St. Clair points of interest

mfilippa

mfilippa

New Member
Aug 31, 2009
87
Louisville, KY
Boat Info
300 Sundancer 2001, Raymarine C70
Engines
Twin 350 Merc V8 Bravo III
Genset + AC
Hello, this is my first post in this forum. I am new to Lake St. Clair, I am docked at Michigan Harbor Marina in St. Clair Shores. I don't know many people that can recommend me places, so I thought of asking here if there is anyone familiar with this lake that could tell me some places to go to. Specifically looking for nice warm waters, beaches, shallow parts, places were you could do other activities such as kayaking, etc.

I have been to Gull Island, interested in going to Mucamoot bay if depth allows it (300DA with stern drives).

Any other places I can try? Parks, islands, scenic places, landmarks, etc.

Thanks!
Mariano
 
I'm at the same marina (first year, new boat). I also want to know the best places to go. I have been to Metro Beach, Detroit & Belle isle, and up the St. Clair River but I know there should be some other places to anchor and just enjoy the water and sun.
 
You must be one of the boats I am always drooling about. Are you one the 330s right after crossing the gates of the marina?

I was thinking of going Belle Isle or Metro Park. Probably I'll hit Metro Beach, as I don't have a printed chart for Belle Isle yet. What is a good spot to set anchor over there? I am looking for shallow waters as I am taking a group of people that can't swim.
 
I'm down by the gas dock just past the covered wells. I have only been around Belle isle. Not sure there is any good place to anchor off shore (too deep). I would like to dock on Belle isle if possible but need to investigate the facilities.
 
Avoid the city-folk....c'mon up to the North shores around Fairhaven and Algonac. Plenty of places around the channels to explore, and if you really feel adventurous c'mon up the St Clair River. We have restaurants you can hit with docks, and even up to Lake Huron. Exploring Stag Island is always fun, and you can snorkel on the lee side.
Too many crowds around the shores, too many drivers who can't drive.
 
I am always up for trying new restaurants. Any places you can recommend? At 20GPH and about 2hr round trip, that is going to be some expensive food bill :grin:

On Fairhaven and Algonac, what is a good spot to be? I've seen in the chart that it gets pretty shallow over there.

Stag Island shows to be on the Canadian side. I am assuming passport is required to explore the island?
 
If you don't set foot on the island, you can actually anchor and explore and snorkel. I am still negotiating the new rules, they are pretty relaxed however and you would need a passport to explore - but there are no cars so it's a moving party on weekend nights house to house.
If you anchor to the lee southern end, you are out of the way, and can watch the freighters go by.
Restaurants....depends upon your style and budget - Charley's River Crab is a perennial favorite plus the story that goes with it (he, wife and fellow couple all lost with two-master in Bermuda Triangle few years back). http://www.muer.com/
I've seen folks tie up and eat at the Riviera in Marine City (not great appearance, but good food).
A few years back I'd have recommended Henry's in Algonac - but it's gone now.... Big River Grill I think is the place to eat there now (?)
Pepper Joe's in St Clair is good, easy access right inside the bridge. You can also tie up and walk to Voyageur (nice restaurant - pickeral is great) or BK across the street.
Port Huron has several restaurant/bars and brewery (Quay Street Brewery, Zebra bar, etc) on the water with own dockage. Quay Street is good.
I'll put my thinking cap on about what's around downriver...
 
As for the charts, yes it gets shallow - but if you are on plane, or keep the props up you should be okay. Lake St Clair (or puddle in my opinion) you can be out a mile and stand up. Except for the shipping lanes the entire thing is too shallow with an average lake depth of 11' including the channel.
 
Let’s see...

Lots of places to go, to name a few:

1) Poor Mans out in Front of Mac & Ray Harbor / Belle Maer Harbor. Water is real warm 70-75 degrees and if you stay to the Belle Maer Side the bottom is nicer, more sand less clay.
2) Muskamoot Bay. Stay close to the light houses and head on into the bay. Watch you depth and you will be fine, I Make this run in a 33 Dancer and there are much bigger boats that make their way in there.
3) Browns on Harsens Island for Good Food. Located on the Middle Channel about halfway up on the south side. Watch for the shallows just outside the channel (reference you chart or GPS).
4) Tin Fish, good Food and Dollar days Mon, Tue,Thur, northern most tip of Anchor Bay. Look for the white water tower.
5) Crew Inn, another sopt for good food located up the Clinton River (20 minutes, north side)
6) Couple places up the North Channel, Decker’s Landing and Algonac Harbor Club.

Should be a good start.
 
All the places mentioned are worth exploring but you want to be accessible by boat. Tin Fish has good finger docks. Big River Grill just north of Algonac has docks but they are not great at last look. Algonac Harbour Club (our base) has a restaurant/ bar open on weekends. It's pretty decent and accommodating. If you know where you are going, Club Capri is accessible by canal but it's weedy. The two places in St. Clair are good or you can dock right at River Crab, if you're gutsy enough in the current of the St. Clair River. Otherwise tie onto the wall in the Pine River in St. Clair, call River Crab and they'll send a driver for you. Port Huron is good but RumRunnerz is under new management. Lexington has a few nice spots including the golf course which will send a car for you.
I suppose I know many of the restaurants because my wife won't let me own a BBQ.
 
Join the North Channel Yacht Club. It's sort of near Algonac, just off the North Channel just inside Anchor Bay. It is a transient-only club, so most, if not all, members keep their boats somewhere else and come up on the weekends. It's a nifty place that sits on its own island with ferry access to the mainland. Great club if you have kids.
 
I would not reccomend anchoring/swimming in the Detroit River due to the strong current. Access to Belle Isle via boat will be improbable (you will need access to the DYC). Sinbad's is a decent place to eat if you're down that way. Sandy bottom places near you will be along Lakeshore Drive (between GPYC and CSYC, or north of GPYC) You'll see the boats.
 
Went down the Detroit river without a chart. Decided to follow the chartplotter, took north side of Belle Isle. Chartplotter indicated a channel and entered on plane since there were large cruisers at a higher displacement speed than mine. At some point, it appears channel ends (missed it) and no wake zone starts. I didn't see any no wake signs (used to the orange NO WAKE buoys, didn't see them). I was approached and boarded by the coast guard in no time. Luckily they let me go without a ticket. Still on my way back, I did not see any no wake buoys or signs.

Next time I am going with a chart. Anything else I need to watch for when going downriver?
 
Please let me know exactly where there is a speed limit on the north side of Belle Isle. I am not aware and took the same path on Friday. I know on the south side of Peache Island and Windsor there is a 5 kt speed limit.
 
According to the coast guard, from tip of isle (E) to end of yacht club (W).

Found a chart online with all the no-wake zones at the Detroit river. It is more complicated than I thought. I'm printing this and keeping on board.


 
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Here goes for Lake St Clair. I was certainly going to screw this one up too.

no_wake_map.jpg
 
mfilippa,
Great information.
The second chart says it all - no wake limits up the St Clair River.
Ever feel like Detroit and downriver don't like making people feel welcome - and then wonder why no one visits? :smt021
Guess you'll have to stay away from the city. They don't like us much down there anyways....:grin:
 
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True! I got a very unfriendly welcome from the US Cost Guard. It pissed me off that I asked them how is it that I can know what are the no wake zones and the guy didn't give me an answer at all, just pointed a no-wake sign at the entry of a marina, a sign intended to be seen when going into the marina only. He did not say anything about any of the other no wakes zones. He just gave me a 30 minute sermon on how my irresponsibility could have caused havoc in the area.

Yes, you are right. I am avoiding all of that. Not worth it. I'll stay in the middle of the puddle. Hopefully they won't mind my wake over there...
 
when traversing the north side of Belle Isle, there is generally a lot of boat traffic, you also have youngsters that sail in that stretch from two of the yacht clubs during summer, and then there's Scott's Middle Ground (make yourself very familiar with this area).
 
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