This summer has been a bit of a bummer

Stee6043

Well-Known Member
Jun 1, 2015
6,706
West Michigan
Boat Info
1997 Sundancer 400
Engines
7.4L Gassers
Between the high winds, cold water and now a ridiculously early "fall" this has been the least boat friendly summer I've experienced in the past several years.

We've only been out to the beaches of Lake Michigan three times this year so far. It's starting to look like that might be it for the year. Two nights in the low 40's so far this week with more on the way. I'm betting Lake Michigan (by us) has peaked in temp for the year. Sad...

We've still been having fun but I feel like I've put twice as many hours on my dinghy this year than the boat.

On the upside....saving a lot on gas! Bugger....
 
It is the exact opposite of what I figured would happen since we sold the boat in the spring. Thought it would be the warmest summer on record :). But we have enjoyed Lake Michigan quite a bit up north, water is pretty warm. If all goes to plan, picking up our new to us Wake/Ski boat tomorrow. With school and fall sports stating up, might only get a day or two to rip up some water on it before we it goes away.
 
Time on the dinghy is still boating time. We haven't used our boat much this year; we've been busy with friends and relatives visiting and using the pool. I finally put my foot down this week and we're spending Labor Day Weekend on the boat.

Our weather hasn't been the best. It was a very windy spring, then WAAAAAY to hot, with temps in the 105*-110* for weeks. Now the temps are in the 80's to low 90's and no winds. Just about perfect.

I'm making a quick trip to MI on Saturday for a funeral. Back here on Wednesday, then hopefully time for the boating.
 
I agree. At least half of the summer here was windy & rainy. Our closest beach marina was closed for the entire season as well for restoration from Superstorm Sandy damage. My wife had to cover several weekends at work this summer. So, our boat has had minimal usage & that doesn't look to change this last "official" week of the season. Post Labor Day our schedule gets inundated with kids sports so little chance of this situation changing. Oh well, there's always next year, right?
 
I agree. At least half of the summer here was windy & rainy. Our closest beach marina was closed for the entire season as well for restoration from Superstorm Sandy damage. My wife had to cover several weekends at work this summer. So, our boat has had minimal usage & that doesn't look to change this last "official" week of the season. Post Labor Day our schedule gets inundated with kids sports so little chance of this situation changing. Oh well, there's always next year, right?
If anybody is interested in a really clean 330da, I can attest this boat is for you.....haha, oh wait wrong thread.
 
If anybody is interested in a really clean 330da, I can attest this boat is for you.....haha, oh wait wrong thread.
Hahaha!! Soon enough my friend. Justin just made the travel baseball club he tried out for. We will be in Cooperstown for a week next August!!
 
There is still 6 weeks to boat. Great day today. Lots of boats on Lake Michigan right now. We boated for a month up north and enjoyed the cool temps. The two storms were at night and early morning and did not spoil day boating.
 
Same on our side of the Great Lakes. Windy and rainy and cooler than normal. Long range forecast looks cooler through much of September too. I may pull the boat early this year. It will give me some on land time to give the hull a good buffing before the shrink goes on.

Aug 27 - Sep 9 Day [°F] Night [°F] POP Rain Snow Conditions
Sunday, August 27 72 Feels like 75 59 10% - -
2.png
Mainly sunny
Monday, August 28 75 Feels like 82 61 30% - -
3.png
A mix of sun and clouds
Tuesday, August 29 75 Feels like 81 59 30% - -
3.png
A mix of sun and clouds
Wednesday, August 30 73 Feels like 81 61 20% ~1 mm -
2.png
Mainly sunny
Thursday, August 31 70 Feels like 75 55 70% 5-10 mm -
30.png
A Few showers
Friday, September 1 68 Feels like 68 57 20% - -
2.png
Mainly sunny
Saturday, September 2 70 Feels like 77 61 30% ~1 mm -
2.png
Mainly sunny
Sunday, September 3 68 Feels like 75 61 70% ~5 mm -
11.png
Risk of thunderstorms
Monday, September 4 68 Feels like 75 57 40% <1 mm -
28.png
Cloudy with showers
Tuesday, September 5 63 Feels like 63 55 30% - -
4.png
Cloudy with sunny breaks
Wednesday, September 6 61 Feels like 59 55 10% - -
1.png
Sunny
Thursday, September 7 63 Feels like 61 57 10% - -
2.png
Mainly sunny
Friday, September 8 64 Feels like 68 59 10% - -
1.png
Sunny
Saturday, September 9 66 Feels like 72 59 10% - -
1.png
Sunny
 
Saturday did turn out to be decent though it clouded up on us (and turned cold again) by 4PM +/-. Another classic one day of "mostly sun" type of weekend. Better than zero days I suppose.

Here's to hoping we have a good long weekend coming up. The forecast looks decent right now. This could be our last hurrah! I'd like to think we have 5 weeks of boating left...but I generally don't like boating in snowpants.
 
Totally agree. Waves were horrible this year - many weekends where the waves were 3 foot plus. Looking like Labor Day weekend is going to be good, low 80's. No idea what the winds are supposed to be though.....
 
A disappointing summer for us on Lake Superior, the least boating in 15yrs, windy, wet, cool. In addition to mother nature the grandkids don't come anymore, they're missed, they gave us something to do.

I'm making sure I have everything ready for putting the boat up for the winter.:(

Running over to Marquette, MI for the blues festival on the 1st, coming back on the 4th. Forecasted weather isn't great but maybe it'll change. I've got my fingers crossed for some nice September weather and squeezing in a couple more adventures but this weekend could be it, the end until next year.
 
Well, in my case this summer has been of mixed feelings.... loads of maintenance and yes, a few rides at sea. Repairs on the drive, fuel pump, A/C, light bulb replacement, windlass change out, new fluids, electric connection clean ups, etc...... One good thing is that I now have a diver who comes to remove barnacles once every month for a small fee!!
 
It's only Tuesday but it certainly looks like this could be the nicest weekend of summer coming up. Since the weather forecasts have been 5% accurate when greater than one day out this year I feel comfortable that I am not jinxing anything.

I'm glad I could come here and commiserate with some of you Great Lakers. Just a short 8 months away from launching our boats for what I'm sure will be a sun filled 2018 boating season! So depressing....ha.
 
It's only Tuesday but it certainly looks like this could be the nicest weekend of summer coming up. Since the weather forecasts have been 5% accurate when greater than one day out this year I feel comfortable that I am not jinxing anything.

I'm glad I could come here and commiserate with some of you Great Lakers. Just a short 8 months away from launching our boats for what I'm sure will be a sun filled 2018 boating season! So depressing....ha.

Definitely keeping my fingers crossed for this weekend!
 
We have certainly put less hours on the boat this year but mainly because we are so close to Lake Michigan now, no 40 minute No Wake Zones anymore:). However I have been able to make several weekend trips and our and our week long trip up to Frankfort then over to Sturgeon Bay, down to Milwaukee was a blast. Plus on the bad days we got to spend time on the new dinghy and meeting all our great Dock neighbors. I'm ready to start the waxing and fall matainence.
 
Well we had one good day over the long weekend. Par for the course for summer 2017! With this next week getting into the 40's every night I think this boating season is just about over for me. My gas tanks are full and I will likely start winterizing in the next two weeks. Once the water is no longer swimmable it becomes less entertaining for the kids, unfortunately. I might have my boat pulled before the end of the month. Rather depressing...
 
We'll probably come out in about 3-4 weeks. We'll sneak a few good days in between now and then but I doubt we'll put many more hours on. Nights are getting cold and the wind is pretty brutal this time of year.
 
June and July were mostly good for us on Lake Minnetonka, but August has been a big bust. Lots of cold and rainy weather, and the lake temperatures have dropped quickly. Water hit 80 earlier than I can remember in July, but this past Sunday it was 71 (despite a pretty warm and sunny Saturday). I doubt it will be above 70 next weekend and that's about my cutoff point for anything other than a quick dip.

We'll probably get more fall boating in this year with our 310 DA than we did in our old runabout (thanks to eisenglass), but everyone's enthusiasm dips a bit when it's cool and you can't really swim.
 

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