Just a short cruise northeast from Hamilton is Bronte Harbour in Oakville. Before entering Twelve Mile Creek into Bronte, you will find the entrance to Bronte Outer Harbour Marina between two rock breakwaters.
Once inside the basin, you will see the 400 floating docks, conference centre building and replica lighthouse restaurant on the port side.There are numerous visitor’s docks available in 10 to 12 feet of water with electricity and water.The marina offers repair services, travel lift (located next to the fuel dock) and winter storage.
To enter Bronte’s Inner Harbour, pass between the two piers guarding the entrance to Twelve Mile Creek and continue up the channel between the spar buoys. Just beyond the innermost two green spars, you will see the white building of Metro Marine, where some transient dockage is available. Metro Marine also has fuel and pump-out facilities, as well as repair services and a small marine store.
Further up the creek are the floating docks and med moorings of the Bronte Harbour Yacht Club. Cruisers will find a variety of services, including grocery, banking, internet and laundry, just a short walk away from the harbour in Bronte’s picturesque village centre. The village is a great place to enjoy picnics in the park, a stroll along the boardwalk and walking trails. The waterfront hosts events throughout the summer months for visitors to enjoy or they can simply enjoy a day relaxing on the beach.
Back on the water, you will find the entrance to Oakville marked by two cement piers just five miles east of Bronte. As you continue north through the entrance, the channel is marked with red and green spar buoys off a rock breakwater jutting out into the harbour from the port shore. Head up the harbour into Sixteen Mile Creek, which is well marked with red buoys. Two bridges cross the creek.Beyond the second bridge, you will find the Oakville Power Boat Club, which offers reciprocal docking to visiting boat club members staying overnight in Oakville.
Oakville Harbour is one of the prettiest harbours on Lake Ontario, with heritage neighbourhoods and an historic downtown just a short walk from the docks. There are a variety of excellent restaurants in town, summer theatre at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, and plenty of upscale shopping along Lakeshore Road.
Understandably, transient docks are at a premium here, so be sure to call ahead to confirm your reservations.
Located 8.5 miles east of Oakville is Port Credit, which has an abundance of things to see and do, or you can just sit back and watch the people on the waterfront trail enjoying the sights.
You will find Credit Village Marina located on the Credit River,west of the main basin.The approach takes you past the breakwaters following the green markers up channel into the harbour, heading towards the restored lighthouse. At the end of the starboard breakwater, beside the restaurant, you may turn to starboard into the marina basin or go straight ahead to the slips along the pier.
You will find helpful staff on hand to help with docking. All 63 floating docks, complete with electricity and water, are dedicated to transient boaters. Nevertheless, this is a busy marina with lots of weekend events, so be sure to reserve in advance.
Situated on The Waterfront Trail and surrounded by parks, Credit Village Marina calls itself the “dock and walk” marina. The city of Mississauga, which owns and operates the marina, has made ownership and redevelopment of its waterfront a priority. This is reflected in the quality services visiting boaters can enjoy here. Snug Harbour Restaurant, a popular onsite waterfront destination for boaters and city dwellers alike, offers great food within a relaxing waterfront setting.
Port Credit Harbour Marina is located in the basin behind the grounded lake freighter, Ridgetown. Once inside the basin, follow the rock breakwater leaving the 800 slips on floating docks to port and head to the Bristol Marine fuel dock, situated at the end of the outer channel,where you check in.
The massive warehouse at 1 Port Street East, the heart of the marina, is also home to Canada’s most complete gathering of marine businesses in one facility.
“The Store”Mason’s Chandlery, operated by the Mason family since 1978, has one of the most complete marine inventories for boating supplies and accessories anywhere on Lake Ontario. They are active participants in the boating community and are always willing to provide information to boaters from around the lake.
Port Credit Harbour Marina is a fullservice facility with storage, repairs and much more. Several businesses onsite provide service, parts and brokerage of both new and used, power and sailboats.
Exiting Port Credit Harbour Marina, turning to port around the freighter hull and heading east, Lakefront Promenade Public Marina and the Port Credit Yacht Club are located through a west entrance between two breakwaters into the eastern-most basin. Alternately, you may head to port of this entrance and follow the western breakwall along the park and waterfront trail to a small basin just to the west. Inside,you will find two large, excellent public boat launch facilities with deep water at the docks. This is a great spot to stop for lunch or for a swim off the beaches along the park.
As you enter the main basin, leave the red-topped white cylinder with quick flashing red light to starboard and the rock breakwater to port.Turning to port,down the first fairway, you can follow the channel to the Port Credit Yacht Club, which has new floating docks with electricity and water available for visiting reciprocal club members. The club offers excellent facilities, including a pool.
If you follow the eastern rock breakwall around the marina basin,you will find the Lakefront Promenade Public Marina, operated by the city of Mississauga.The marina has 167 slips on floating docks with electricity and water and usually has space for transient boats. Check in at the fuel and pump-out dock.
The administration building at Lakefront Promenade Public Marina has showers, washrooms and an outdoor patio restaurant. The facilities are located close to a redeveloped wetland area with many waterfowl and bird species. The marina is also connected to the Waterfront Trail, where you’ll find a large park in which families can enjoy splash pads or play in a 60-foot wooden ship.
Cruising the five miles east to the fairway marker off the entrance to Toronto Harbour’s Western Gap, you will pass the manmade spits of Colonel Samuel Smith Park and Mimico’s Humber Park West. Both of these manmade harbours have some transient facilities, but most cruising power boaters prefer to head for the bright lights of Toronto.