Ohio is home to 50.2 boats and yachts per 1,000 people, making it the 15th most popular state in the country for boating. In fact, there’s over 630,000 registered vessels in the Buckeye State, with popular destinations in this pleasant corner of the Midwest including vast Lake Erie, the largest freshwater lake in the United States, the scenic gorges of the Ohio River on the state’s southern flank, and the 5,130 lakes and ponds dotted through the Ohioan forests, meadows and plains.
Popular with sailors and day-boaters, Lake Erie is also a hit with ambitious fishers looking to land record catches of walleye, yellow perch and bass. The huge Meinke Marina complex is the largest on Lake Erie with over 1800 berths for vessels of all sizes, and features direct access out onto the lake in mere minutes. Elsewhere you will find a vast network of marinas on Catawba Island, a peninsula of charming peach orchards, rolling vineyards and destination restaurants that extends out into the lake for fine views over the water. To blend your Erie boating with a visit to an exciting urban locale head to the full-service marinas in and around Cleveland, Ohio’s second biggest city. The E55 Fishing Marina, the Edgewater Yacht Club and the Northeast Yacht Club are just some of the marinas on offer in the City of Champions.
River boating remains popular in Ohio, with the dramatic winding route of the Ohio River along the state’s southern border lined with boat ramps, slips and marinas. Located just east of bustling Cincinnati the Morningstar Marina Rivertowne features 104 slips and 400 dry storage spaces, while right next door there’s the 450-slip Four Seasons Marina with added amenities like bars and restaurants. The largest lake located entirely within the state, meanwhile, is the Grand Lake St. Marys. Situated in a pristine state park, this waterbody covers around 13,500 acres and is perfect for casual skiff sailing and bay-boating with an average depth of only 6 feet. A rare eastern feeding spot for migrating white pelicans, the lake is a great place to angle for bass, crappie and yellow perch.
Ohio’s rich yachting heritage stretches back centuries. The Toledo Yacht Club is the oldest in Ohio, one of the most historic in the country, and its hacienda-style clubhouse sits on the National Register of Historic Places. The Sandusky Yacht Club, meanwhile, boasts a welcoming atmosphere and a fleet of up to 600 sailing and motorboats.
Ohio boasts the 17th biggest recreational boating industry in the nation, with an impact of around $6.4 billion dollars per year, supporting over 25,000 jobs. Successful boat-building brands located here include Tartan Yachts based near Cleveland, renowned for their vintage-styled sailing yachts, and Airship, builders of advanced, luxury power-ribs.
Since 1964, SI Yachts has been helping our clients through the processes of buying and selling boats, many times it's their 10th or more boat sale with us. We take service very seriously and we are able to retain some of the best service talent in the industry giving us an incredible advantage when it comes making sure our customers enjoy their boating lifestyle. When you buy a yacht from us, our industry-leading mobile service team is just a phone call away. With a service facility located in Staten Island and mobile service throughout the Northeast and South Florida, SI Yachts has a true north-to-south connection for our seasonal cruising clients.
