MacRay to Mackinaw

Firemedic181

Firemedic181

Active Member
Aug 5, 2021
229
MacRay Harbor
Boat Info
2000 510 Sundancer
Engines
Cat 3196's
Taking a trip from lake st Clair(MacRay harbor) to mackinaw this summer.
Plan is to stop at Lexington for 1 night, east tawas for 2, presque isle for 1, then to mackinaw for 4.
Return trip would be similar with only one stay at each marina.

Any suggestions or recommendations from those that have made the trip? This will be first time going there by boat.
I have a 2000 510 Sundancer
Thank you
 
Is your destination Mackinaw City or Mackinac Island or both? 4 days has me thinking the Island. If you haven't experienced docking at the island, be aware and prepared for the significant wake surge from the commercial traffic that will affect your boat in the slip there. Tawas is a bit off the route, but given the Sunrise Side port choices, it's one of the nicer port towns so your selections make sense to me.
 
play dough said:
Is your destination Mackinaw City or Mackinac Island or both? 4 days has me thinking the Island. If you haven't experienced docking at the island, be aware and prepared for the significant wake surge from the commercial traffic that will affect your boat in the slip there. Tawas is a bit off the route, but given the Sunrise Side port choices, it's one of the nicer port towns so your selections make sense to me.
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Mackinaw city but I did book the island for one night so we could go there and come back to boat and not feel rushed to get through the island and get back to ferry, plus that way I can go back to boat and eat when we want or take a nap,lol
 
only suggestion I have would be to stop at different places on the way back. Besides the ports you mentioned, we also have enjoyed Cheboygan, Cheboygan brewery and restaurants, Harrisville, small town but stumbled across a good cover band playing in the park, they have a summer nights in the park music program. The Bank restaurant in Port Austin and a really good farmers market on Saturdays in season. Port Sanilac, similar to Lexington but different, and Port Huron, city marina up the river, walking distance to several riverfront establishments. Stay on the island at Mackinac, hearing nothing but taps from the fort and clip clop of hooves pulling the last few carriages back to the B&B’s at 10 pm while enjoying a beverage on your boat is worth it.
 
my3sons said:
only suggestion I have would be to stop at different places on the way back. Besides the ports you mentioned, we also have enjoyed Cheboygan, Cheboygan brewery and restaurants, Harrisville, small town but stumbled across a good cover band playing in the park, they have a summer nights in the park music program. The Bank restaurant in Port Austin and a really good farmers market on Saturdays in season. Port Sanilac, similar to Lexington but different, and Port Huron, city marina up the river, walking distance to several riverfront establishments. Stay on the island at Mackinac, hearing nothing but taps from the fort and clip clop of hooves pulling the last few carriages back to the B&B’s at 10 pm while enjoying a beverage on your boat is worth it.
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Thank you and good suggestion on staying different places on way back home and that’s what I was thinking about when I booked the island for the 1 night.
 
We've made the trip up to the Straits from either Algonac or Sarnia many times. We normally run to Rogers City, fuel up and spend the night. It's about 2.5 hours next morning to Mackinaw City or the Island. East Tawas is a bit out of the way. Port Austin is what we aim for from the Island on the way back (if the harbor is back together).
 
Also watch out for Saginaw Bay. The conditions there can make any boat feel small if not favorable. Thats a great trip though. Enjoy!
 
Firemedic181 said:
Mackinaw city but I did book the island for one night so we could go there and come back to boat and not feel rushed to get through the island and get back to ferry, plus that way I can go back to boat and eat when we want or take a nap,lol
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We're seasonal at the municipal marina in Mackinaw City and prefer that to the state marina but either one is a great stay with awesome staffs. Straits is a bit more removed from the tourist crowds if you're looking for quiet. With a 50' yacht, you could be limited to the broadside tie at the municipal that would put you right next to the ferry boats coming and going. Personally, I wouldn't like that docking situation. We like the Keyhole for the bar and grill experience. Darrows for a home cooking kind of meal (they don't serve alcohol). There's entertainment in the bandshell a couple times a week and many nights a band playing on the stage in Mackinaw Crossings. Fireworks every Friday in Mackinaw City and Saturday, as I recall, in St. Ignace.
 
play dough said:
We're seasonal at the municipal marina in Mackinaw City and prefer that to the state marina but either one is a great stay with awesome staffs. Straits is a bit more removed from the tourist crowds if you're looking for quiet. With a 50' yacht, you could be limited to the broadside tie at the municipal that would put you right next to the ferry boats coming and going. Personally, I wouldn't like that docking situation. We like the Keyhole for the bar and grill experience. Darrows for a home cooking kind of meal (they don't serve alcohol). There's entertainment in the bandshell a couple times a week and many nights a band playing on the stage in Mackinaw Crossings. Fireworks every Friday in Mackinaw City and Saturday, as I recall, in St. Ignace.
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Thank you for all of that and i am looking forward to the trip. Stop by the boat if you see us for a coffee or cocktail.
 
So I was able to change a couple reservations around for the trip returning to home port and have from mackinaw to Harrisville for 1 stay, Harrisville to port Sanilac for 1 stay, and then either to port Huron(Desmond) or just head back to MacRay.
Port Austin was booked up during the times I attempted to book.
I sure do appreciate all the responses and shows why this forum is awesome with others always willing to help.
 
Firemedic181 said:
So I was able to change a couple reservations around for the trip returning to home port and have from mackinaw to Harrisville for 1 stay, Harrisville to port Sanilac for 1 stay, and then either to port Huron(Desmond) or just head back to MacRay.
Port Austin was booked up during the times I attempted to book.
I sure do appreciate all the responses and shows why this forum is awesome with others always willing to help.
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Firemedic 181, Sounds like a great trip. When going in the past, I made the stop at East Tawas on the return trip back and that added a good amount of time to get all the way up in there into Tawas. Nice town but if doing the Mackinaw trip, I would skip East Tawas.
 
Brent Nutting said:
Firemedic 181, Sounds like a great trip. When going in the past, I made the stop at East Tawas on the return trip back and that added a good amount of time to get all the way up in there into Tawas. Nice town but if doing the Mackinaw trip, I would skip East Tawas.
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I appreciate that, how far off the “beaten path” is it?
 
Firemedic181 said:
Taking a trip from lake st Clair(MacRay harbor) to mackinaw this summer.
Plan is to stop at Lexington for 1 night, east tawas for 2, presque isle for 1, then to mackinaw for 4.
Return trip would be similar with only one stay at each marina.

Any suggestions or recommendations from those that have made the trip? This will be first time going there by boat.
I have a 2000 510 Sundancer
Thank you
Click to expand...
Sounds like a nice trip Don. When do you plan on doing this? Our group is planning a North Channel trip July 19th- Aug 4th. Going up the Canadian side (entering in Killarney) and coming back the Michigan side (coming out by Mackinaw). We don't have any ports nailed down yet, but might end up running into you if the timing is right.
 
Ezsteps said:
Sounds like a nice trip Don. When do you plan on doing this? Our group is planning a North Channel trip July 19th- Aug 4th. Going up the Canadian side (entering in Killarney) and coming back the Michigan side (coming out by Mackinaw). We don't have any ports nailed down yet, but might end up running into you if the timing is right.
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Thanks Joe, leaving June 23rd and should be back July 4th for the fireworks
 
Firemedic181 said:
I appreciate that, how far off the “beaten path” is it?
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Not sure exactly how many miles out of the way it is, but it will take hours to go into East Tawas and back out to the lake. It's farther into the Bay than you think. Every time we have went to Tawas we always did Port Austin first so it didn't seem to long going across the bay. Coming out of East Tawas it felt like forever to get to the buoy at the tip of the thumb.....LOL....only because it seems like it should be closer that it is.
 
Firemedic181 said:
I appreciate that, how far off the “beaten path” is it?
Click to expand...
Running our boat was about 1.5 hrs each way into and out of the bay to get to E. Tawas.

The next trip up to Mackinaw Island, we skipped E. Tawas and spent a couple of days in Presque Isle and did some shipwreck snorkeling.
 
Ezsteps said:
Sounds like a nice trip Don. When do you plan on doing this? Our group is planning a North Channel trip July 19th- Aug 4th. Going up the Canadian side (entering in Killarney) and coming back the Michigan side (coming out by Mackinaw). We don't have any ports nailed down yet, but might end up running into you if the timing is right.
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Joe, we will be there (North Channel) those same dates. Mike
 
spikedaddy99 said:
Joe, we will be there (North Channel) those same dates. Mike
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We'll keep an eye out for you. We still don't have any of the schedule planned out yet and it wouldn't surprise me they way some are talking if it don't cancel. :rolleyes: I'll try to keep an eye on this thread and post update as I get them....
 
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