close enough to swim ashore from anchor and enjoy the beach. The east and south shores stay very shallow for quite a way out and it's kind of fun to walk far out into the bay in only knee-deep water.

If you're willing to endure the rough passage out of the harbor, be sure to check out the historic Marblehead Lighthouse at the northwest shore of the harbor mouth. The water is deep enough that you can sail very close to the rocky shore at the base of the lighthouse for a good look. If you steer east past the harbor breakwall, there is an excellent day anchorage off the eastern shore of Cedar Point, complete with a long stretch of sandy beach. Of course, once you're out on Lake Erie, it's just a short passage to Kelleys Island and Put-in-Bay.

One freighter finishes loading at the coal dock as another waits its turn. You will often see large ships like these in the bay. Just steer clear of them when they're passing through the shipping channel. The bay west of the coal dock is an absolute joy to sail, ski, tube, or fish. The rail bridge represents the end of the line for sailboats unless you're willing to dip your mast to get under it. There is a bascule bridge near the north shore but, in five years of sailing the bay, I've never seen it opened.
The coal dock and the city of Sandusky as seen from near the rail bridge. The small harbor between Johnson Island and Bay Point is a popular day anchorage with good holding. There are a few sandy stretches along the western end of Bay Point where you can land a beachable boat. Otherwise, you can anchor close in and wade or swim ashore. The south and east shore of Bay Point is a long sandy beach. Since it can only be easily reached by boat from the west side of the peninsula, this prime stretch of sand is rarely crowded.
It doesn't photograph well from a moving boat, but if you enjoy night sailing, the rides at Cedar Point are lit up like Christmas trees after dark. This roller coaster is particularly gaudy with multi-colored bands of light flashing across it. If you venture out into the lake, it's well worth making the passage over to the Marblehead Lighthouse. Of course, once you're this far into the lake, it would be a shame to not visit Kelleys Island.    

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