The approach into Cobourg is marked with a green-topped white cylinder and flashing green light on the end of the south breakwater and a lighthouse tower with an equal interval red light (visible from well offshore) on the east breakwall.
Behind the pier, you will find the municipal marina’s floating docks, serviced with 20- and 30-amp electricity and water. To check in, go past the Coast Guard dock on starboard and through the channel between the docks. Tie up on the west side of the dock jutting from the shore. Operated by the Town of Cobourg, the marina offers diesel, gas and ice. You will find the office, showers,washrooms and laundry in the brown building.
Set beside a picturesque waterfront condominium, you will find public access paths along the shore. Steps away is Victoria Park, a pleasant place for a stroll through the gardens and trees or to take in an evening concert at the bandstand. The park borders on the splash pad and play areas along the supervised beach. This is an ideal stop for families with young children.
Beautifully preserved historic downtown Cobourg, located two short blocks north of the marina, has quaint coffee shops, gift stores and art galleries to explore.There are also many restaurants to enjoy.
Victoria Hall,of which the cupola and clock is visible as you approach the harbour, has been fully restored as the home to summer theatre and an art gallery. You might also consider stopping at the tourist information kiosk out front and find out what’s happening in Cobourg and the surrounding area.
Our cruise now leaves Cobourg and heads east 24 miles to the beginning of the islands and bays that make up the eastern end of Lake Ontario into Presqu’ile Bay enroute to the Murray Canal. As you transit Presqu’ile Bay, the last stop for fuel before Trenton is the Harbourview Marina in Brighton, where you can find transient slips, the Waterfront Café and a comfortable inn. Just a few steps away, you will find a small but complete grocery. Full provisioning is available in Brighton with a variety of facilities and services to choose from.
From Brighton, it is a short cruise following the well-marked channel to the entrance of the Murray Canal. The 50-foot wide, 9-foot deep Murray Canal is an eight-kilometre cut linking Lake Ontario with the Bay of Quinte. It was constructed in the 1880s to provide an alternative shipping route to the sometimes treacherous waters surrounding Prince Edward County.
As you transit toward the Brighton Swing Bridge (the first of two swing bridges), get ready to pay your toll. Proceed through after the bridge swings open. You will see the bridge tender waiting with a cup on a pole to receive your toll fee and hand you a receipt. From the eastern end of the Murray Canal you should follow the main small craft channel south of Indian Island and Indian Island Bank before heading into our next port-of-call, Trenton.
As you approach Trenton, you will note a breakwater to starboard protecting a marina. However, boaters looking for transient slips and fuel should turn to head for the far side of the river and the Fraser Park Marina, located just south of the bridge. The marina, clearly identified by the colourful flags and the adjacent park, can handle large transient boats in its basin, on the walls or floating docks. Smaller boats can be accommodated on the finger docks below the bridge. If you need to provision or just want to explore Trenton, this municipal marina is the ideal location,with downtown Trenton at its doorstep.
Downtown Trenton offer boaters all of the services and amenities required to not only provision for a cruise but also to enjoy a day or two touring.Visitors will find shops, restaurants, grocery stores, banks, and beer and liquor all within walking distance of the marina.Trenton also offers boaters a taste of history and the opportunity to explore the parks and trail systems delving into the sights and historic past of the community.