Crossing from Sturgeon Bay, WI to Manistee, MI - Who's done it?

Stee6043

Stee6043

Well-Known Member
Jun 1, 2015
6,733
West Michigan
Boat Info
1997 Sundancer 400
Engines
7.4L Gassers
Looks like 55nm +/- across Lake Michigan via this route. With calm waters a solid 2.5-3 hour cruise across.

Anything interesting about this crossing? Just keep an eye out for the Badger?
 
Hi
We crossed from Stugeon bay to Pentwater in a 32’ cruisers a couple years ago. Nothing to it, just follow the gps and enjoy the ride.
Had lunch and topped off the fuel and continued on to Grand Haven.
 
I was considering Pentwater too. Do you mind sharing conditions and how long the crossing took you?
 
Have done it several times. Depending on weather about two hours. Sturgeon Bay to Frankfort is about 46NM and is the fastest. If you have head seas in the beginning, those lay down as you come into the lee of the opposite shore. We prefer crossing from Frankfort as we can fuel up there, go to Wisconsin and return to Michigan without the need to buy e10 fuel on the other side of the lake.
 
Last edited:
Stee6043 said:
I was considering Pentwater too. Do you mind sharing conditions and how long the crossing took you?
Click to expand...
It was fairly quick, 3 hours ish. The cruisers had I/O’s so we ran 30 mph or so. The seas were 2’ and it was a nice sunny day. Arrived at Pentwater just before noon, tied up at the gas dock and walked into town and had lunch. Great town to visit.
The channel coming out from Stugeon bay is kind of interesting, nice little lighthouse and coast guard station where it enters lake michigan.
 
Thanks for the comments, gentlemen. Very helpful. I'll have to post some pics if/when we make the trip. Good times...
 
We made the cruise from Ludington to Sturgeon Bay in 2006 in our 300DA. Basically ran from the Ludington harbor mouth to Point Sable and just keep going for about 70 miles. The one event I remember about the crossing was watching the sonar drop abruptly to about 800 feet (the depth increased several hundred feet in a matter of seconds) and since it was a dead calm summer day, the biting flies out in the middle of the lake when we came off plane for a rest stop. We slipped in Sturgeon Bay and toured the peninsula with a rental car. Had a great time.
 
Looks like a sporty weekend coming up:

Friday
S wind 10 to 20 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 2 ft building to 5 ft.
Friday Night
SSW wind 15 to 20 kt. Mostly clear. Waves 5 to 6 ft.
Saturday
S wind 15 to 20 kt. Sunny. Waves around 5 ft.
 
Stee6043 said:
Looks like a sporty weekend coming up:

Friday
S wind 10 to 20 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 2 ft building to 5 ft.
Friday Night
SSW wind 15 to 20 kt. Mostly clear. Waves 5 to 6 ft.
Saturday
S wind 15 to 20 kt. Sunny. Waves around 5 ft.
Click to expand...
It's a little early to put too much faith into the weekend forecast. Many times an early start will allow you to travel before the winds and waves build. Could be fine (or not) going north.
 
sbw1 said:
It's a little early to put too much faith into the weekend forecast. Many times an early start will allow you to travel before the winds and waves build. Could be fine (or not) going north.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Hoping for a change over the next three days....
 
Stee6043 said:
Agreed. Hoping for a change over the next three days....
Click to expand...

I heard through the grapevine you sold your boat. So, the question is what are you planning to bring across the lake?

-Tom
 
TNT8808 said:
I heard through the grapevine you sold your boat. So, the question is what are you planning to bring across the lake?

-Tom
Click to expand...

I was hoping not to jinx it but with the current forecast....the damage is already done. I'm heading over to take possession of a '97 400. It looks like we'll get to spend a couple days at the dock getting to know her before coming across. I don't want my first trip in this boat to be a brutal experience and the weekend wind forecast is not trending favorably.
 
Stee6043 said:
I was hoping not to jinx it but with the current forecast....the damage is already done. I'm heading over to take possession of a '97 400. It looks like we'll get to spend a couple days at the dock getting to know her before coming across. I don't want my first trip in this boat to be a brutal experience and the weekend wind forecast is not trending favorably.
Click to expand...

Congrats on your new boat. Mid lake forecast is looking like 3-5 for Sat & Sun. FWIW we ran a number of times in our 410 in those conditions, and would run anywhere in the 14-18 kts range depending on wave direction to find a comfortable ride. I don't know what you have for power, but with the CAT diesels the boat would run through any conditions and the RPM's wouldn't fluctuate at all. Go with what feels good to you, and best wishes.

-Tom
 
Thank you, Tom. I appreciate the comments and the advice. CSR proper will not approve...but I went with gas. I went round and round between two diesels and one gas 400 in this age range. In the end I couldn't pull the trigger on diesel. We just don't put enough miles on in an average year. I was also substantially enamored with the amount of space in the engine room on a gas 400. I believe I could comfortably sleep between the engines. Massive amounts of space.

My experience with my 340 leads me to believe we'd be pretty miserable in 3'-5's for 3+ hours?? Perhaps we'll head a few miles out on Friday and see how it feels before giving up on it. I don't hate the idea of staying in WI for the weekend but I'd much rather be on our side of the pond...
 
Stee6043 said:
Thank you, Tom. I appreciate the comments and the advice. CSR proper will not approve...but I went with gas. I went round and round between two diesels and one gas 400 in this age range. In the end I couldn't pull the trigger on diesel. We just don't put enough miles on in an average year. I was also substantially enamored with the amount of space in the engine room on a gas 400. I believe I could comfortably sleep between the engines. Massive amounts of space.

My experience with my 340 leads me to believe we'd be pretty miserable in 3'-5's for 3+ hours?? Perhaps we'll head a few miles out on Friday and see how it feels before giving up on it. I don't hate the idea of staying in WI for the weekend but I'd much rather be on our side of the pond...
Click to expand...

I'm not touching the gas vs diesel argument, as there are others that have beat that one to death on here. However, I'm sure you've got a lot of room in ER.

We had a 340, and you will notice very quickly the 400 is a totally different boat with it's length, width, depth, and weight. Have fun!

-Tom
 
Hi
Congratulations on the new boat, we took the same step last year from the 340 to 410. So much more room!
As a plan B for the weekend you could run west and north up to Egg Harbor. Shipwrecked brew pub is a great place to visit. Beatutiful coast line to run over there.
 
pcarp said:
Hi
Congratulations on the new boat, we took the same step last year from the 340 to 410. So much more room!
As a plan B for the weekend you could run west and north up to Egg Harbor. Shipwrecked brew pub is a great place to visit. Beatutiful coast line to run over there.
Click to expand...

I considered making some small trips while waiting on the big lake to calm down. Thank you for the tip!
 
Stee6043 said:
I considered making some small trips while waiting on the big lake to calm down. Thank you for the tip!
Click to expand...
Friday looks like a good day to cross to Frankfort from Sturgeon Bay. Winds are forecasted to be around 6 on both sides of the Lake. If you left SB at 8:00AM you would be in Frankfort in two hours.
 
Congrats man, we're looking to jump to a 400/410 possibly next season. I'm going to end up with the same gas vs diesel dilemma boating on Lake Ontario. Diesel sounds great, but gassers could get me anywhere on this lake we need to go and as a DIY mechanic when I can be the room sure is welcomed. Good luck with her and post pics of the trip
 
sbw1 said:
Friday looks like a good day to cross to Frankfort from Sturgeon Bay. Winds are forecasted to be around 6 on both sides of the Lake. If you left SB at 8:00AM you would be in Frankfort in two hours.
Click to expand...

I wish I could get out there that early. Neither the seller nor myself can really make anything happen until early afternoon. I'm assuming the weather window will have closed by the time we're ready to rock.

Clearly my booze/food allocation for the weekend is going to need some adjusting at this point.
 
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