UToledo Lake Erie Center

LAKE ERIE CENTER Research Vessels

The fleet of the Lake Erie Center consists of the following vessels:

1. North River Sounder is a 2015 28-foot Almar "Walk Around" pilothouse offshore boat. It has twin 200 hp Yamaha outboard motors, a 170 gal fuel tank, and has the capacity of 8 persons. It is equipped with a Garmin 7215 display with a digital sonar, a GMRHD 24 Radar Dome and a lighted.

2. The R/V Mayflier is a 1998 25-foot SPORTCRAFT Center Console-type offshore boat. It has twin 150 hp outboard Mercury motors, a 170 gal fuel tank, and a capacity of 6 persons. On calm days it is capable of speeds over 40 mph and can be used to sample many miles offshore. The Mayflier is equipped with U.S.C.G. approved equipment.  A first aid kit, tool kit, safety kit, GPS, depth sounder and Ship-to-Shore radio are onboard.  Life vests are onboard and are required safety equipment to be worn when on the water.

3. The R/V Pisces is a 2006, 15-foot, RHI, [rigid hull inflatable] Zodiac Cheerokee 445 boat. It has a rigid fiberglass hull and rigid deck along with a bench seat and console. It is powered by a 40 hp Johnson outboard motor, 2-stroke, with a five-gallon fuel can, which needs to be checked/filled before and after each trip. It also has a 2-cycle oil reservoir tank under the helmsman seat, which also needs to be checked/filled before and after each trip.  It has a capacity of 4 – 5 persons, depending on gear, and should be used inshore, up river, or within 5 to 10 miles offshore. The Pisces is equipped with U.S.C.G approved safety equipment. A first aid, tool kit, and safety kit, as well as oars and an anchor. Life vests are onboard and are required safety equipment to be worn when on the water. It is currently housed at the Lake Erie Center in the storage building and can be trailered to and launched from the public ramp near the Toledo Edison Power Plant 1 1/2 miles west on Bayshore Rd.

4.  The R/V Mudpuppy is a 2005 Lowe, 16-foot flat-bottom, aluminum Johnboat. It has a 25 hp short-shafted Mercury outboard 4-stroke motor.  It also has a five-gallon fuel can that must be checked/filled before and after each trip. A first aid, tool kit and safety kit, as well as oars and an anchor are on the boat. Life vests are onboard and are required safety equipment to be worn when on the water. It has a capacity of 3 – 4 persons, depending on gear, and is strictly for nearshore trips. It is also housed at the LEC in the storage building and can also be trailered to and launched from the public ramp near the Toledo Edison Power Plant 1 1/2 miles west on Bayshore Rd.

5. The R/V Larvae is a 2010 Tracker, 16-foot flat-bottom, aluminum Johnboat. It has a 25 hp EFI Mercury outboard 4-stroke motor. It also has a five-gallon fuel can that must be checked/filled before and after each trip. A first aid kit, tool kit, and safety kit, as well as oars and an anchor are onboard. Life vests are onboard and are required safety equipment to be worn when on the water. It has a capacity of 3-4 persons, depending on gear, and is strictly for inshore trips. It is also housed at the LEC in the storage building and can also be trailered.

We have two, 88-channel Standard Verizon marine, ship-to-shore portable radios. They are kept in the front lab bay in LEC 108. The radios are to be used when one of the 15 or 16 ft. boats are taken on the water. Channel 16 is the Hailing and Distress channel, which the United States Coast Guard monitors 24/7. Contact them first in case of emergency on the water. Please return radios after each use, and put them in charger, so they will be ready for the next user.

Policies:
Boats are for Lake Erie Center use only. A boating safety course is required for everyone who operates or rides on an LEC boat. Users must provide a grant number against which fuel charges can be made. Boats may not be used to tow any other vessels. Call for assistance if needed. 

Contact to arrange for boat use:

The boats are not available for rent by other groups or agencies. Outside people are permitted on the boats with Lake Erie Center researchers only.

 

 

Last Updated: 10/4/22