Beaver Island Trip - Lake Michigan

surfinjoe

surfinjoe

New Member
Feb 23, 2007
946
Michigan
Boat Info
220 Sundeck 2007
Engines
350 MAG w/Bravo III
Well, the time has come for us to plan our summer trips before the hotels are booked. I have a few trips in mind, but one that I am considering is going over to Beaver Island near the top of Lake Michigan. This trip is about 35 miles out. Has anyone ever made this trip? How are the waters in this area? If I picked the right day, would my 220 SD be OK or am I pushing the limit?

My plan would be to follow the ferry route and possibly even tail a ferry. Finding another boat would even be better, but most of my boating friends are in lower Michigan and Florida.
 
Make the trip every other year by ferry, never by my own boat. My wife has a friend that owns Oak Woods Condo and rentals (231 448 2099) Very nice people. They will pick you up at the docks and do any thing you ask them. If there is five footer or higher we fly back. You may want to contact the chamber for summer activities. Fun place to go, but different.
 
So there are days where you won't even take the ferry back? I wonder if there is a boat launch on the island? I could possibly ferry my boat/trailer over and launch on the island? The point of this trip would be 'boating' so for me it would be essential to have my boat with me on the island.

I have done some research, and it sounds like a very quiet place to relax. My job is very stressful, so I enjoy just unwinding sometimes.
 
Pick the right day, and you will have no problem with that trip. You will need to be flexible on timing, as the wind and water do not usually cooperate with prior plans. I have been on that water where it is glass for days, and been stuck up in that area for a week. The trip itself is completely doable. July would be your best bet for smooth water, IMO.....
 
Tim, again contact chamber. There are places to launch the boat in the harbor. Yes it is a place to relax, like I said it is different, very laid back. Good places to eat.
 
Boatingnut said:
Pick the right day, and you will have no problem with that trip. You will need to be flexible on timing, as the wind and water do not usually cooperate with prior plans. I have been on that water where it is glass for days, and been stuck up in that area for a week. The trip itself is completely doable. July would be your best bet for smooth water, IMO.....
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I'll second that, time of year and slightly open planning.
We have had our previous 22 Pachanga on overnight trips all over the 4 western Great Lakes including that area.
The boats are about the same size, yours may actually be a bit larger.
At 35 miles you're looking at about an hour and a half crossing taking your time.
If you watch the weather, have a good radio, all your safety equipment and a bit of boating common sense it would be a great trip.
Enjoy!
 
Beaver Island is located in the open waters of Lake Michigan in an area where we've experienced some of the roughest waters in 40+ years of cruising. We do day trips out there for friends who have never experienced open water boating and who do not get sea sick. If the winds are out of the east, the city marina can be very uncomfortable. My wife had to sleep on the dock one night to avoid barfing over the side. When it started to rain, she still refused to come back aboard until some snakes came out of the grass and started heading her way. Got back in the boat very quickly. A few years back a Chicago to Mac race boat was de-masted in a blow out there and I believe a person drowned. Many racing accidents have occurred in this part of the Lake.

Can you do it in a 22 foot boat? Sure. Is it a good idea? Not really. Best option is the ferry unless you have a boat with great sea keeping capabilities. Having said that, I did sail a Butterfly from Evanston, Illinois to Michigan City, Indiana many years ago. It was a really stupid thing to do but we had fun.
 
I went to Beaver Island last summer out of Ironton, nice trip but hate to do it in any larger wave's than I did. I don't know about following the ferry. I think it takes four hours for them to cross. I don't know if I'll ever go back, if I do it will be to see garden Island. I really like south Manituo island the best. Been there twice and willl be going back this year.
 
bigblockcutlass said:
I went to Beaver Island last summer out of Ironton, nice trip but hate to do it in any larger wave's than I did. I don't know about following the ferry. I think it takes four hours for them to cross. I don't know if I'll ever go back, if I do it will be to see garden Island. I really like south Manituo island the best. Been there twice and willl be going back this year.
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We enjoy South Manitou Island as well. We anchor out in the harbor for lunch and then circumnavigate the island and return to Leland harbor as a day trip. That can be rougher than h#ll as well, but worth the trip on a good day. Fishing is also great out there.
 
Yup, it can get rough up there and I agree it has been some of the most wicked water I have been in. But, again, if you are flexible and watch the weather and marine reports, it is doable. I have done some much longer trips than that in a 23' cuddy, and yes, it was crazy, and we were young. It is not a trip for someone who is not willing to plan ahead and be sensible about when they do and do not cross. It would be a beautiful run at night, if that is when it is calm. I see fisherman in some scary rigs 10-20 miles out.....
"

sbw1 said:
Beaver Island is located in the open waters of Lake Michigan in an area where we've experienced some of the roughest waters in 40+ years of cruising. We do day trips out there for friends who have never experienced open water boating and who do not get sea sick. If the winds are out of the east, the city marina can be very uncomfortable. My wife had to sleep on the dock one night to avoid barfing over the side. When it started to rain, she still refused to come back aboard until some snakes came out of the grass and started heading her way. Got back in the boat very quickly. A few years back a Chicago to Mac race boat was de-masted in a blow out there and I believe a person drowned. Many racing accidents have occurred in this part of the Lake.

Can you do it in a 22 foot boat? Sure. Is it a good idea? Not really. Best option is the ferry unless you have a boat with great sea keeping capabilities. Having said that, I did sail a Butterfly from Evanston, Illinois to Michigan City, Indiana many years ago. It was a really stupid thing to do but we had fun.
Click to expand...
 
Boatingnut said:
Yup, it can get rough up there and I agree it has been some of the most wicked water I have been in. But, again, if you are flexible and watch the weather and marine reports, it is doable. I have done some much longer trips than that in a 23' cuddy, and yes, it was crazy, and we were young. It is not a trip for someone who is not willing to plan ahead and be sensible about when they do and do not cross. It would be a beautiful run at night, if that is when it is calm. I see fisherman in some scary rigs 10-20 miles out.....
"
Click to expand...

The OP was asking about planning for hotels and wondering about water conditions. Sounds like a somewhat inexperienced boater to me and he has a 22 foot boat that is not suited for offshore running. While Lake Michigan is not the ocean, when 30 miles out you are offshore in a boat that is not up to the task. On a given day a pontoon boat could go there. When Ted Turner did the Chicago to Mac he asked how tough could it be. He found out when he was beat to sh#t. This after he won the America Cup.
 
I would be inclined to stage out of Charlevoix, and day trip on Lake Charlevoix to Boyne City and East Jordan, if you're looking to veg out. But I'm biased, as I grew up there. Never did go to Beaver Island....Can't go wrong anywhere up there in the Summer, as long as you know your limitations. Enjoy..
 
Thanks for the advice! If I do go, it will be in July for sure. And I understand about weather turning on a dime. 30-40 miles is a long way in rough water, even in a 40' boat. Maybe my best bet is to ferry my boat over and not worry about corssing.
 
Can you ferry the boat of that size? From what I remember the ferry is not that big. I shoud call my buddy that works for island airways up there, he would know.
 
Not sure what you would do with a 22 foot boat out there. The water around the island is very skinny and you will be looking at a tree line from off shore. If you ferry out, you can rent bikes or a car and see the whole island in under a day. I thought the advice to cruise on Lake Charlevoix was very good. You could do a lot of boating on that huge lake and not worry about weather. Take the ferry to BI and you've done it all safely.
 
Maybe you guys are right, stick to Lake Charlevoix then ferry out to BI if we get the itch. Thanks!
 
The ferry that goes to Beaver Island is of good size. One a week it takes the semi truck to the island to restock the grocery store. Go to BIBCO.COM
 
We visited Beaver Island a few years ago on a trip to Mackinac. It's a quiet place to be certain. There were two marinas, a municipal and private. The private marina offered more services (and is where you can rent a vehicle) but access crossed shallow water so don't know how bad that might be now. The municipal marina has fixed docks and offers basic dockage. That is where we slipped. We enjoyed our overnight there, but really don't have a strong desire to return. We were there on a Sunday when many of the island businesses were closed, not that there are many to begin with. There were boats near your class in the marina so you definately wouldn't be the first.

Our cruise last year included a stop in the Charlevoix area. Because the Charlevoix Municipal (and Leland for that matter) has decided through their price schedule that they are a "premium" marina, we opted to cruise on to Boyne City for a three day stay and slipped at Harborage Marina. I can't recommend that place enough. The facilities are awesome, floating docks, bath suites, clean and spacious grounds, it's just a bit away from the downtown buzz, and close enough to easily walk to restaurants. Much more relaxed and laid back than the zoo at Charlevoix for half the cost. It's a condo-marina but they maintain transient slips. I"d give the restaurants in Boyne City the edge to anything in Charlevoix as well. Cafe Sante was particularly pleasing to our tastes with a stop next door at the ice cream parlor for some Michigan made Moomers Ice Cream for dessert. We had an outstanding two week trip, and this port was near the top.
 
I'm with Play Dough on this one. We keep our boat at the municipal harbor in Charlevoix. One day a few years ago when Lake Michigan was flat like a mirror, we took a group over to the Beav for lunch at the Shamrock. We didn't spend the night, and there is NOTHING to draw me back. It's definitely not for everyone. I often joke that I spent a week there one afternoon. Also, ditto on Cafe Sante..... One of our favorites.
 
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