Oziles' Marina

What visitors say

Oziles' Marina sits beside Petrie Island on the Ottawa River, a short drive from Orléans. It's a medium-sized operation with a boat launch, docks, a bait shop and a rental counter, and the public beach at Petrie Island is right next door. Several visitors say it's a handy way to get on the water without leaving the city.

In summer most people come to rent. Canoes, kayaks, paddle boards and pedal boats are available, and many reviewers found the process simple, the gear in good shape and the prices fair. Paddlers enjoy the calm backwaters around the island, with herons, osprey and egrets among the birds people report seeing. Boaters like the wide, concrete launch and the well-built docks, though a few think the launch fee is steep for what it is.

Winter is a different scene. A village of ice-fishing huts goes up on the river, with day and season hut rentals, access to an ice road and minnows sold at the shop. Families walk out just to look around, and regulars describe a close-knit ice-fishing community. Anglers say the catch can be slow, and one recent visitor paid for a day hut that turned out to have no fishing holes.

Opinions on the staff split sharply. Many reviewers, especially from earlier years, describe friendly, helpful people who went out of their way. A notable run of complaints from the past few years, mostly after an ownership change, mentions rude treatment, unanswered phone calls, hard-to-book rentals and a disorganized parking area. Weeds in the shallows can make pedal boats and paddling hard work in summer. Confirm bookings and launch hours ahead, and check your rental gear before you head out.

Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 228 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Oziles' Marina directly.