Mandurah Canal Lights
Submitted by Lefty 44 on Wed, 2025-12-10 11:59
Hi All,
Going to give it a try this year as the grandson needs more boat time.
If you have done it before, any tips on ramps, times or which areas to try will all be apprciated.
I haven't done it for about 8 years, but the canals around Mary st were usually the best.
Not much info online so I figured I'd ask the experts here.
Swompa
Posts: 4020
Date Joined: 14/10/12
We launch at Breakwater Pde
We launch at Breakwater Pde Ramp around 5 ish. Rarely have to wait, We putt out into the estury, throw the pick in and have tea on the boat.
Lights dont turn on until 7 and its really not dark enough until 7:30 to really see the best of it.
We generally putt around until 8:30 then back to the ramp at 9. Last saturday, we didnt get onto the jetty until 9:20/30 after a bit of patience.
Tip is to not be in a hurry at any point and keep your eyes outside your boat or you'll run into someone or something.
jighead
Posts: 742
Date Joined: 03/02/12
Avoid
At all costs.
Lefty 44
Posts: 183
Date Joined: 04/12/17
Cheers
Thanks Swompa. Appreciated
Jighead, I total understand and know it will be a sh*tfight.
But the 5 y/o grandson made a comelling argument
crasny1
Posts: 7017
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Mate
Best advise is go slow, consider any other boat a danger. Port mandurah has historically got the best lights and do not miss Aztec island Rt and Starfire Close canal as this is a little nuts. If you can go midweek and try and avoid Fri-Sunday as it is more choas than ever. I do live on Waterside Canals and have a shit load of lights so pop over this way and look for the igloo with a snowman, penguins and polar bears at the front!!!! (Fortesque-De Grey Canal)
The other canals have sporadic light which can be specy so do cruise them, and if the youngster can stay up go later or cruise the other canals first like ours or Mariners Cove, then head to Port Mandurah later and it MIGHT be less chaos. I tend to go and perve at what others do at 9.30-10 but then again I dont have ramp pressure so a bit spoiled.
Ah and Waterside ramp tends to Not load up so much I have noticed, even less than Mariners Cove and certainly the Marina and Marie St.
Cheers
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Lefty 44
Posts: 183
Date Joined: 04/12/17
Thanks.
Much appreciated.
I'll add those to the list.
Unfortunately I can only do the Sat night due to the missus work.
Plan is to get there early (4pmish) and have dinner.
I'll keep an eye out for your place.
The Fisherkid
Posts: 11
Date Joined: 05/12/25
tides
make sure you check the tides whe boating
you can get stuck easliy when u least expect it
straith
Posts: 440
Date Joined: 25/11/13
Saturday night was crazzzzzzy
against my better judgement i took friends out sat night... oh my god... got a sore sphincter from gripping the seat so hard
Lefty 44
Posts: 183
Date Joined: 04/12/17
Mental
Had dinner with the Missus on the foreshore sat night as a scouting run.
She was amazed by the queue of boats waiting to go in.
I know i'll hate it but the grandson's head will spin off his shoulders so hopefully worth the effort.