Newbie in Michigan

True North

True North

Member
Sep 11, 2012
165
Live: DeWitt, MI,West Michigan (Ludington)
Boat Info
2005 SR 260DA
350 MAG MPI
Bravo 3
Engines
(1) 350 MAG MPI w/Bravo III
Not new to boating, but new to overnight staying in a slip. Previous boat was a 20ft Regal Cuddy that we took everywhere from Lake Cumberland to UP of Michigan. "Home port" is Ludington, MI. We live in Lansing, but it is worth the 2 1/2 hour drive every weekend to the "Gold Coast".

Bought our Sea Ray end of July last season. Boat is immaculate, only had 266 hours on it and was always stored inside, heated, and never left in the water-no bottom paint.

I am an avid Great Lakes Salmon fisherman, and love being out on the open water. By the end of the season last year I have my SeaRay set up with 3 electric downriggers, 6 rod holders and 2 tree style rod holders for planer boards- all easily removable to keep the boat looking like a pleasure craft when we aren't fishing. I'm amazed how well the boat can handle 4-6ft foot swells out on Lake Michigan, although we don't try to make it a habit of fishing in those conditions.

So, I am very excited to join this new lifestyle of boating and staying on the boat and visiting with "dockmates" who are very friendly and willing to lend a hand (and a drink once in a while!).

This sight is awsome and what a great resource for anybody that can benefit from the knowledge some of the more "experienced" captains. I will post some pics and put it on my signature once I get it out of storage (I didn't manage to get many pics of it last season). Thank you.
 
Congratulations!
Sea Ray On!
 
Welcome aboard. Can't wait to see pics of your boat with and without the fishing gear.....and with the catch!!!
 
Welcome aboard.
 
Welcome!! Last year was my first on Lake Michigan too. I am looking forward to seeing how you set your boat up for fishing and getting a few pointers.
 
Welcome aboard! Enjoy your new baby!
 
Welcome to the sight we two are Michiganders ported in Whitehall Montague, ludington is awesome except for the badger, we were slipped in harbor view, but too many drinkers, too much coal dust on the boat , great fishing though,,,,, you have a great time there come look us up someday in ellenwood landings ok?
 
Welcome, not to far from you in Lansing.
 
Go Green! Welcome to Michigan. Ludington is beautiful. Many other great places on the Michigan side of the lake. We will be up in your area at the end of June, and can't wait! Enjoy your new hobby.
 
play dough-

by the looks of your Avatar pic, we probably have run across one another. I was on D Dock at Harborview most weekends (D36 or D38 usually). We didn't get a seasonal this year for a few reasons. 1) I don't have a lot of extra vacation time, so can usually only use the boat on the weekend, and it's hard to pay the premium rates for a boat only using on the weekends and feeling like we HAVE to use it every weekend of the summer to justify the cost, 2) Like the flexibility to go to other inland lakes, have a nice trailer with the boat. This summer I will keep it stored at Gold Coast Storage or Abrahamsons so I can just pull out and launch and be a transient for the weekends. We like Harborview (pool, walking distance to town, view, etc.) can't beat it except the Badger soot! We will look for you. thanks for reaching out!
 
True North said:
play dough-

by the looks of your Avatar pic, we probably have run across one another. I was on D Dock at Harborview most weekends (D36 or D38 usually). We didn't get a seasonal this year for a few reasons. 1) I don't have a lot of extra vacation time, so can usually only use the boat on the weekend, and it's hard to pay the premium rates for a boat only using on the weekends and feeling like we HAVE to use it every weekend of the summer to justify the cost, 2) Like the flexibility to go to other inland lakes, have a nice trailer with the boat. This summer I will keep it stored at Gold Coast Storage or Abrahamsons so I can just pull out and launch and be a transient for the weekends. We like Harborview (pool, walking distance to town, view, etc.) can't beat it except the Badger soot! We will look for you. thanks for reaching out!
Click to expand...

I'm now slipped at the very end of c-dock (north side) so you'll pass by if you spend a weekend on d-dock.

A word of caution, a fellow boater stored his boat at Gold Coast and someone broke in and stole ALL of the tackle out of his boat. This was several years ago, but I don't see anything there that would make me believe security is any different today. I'm not familiar with the arrangement Abrahamson has in season. I've stored there in the winter for the past 10 years without incident.
 
Thanks for the head's up. I agree, not very secure. They don't even keep their fence locked. I also have another place in town where I can store inside on my trailer during the season that I can check into. Last summer I used Abrahamsons, but he was pretty expensive for non-heated in-season storage, and I kept my regal outside there as well. I just want to be able to pull in and pull out at my leisure. Another reason is my boat doesn't have any bottom pain and looks like new, and I don't really want to cross over to that on a 25' boat. I'm thinking I will enjoy this style of boating and could potentially be updgrading to something a little bigger in a few years :) Do you fish? I am always looking form someone to go out with as my wife's idea of fishing is sunset cruise, no waves, and food and drinks on the stern. Not very conducive to productive fishing! LOL Only a few more weeks!
 
True North said:
Thanks for the head's up. I agree, not very secure. They don't even keep their fence locked. I also have another place in town where I can store inside on my trailer during the season that I can check into. Last summer I used Abrahamsons, but he was pretty expensive for non-heated in-season storage, and I kept my regal outside there as well. I just want to be able to pull in and pull out at my leisure. Another reason is my boat doesn't have any bottom pain and looks like new, and I don't really want to cross over to that on a 25' boat. I'm thinking I will enjoy this style of boating and could potentially be updgrading to something a little bigger in a few years :) Do you fish? I am always looking form someone to go out with as my wife's idea of fishing is sunset cruise, no waves, and food and drinks on the stern. Not very conducive to productive fishing! LOL Only a few more weeks!
Click to expand...

Yes. I'm a "fair weather" fisherman. I enjoy the calm clear mornings. I'm not too interested in pitching around in anything more than a three foot chop. My wife's idea is to not leave the dock but she doesn't get that vote. She usually just stays in the berth until things get too busy for me or might get up late season when boat traffic is heavy.
 
Play dough you must across from Mike and Donna friends we made when we were on C dock... Nice people but for some reason they are state fans ... Yhats not good. We stay on the wall slip 11 when we come to harborview, well look for you this summer
 
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