Boating on Black River Bay Near Sackets Harbor, NY

Ah, summer time! My favorite time of year to spend on the Eastern end of Lake Ontario, just off the shore of Sackets Harbor, NY. The warmth of the golden sun beating on my skin; a cool refreshing and gentle lake breeze wafting over me as my family and I cruise over the wavy, dark waters of Lake Ontario in our motorboat. How I love boating off the shore of the historic village of Sackets Harbor, on the rippling waters known as Black River Bay.

When my family and I go boating, we are out on the water for hours at a time, talking, laughing, munching on whatever food we brought with us and enjoying the coolness of our own selected beverages. We even feed the seagulls who flock to our boat when they find out about our generosity. Then of course, there is always a camera war and boy, do we get a kick out of looking at the pictures later!

We are never alone when on Black River Bay. Fellow boaters hurried by us in powerboats, or glided by us in beautifully quiet sail boats. We waved when others passed by and would often get a friendly reply in return. Often we would take photographs of other people's boats if we found them particularly interesting, or if they had a cool name.

Boating is always fun for my family as it is for so many around the world. As a result of boatings immense popularity, I decided to contact some local marinas around Sackets Harbor and gather what information I could for boaters looking to try out a place like Black River Bay.

I started off with an interview with Mike Campbell of the Madison Barracks Marnia and found out a few things even I didn't know. regardless of growing up in the area. Here is the interview in Question and Answer format.

Q) How far away do people travel to go boating off Black River Bay?

A) I have customers that dock their boats seasonally with me from as far away as Montreal; Allentown, PA; Rome, NY; Binghamton, NY; Syracuse, NY; etc.

Q) Are there any docking fees?

A) Yes. This is how the revenue is generated for the marina development.

My rates are probably one of the lowest in the marinas in Sackets Harbor that are comparable. $44.00 per foot of boat for a dock with power and potable water. $42.00 per foot of boat for a dock without power and water.

Overnight docking or daily docking is available at $1.50 per foot.

Q) What are the boating rules & regulations?

A) There are numerous rules with regards to boating and boating safety.

Presently to operate a Jet ski, NY requires anyone regardless of age, to take a 8 hour boating safety course. Within the next few years the state will pass a law that all boat owners and operators must take the same course.

Outside of this basic law, alcohol blood levels on water is .08. The waters of Lake Ontario are patrolled by US Coast Guard, County Sheriff Department, and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

Boats must have current NYS Registration or a Federal Registration. They must have safety equipment on board such as life jackets for all passengers, flares, sound device, first aid kit, and fire extinguisher.

Q) How many people go boating around the area each year?

A) LOTS...the only way to even gauge the number of boaters is to start with
some research of boat registrations.

Jefferson County clerks office can give you the number of registrations issued each year.
NYS also tracks boating registrations across the state.

You could also research the number of Marinas, with the number of boat slips each marina offers, found on the eastern shoreline of Lake Ontario. In Sackets Harbor alone, we have somewhere between 375-400 boat slips available.

Q) What do boaters say they like about the area?

A) The eastern shoreline of the lake provides easy travel to Canadian waters, Kingston, Ont., Toronto. And staying in the U.S. to the south, Oswego and the Erie Canal system, that can take a boater to the Atlantic ocean. Also Ports in Rochester and Buffalo can be easily reached as well. From Kingston, Ontario, one can get into the Rideau Canal system and within 2 days or so, be in Ottawa . If the canal isn't the choice then the St Lawrence River has plenty to offer. The literally thousand islands are beautiful, and the river can bring you to the ocean as well.

Fishing is very popular. Trout, Bass, Salmon, several types of Pike, and plenty of pan fish, Perch, Blue Gills, Carp, Sturgeon, Herring, Whitefish, Walleye, etc.

Sailing from Sackets Harbor puts a sail boater out on to the open waters of the lake quicker, then as stated above. The ease of getting to anywhere is the benefit.

A) What Marinas are available for the general public?

Q) Many, many, along the shoreline. In Sackets Harbor, Madison Barracks Marina (http://www.madisonbarracks.com/marina.html), Navy Point Marina (www.navypointmarine.com),
Liberty Yachts, now under new ownership and not sure of new name. Bronson's Marina and Bedford Creek Marina & Campground (www.bedfordcreek.com).

When going boating, whether you are on Black River Bay, or wherever your favorite boating place is, be sure you have everything you need to be safe. Also read up on any alerts for boat or part recalls, defects and regulations. The US Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety website (http://www.uscgboating.org/) will be able to help you with all of these needs.

Be safe and enjoy this year's boating season!