Cameron Shostak knows the twists and turns of Lake of Bays like the back of his hand. And as the second-largest lake in Muskoka, Lake of Bays certainly has its fair share of them.
In an effort to mitigate these risks, Shostak—the lead marine technician at Port Cunnington Marina—put together a list of some of the lake’s most notorious spots.
“There are a lot of different places on the lake that I find fewer and fewer people know about that can jump up and bite you,” says Shostak, who has cottaged on the lake for his entire life.
Posted to the marina’s social media, the list gives both visitors and cottagers more insight into the lake’s hidden dangers for boaters. And as the lake association navigates replacing its old buoys, Shostak’s list fills a much-needed educational gap.
“Before you put a boat in the lake, make sure that you look at a map and understand the water that you’re going to be in,” says Shostak, who suggests apps like Navionics to check out your route.
Pulled from Shostak’s years of observing these incidents and recovering the damaged vessels, here are five of the riskiest boating spots around Lake of Bays.
1. Raynor Island Shoal
The Raynor Island shoal is located about halfway between Raynor Island and the southeastern tip of Fox Point Road. “Looking out at the lake, you can’t see it,” says Shostak.
Just below the surface of the water is a large, shallow shoal that frequently claims outboard motors. To avoid the shoal, boaters can either go between two markers near the shore, or all the way around the island.
2. Turners Island Sandbar
“This spot seems like a good shortcut to get to a nearby marina, or to Dorset, until you come up and realize it’s only a foot deep,” says Shostak.
The Turners Island sandbar sits at the end of Haystack Bay looking out onto the main channel. With no markings to warn boaters, vessels have been known to fall victim to the knee-deep sandbar and dreaded deadheads.
3. Vimy Ridge Island
On the west side of Haystack Bay, Vimy Ridge Island is another unmarked spot that can be dangerous to boaters. A large slab of the Canadian Shield exists under the water near the island, creating a rocky path for boaters.
Shostak says that this area is deceiving for those unfamiliar with the lake because there are several cottages nearby with large boats parked at their docks. This false sense of security drives boaters into the island’s path of rocky destruction.
4. Point Ideal Shoal
The large rocks that hide under the surface of the water are marked by a red buoy. Boaters can easily avoid the dangers of this shoal by following the buoy’s direction, according to Shostak.
5. Rabbit Bay Sandbar
Near the northern side of the entrance into Rabbit Bay sits a sandbar that Shostak says is similar to the one near Turners Island. The sandbar looks safe, but tricks unknowing boaters.
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