Hello from the Glass City!

ja308601

Member
Jan 1, 2019
99
Lake Erie
Boat Info
2007 290 DA
Kohler 5kw, Raymarine Hybrid Touch
Engines
5.0L Mercruisers w/Bravo III Drives
We just bought our first Sea Ray—a 2007 290 Sundancer. We traded up from a Rinker 250 and can’t wait to get back onto Lake Erie’s western basin.

I’ll bring her home from St. Clair Shores to Toledo when the weather breaks, so I’ll probably be back to ask for local knowledge/advice on the trip—especially the Detroit River.

I already found the 290 thread. This website looks like a tremendous resource.
 
Welcome to CSR. The trip down the river is pretty simple. It's marked pretty well. The main advise I will give now is stay on the Canadian side of Belle Isle. You can stay on plane and if you go between Belle Isle and the American side it's No Wake and gets swallow close to Belle Isle. Let me know as you get closer if you need anything else. The trip won't be a problem. A member here named Blueone has probably made the Detroit River trip more than anyone I know. He will definitely know more than me about it.
 
Welcome!
 
Welcome. FYI there is a Great Lakes forum here with a number of members from the Michigan, western basin Lake Erie area.

http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?forums/great-lakes.36/

I've done the River a number of times both in sailboats and powerboats. Last time was in a Tiera I brought down from Mac Ray to Catawba Island. As Exsteps said it's a pretty easy run - provided you stay in the river/channel. Map things out first and pay attention to the buoys/waypoints - stuff happens fast at 30 mph! And do remember to use the Livingston (down river channel). Once you get past the south side of Detroit - it's a very scenic run to Lake Erie.
 
Welcome to CSR! Pics req when able...
 
Welcome to the Club. The 290 was a nice upgrade from the 280. You got the couch bed deal and 6 more inches of width and the newer design gave you a little more interior room. I did not like the change in the cockpit. Very nice boat and congrats on your purchase.
 
Welcome I'm in your neck of the woods but keep my boat in Port Clinton area.

I’d love to keep ours over there but the kids are small so we opted for convenience.
 
Welcome to the Club. The 290 was a nice upgrade from the 280. You got the couch bed deal and 6 more inches of width and the newer design gave you a little more interior room. I did not like the change in the cockpit. Very nice boat and congrats on your purchase.

Thanks! I agree on the cockpit layout somewhat but it does open things up nicely. We’re mostly day boaters so it works for us. Can’t wait for boating season!
 
It seems these 2006-2008 290s have a bit of a cult following which is interesting. I liked the lines. Fur a boat that’s now 12 model years it looks like it could be new. We run around the western basin and out to the islands so that extra fuel capacity will come in very handy.

I loved our Rinker but so far I find the fit and finish if the Sea Ray to be impressive.
 
Welcome. FYI there is a Great Lakes forum here with a number of members from the Michigan, western basin Lake Erie area.

http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?forums/great-lakes.36/

I've done the River a number of times both in sailboats and powerboats. Last time was in a Tiera I brought down from Mac Ray to Catawba Island. As Exsteps said it's a pretty easy run - provided you stay in the river/channel. Map things out first and pay attention to the buoys/waypoints - stuff happens fast at 30 mph! And do remember to use the Livingston (down river channel). Once you get past the south side of Detroit - it's a very scenic run to Lake Erie.


Hi Cpt TJ. I will be helping a friend bring a Tiera from the St CL/MacRay area to Catawba if the sea trial works out. Are the channel markers set up in the Detroit river early April? I would assume they take them down until the weather breaks? And how long does the journey take? nautical miles?

Thx. WR
 
Hi Ja, welcome to CSR. Can't wait to see the photos of your boat. The 290's have been favorites of mine for a long time.
 
Nice boat! My grandfather used to have a boat on Lake Erie. We loved going to visit and taking cruises in the lake. Great memories up there. We also just purchased a 290 but ours is a little older. They are great boats from what I can tell
 
Nice boat! My grandfather used to have a boat on Lake Erie. We loved going to visit and taking cruises in the lake. Great memories up there. We also just purchased a 290 but ours is a little older. They are great boats from what I can tell

The western basin of Lake Erie is a great place to boat with the islands nearby and Detroit/Lake St. Clair are close as well.

I can’t wait to get back out there.
 

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