crossing lake 1st time

D

dave 1750

New Member
Dec 31, 2010
48
marblehead
Boat Info
1976 30 ft weekender
Engines
twin 351 's
p/u boat at monroe mi , need too get too marble head . will have g.p.s an chart plotter. all i,ve have is my test ride in an servey thats all i'll know about boat . like to keep shore line in view some what , the only thing is getting around the shooting range before you get to islands . i know they are mark , but knowing where an what to look for before cutting back east ? would app. any help . thanks ( far as shooting range , this an area set aside for national guard to shoot at targets over lake erie )
 
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Hi Dave and welcome to Club Sea Ray.

We are fellow boating enthusiasts and we like helping people who are new to boating.

However we are not 12 year old kids who are into texting shorthand.

I have no idea what you posted above. I can’t understand what you are asking.

I recommend you post your question with real words put into sentences.

Thank you Dave.
 
at risk of being smart , i thought it was straight to the point ! you all seem to know alot more than me an i apperiate any advice that i can get , thanks dave
 
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Wonder what was there before the edits.
 
Hi Dave,



Congratulations on joining us in becoming a boater.


I am still genuinely trying to help you yet I have no idea what you are asking.

Since you are a new boater and looking to do a crossing I have recommendations.


I had a friend ask me for advice about taking his single engine cuddy cabin boat away from the coast about 25 to 30 miles. My recommendation to him was to not do this is such a small single engine craft however he is determined.

Given that talking him out of it was not going to happened and knowing that budget is a consideration I put together my advice for the above described situation. This would also apply to Great Lake crossing as well. I did not want him to become a statistic.

Again, cost is a significant factor so given the budget limitations I offer these suggestions for crossing big water on a small budget.

1 Education & training
2 Inspection
3 Planning
4 Safety equipment
5 Checking the weather
6 Wearing your life jacket


#1) Education / training Cost $0. You can take courses that cost money however they tend to be very economical. Come to think of it, taking the course is good advice for all boaters.

Boating classes are offered by the coast guard auxiliary, the local power squadron, the DNR and you can also take the boating safety course FREE online here http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/
If you take the final exam there is a fee of $10. Upon passing this course you will get a certificate / wallet card. Many insurance companies give a discount upon providing them documentation that you successfully completed this course.

#2) Get a free vessel safety inspection. Cost $0. Like the above boating class, this should be done for all boaters. You contact the local coast guard auxiliary or the local power squadron and if you are launched they may offer coming to you to perform the inspection. Upon passing this inspection you will get a vessel decal to display on your boat. One place you can go to sigh up for this free inspection is here: http://safetyseal.net/

#3) File a float plan Cost $0. A float plan is a written document that includes a description of your boat and where you plan to go and when you plan to return. You leave this with a responsible person and check in with them as agreed. If you do not check in at the agreed time and can not reach you they contact the authorities and provide the information in the form.

Although there is no required from you must use the coast guard has made one you can download for free. You can download the form for free here http://www.floatplancentral.org/download/USCGFloatPlan.pdf

#4) Have the proper safety gear. Above the safety equipment required by law and reviewed in the free vessel safety inspection you will be in a higher risk activity. Because of this I have assembled the below risk.

A) Budget Life Raft - Assuming you are on a tight budget and have no paying passengers you can save money by purchasing a NON-USCG/SOLAS rated one. A 6-preson Valise (soft bag) Revere brand Cost $1,600. It will be 29” x 12” x 15.5”

This life raft is the size of a slightly large duffel bag, 29” x 12” x 15.5” and it has the actual life raft + CO-2 inflation system plus a equipment pack containing:
• 3 Red Hand Flares
• 1 Red Parachute Flare
• Bailer
• Signal Mirror
• Water Tight Flashlight
• Extra Flashlight Batteries
• Floating Knife
• Rescue Throwing Quoit
• Sponges
• Paddles
• Seasick Tablets
• Repair Kit

Using the buddy system, meaning you boat with other boats at all times can also work with or instead of a life raft however you must share the same schedule and be willing to mirror your boating movement.

B) PLB EPIRB GPS. This is a long acronym. It stand for (PLB) Personal Locator Beacon (EPIRB) Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons with internal (GPS) Global Positioning System. This device allows you to alert authorities that you need help and lets them know your location. Read the owner’s manual and register the product.

Keep this on your lifejacket you are wearing or in your ditch bag. The cost and size has come way down. A personal Locating Beacon or PLB with built in GPS runs about $550-$600. Consider the ACR 406 GPS I/O EPIRB or MCMURCO Fastfind 406 PLB with GPS.
Cost $600.

C) Hand held VHF in addition to the main 25 watt. Cost $100. Use marine band radios instead of commercial cell phones, which have limited coverage and are unreliable when out of sight of land. Get one that is waterproof and can take standard batteries and carry an additional set of batteries. A budget handheld waterproof VHF is the Uniten Atalntis 250 or cobra MR HH90 or Standard Horizon HX270S.

D) Floating ditch bag. A small ACR RepidDitch is $50. 19” x 15” x 7” Keep your safety gear in here and keep it in a spot you can grab easily. I recommend filling the bag with your PLB (unless you are wearing it, which is even better), your handheld VHF and spare batteries, your distress signaling devices (flares) and a first aid kit.

#5) Check the weather forecast early and often. Although you can spend thousands of dollars on sophisticated equipment you can get this information free via the VHF radio on the weather channels. Cost $0. If the weather is not favorable the trip needs to be delayed.

#6) I have saved the most important for last. Wear your life jacket. Cost of not leaving the life jacket stored = $0. Epically if anything goes array be it bad weather or a malfunction. They make life vests like the Type V that are inflatable so you can wear them without movement restrictions. A Type V vest must be worn to be counted as one of your onboard life vests.

So there you have it. The six most important items to reduce the risk to help you safely cross big water on a small budget.
 
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Welcome Dave.

I will have to agree with Presentation.

From your thread I know you want to get from Monroe MI to Marble Head and you will have a GPS chart plotter.

That is all I can get out of your question. Please re-post or clarify so we can help you.

Again, welcome, glad to have you here at CSR.
 
Dave - I can get the gist of what you are asking...
Are you thinking of running closer to the south shore?
If so... maybe set your heading to the Toledo Harbor light. Then head East towards West Sister. (Check your charts) You can stay fairly close to West Sister's South side and stay clear of the Camp Perry firing range. It IS marked - but can be difficult to see. When you get to W.Sister you should be able to see Perry's monument - we set our bow to Perry's. Then at that point you should be able to navigate south of the islands, past Port Clinton & Catawba Island to Marblehead.

Besides the previously mentioned safety gear - a Boat US membership w/ unlimited towing. There is a Tow boat out of Port Clinton - we've used them once or twice.
Do you have a friend experienced in boating on the lake to travel with you? This isn't a horribly long trip. When do you plan to take your little voyage?
 
AKBASSKING said:
Welcome Dave.

I will have to agree with Presentation.

From your thread I know you want to get from Monroe MI to Marble Head and you will have a GPS chart plotter.

That is all I can get out of your question. Please re-post or clarify so we can help you.

Again, welcome, glad to have you here at CSR.
Click to expand...

Well said by both of you. I welcome you Dave, this is a fantastic forum. I still do not know in detail what you are asking, to try to give you the answers you seek.

MM
 
Been there ,I stayed to the north of sister island though,then head towards perrys monument,who knows if the guard can hit a target or not.Also be carefull between catawba and the islang as there are some large rocks there ,they will be marked as danger areas on your gps if it is updated .Also study the gps manufacturers operating book and know what the markings are.Good idea to find a boating friend,as i picked up my 40 silverton at catawba island and went back to humbug in gibraltar on a day it was supposed to be 3 ft or less.The wind picked up to about 35 mph and in the east basin it gets rather rough quickly.This was the first ride on the flybridge and i wasnt used to it at all,i was so sore the next two days i could barely walk.That was a 4 hour ride i'll never forget.Worst part was i took another boater out on the next trip and found the problem was i was going to slow! PS welcome
 
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thanks for the replys , will have all safety gear . plan on getting some charts an going over them . trip plan for around the end of apr. or 1st of may weather permitting . its first searay , been long time coming . from 24 ft to a 30ft twin eng. weekender , just trying get all my ducks in a row. and what i was trying to do was keep land in site till got to shooting range ,then go around . like to have some land marks besides g.p.s an chart plotter . also i will be takeing 1st mate with me , figure two heads are better than one.
 
by the way thanks to all of you , and its all very sound advice . i,ve always had small boats and fish lake erie , but never cross the lake or made a trip such as this . that time of year on erie is to cold to be swimming! just trying to get all info i can. i was in the navy so i know how serious mother nature can be , yes its fun an i love the water , but with caution. thanks dave
 
I bought my new to me in Milwaukee and need to get it to the Saginaw Bay. The broker asked if I was going to bring it home by water as if it were no big deal (he's also a captain that makes the Lake Michigan crossing multiple times a year). I decided that my maiden voyage should not be a 2 or 3 day trip and chose to have it shipped. Much to my suprise it wasn't that expensive at only $1,350 for the 700 mile (by land) trip. It would probably cost similar money just in fuel to make it by water. I don't know if this is an option, but at least something to think about.
 
Acb4boss said:
I bought my new to me in Milwaukee and need to get it to the Saginaw Bay. The broker asked if I was going to bring it home by water as if it were no big deal (he's also a captain that makes the Lake Michigan crossing multiple times a year). I decided that my maiden voyage should not be a 2 or 3 day trip and chose to have it shipped. Much to my suprise it wasn't that expensive at only $1,350 for the 700 mile (by land) trip. It would probably cost similar money just in fuel to make it by water. I don't know if this is an option, but at least something to think about.
Click to expand...

Should have manned up and taken the water!!
 
Acb4boss said:
I bought my new to me in Milwaukee and need to get it to the Saginaw Bay. The broker asked if I was going to bring it home by water as if it were no big deal (he's also a captain that makes the Lake Michigan crossing multiple times a year). I decided that my maiden voyage should not be a 2 or 3 day trip and chose to have it shipped. Much to my suprise it wasn't that expensive at only $1,350 for the 700 mile (by land) trip. It would probably cost similar money just in fuel to make it by water. I don't know if this is an option, but at least something to think about.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm more fearless than most but crossing the lake is not a big deal at all. A first trip on a new to you boat without running it a few times is not the best idea but you would be across the lake in about an hour and 15 minutes at the most.
 
But then he still has to go all the way around the mitt to get to saginaw bay.That will take time and fuel.
 
90 miles in 1hr 15min? I need what you got:grin: cause for me it would be closer to 3hrs 15 min. ( http://www.retireinmuskegon.com/about/location/ )

"But then he still has to go all the way around the mitt to get to saginaw bay.That will take time and fuel. "

Exactally! The 1st "leg" just to cross is about 20% of the entire trip. It's probably a 2/3 day trip cosidering it's somewhere in the 12-15 hour range plus fuel stops etc.

15hrs running the boat at 20gph x $4/gal.=?

For $150 I'll let someone else do it for me:thumbsup:. Not about "manning up" or unpacking my man purse or coughing up the man card:lol:, I don't have 3 days to commit to something like this, especially in the summer and when they can do it in a few hours by truck.
 
Yup thats the top of the mitt.The whole lower looks like a mitten,so the top half is called the mitt.
 
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