Lake Erie to Lake St. Clair

[Radiorick]

This may be a really stupid question, but it won't be the first time. We are heading from Lake Erie to Cheboygan, MI this weekend. Is it adviseable or mandatory to follow the upbound channel when heading north on the Detroit River?

Thanks,

 

[RollerCoastr]

Neither! Use the Downbound Channel in both directions. It's easier to find and follow and it's a straight shot. I call it "The Highway". It's my favorite part of the trip. There have been many days when I wished it continued all the way across the lake.

 

[RollerCoastr]

What I have to question though, and no disrespect to Cheboygan is intended, why go all that way and not continue a little further to Mackinac Island?

 

[Daniel P Thomas]

deleted

 

[Daniel P Thomas]

As for the shipping lanes, comming back from Mackinac, I paralleled the lanes, offset by about 1/2 mile. Those freighters are faster than they look and I didn't want one sneaking up on me from behind.

Ohhh Boy! I will second Scott on that one.
Been there and done that.
Only I was on a 'blow boat' doing 7 knots!

Another story though.


Dan

 

[RollerCoastr]

Generally speaking, yeah - there's no reason to play Chicken with a vessel that needs 11 miles to plan a 9 degree turn!

But the south end of the Livingstone Channel in the Detroit River is unique: they created parallel jetty-like land masses down the center of the river for downbound freighters, while the upbound freighters follow a more traditional buoy-marked trail up the eastern side.

"The Highway" is about 500 ft wide, and only 3-4 miles long. Passing freighters in there is interesting, but not scary. Here's a pic to illustrate it better. This is northbound entering the downbound channel:

 

[Radiorick]

Thanks for all the information. Actually Cheboygan is the jumping off point. We'll hook up with friends there and the two boats will then going to cruise the North Channel for a couple weeks.

 

[Sua Sponte]

Neither! Use the Downbound Channel in both directions.

Totally agree.

If you stop in at the Port Huron Yacht Club, a good buddy of mine is the current Commodore.

 

[Away Point]

Generally speaking, yeah - there's no reason to play Chicken with a vessel that needs 11 miles to plan a 9 degree turn!

But the south end of the Livingstone Channel in the Detroit River is unique: they created parallel jetty-like land masses down the center of the river for downbound freighters, while the upbound freighters follow a more traditional buoy-marked trail up the eastern side.

"The Highway" is about 500 ft wide, and only 3-4 miles long. Passing freighters in there is interesting, but not scary. Here's a pic to illustrate it better. This is northbound entering the downbound channel:

Agreed. Interesting, but not scary.