Chicago air and water show 8-17

CAPTAINJEH

CAPTAINJEH

Member
Nov 1, 2007
117
Chain o lakes, IL / Lake MI / Lake Geneva, WI
Boat Info
1998 230 Bow Rider
Engines
7.4 mpi B1
Howdy, I'm thinking about making my first attempt at watching the Chicago A & W show this saturday on the boat. Can anyone recomend a good safe spot to anchor? We're going to be heading down from northpoint to Diversy to pick up some friends then to an anchoring spot to watch the show. It's still a little ways out but the NOAA marine forecast looks about as good as it can get as of right now!
Thanks, Jason
 
CAPTAINJEH said:
Howdy, I'm thinking about making my first attempt at watching the Chicago A & W show this saturday on the boat. Can anyone recomend a good safe spot to anchor? We're going to be heading down from northpoint to Diversy to pick up some friends then to an anchoring spot to watch the show. It's still a little ways out but the NOAA marine forecast looks about as good as it can get as of right now!
Thanks, Jason
Click to expand...

Anywhere from Navy Pier to Belmont harbor it will be very viewable...

We've watched from the Playpen before, as well as within the harbors... highly suggest dusable harbor...
 
We are going to try and get out there from our slip in East Chicago. Hopefully the wind won't be bad. This had not been a great summer for boating.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 4
 
Expect anywhere from 1-4' waves no matter what the wind is. Boats are EVERYWHERE with no regard to wakes at all. You will not be able to enter the playpen at all during the air show, after its no problem. I have been pretty much every year for the last 6 years and some before that. We always have best intentions of rafting off but it never works out due to boat traffic wakes.

The further from the action you go ( closer to Diversy ) you will be much better off.
 
Since We're coming down from the North to Diversy to pick up some folks sounds like we'll be in the perfect spot. Not sure how happy they'll all be only getting a 5 minute boat ride. or maybe we'll just stay away from the mess enough to be safe but close enough to check out all the boats. this will be a winging it kind of trip since I've never gone to the show before. We did though make the trip from NP earlier in the summer and it was awesome with 1-2' waves from what i could tell. Went though the locks and just putzed around the city-playpen area.
 
How'd it go?

I realize I'm a little late to the party, but there was a stiff 5-10 E wind, so couple that with the boat traffic and there were some bumps while anchored. I managed to tuck in just north of the breakwater against the blocked off area, and it wasn't too bad.

The worst part was no military jets due to sequester, so the show was pretty weak.
 
We left North Point ~8:30am and it was a little bumpy on the way down. we anchored pretty much right outside Diversey Harbor. Total distance one way was 39.2 miles, 1hr 39mins, average 23.6mph. Only two of us on the boat left with full tank. ride home was the same but 7 minutes faster. Filled boat back up on land on the way home 28.341 gallons. for some reason i can't get any pics to post.
 
@ CAPTAINJEH
I'm sure launching was no issue at that hour, but how was the return? Since DNR police no longer patrol the marina it has been getting crazy there, and unfortunately the local police have little/no jurisdiction. Marina "Security" kids just sit and watch the mayhem.
 
So far never had a problem but only launched there twice this year. when we got back to NP we were the only boat pulling out of the water nobody else around the ramps. Didn't see any kids hanging out watching either. Unless we were lucky that day I don't see any problems with the place.
 
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