I will be cruising on Lake Ontario this summer and will need to find a marina where I can leave Shanti for two weeks (last week of July and first week of August) while I go to work. Ideally, it will be near an airport. I have considered Youngstown, NY but my schedule conflicts with the yacht club regatta. I'm also looking at Port Dalhousie. I have friends who live in Buffalo who have offered to get me back and forth to the airport. Does anyone have suggestions or experience in these area? Shanti draws 6.8 feet, so that may limit my options somewhat.
Gail Bowdish
Tags
Wilson
Permalink Submitted by Ocean-Explorer on Sun, 05/09/2010 - 14:44.
Gail, Wilson is a nice place and closer to Buffalo than Rochester. But, before you plan on it, make sure you can get in with your draft (we were able to anchor in the basin off the State Park several years ago with a six-foot draft). We stayed at the old Beccue Boat Basin (now Sunset Bay Marina) as well, but our dock was too short for me to be comfortable leaving the boat for an extended period at that time. I would call someone who knows Wilson well and get full information before proceeding.
Rochester, on the other hand, is a sure thing, but get a reservation ahead of time.
traveling lake Ontario and flights
Permalink Submitted by tvmoorhouse on Sun, 05/09/2010 - 13:45.
Gail to leave your boat in Lake Ontario, US side there is Wilson Harbor not far from Buffalo. It is the closes Marine in Lake Ontario. I am sure someone would be able to help you out. There is a Yacht Club there. Look up on the web of GLCC Harbour reports --(O-8)-- It is 12 miles from the Niagara River.... We have been in there and I would recommend leaving my boat.....
Storing Boat
Permalink Submitted by Joann Mead on Sun, 05/09/2010 - 06:43.
Storing you boat for a couple of weeks in Canada shouldn't be an issue. I believe that is only if you were to leave it over the winter (6 months). A Canadian marina or Customs could help there.
Storing Boat
Permalink Submitted by Ocean-Explorer on Sun, 05/09/2010 - 14:21.
Joann, my impression had been the same as yours. The only reason I bring it up is that Rich Feeley has an article beginning on page 25 of the current May/June issue of "Ocean Navigator" entitled "Internet Customs Info Not Dependable." On page 27, left column, near the bottom he discusses leaving the boat in Halifax for a few days while the crew left to attend a wedding. Canadian Customs would not allow this to occur until he had proof of a work order.
Where to Stay
Permalink Submitted by Ocean-Explorer on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 19:58.
Gail, I am not positive about this, but if you leave your boat in a Canadian marina I think you are going to need a work order (like, maybe an oil change?) to satisfy Canadian Immigration and Customs.
There is not much on the New York shore until you get to Rochester. I would personally keep my boat at Shumway Marina or Rochester Yacht Club and fly out of Rochester.
Our 2001 and 2003 trips into the St. Lawrence may be of interest to you - www.oceanexplorer.org - there is quite a bit of description of Lake Ontario there.
Suggestions
Permalink Submitted by Joann Mead on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 10:25.
There isn't too much along the NY shore of Lake Ontario. Port Dalhousie is a good choice although we are perturb with them since they treated the club so badly and we had to move last year's rendezvous. I would not recommend Port Weller/St. Cathrine's as the marina is full of algae. East from there the Niagara area is too busy. Wilson looks like it may offer something but you are getting pretty far east. We stayed at Oak Orchard but probably wouldn't want to leave my boat there unattended for a couple of weeks. There is Rochester but Dalhousie is closer. I would leave it there.
flying from Buffalo
Permalink Submitted by gbowdish on Wed, 05/05/2010 - 15:50.
I already have my plane ticket from Buffalo to Minneapolis. I had considered staying in Toronto but I understand the marinas there are pretty well booked and there's not much room for transients.
Where is it that you need to
Permalink Submitted by ameurer on Tue, 05/04/2010 - 22:02.
Where is it that you need to fly too?
Toronto City Center Airport (small airport right at the waterfront) has many direct flights via Porter Airline - direct to Chicago, Newark, Boston, Washington and maybe more.
There are several marinas within 10 to 20 minute cab from that airport.