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OH - Cleveland, area hobie cat launch sites?
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Author:  ChM Hobie [ Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:59 am ]
Post subject:  OH - Cleveland, area hobie cat launch sites?

Im looking for a place to launch my late 80's 18 foot hobie cat this summer around the Cleveland area. A sandy beach would be preferable. Anyone know of any?

Thanks.

Author:  guitara [ Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: OH - Cleveland, area hobie cat launch sites?

I too am looking for locations to launch in the cleveland area. I know of Presqlue Isle, and Mentor lagoons as nice places to be able to launch from a beach. Otherwise, it's free boat ramps. I've been launching in Sandusky out of Shelby street. I'd be delighted to meet another Cat sailer. I have a hobie 18 as well.

Author:  PorkChop [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: OH - Cleveland, area hobie cat launch sites?

I am from the Columbus area and am interested in the same, as well as trips out to Kelley’s Island or Put In Bay. Either of you make the run from the mainland out to the islands to camp for the weekend? How is the sailing on Lake Erie in general? I am relatively new to the Cat World but have extreme interest in trips away from my local lake for some weekend getaways. Any info you would share would be greatly appreciated.

Author:  guitara [ Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: OH - Cleveland, area hobie cat launch sites?

I just got back from the Lake Erie islands on scouting trip for that exact reason Porkchop! I was trying to make sure I could land on the beach and camp overnight on the cat there. I decided to take the ferry over first before sailing out (plus there was no wind on friday). I found a nice fleet of hobie waves at put-in-bay yacht club, as well as some custom wood cats, and a hobie 16/18 thrown in for good measure. I can report that put-in-bay might be a bit more difficult to sail/camp to. The campground on the western end of the island could work, but you'll need to sail with the beach wheels in order to make it work as the beach of the great lakes pebble variety. I didn't make it over to kelley's island, but I think I'd prefer the pace and style of the island better. In addition, the campground on the north end of the island has nice sand and a little cove that would be perfect to overnight in a hobie I believe. The only downside of course is that you get to sail the extra 4 miles going around to the north side of the island to get to the spot.
As far as general lake erie sailing, I think the 18 (or larger) handles the chop the Erie is so famous for nicely. The 16 is a bit more of a bouncy ride, but if you've got a good wind I suspect it would slice the waves just as well as the rest.
I'm planning a trip up to Kelley's soon to try out that northern cove. Anyone with direct experience on doing something like this in the lake erie islands, please give advice.
As far as group sailing - the more the merrier! I sail as often as possible in the area. Shoot me an email or reply to the thread if you'd like to meetup, I'd welcome the company.

Author:  DavidFort [ Mon Mar 29, 2010 5:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: OH - Cleveland, area hobie cat launch sites?

Not on Lake Erie, but at Pymatuning Sailing Club, we have 2 hobie 18's and a handful of Hobie 16s (and my 2 Waves).
http://www.ussailing.net/psc for info.

60 miles east of Cleveland. Flat water. Camping.
Hobies launch from wooden deck (pretty easy), or pull up on a gravely beach (a little abrasive).

Author:  Brydonwood [ Thu Nov 18, 2010 5:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: OH - Cleveland, area hobie cat launch sites?

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=cndo1 It is difficult to plan Lake Erie sailing very far in advance. For spur of the moment sailing keep your eye on the buoy data and hope for the work south in the wind direction.

Author:  Bill 404 [ Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: OH - Cleveland, area hobie cat launch sites?

I found a nice launch site on the south west end of Catawba Island(which seems more like a peninsula than an island)I can't recall the launch site name but I think it starts with an "N"?Some sort of Indian name.This is just east of Port Clinton,Ohio maybe 5 miles or less.Although it doesn't have a beach,I was able to launch my 21SE there with little hassle.Very clean ,well maintained and well light.I just sailed out and around those nice islands and back to the launch site and left my 21SE on it's trailer for the night with no problem.I even left the wet PFD hanging from my wings over the night and no one bother a thing.I recommend Lake Erie as a fine place to sail.I also put in at Lorain,Ohio but I cant' remember where.Isn't there a good site just east of Cleveland called Geneva?
Good Luck and post your plans perhaps others will join you...somethings are better with a small group of boats but often trying to scheduling is a pain as in people trying to commit.
Bill 404 21SE

Author:  DavidFort [ Fri Nov 19, 2010 4:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: OH - Cleveland, area hobie cat launch sites?

Bill 404 wrote:
Isn't there a good site just east of Cleveland called Geneva?

Bill 404 21SE


There used to be a great catamaran club called Geneva Sailing Club. Geneva (in this case) is on Lake Erie, about an hour east of Cleveland.

Due to difficulties with the lease with the landlord at the time, the club dissolved. Several of us landed at Pymatuning Sailing Club, others scattered.

There is a pretty good State Park in Geneva also, and although doesn't provide the mast up storage and beer machine we enjoyed at GSC, has a nice beach (by Lake Erie standards). We ran regattas from there a few times, and other than a somewhat tough climb off the beach to the parking lot, it was great.

We rigged in the beach parking lot and rolled on Cat Trax down the walkway to the beach. I don't know what arrangements the park officials would prefer on a
"normal" day when you don't have special permission for running a regatta.

There is also a "marina" there with regular launch ramps, and you could use those to put in, then sail over to the beach as you like. We had hoped one day to get permission to launch from a beach area within the marina, but at the time, it was inaccessible from the parking lot.

I haven't been there in several years, so things may have changed.

Summary on Geneva State Park: We thought there was a lot of potential for Hobie Sailing there, but didn't have critical mass to encourage the park staff to carve out a corner specially for catamaran sailors. Meanwhile, sailing at Pymatuning and liking it (although I miss the big waves sometimes).

Author:  SabresfortheCup [ Sun Jun 26, 2011 8:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: OH - Cleveland, area hobie cat launch sites?

Hey, I'm new to Cleveland (just started a job here) and don't own a Hobie myself, but I was looking around for a good spot to put in (a Hobie is on my wishlist, so to speak). So far the best I've found is Edgewater Marina, which I figure you could either finagle your way through with the right wind or maybe ask a friendly powerboater for a short tow out of the marina.

As far as the weather on Lake Erie, I'm a powerboater from Buffalo, NY originally, and the lake conditions down at that end are as follows:

I've seen days (only a couple each year) where the lake is pretty flat, but typical conditions on a fair day with a decent breeze are about 1-2 foot chop. A rough day is usually 3-5 (if a decent breeze persists over 2 or 3 days), A day with a really stiff breeze typically means 6-8 footers, and a storm produces anywhere from 10-20 footers. However, the wind is almost always from the west or southwest, meaning that the waves in Cleveland and south are likely much, much smaller. There are quite a few Hobie 16's, a couple 18's, and a fleet of tigers in the Buffalo area, you just don't really see any of them out on the water in anything over 3 feet.

Author:  DavidFort [ Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: OH - Cleveland, area hobie cat launch sites?

I think your weather info is pretty much spot on, occasionally something nasty from the Northeast.

Some people are sailing out of Mentor Headlands State Park or Fairport Harbor, which is just on the other side of the river.

I have sailed from Wildwood park at about E185, but not in 10 or 15 years.

Geneva State Park also a possibility, and again not me for 10 years.

I have friends sailing at Conneaut, which is on the PA border, and I (and several Hobie 16 and 18 sailors) sail at Pymatuning Sailing Club, which is not on Lake Erie, which is a mixed blessing, but for sure you won't see any 3-5 foot waves.

We like it there. Stop by and take a look:
www.ussailing.net/psc

Author:  MarginalProfit [ Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: OH - Cleveland, area hobie cat launch sites?

I see about 4 cats (I think 2 hobies and 2 nacras) any time I go to Whiskey Island / Wendy Park and that looks like a nice place for a beach cat... even if the lake is really choppy you can sail inside the breakwall from LYC to EYC.

To any extent, I was interested in beaching my Hobie 20 there so I called to inquire about availability & cost and was told that they don't have any spots available. The manager said they have about 8 spots that are paid for but only 4 cats are currently beached there.

If anyone happens to know someone that holds a beach boat membership at the Whiskey Island marina/beach but does not intend to use it for the season please let me know. I would be very interested in buying your membership or paying to use it for the season.

Thanks!

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