Lake St Clair overnight

Just a big ol diesel boat that will cruise for hours and hours on a tank of fuel
 
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An interesting thought…. Having boated on Lake Michigan for many years, we don’t really worry about international waters. Looking at the route that Navionics has me on to cruise up the Detroit river, I see that I will cross into Canadian waters in a couple of places. I don’t plan to anchor or land anywhere. The Livingston channel and the Fleming channel of the river are Canadian. Do I need any permits, passports inspection stickers, and concerns? It doesn’t look that easy to stay on the US side of the river considering the water depths. Specific area of concern is south side of Amherstberg channel, Bell Isle and Ballards Reef Channel
 
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Phasma said:
An interesting thought…. Having boated on Lake Michigan for many years, we don’t really worry about international waters. Looking at the route that Navionics has me on to cruise up the Detroit river, I see that I will cross into Canadian waters in a couple of places. I don’t plan to anchor or land anywhere. The Livingston channel and the Fleming channel of the river are Canadian. Do I need any permits, passports inspection stickers, and concerns? It doesn’t look that easy to stay on the US side of the river considering the water depths. Specific area of concern is south side of Amherstberg channel, Bell Isle and Ballards Reef Channel
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Many of us have traveled these waters and have no issues. My understanding is that you can’t drop anchor on the Canadian side but you may travel through their side. With that said, I tend to stay on the U.S. side as much as I can.

If I’m wrong, please correct me.
 
Great Lakes said:
Many of us have traveled these waters and have no issues. My understanding is that you can’t drop anchor on the Canadian side but you may travel through their side. With that said, I tend to stay on the U.S. side as much as I can.

If I’m wrong, please correct me.
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You are correct sir. Dropping anchor on that side is like docking at port.
 
I would reach out to CBSA or RCMP…. we have numerous areas in our islands where law enforcement is taking a zero tolerance approach to US boaters in Canadian waters due to Covid (I don’t agree with the law and yes our governments are still paralyzing the economy up here, fwiw). There may be exception if the waterway is an international channel.

“Boaters are still permitted to navigate across international waters if needed, but are not allowed to enter Canadian territorial or boundary waters for discretionary, leisure (non-essential) reasons, including entry for touring, sightseeing and pleasure fishing.”

https://www.canada.ca/en/border-ser...ing-the-border-for-discretionary-reasons.html
 
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The way I read that I think you'd be fine if you are passing through in the channel. You aren't traveling into Canada, you're making a transit that is safer in the channel that happens to be in Canadian waters. It's probably worth a quick call to one of those agencies to at least ask rather than risking your boat in shallow water.
 
We traveled up the Detroit and St Clair Rivers earlier this month and traveled through Canadian water several times, there is hardly any way to avoid it. We also travel through Canadian water every time we run up and down the Niagara river. Just don’t anchor or go ashore. Haven’t had any issues. The RCMP and OPP boats wave as they pass.
As to Timeflys post, when we were in the Thousand Islands last summer, we were specifically warned by the marinas and other boaters to stay clear of the Canadian water. Apparently the authorities there were using COVID as a income producing opportunity. The word was it would cost $250 on the spot if stopped on the wrong side of the border. So I guess location matters.
 
If you're staying in the main channel you won't have a problem passing through Canadian waters to get from one US port to another US port. It's when you stop, dawdle, anchor or head towards a Canadian port that will attract interest. Anchoring, stopping at a Canadian port (or any land) or meeting up with another vessel is a definite 'no-no' unless you contact CBP and get an "OK".
 
Beautiful boat. Number one, stay in safe water and no one can fault you as long as you don't anchor in Canadian water. The OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) has been hassling people fishing in Canadian waters on the Detroit River. But anyone transiting normally, no problem.
 
On Lake Michigan when the winds are out of the east, the lake is calm. Is there a similar affect on Lake Huron or Lake St. Clair when the winds are out of the west?
 
Phasma said:
On Lake Michigan when the winds are out of the east, the lake is calm. Is there a similar affect on Lake Huron or Lake St. Clair when the winds are out of the west?
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It doesn't matter what the wind is doing on little LSC, she's a pussycat. Hurons a different story. East and north winds out of Huron are bad. As far a wanting to anchor, Lake St. Clair Metro Part (aka Metro Beach) has a lagoon in the back that is about 8' deep. Very protected if you want to anchor as oppose to using their docks.
 
Phasma said:
On Lake Michigan when the winds are out of the east, the lake is calm. Is there a similar affect on Lake Huron or Lake St. Clair when the winds are out of the west?
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Yep, same effect on Lake Huron when the wind is blowing in the opposite direction.
Enjoy your new to you boat (that 48 Hatt looks really nice) and have a great trip back to Lk. Michigan.
 
Brent Nutting said:
Depending on where you are heading, Lk St. Clair Metropark might be a good option for an overnight. Really easy to dock there, very wide horse shoe shaped harbor. But, no food options as it is a park, so grilling up some grub is best option. Or, right by the Metropark (or just past it on the river), there is a back lagoon that is pretty protected from wind. Some people drop hook there for the day to get out of the wind, not sure if there would be any issue with staying on the hook overnight there. Maybe some others from the area can advise.
What is your trip / stops looking like? We will be running north, up into Lk Huron starting on July 3rd, with some planned stops along the way. Port Sanilac, Presque Isle, Mackinaw Island, Cheboygan then back down to Harbor Beach for their Maritime festival (July 9th & 10th). Maybe we will cross paths?
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We have spent many nights anchored in the lagoon at Lake St. Clair Metro Park. No charge and if you have a dingy you can use the restrooms and showers for free.
 
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