Trip from Grand Haven to Leland...and back

Stee6043

Well-Known Member
Jun 1, 2015
6,706
West Michigan
Boat Info
1997 Sundancer 400
Engines
7.4L Gassers
My family and I had a fantastic trip to Leland and back last week in our 400DA. We were away from our home port for 7 days visiting three other ports north of Grand Haven.

The trip could not have gone much better, with only one exception - I had to miss the CSR meetup in Grand Haven due to me leaving port a day early to beat some nasty seas. I'm still bummed about it.

We hit Frankfort on our way north, spent two nights at Jacobson Marina. We really enjoyed our time in Frankfort and will return. The marina was great, the downtown was fun. A great spot.
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From Frankfort we went north to Leland where we spent three nights at the Leland Harbor Marina. On our way both to and from Leland we spent time on the beaches of South Manitou island. This part of our trip was unexpectedly awesome and relaxing. On the island there was nobody else around, turquoise water and a stocked cooler. We originally planned to stay two nights in Leland but weather forced a third. Leland is awesome, I will go back, but two nights would have been ideal. We were running out of options for the kids on day three without access to the beach (big waves, strong/cool wind). And we had hit every eating establishment in town by the end of day two.
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On our way back to Grand Haven we spent one night in Ludington to break up the trip heading south. I got one brewery stop in and one decent breakfast and that was about it, a quick stop. Due to timing we only got to see the Badger park once, fun for the kids.

All in all a great trip. We will go back...or maybe push on to Mackinac next year. The ole 400DA performed like a champ, even if a bit thirsty with gassers. The only hiccup was on our first leg. A 2-3' following sea turned to 4's with an occasional 5' as we approached Frankfort. I was taking waves up to the anchor for the last 10 miles +/-. During this time (I can only assume) I lost my forward Dripperguard on the AC outlet. They were kind enough to send me a free replacement that very next day. It makes me wonder if I'll have to keep replacing these if I put the bow into the waves enough times. Great customer service no matter what, however. I will continue replacing them even if I have to pay since they perform very well at the dock.
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All in all a great family summer trip in Michigan!
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Nice trip.... We are finishing the last leg of a saugatuck to frankfort to charlevoix to boyne city to traverse city to suttons bay to frankfort to ludington to saugatuck trip as i write this. Just about 2 weeks on the boat....
 
You Michiganders sure have some wonderful boating on the Great Lakes. Makes me envious.

Thanks for sharing the great pics and the narrative of your trip.
 
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My family and I had a fantastic trip to Leland and back last week in our 400DA. We were away from our home port for 7 days visiting three other ports north of Grand Haven.

The trip could not have gone much better, with only one exception - I had to miss the CSR meetup in Grand Haven due to me leaving port a day early to beat some nasty seas. I'm still bummed about it.

We hit Frankfort on our way north, spent two nights at Jacobson Marina. We really enjoyed our time in Frankfort and will return. The marina was great, the downtown was fun. A great spot.
48495515276_1b5cdf8a64_c.jpg
48495328966_852d53d961_c.jpg


From Frankfort we went north to Leland where we spent three nights at the Leland Harbor Marina. On our way both to and from Leland we spent time on the beaches of South Manitou island. This part of our trip was unexpectedly awesome and relaxing. On the island there was nobody else around, turquoise water and a stocked cooler. We originally planned to stay two nights in Leland but weather forced a third. Leland is awesome, I will go back, but two nights would have been ideal. We were running out of options for the kids on day three without access to the beach (big waves, strong/cool wind). And we had hit every eating establishment in town by the end of day two.
48495310676_a68e6ab922_c.jpg

48495309991_9a79bf6f1f_c.jpg

48495307981_04eb9d3858_c.jpg

48495497057_7024a17547_c.jpg
48495328466_0cc870335d_c.jpg

48495429816_1af0749ab9_c.jpg

48495600402_a140dc038b_c.jpg


On our way back to Grand Haven we spent one night in Ludington to break up the trip heading south. I got one brewery stop in and one decent breakfast and that was about it, a quick stop. Due to timing we only got to see the Badger park once, fun for the kids.

All in all a great trip. We will go back...or maybe push on to Mackinac next year. The ole 400DA performed like a champ, even if a bit thirsty with gassers. The only hiccup was on our first leg. A 2-3' following sea turned to 4's with an occasional 5' as we approached Frankfort. I was taking waves up to the anchor for the last 10 miles +/-. During this time (I can only assume) I lost my forward Dripperguard on the AC outlet. They were kind enough to send me a free replacement that very next day. It makes me wonder if I'll have to keep replacing these if I put the bow into the waves enough times. Great customer service no matter what, however. I will continue replacing them even if I have to pay since they perform very well at the dock.
48495741072_0c32f2e644_c.jpg
48495466537_a04a648695_c.jpg


All in all a great family summer trip in Michigan!
48495432256_b784fc8698_c.jpg
Here are a couple more of the harbor. You had a nice vacation.
 
Thanks for the kind words, gentlemen. We are very fortunate to have access to these kinds of places up here in Michigan...when it's not frozen over :)
 
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One mans lose is another mans gain, I’ve been drinking the Sotted Cow beer that Mike brought over for you. :)

We will be heading up to Frankfort, Charleviox and Boone City in a couple weeks
 
Morning Tom. Nice trip! We drank your Wisconsin beer. We are in Saugatuck for the weekend. Back in Grand Haven tomorrow
 

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One mans lose is another mans gain, I’ve been drinking the Sotted Cow beer that Mike brought over for you. :)

We will be heading up to Frankfort, Charleviox and Boone City in a couple weeks
Hey Jeff!

I wondered if you’d make CVX this summer! Keep in touch with your dates so we can say hello! We’re on Mackinac Island now for the next week, coming back next Saturday or Sunday depending on weather.

See you soon!
 
Morning Tom. Nice trip! We drank your Wisconsin beer. We are in Saugatuck for the weekend. Back in Grand Haven tomorrow

Phasma, you are at Tower. My home base is across and to your right (340 with zodiac on the back) Just got back from a two week boat trip up north yesterday.
 
Hey Jeff!

I wondered if you’d make CVX this summer! Keep in touch with your dates so we can say hello! We’re on Mackinac Island now for the next week, coming back next Saturday or Sunday depending on weather.

See you soon!
Hey Jeff,
We will be in your area Aug 23-25th.
 
Rmlsll, sorry I missed you. I didn’t check CSR for a day or so. We are talking about maybe returning next weekend if you are around.
 
That sounds like a great trip. Did you calculate your average fuel burn?

Nope, I didn't. I kept my receipts but I've done three long trips now in 12 months and have now decided to stop keeping track of my fuel burn. ha. I'm going to put Fox gateways on my engines over winter so I can see realtime burn but otherwise I'm pretty content with my overall performance.

For what it's worth - my best mileage so far has been .64NMPG/.74SMPG. I think I typically average a bit less than that. .64NPMG was in ideal sea states, not typical conditions. A dreamlike Lake Michigan crossing....likely never to be repeated :)
 
My family and I had a fantastic trip to Leland and back last week in our 400DA. We were away from our home port for 7 days visiting three other ports north of Grand Haven.

The trip could not have gone much better, with only one exception - I had to miss the CSR meetup in Grand Haven due to me leaving port a day early to beat some nasty seas. I'm still bummed about it.

We hit Frankfort on our way north, spent two nights at Jacobson Marina. We really enjoyed our time in Frankfort and will return. The marina was great, the downtown was fun. A great spot.
48495515276_1b5cdf8a64_c.jpg
48495328966_852d53d961_c.jpg


From Frankfort we went north to Leland where we spent three nights at the Leland Harbor Marina. On our way both to and from Leland we spent time on the beaches of South Manitou island. This part of our trip was unexpectedly awesome and relaxing. On the island there was nobody else around, turquoise water and a stocked cooler. We originally planned to stay two nights in Leland but weather forced a third. Leland is awesome, I will go back, but two nights would have been ideal. We were running out of options for the kids on day three without access to the beach (big waves, strong/cool wind). And we had hit every eating establishment in town by the end of day two.
48495310676_a68e6ab922_c.jpg

48495309991_9a79bf6f1f_c.jpg

48495307981_04eb9d3858_c.jpg

48495497057_7024a17547_c.jpg
48495328466_0cc870335d_c.jpg

48495429816_1af0749ab9_c.jpg

48495600402_a140dc038b_c.jpg


On our way back to Grand Haven we spent one night in Ludington to break up the trip heading south. I got one brewery stop in and one decent breakfast and that was about it, a quick stop. Due to timing we only got to see the Badger park once, fun for the kids.

All in all a great trip. We will go back...or maybe push on to Mackinac next year. The ole 400DA performed like a champ, even if a bit thirsty with gassers. The only hiccup was on our first leg. A 2-3' following sea turned to 4's with an occasional 5' as we approached Frankfort. I was taking waves up to the anchor for the last 10 miles +/-. During this time (I can only assume) I lost my forward Dripperguard on the AC outlet. They were kind enough to send me a free replacement that very next day. It makes me wonder if I'll have to keep replacing these if I put the bow into the waves enough times. Great customer service no matter what, however. I will continue replacing them even if I have to pay since they perform very well at the dock.
48495741072_0c32f2e644_c.jpg
48495466537_a04a648695_c.jpg


All in all a great family summer trip in Michigan!
48495432256_b784fc8698_c.jpg
Awesome trip and pics, thx for sharing ;)
 
Our trip to Leland after July 4th holiday. Not a ripple on the lake from Frankfort to Leland. And clear as a bell. The guaranteed storm rolling in the next day. And then the typical lake heading back south. Awesome trip.

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My family and I had a fantastic trip to Leland and back last week in our 400DA. We were away from our home port for 7 days visiting three other ports north of Grand Haven.

The trip could not have gone much better, with only one exception - I had to miss the CSR meetup in Grand Haven due to me leaving port a day early to beat some nasty seas. I'm still bummed about it.

We hit Frankfort on our way north, spent two nights at Jacobson Marina. We really enjoyed our time in Frankfort and will return. The marina was great, the downtown was fun. A great spot.
48495515276_1b5cdf8a64_c.jpg
48495328966_852d53d961_c.jpg


From Frankfort we went north to Leland where we spent three nights at the Leland Harbor Marina. On our way both to and from Leland we spent time on the beaches of South Manitou island. This part of our trip was unexpectedly awesome and relaxing. On the island there was nobody else around, turquoise water and a stocked cooler. We originally planned to stay two nights in Leland but weather forced a third. Leland is awesome, I will go back, but two nights would have been ideal. We were running out of options for the kids on day three without access to the beach (big waves, strong/cool wind). And we had hit every eating establishment in town by the end of day two.
48495310676_a68e6ab922_c.jpg

48495309991_9a79bf6f1f_c.jpg

48495307981_04eb9d3858_c.jpg

48495497057_7024a17547_c.jpg
48495328466_0cc870335d_c.jpg

48495429816_1af0749ab9_c.jpg

48495600402_a140dc038b_c.jpg


On our way back to Grand Haven we spent one night in Ludington to break up the trip heading south. I got one brewery stop in and one decent breakfast and that was about it, a quick stop. Due to timing we only got to see the Badger park once, fun for the kids.

All in all a great trip. We will go back...or maybe push on to Mackinac next year. The ole 400DA performed like a champ, even if a bit thirsty with gassers. The only hiccup was on our first leg. A 2-3' following sea turned to 4's with an occasional 5' as we approached Frankfort. I was taking waves up to the anchor for the last 10 miles +/-. During this time (I can only assume) I lost my forward Dripperguard on the AC outlet. They were kind enough to send me a free replacement that very next day. It makes me wonder if I'll have to keep replacing these if I put the bow into the waves enough times. Great customer service no matter what, however. I will continue replacing them even if I have to pay since they perform very well at the dock.
48495741072_0c32f2e644_c.jpg
48495466537_a04a648695_c.jpg


All in all a great family summer trip in Michigan!
48495432256_b784fc8698_c.jpg
The pic of the river and with the Tiki umbrellas - was that Ludington. Also looks like a fast moving river.
 

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