Lake St. Clair Boaters

[sb in gp]

How about a topic to talk about destinations and information for those harbored on Lake St. Clair?

Anybody, anybody?

I'll get it started:

We're traveling with another boat, and planning the following trips this year:

June: St. Clair, MI (Moore Harbor, http://www.fishweb.com/maps/stclair/harbors/stclair.html) - on the St. Clair river. Kinda a short 1-night starter trip to get my wife comfortable with sleeping on the boat (new boat, she hates spiders). Girls are going to art fair, and boys are playing 9-holes of golf.

July: Cedar Point - A more ambitious 3-day trip, any tips on crossing Lake Erie? I've heard it can be challenging if weather is not good.

August: Sarnia, ON (http://www.sarniabaymarina.com/) -> Lexington, MI (http://www.fishweb.com/maps/sanilac/harbors/lexington.html) - Spending 1 night in Sarnia and 1 night in Lexington. Hopefully Lake Huron will be warm enough by then for kids (and Labrador) to swim.

Scott

 

[boltman]

Try Elk Rapids

Hey Scott, Do you have a trailer for that beautiful boat? You should try the Elk Rapids gathering, there's going to be about 20 boats or so, maybe more, if the groups comes in from Chicago. I know it's a long trip for you, but well worth the trip and Oh...I don't rememeber seeing any spider there either, but never take the wofe to Muskegon...lot's of spiders all over the Docks trust me on that one Dude. you will like Lexington though, I've been there and its a nice lil town, great Ice cream shop in town also. We plan to do some Lake huron boating this year, we have been concentrating on Lake Michigan last year and most likely will be there again this year......I can't wait for theo boating season to begin......

 

[sb in gp]

Re: Try Elk Rapids

Hey Scott, Do you have a trailer for that beautiful boat? You should try the Elk Rapids gathering, there's going to be about 20 boats or so, maybe more, if the groups comes in from Chicago. I know it's a long trip for you, but well worth the trip and Oh...I don't rememeber seeing any spider there either, but never take the wofe to Muskegon...lot's of spiders all over the Docks trust me on that one Dude. you will like Lexington though, I've been there and its a nice lil town, great Ice cream shop in town also. We plan to do some Lake huron boating this year, we have been concentrating on Lake Michigan last year and most likely will be there again this year......I can't wait for theo boating season to begin......

I do not have a trailer. You are a far braver man than me for trailering your beautiful boat on MI roads. You must have to pull a permit for a boat that size?

I love Elk Rapids, spent summers there as a kid. We spend a couple of weeks a year in the Charlevoix area. Won't be dragging the boat up there anytime soon though, but thanks for asking.

Scott

 

[bouttime]

Cedar Point

Scott

Cedar Point is a fantastic trip. We have been there several times in the past few years. They have moved the transient docks to the bay east of the harbour entrance near the boat lift. I much preferred to be west of the fuel docks (the previous transient docks) as you were much closer to the entrance as well as the restaurant and it is nicer there. The upside to the new location is that it is quieter in the evening if you wish to relax with a drink and not hear as much noise from the park.

As for Lake Erie - well I've had beautiful mill pond crossings as well as some challenging ones. Pay close attention to the weather, especially the wind direction, because if it is coming out of the east it has the whole lake to build the water and you will have no protection until you get in the lee of the Bass Islands. We left our home port of LaSalle, ON last October for the last trip of the season to take our 6 year old over and the river as well as about 1/3 way to Put in Bay was a very nice ride then we took all the east wind (much stronger than predicted) off the port bow and got pretty wet so we tucked in to Put in Bay for the night. It was not scary, even for my daughter and the Admiral but it was not much fun being wet and cold.

Make your itinerary flexible and go for it.

Jeff

 

[SkipBarnes]

August: Sarnia, ON (http://www.sarniabaymarina.com/) -> Lexington, MI (http://www.fishweb.com/maps/sanilac/harbors/lexington.html) - Spending 1 night in Sarnia and 1 night in Lexington. Hopefully Lake Huron will be warm enough by then for kids (and Labrador) to swim.
Scott

You might consider Bridgeview Marina, where I keep my boat. It's a little more comfortable than Sarnia Bay especially if you stay back in the Lagoon.

http://www.bridgeviewmarina.com

 

[sb in gp]

Re: Cedar Point

As for Lake Erie - well I've had beautiful mill pond crossings as well as some challenging ones. Pay close attention to the weather, especially the wind direction, because if it is coming out of the east it has the whole lake to build the water and you will have no protection until you get in the lee of the Bass Islands. We left our home port of LaSalle, ON last October for the last trip of the season to take our 6 year old over and the river as well as about 1/3 way to Put in Bay was a very nice ride then we took all the east wind (much stronger than predicted) off the port bow and got pretty wet so we tucked in to Put in Bay for the night. It was not scary, even for my daughter and the Admiral but it was not much fun being wet and cold.

Hey Jeff, I've heard about that East wind problem. In your opinion what kind of wind speed would you consider too great to make the trip?

 

[bouttime]

Scott

There are many variables you must consider IMHO:

Wind speed and direction, length of time it has been blowing (Erie always has larger waves in the afternoon), predicted wave height, as well as the comfort level of you and your crew.

I certainly cannot make a go - no go definitive answer for you.

Jeff