Too shallow to launch

firecadet613 said:
The Great Lakes level's do not fluctuate like tides, but they do change. Last year was an EXTREMELY high year, with water levels up 60"+ on Lake Michigan and many marina's / docks flooded out. It took a few years to build to that, however in 2012 it was record low water levels. Also seiche's as weather changes.

I dock right on Lake Michigan and I've seen the water change 12" in one hour...

Here are two links for you...

https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/2020-11-16-lake-erie-seiche-flooding-buffalo

https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Miss...vel-Forecast/Weekly-Great-Lakes-Water-Levels/

Based on that last link, Lake Michigan is down 13" from this time last year. Based on what I saw at my marina earlier today, that is 100% correct.
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Same with Lake St Clair.
 
I think I would dinghy out and check depth myself and do the math, Perhaps drain all the tanks and tow out. Perhaps even pull props and have a diver reinstall? I think the best solution is going OTR to another marina and then find another place to store in the future. What a crappy way to start the year. Dredging issues plague us all. We had our marina dredged this year finally, Usually they just do the entrance and the main approach channels to the slip fairways. The dredging was done in the fall and I just took readings at a zero tide at the guest dock and we only have 3.5 feet! We are on a straight between the Delta and SF Bay so there is a constant flow of silt. What is odd about this year is we have record low precipitation and we still silted in in a matter of months. I for one would welcome a foot or so of sea level rise but it seems we have seen record low tides out here!
 
Talked to a very unfriendly service dept at storage today. They said I wasn’t scheduled for launch until April 30th. I said why so late she says that’s just the way it is. I said I was last in should be first out. Told her to have service manager call me she said he is busy and won’t return my call until next week if he has time. She said he isn’t going to tell you something different anyway ..... WTF?

Called marina up the road to come get the boat and they said they won’t allow us on their property .... what the hell is going on?.... they said if I can coordinate it they will come and get it.

I looked at my contract and it says April 30th is the last date for storage.

Not a good start

Good news is a new marina this year and a new heated storage company next winter..... just need to get thru this shit show
 
Blueone said:
Talked to a very unfriendly service dept at storage today. They said I wasn’t scheduled for launch until April 30th. I said why so late she says that’s just the way it is. I said I was last in should be first out. Told her to have service manager call me she said he is busy and won’t return my call until next week if he has time. She said he isn’t going to tell you something different anyway ..... WTF?

Called marina up the road to come get the boat and they said they won’t allow us on their property .... what the hell is going on?.... they said if I can coordinate it they will come and get it.

I looked at my contract and it says April 30th is the last date for storage.

Not a good start

Good news is a new marina this year and a new heated storage company next winter..... just need to get thru this shit show
Click to expand...

And you're in the front of the building? That doesn't make a lick of sense...
 
Carpediem44DB said:
I think I would dinghy out and check depth myself and do the math, Perhaps drain all the tanks and tow out. Perhaps even pull props and have a diver reinstall? I think the best solution is going OTR to another marina and then find another place to store in the future. What a crappy way to start the year. Dredging issues plague us all. We had our marina dredged this year finally, Usually they just do the entrance and the main approach channels to the slip fairways. The dredging was done in the fall and I just took readings at a zero tide at the guest dock and we only have 3.5 feet! We are on a straight between the Delta and SF Bay so there is a constant flow of silt. What is odd about this year is we have record low precipitation and we still silted in in a matter of months. I for one would welcome a foot or so of sea level rise but it seems we have seen record low tides out here!
Click to expand...

This sounds like the best approach I have seen so far.

Do your own check on depth.

Move everything off the boat or forward that you can. Surprising how much all that stuff we accumulate can weight.

If you are close, hire a diver to pull the props, have someone tow you over.
 
Blueone said:
Talked to a very unfriendly service dept at storage today. They said I wasn’t scheduled for launch until April 30th. I said why so late she says that’s just the way it is. I said I was last in should be first out. Told her to have service manager call me she said he is busy and won’t return my call until next week if he has time. She said he isn’t going to tell you something different anyway ..... WTF?

Called marina up the road to come get the boat and they said they won’t allow us on their property .... what the hell is going on?.... they said if I can coordinate it they will come and get it.

I looked at my contract and it says April 30th is the last date for storage.

Not a good start

Good news is a new marina this year and a new heated storage company next winter..... just need to get thru this shit show
Click to expand...
Can’t stand people like this. Now they have your boat flagged as the asshole boat.
 
firecadet613 said:
And you're in the front of the building? That doesn't make a lick of sense...
Click to expand...
So picture 6 rows of boats from side to side going from front to back...in the fall they left 2 center rows empty...as they were pulling the last boats in the fall they filled up the two empty rows....I am 4th back from the door... no it makes no sense.

I have been at this marina for 3.5 years for summer and winter storage. I was up there a couple weeks ago waxing... I had the problem with the boat behind me where the marina was sanding and painting the bottom. That's when I lost it and said I am cancelling my slip for this summer. It ended up being a big deal and the marina is pissed about it for sure as they are struggling to fill it any way.... I am betting this is why I am being treated like shit.....and of course my wife is saying I told you so :(
 
FootballFan said:
This sounds like the best approach I have seen so far.

Do your own check on depth.

Move everything off the boat or forward that you can. Surprising how much all that stuff we accumulate can weight.

If you are close, hire a diver to pull the props, have someone tow you over.
Click to expand...
Marina up the road quoted $600 to grab the boat and launch it....much less stress and work this way
 
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Pirate Lady said:
OK, as a salt water, tidal-water boater can someone explain to me how water depth goes up and down on a lake. Rain levels, snow run off, toilet flushing ?
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One thing I did not see mentioned is what some call lake tides, particularly on Lake Michigan. When a strong wind out of the north blows down the lake, water levels at south end marinas can vary up to 3 feet and a foot is very common.

Also a strong north wind can cause the rivers that flow out to be backed up adding to the water levels.
 
Blueone said:
So picture 6 rows of boats from side to side going from front to back...in the fall they left 2 center rows empty...as they were pulling the last boats in the fall they filled up the two empty rows....I am 4th back from the door... no it makes no sense.

I have been at this marina for 3.5 years for summer and winter storage. I was up there a couple weeks ago waxing... I had the problem with the boat behind me where the marina was sanding and painting the bottom. That's when I lost it and said I am cancelling my slip for this summer. It ended up being a big deal and the marina is pissed about it for sure as they are struggling to fill it any way.... I am betting this is why I am being treated like shit.....and of course my wife is saying I told you so :(
Click to expand...
Seems like if they are struggling to fill their slips, they would be nicer to keep customers happy.
 
Turn on a water hose and raise the level of the lake?
 
Blueone said:
So picture 6 rows of boats from side to side going from front to back...in the fall they left 2 center rows empty...as they were pulling the last boats in the fall they filled up the two empty rows....I am 4th back from the door... no it makes no sense.

I have been at this marina for 3.5 years for summer and winter storage. I was up there a couple weeks ago waxing... I had the problem with the boat behind me where the marina was sanding and painting the bottom. That's when I lost it and said I am cancelling my slip for this summer. It ended up being a big deal and the marina is pissed about it for sure as they are struggling to fill it any way.... I am betting this is why I am being treated like shit.....and of course my wife is saying I told you so :(
Click to expand...
Not your fault, I'd be pissed too. I'm all for giving a little leeway, but those guys sanding and painting went beyond whats expected during storage from what you've said. I've heard of nightmare scenarios where someones sanding old paint in storage and another boater has their cover off, then the dust settles and stains everything in the boat. Or stains their nice covers. If that marina would have been upfront with you and said they allowed this sort of thing, then you could have made an informed decision.

Sorry to hear this Blue. Bayfield's nice, ask Woody. Might be quite a haul for you tho.
 
Escapade said:
Blue- whats 600 bucks to a boater! Hope your wife is understanding!
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She is hilarious....she puts up with so much from me...but I have learned after 38 years of being together to keep her in the loop.....and I still don’t listen :rolleyes:
 
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