What a difference a year makes

[sbw1]

Our lake levels are up, no ice allows evaporation, hope it goes down a foot this year.
MM

Remember when a few years back people were complaining about low water levels? We approached the low water levels of the 60s and I had more beach than I could take care of. Even had to mow grass where I had never seen grass before.

 

[Strecker25]

Yeah, 2017 was rough.

Sounds like a great move. Lot of stuff to do in Charlotte (wait, we're not supposed to call it that anymore), and the marina facilities are absolute first rate. The only downside I remember is that it was a damn long walk from where we were on the angled transient docks on the south end of the marina to the offices and shops. The upside though, was that we had constant public ramp entertainment.

The walk can be tough, so we opted (read:got lucky, only one slip opened up this year and we were on a wait list) for a “premium” slip. It’s 45’, so can fit the 410 I’m still shopping for and will swallow our 290 for the time being lol. Lots of room for the dinghy to stay in the water at least. We’re slip 19:

 

[sbw1]

F

Our lake levels are up, no ice allows evaporation, hope it goes down a foot this year.
MM

This was a few years ago as the ice was going out. Lots of unwanted beach.

 

[bracketracer]

The walk can be tough, so we opted (read:got lucky, only one slip opened up this year and we were on a wait list) for a “premium” slip. It’s 45’, so can fit the 410 I’m still shopping for and will swallow our 290 for the time being lol. Lots of room for the dinghy to stay in the water at least. We’re slip 19:

Great location for sure. Good luck with your search. Most of those were *just* out of my comfy range when we were searching, but I love the extra head, and door on the mid cabin. You're going to love the separate shower, I promise you.

 

[Strecker25]

Great location for sure. Good luck with your search. Most of those were *just* out of my comfy range when we were searching, but I love the extra head, and door on the mid cabin. You're going to love the separate shower, I promise you.

Thanks, just keeping an eye on the market for now since we’re also building a new house; but if the right one came up close by who knows what might happen

I also really want one with diesels. I don’t know that we really need them for the lake, but they’d sure be nice.

 

[WV 320 Dancer]

Just curious as to the open water around your dock, do you keep a bubbler going?

 

[sbw1]

Just curious as to the open water around your dock, do you keep a bubbler going?

We have a bubbler but only run it when the ice becomes thick enough to lift pilings.

 

[bracketracer]

Thanks, just keeping an eye on the market for now since we’re also building a new house; but if the right one came up close by who knows what might happen

I also really want one with diesels. I don’t know that we really need them for the lake, but they’d sure be nice.

They're definitely more common in the 410s than they are in mine. When I was doing a search, comparable diesel boats were often 15-20k more than gassers. It would take a LOT of cruising around the lake to eventually realize the fuel economy savings, in my case, likely longer than I plan on owning the boat.

 

[Creekwood]

January water depth forecast for Michigan Huron. Showing an increase in water levels from the last report. Looks like another high water year is more likely.

 

[Creekwood]

Updated water level report for lake Huron. Looks like another year of increasing water depths. I think we will lose some more beach at the summer place.
http://lre-wm.usace.army.mil/ForecastData/BulletinGraphics/MBOGLWL-mich_hrn.pdf

 

[Creekwood]

Updated Michigan/Huron water level forecast. Looks like June will be higher than all time record last set in 1986.

 

[JVM225]

Thanks, just keeping an eye on the market for now since we’re also building a new house; but if the right one came up close by who knows what might happen

I also really want one with diesels. I don’t know that we really need them for the lake, but they’d sure be nice.

I’ve got a diesel 410. Started out looking for a gasser 380 and shifted gears once I committed to diesels.
Yeah, you will pay a premium for a diesel boat but you’ll get it back in the end when you sell it because it will always be worth more than a comparable gas boat. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy the benefits while you own it and you’ll probably sell it a lot faster when it comes time to move up because most people looking for a boat this size don’t want gassers.
You’ll absolutely love the diesel 410 if you’re like us.
The Cats are a nice power match for the boat.
The power and fuel economy when compared to gassers are great.
The 380 seemed to suit our needs perfectly with the separate shower and closed off master. We loved that model.
But there are way more diesel 410’s out there to choose from than diesel 380’’s and everyone I knew with a bigger boat told me I was crazy not to get diesels.
We didn’t really need the second head and pocket door for the aft cabin that the 410 has but now that we have them we love it.
The slightly wider beam on the 410 is great to have too. Not only in the cabin or cockpit, but it is really nice to have that extra room in the bilge.
Only problem is that now that I wrapped my head around a bigger diesel boat I want a 480 and that is not making my wife too happy LOL!

 

[sbw1]

I’ve got a diesel 410. Started out looking for a gasser 380 and shifted gears once I committed to diesels.
Yeah, you will pay a premium for a diesel boat but you’ll get it back in the end when you sell it because it will always be worth more than a comparable gas boat. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy the benefits while you own it and you’ll probably sell it a lot faster when it comes time to move up because most people looking for a boat this size don’t want gassers.
You’ll absolutely love the diesel 410 if you’re like us.
The Cats are a nice power match for the boat.
The power and fuel economy when compared to gassers are great.

I know this is the conventional wisdom, you pay a premium but you get it back, they sell faster.......etc. But it ain't necessarily so. My boat had 8.1s so it had plenty of power. MPG was excellent. Not quite as good as the Cummins but close and many thousands of dollars cheaper. There were 24 3200 Opens for sale in the US this spring when I decided to sell it. About half were diesels and the others were diesel boats. The broker priced it right up there with the diesel boats. That was on a Thursday. Tuesday morning we had large down payment check and a cash offer for just $2,000 off the listing price and a closing in 10 days. Many of those other boats are still for sale. Morale of the story.......buy quality, take care it, keep good records and you will do well. While the purchase price when I bought it nearly made me choke, it turned out to be one of the least costly boats I have ever owned. Because of the appreciation over the last 5 years, all I paid for was fuel, maintenance, insurance and storage. The increase in value of the boat for each of the last 5 years offset much of those costs. Don't uncritically buy the dogma that you get your money back on a diesel boat. They cost more to buy and maintain. And, if something important breaks, look out.