Boat Launches on Lake Manitoba or Lake Winnipeg

Leeward Rail · Mar 6, 2022

Balsam Harbour is really the only option on the east side of Lake Winnipeg's south basin. While there are a few launches north of that they are either usually too shallow or not accessible by vehicle middle of the summer.

Lots of options on the WEST side of Lake Winnipeg.

The big harbour is in the town of Gimli, which has the coast guard station, the largest amount of of commercial fish boats, racing every Wednesday, was used for the sailing venue of the Pan American Games twice...

Winnipeg Beach,Silver Harbour, and Hull Harbour on Hecla Island are great options. My strong preference is Silver Harbour.

Which you choose depends on where you want to sail to.

Lake Manitoba sucks for sailing a sailboat that large. I don't know of anyone who has done it in all the decades I have been sailing.

Are you moving here ? Planning a few weeks of sailing here ? When are you planning to do this ?

Leeward Rail · Mar 6, 2022

Tedd said:
It's mid way between where I live and where there's a boat I may be buying. The seller said he would meet me half way with the boat, and I want to do a trial sail with him when we meet. I'm looking for a suitable place to do that. Anywhere in the Winnipeg area would be fine, but Lake Winnipeg seems like the best option, if I can find a suitable boat launch.

Falcon Lake in the Whiteshell Provincial Park is another option. Closer to the Ontario border on the Trans Canada.
Falcon Lake is a small calm lake with facilities.

See my updated post above for other options.

Balsam Bay has no facilities, so no bathrooms, nothing but a breakwater, docks and a gravel ramp. It is mainly used as spot for commercial fishing boats, but there are recreational boats there.
You could launch there for free.

Could easily launch a trailerable sailboat there normally.

Unfortunately, like Alberta and Sask., Manitoba has had a few years of drought.

Silver Harbour, which has a pile of keelboats, was so shallow at the end of last season, that even some motor vessels were running aground. Many sailboats didn't even launch last year.

From what I understand, Falcon,.and other lakes were extremely low and the launch areas weren't great last fall because of that.

That said, we have 3 feet of snow right now and the winter isn't over. Depending on when you plan on coming out, the lakes may be near normal levels. All depends on how long the melt happens and when it gets down to the lakes.

FWIW: Lake Winnipeg can EASILY be worse than ocean sailing. You could choose at the last minute based on weather.

Any idea when you would come out ?

Leeward Rail · Mar 6, 2022

Tedd said:
It would be late April or early May, probably.

Normally the ice is gone from Lake Winnipeg and Lake of the Woods by May long weekend. Depending on weather and ice thickness obviously.

This year has been abnormally cold but there is more snow cover, so not sure how that has affected ice thickness.

Tedd said:
wouldn't Lake of the Woods be better?

Lake of the Wood is deep but has a lot of hidden rocks. You spent a lot of time tacking or motoring in some areas in the northern part of the lake.
While the lake is deep, it's considered a right of passage for rookies to hit rocks.

Tedd said:
I just looked at a chart of Lake Winnipeg--holy crap the south part is shallow!

Tedd said:
I'd be afraid to put the swing keel all the way down, there.

My C22 has a 5 foot draft, so does my fixed keel C&C 30.. With normal.water levels it is no issue as long as you stay in the channel when in/bound from some harbours and avoid things like Hnausa Reef.

If the water level is low and you run aground... the south basin has a mud bottom. In fact our Catalina 22 was a benefit last year with the record breaking low water. Worst we had was mud on the tip of the keel when leaving harbour and could simply crank it up and go.

Edit: the depth is what makes the lake dangerous in the right conditions. Huge lake.. shallow water. and occasionally sudden storms. (It is the prairies after all)
Short steep waves over a decent fetch. Ugh. Or awesome sailing the next day.

Sail that lake and the ocean is not a big deal in comparison.

Lake of the woods, or Lake Winnipeg.. either way.. much will depend on water levels and how fast the ice is gone.

Leeward Rail · Mar 6, 2022

Gimli may be the best option. It has a big marina, hotels, marine services, restaurants, bar, a large friendly yacht club etc.

Come at the right time and you can see this:

Come before the ice is gone and the only vessel will be the Namao frozen in the ice. Hehe

Here's a cool book from our club at Silver Harbour:

http://www.silverharboursailingclub.com/Silver_Harbour_Sailing_Club/Popular_Links_files/CruisingLakeWinnipegSHSC.pdf

Here's more recent one from the Gimli Club which covers marinas, sailing conditions etc.

https://gimliyachtclub.com/images/Onthelake/sailingschool/SAIL-LAKE-WINNIPEG-2014.pdf

Leeward Rail · Mar 6, 2022

Tedd said:
. Is there a boat launch at the yacht club? I can't tell from Google Earth.

Coast Guard, crane, boat ramp,.slips, etc are all operated by Gimli Harbour Authority.

Gimli Harbour Authority

Gimli Harbour Authority – Gimli, Manitoba, Canada

www.gimliharbour.ca

About | Gimli Yacht Club

gimliyachtclub.com

It has a large concrete ramp.
Big enough for tractor trailers to launch boats much bigger than a 26ft sailboat.

Most of the fixed keel sailboats at Gimli are hauled by crane for some reason, but some are ramp launched.

A trailerable swing keel boat would.have no issues assuming the lake level is normal. (Which is likely due to the amount of snow)

I shall see if I can find a photo.

Here is a pin dropped on Google maps

50°37'52.3"N 96°59'01.8"W · 50.631194, -96.983833

www.google.com

Does the trailer have an extension ?
What draft when keel is up ?

Leeward Rail · Mar 6, 2022

Tedd said:
You can see it on Google Street View, once you know where to look!
View attachment 203195
It does look like a good ramp.

It is a bit shallow slope but fine for a retracting keel trailerable sailboat. The ramp is mainly used for both big and normal sized power vessels.

Keelboats are mostly craned in Gimli

Silver Harbour has a nice steep ramp because most of the boats there are ramp launched.

Leeward Rail · Mar 6, 2022

Tedd said:
That's exactly what it is.

It'll be a good test. The ramp looks flatter than most of the ramps I plan to use, so if the boat launches fine there it should be fine anywhere else I take it. Thanks for the tips!

No worries...worst case you can drive a bit north and use Silver Harbour.. $5 launch fee, steep ramp, and lots of friendly help. Depending on the day a large number of sailors will be there prepping for the season. There are about 100 keelboats stored and launched there every year, along with a lot of slips. Only facility currently is a C-Store.