Erie PA over night trailer sailor

Lazy1

Lazy1

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Aug 23, 2019
179
Catalina 22 13425 A driveway in Pittsburgh
I have called the PA Game commission and so far the only option I have found to launch the boat and leave the car/trailer parked over night is Walnut Creek Marina. Anybody know of a work around to launch inside or near Presque Isle Bay and be able to park over night?

I know this is a very specific question but the 10 mile trip in foul weather can be quite tiring in a small boat.
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Have you tried looking up marinas on Active Captain?
 
Lazy1

Lazy1

.
Aug 23, 2019
179
Catalina 22 13425 A driveway in Pittsburgh
rgranger said:
Have you tried looking up marinas on Active Captain?
Click to expand
Yes, There is no info on availability of 24 hour parking and security on AC that I can find. I'm just pinging for some 1st hand experience.

Most ramps in the area are either private or owned by the city or game commission. The game commission ramps have better security but anything on Presque Isle does not allow overnight parking. The only city ramp that looks reasonably secure does not allow overnight parking either. Joining a yacht club that would charge nearly the full value of my boat annually doesn't seem like a great plan either. I think my favorite option would be dry sail but I have not found that in Erie.
 
S

sesmith

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Jul 1, 2010
990
Catalina 350 Port Huron
Call Heidi at Bay Harbor Marina. They do have a launch ramp but don't know if they let boaters use it who don't have slips already. Have not seen any places in Erie where boats stay rigged on trailer.
 
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rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Re: Active Captain

I have used it to find Marina's in the NC OBX and I simply call them and tell them what I am hoping to do. 9 times out of 10 the person is really cool and says I can park my trailer in some spot they have in mind. An old fashion phone call still works most times.
 
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Lazy1

Lazy1

.
Aug 23, 2019
179
Catalina 22 13425 A driveway in Pittsburgh
sesmith said:
Call Heidi at Bay Harbor Marina. They do have a launch ramp but don't know if they let boaters use it who don't have slips already. Have not seen any places in Erie where boats stay rigged on trailer.
Click to expand
Thanks, I visited and got a slip for the remainder of the season. Problem solved
 
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S

sesmith

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Jul 1, 2010
990
Catalina 350 Port Huron
Good. Did she put you in Bay Harbor or Perry's Landing? We're in Perry's Landing.
 
Lazy1

Lazy1

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Aug 23, 2019
179
Catalina 22 13425 A driveway in Pittsburgh
sesmith said:
Good. Did she put you in Bay Harbor or Perry's Landing? We're in Perry's Landing.
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I got in the cheap seats at Bay Harbor. Luckily there was one slip left behind the Sloppy Duck. I have to get trained on all the extra expenses.
 
Lazy1

Lazy1

.
Aug 23, 2019
179
Catalina 22 13425 A driveway in Pittsburgh
sesmith said:
Good. Did she put you in Bay Harbor or Perry's Landing? We're in Perry's Landing.
Click to expand
My friend has a slip in Perry's landing. Let me know if you need an old fart to crew some time. I'm always looking to learn other boats.
 
S

sesmith

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Jul 1, 2010
990
Catalina 350 Port Huron
You never know. Maybe after the covid crisis ends. We just left Erie today. Back at our cabin in central NY. Just got back from a month's boat trip that took us as far as Mackinac Island and northern Lake Michigan. Sailed out for now :)
 
M

MitchM

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Jan 20, 2005
1,031
Nauticat 321 pilothouse 32 Erie PA
the game commmission rangers knows almost zero about marina operations. presque isle state park marina has an office with staff who can set you up w a slip. the slips without electric at west end of the park are virtually empty most of the time. ther'es a day use ramp for launching off a trailer. if you rent a slip from them i suspect they'd give you a visitor pass to park yr tow vehicle there for a while . also check lampe marina right at the channel entrance.
 
B

Bobbi Ullinger

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May 31, 2004
90
-Hunter 23.5 Sandusky, OH
It has been 10 or so years, but we use to launch at the ramps just east of the state park marina. We could leave the trailer hitched to the car there for a day or two. If we were staying in the marina for a few nights, we pulled the empty trailer to the marina after launching. That way we had easy access and use of the car during our stay.

i hope this hasn’t changed. Now that I’m semi-retired we’re hoping to do this again in the future.
 
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