Chicago to Port Clinton – June 2011

charlesg740

charlesg740

New Member
Sep 1, 2009
38
Port Clinton - Lake Erie
Boat Info
'78 30' Weekender
Engines
Chrysler 360 Inboards
Plan to take Where’s Waldo (or better said, Where’s Waldo hopefully will take us) from Chicago to Port Clinton, Ohio. (A part of the Great Loop, but in reverse direction.)
Plan to trailer Where’s Waldo from where else but Waldo, Ohio to Chicago. Would like to stay in Chicago for a couple of days. Any suggestions on Marina’s downtown? Chicago nightlife? Whatever?
Then - Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, and finally Lake Erie. Any suggestions on route, what we must see, overnight dockage, marinas, etc. etc. etc.
Thanks - Chuck
 
www.lakelandboating.com has several guides for the Great Lakes. About 40 bucks apiece, but nice resource material. I enjoy flipping thru my Lake Michigan guide when I get a little homesick for Charlevoix. (which ain't that hoity-toity...)
 
Musta been the fudge wrappings lured it into range.... :)
 
You can walk to bars, clubs, night-life, dinning, the cubs or shopping if you get a slip at either Diversey or Belmont. Burnham, DuSable and Montrose are nice, but not much directly around them. I would recommend a cruise on the Chicago River, a cruise past Navy Pier and a cruise though Monroe Harbor. One question I have is, where do you plan to launch the boat and keep the truck/trailer? You can launch at Burnham, Diversey or if 31st Street is completed on time, but I can't remember the rules for over-nighting the truck/trailer. Maybe you are getting dropped off and wont need to worry about the truck/trailer.

Also if you want to camp (no shore power or any other resource) you can get wall space at Monroe Harbor (this would be the cheapest option for over-nighting).
 
Not to hijack this thread, but I just have to ask — Scott what happen when you were on the wall?

I have experienced several stupid comments, but nothing physical. Stuff like: look at the rich people, how much does that boat cost, can I have a ride, why is your boat parked here, how deep is the water. I sometimes reply with an equally stupid comment.

Some people want to take photos in front of the boat or ask where they can rent a boat. IMO the wall is one of the best places in the entire city for eye candy.
 
Every time I go to the city I stay in Burnham or Belmont, Dusable is a good option if you want to be right in the mix downtown. You will most likely need a cab wherever you go at any marina. A river cruise is a must and I believe there are 3 places you can pull up and eat lunch or dinner all being free except Dicks last resort.

Flatwater is a great restaurant on the river and the people wont know whats happening when you pull up and hop over the wall lol. You can imagine their surprise when we pull up with 3 guys and 9 girls in Bikinis on the bow.

Plan on spending a day just cruising the shoreline and the river, it never gets boring to me.

One thought would be to launch the boat in Hammond, IN and make a quick jump over to Chicago. I think you would have an easier time with parking the truck and trailer and launching a boat that big.

A short stop on your run over might be New Buffalo for the night if you have no time schedule, docks are right in town and plenty of nice bars and restaurants to hit well within walking distance alone with nice facilities.

Have fun, I took a boat the opposite direction that you're headed last year for a delivery and wish I could have taken my time running down the lake. We went from Mac Ray Harbor on Lake St. Clair up and over all the way down to New Buffalo in 5 days.
 
Scott, thanks for sharing. Hmmm, you must have stumbled across an angry Obama mob. The wall is usually a pretty tame place. I know the police patrol the bike path regularly and I feel save.

A two more ideas. You can anchor for the day in the gap (the playpen http://www.theplaypenchicago.com/) and/or watch Saturday night Navy Pier fireworks from the water.
 
hobbs said:
Not to hijack this thread, but I just have to ask — Scott what happen when you were on the wall?

I have experienced several stupid comments, but nothing physical. Stuff like: look at the rich people, how much does that boat cost, can I have a ride, why is your boat parked here, how deep is the water. I sometimes reply with an equally stupid comment.

Some people want to take photos in front of the boat or ask where they can rent a boat. IMO the wall is one of the best places in the entire city for eye candy.
Click to expand...


Have they tried to wash your windshield yet? Or is that only at stop signs.
 
I have lived in the downtown area for the last 16 years. I have never had anyone want to wash my windshield. For the most part I don't get asked for money either. I get bothered more by these "save the children" or "save the rain forest" nut jobs.

You will be fine parked at the wall. The weekend is better than during the week (more boats). I have spent many a day and night there. Just remember the wall is part of the Chicago Park System and your boat is your boat. What I'm trying to say is that — don't bring drinks into the park. I have seen the police write several tickets for people walking down the bike path with drink in hand.

Another tips for the wall — put the canvas/cockpit cover on if you want to sleep or leave the boat for a longer time period, don't leave the cooler in sight, bring your grill or have food delivered to the harbor and the best action happens from the pump-out going West.
 
Last edited:
hobbs said:
Another tips for the wall — put the canvas/cockpit cover on if you want to sleep or leave the boat for a longer time period, don't leave the cooler in sight, bring your grill or have food delivered to the harbor and the best action happens from the pump-out going West.
Click to expand...

All of this points to the reason I would just get a slip. I spent one night on the wall and I have lived in the Chicago area all of my life but it wasn't a pleasant experience. A slip for the night for my boat was $125 I believe with power and water included. The slips are gated, I left my cooler on the dock, met some very nice people, left my cabin door unlocked and walked away with piece of mind.
 
Seems everyone is anchored in Chicago there are numerous stops you can make on this trip Lexington Mi, is nice it' about an hour north of Bluewater Bridge a half hour south of bridge is St Clair Mi. and it has a nice municipal marina and a half hour south again is Algonac which also is nice.You will not find any problems in any of these marinas and from Algonac you can easily make it home in a day.I would also recommend the Municipal Marina in Sarnia but unfortunately you would have to call in to Customs which can be a hassle with passports I68 etc.Phil
 
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