Question for Lake Michigan cruisers

[River Cruiser]

This is a delivery with the owner onboard the good thing he wants to take time and enjoy the trip:-)

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by River Cruiser

This is a delivery with the owner onboard the good thing he wants to take time and enjoy the trip:-)

is he an eskimo ?

[boatpoker]

For some reason my photos of my Easter Delivery of a Fairline 55 on Lake Ontario did not take so I'll try again. Please also note that icing on a boat is almost as dangerous as icing on an aircraft.

Sorry it does not seem to work

[River Cruiser]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

is he an eskimo ?

Almost he's from Michigan. Your pics showed up for me, the ice on the glass areas would be as bad as or worse than fog, plus if very heavy the weight could be a real problem.

[boatpoker]

I don't want to beat a dead horse but I think it's important to know what you are up against so I've posted a few of those photos here.

The straits at Mackinac are going to be much colder than I experienced on Lake Ontario and I had to call an ambulance and drop off a crew member with hypothermia in Cobourg Ontario. Up at the top of the Michigan/Huron the marinas won't even be open at that time of the year so you'll have to arrange for a fuel truck unless you can make it all the way to Detroit. You will be taking a serious risk. My last word on this topic.

[River Cruiser]

I appreciate you sharing your experience and after talking with the owner again last night I'am sure he now understands the wisdom of waiting till conditions on the north end of lake M is settled before we leave. If that means we wait till June then it's not a problem. His reason for wanting to try to leave near April 1st was that his son & daughter in law could go, he has now given up on that being possible. Thank you I do pay attention to and appreciate you replies.

[sailr69]

I sailed in the straits for 7 years, I can tell you it is very cold out on the water until mid June. even if it is 80 degrees in harbor. sailing up the east side of Lake michigan is probably safer but you still need to cross over at some time. take advantage of the weather and cross when it is good. make it a long day and go as far as you can. Beaver Island is a good place to stop and rest before you go through the straits. study the charts good there are some tricky waters in that area. all the lakes are beautiful to sail on but they can also be quite exciting. In lake Huron, sail the east coast of Michigan safe harbors are within 30 to 50 miles apart. not so on the Canadian side. have fun, a great trip!

[drsm]

RiverCruiser,

I feel your pain. I'm trying to get a boat down from the UP to Muskegon this Spring. Our original mid-May trip has been tentatively moved back to end of May, early June. Let's hope Spring shows up in force pretty soon!

Steve

[Delancey]

Originally Posted by River Cruiser

This is a delivery with the owner onboard the good thing he wants to take time and enjoy the trip:-)

I would highly recommend a stop a South Manitou Island, one of my favorite spots on the planet.

Great anchorage, amazing dunes, a cool old shipwreck, and home to the champion Atlantic White Cedar in an old growth grove that was too inaccessible to cut down. Part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

A real treasure. You should be passing right by it on your way through the Manitou Passage so don't miss it!

South Manitou Island - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[appick]

Drsm,
What boat did you get? What marina are you at?

[River Cruiser]

Originally Posted by drsm

RiverCruiser,

I feel your pain. I'm trying to get a boat down from the UP to Muskegon this Spring. Our original mid-May trip has been tentatively moved back to end of May, early June. Let's hope Spring shows up in force pretty soon!

Steve

I hope we can leave between the end of April and mid May. The spring thaw and rains may cause us a few problems or possible delay on the Illinois river part of the trip. Good luck on your trip, I hope it all goes well.

[River Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Delancey

I would highly recommend a stop a South Manitou Island, one of my favorite spots on the planet.

Great anchorage, amazing dunes, a cool old shipwreck, and home to the champion Atlantic White Cedar in an old growth grove that was too inaccessible to cut down. Part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

A real treasure. You should be passing right by it on your way through the Manitou Passage so don't miss it!

South Manitou Island - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I talked with the owner a day ago and sent him the link you posted. I think we are going to work that into our schedule along with a day at Mackinac Is. Thank you for the tip I appreciate it, this is most likely a once in a lifetime trip for both of us and although it's a delivery we are treating it like a cruise and aren't going to try to pound out the most miles possible per day.

[drsm]

Drsm,
What boat did you get? What marina are you at

@appick: We picked up a Fuji 35 clear up in the Keweenaw. Currently sail a trimaran out of Muskegon (Torresen Marine)--it will be quite a change. Where are you out of?

@River Cruiser, we'll likely be making a stop at S. Manitou ourselves, but it will be the first of June (I hope).

[River Cruiser]

Originally Posted by drsm

@appick: We picked up a Fuji 35 clear up in the Keweenaw. Currently sail a trimaran out of Muskegon (Torresen Marine)--it will be quite a change. Where are you out of?

@River Cruiser, we'll likely be making a stop at S. Manitou ourselves, but it will be the first of June (I hope).

Depending on the weather we could be going thru the lake in June.

[Greggegner]

Well Michigan is not quite ready. Link is Reef Point Marina Racine WI...

http://marinacam.goracine.org/view/v....shtml?id=1776