port rowan

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Port Rowan, ON

Lat: 42°37.252   Long: 080°26.851

Quick Reference:

  • Port Type: Village
  • Monitors VHF: n/a
  • Charts: CHS 2110/20
  • Customs: No
  • Coast Guard
  • Transient Docking
  • Anchorage
  • Diesel
  • Gasoline
  • Potable Water
  • Pump Out
  • Washrooms
  • Showers
  • Laundry
  • Repair Services
  • Provisions
  • Pharmacy
  • Hospital/Clinic
  • Banks/ATM
  • Restaurants/Pubs
  • Shopping
  • Internet
  • Amenities
  Important Numbers

Area Code519
Emergency911
Police(888) 310-1122
Hospital(519) 582-2323
Pharmacy(519) 586-3983

DISTANCES


Harbor Distance (nm) Harbor Distance (nm)
Erie, PA 52 S Port Dover, ON 19 E
Port Burwell, ON 75 W Port Colborne, ON 62 E
Port Stanley, ON 94 W Buffalo, NY 80 E

DESCRIPTION


Port Rowan sits at the head of the Inner Bay of Long Point Bay. This lovely Ontario village has gone by several names since it was established in 1793. Settling on its current name in 1819, it served as a commercial centre for the rich farming land that surrounds it. The Talbot Trail, a very important pioneer road, ran through the village.

Today, this pretty village serves as a centre for a busy tourism area. Fishermen are drawn to the area by the superb bass fishing.

APPROACHES


From Long Point Bay, enter the Inner Bay by way of the marked channel beginning with the Whitefish Bar light - a Red and White striped channel marker showing a WHITE light flashing Morse Code 'A' [Mo(A)]. Follow the marked channel to the Long Point Bay Inner Bay marker - "EC10", a Fl RED light visible 4.6 nm.
NOTE: the Inner Bay has many very shallow areas - stay in the channel.

From "EC10", a course of 270°T will bring you to the Port Rowan dock, a distance of 4.25 nm. Proceed with care as the Inner Bay can get quite shallow. If its any consolation, the bottom is sand. The harbour of Port Rowan consists of a 418'/127m long pier. The harbour entrance is marked with a Fl RED light visible 6.29 nm.

Note: There is no overnight docking permitted in Port Rowan harbour. Transient sailors can tie up along the wall for the day as they explore the village, shop or make use of services.

To stay overnight, transient sailors would go to Bayview Harbour Marina, located .75 nm north. To go directly to Bayview Harbour Marina from EC10, follow a course of 282°T. It is a 1 mi/1.6 km walk into the village from Bayview Harbour Marina.

MARINAS, YACHT CLUBS, MOORINGS, ANCHORAGES


Port Rowan Harbour   
Port Rowan harbour's only public facility is a 418'/127 m wall. Transient sailors can tie up on it during the day but cannot remain overnight. There are no services or facilities here. The main street of the village is one block away making it very convenient to visit, re-provision or carry out any other business.

Bayview Harbour Marina   (519) 565-5150
Bayview Harbour Marina has about 100 slips with about a half dozen set aside for cruising sailors. There is a fuel dock (gasoline only) and a pumpout station. Water and power are available at each slip. There are washrooms and showers. Amenities include BBQ grills, picnic areas and a childrens' playground.

REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE, PROVISIONING, BANKS/ATM's


There are no repair or maintenance facilities in the village harbour. Harbour or Marina staff could likely direct you to local trades people in the village.

Foodland grocery store is located about 4 blocks from the harbour. It is about 1 mi/1.6 km from Bayview Harbour Marina.

CIBC bank is located about 1 block from the harbour. It is about .75 mi/1.2 km from the marina.

MEDICAL SERVICES


Delhi Community Health Clinic (519) 582-2322 is a walk-in clinic located about 4 blocks from the harbour and about .6 mi/1 km from the marina.

Pharmasave Pharmacy (519) 586-3983 is located about 3 blocks from the harbour and about .6 mi/1 km from the marina

PLACES TO EAT


The Boathouse Restaurant is located at the harbour. Sunrise Cafe is in the centre of the village. Both of these are typical village restaurants with varied menus.

THINGS TO DO/SEE/VISIT


Port Rowan is at the edge of the Long Point World Biosphere, designated by the United Nations in 1986 to protect the fragile but vitally important Long Point spit. Extending 20 mi/32 km out into Lake Erie, Long Point is an uninhabited, protected, ever-shifting sand spit that is a unique part of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Many threatened or endangered species can be found within its bounds. It can be experienced by anchoring offshore in the warm shallow waters and taking your dinghy ashore (and lots of sailors simply wade ashore - its all sand here).

The Backus Conservation Area is 2 mi/3.2 km north of the village. It is home to the Backus Mill - the oldest, continuously-operating grist mill in Ontario. Built in 1798, it was the only mill on the Canadian Lake Erie coast that was not burnt by American forces in the War of 1812. The mill remained in the Backus family until 1955.

For fishermen, Long Point Inner Bay teems with large and small mouth bass. Bayfest is one of the largest summer festivals in the area and takes place every Labour Day.

The Port Rowan tourism site will give you ideas of more things to do and see while visiting the area.

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