Cruising the Thames... to Chatham is a pleasant, relaxing 30.4 km (19 mile) trip from Lake St. Clair. You'll enjoy the restaurants, cafes, pubs, boutiques and shops. Power boaters will appreciate the relaxed setting of the Downtown Docks bordering beautiful Tecumseh Park and downtown Chatham.

Chatham Docks

Enter the Thames River at Lighthouse Cove on Lake St. Clair.

For sailors, the West End Docks on the edge of town feature a quiet setting which is just a short taxi ride to shopping and dining alternatives. Power and water is available. Shower facilities are not available on-site at the West End Docks but are available by the Civic Centre and Tecumseh Park.

Great golf, family and group packages are available. A variety of numerous special events and amenities make every visit memorable and exciting.

Amenities:

• 8-10 ft. Draft at Dock
• Restrooms/Showers
• Electrical Compatibility
• Garbage Disposal
• Pumpout Station
• Located right in the heart of Downtown Chatham – shopping, restaurants, lounges within walking distance

Information & Registration

The registration/information office is located on top of the Third Street Bridge. See below for hours of operation.

Hours of Operation:

Downtown Dock Attendants will be on duty:

May 17th –August 29th:                                       

Monday through Thursday 7:30 am-4:30 pm

Friday 7:30 am-9:00 pm

Saturday 7:30 am-9:00 pm

Sunday 8:00 am-5:00 pm

If you are arriving at a time when dock staff is off duty, staff at the Civic Centre front desk will be happy to assist you. They are not on VHF marine radio, but are on duty Monday – Friday, 8:30 am-5:00 pm. Contact attendant on Channel 68 for service.

Reservations:

Reservations are gladly accepted and are recommended for your visit to Chatham. Specific locations are taken on a request basis and accommodated whenever possible. Reservations can only be held until 6 p.m. on the day of arrival without advance notification of later arrival time. Cancellations are accepted up to 24 hours prior to arrival.

Docking Rates (in Canadian funds)

• Downtown (Full Service) $.90 per foot per night

When rafting-off, all boats are charged full docking fees for use of power, water and washroom facilities. All fees are in Canadian dollars. Rates do not include HST.

Downtown at West End, Thames River

Lat. 42° 19.92 Long 81° 28.12

Loran Co-ordinates:
Lat. 42° 19.92 - Lon. 82° 28.12 TD1 31035.17- TD2 49990.11

Your leisurely journey to Chatham is simply a matter of following the River (mid-point is approximately 21 feet in depth). The leisurely cruise, at 8 km (5 miles) per hour, takes about three hours.

Bridges

Prairie Siding Bridge
Half way to Chatham, you encounter the Prairie Siding Bridge with a height of about 19 feet. This is a swing bridge and operates from mid-May to mid-October.

There is no bridge operator on duty. Boaters call 519.360.1998 from Monday-Friday between the hours of 9:00 am-5:00 pm and after hours call 519.359.1956.

Parry Bridge
Bridge height is fixed at 21 feet.

Lacroix Street Bridge
This bridge is fixed at a height of approximately 25 feet.

About 1/4 mile past the Lacroix Street Bridge, the Downtown Docks begin on the south side of the river behind the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre. The next bridge is Third Street, which is also fixed at a height of about 22 feet.

Upon arrival, please contact the Chatham dock attendant on VHF Channel 68. Shower facilities are not available on-site at the West End Docks.