Navigation — Sandusky Bay

Chart 14845

Huron Harbor to Sandusky (1:80,000) — general chart for the western basin

Chart 14846

Sandusky Harbor and approaches (1:15,000) — detailed inset for the bay and downtown Sandusky

Chart 14844

Islands in Lake Erie (1:60,000) — Kelleys, Bass Islands and Marblehead

Free downloads at nauticalcharts.noaa.gov

The federally maintained channel runs roughly west-to-east from the bay entrance between Cedar Point and Marblehead down to the downtown Sandusky waterfront. It's buoyed red-right-returning heading west (into the bay) — keep red buoys on your starboard side coming in from Lake Erie.

Cedar Point Passage — the narrow gap between Cedar Point and Marblehead is the main entrance. Watch for ferry and freighter traffic.

Project depth — around 16 ft in the marked channel; outside the buoys the bay shoals rapidly, especially north of the channel.

• Shallow water outside the channel — Sandusky Bay is broad but averages only ~9 ft. Straying from marked routes puts you on mud or hidden stumps.
• Cedar Point breakwall — protects the peninsula's east side; know where the openings are before running close.
• Ferry lanes — the Jet Express (Cedar Point Ferry) and Kelleys Island / Put-in-Bay ferries cross the bay throughout the day. Give way and stay clear of the wakes.
• Bridge clearance — the Bay Bridge (SR-2) has a fixed clearance of ~85 ft; the old CSX railroad bridge to the east is a swing span, monitor VHF 13.
• Fishing lines & nets — commercial and charter walleye fishing is heavy in the western basin. Watch for planer boards and trolling lines behind boats going slow.