Aug trip to Bay City Mi

jzanthony · Mar 8, 2019

Hi Fellas

Started planning a summer trip after the St Clair boat races, we will be leaving from St Clair boat harbor headed to East Tawas spending a few days possibly then onto Bay city where we would stay a few days as well.
We are in no rush so days could be extended if need be or if required to see the sites.

Would anyone have an idea on how long of a trip these 2 stops would be, would like to straight shot from St Clair to East Tawas.

Also if there is any must see or do when we get to these destinations.

Thanks Jamie

jzanthony · Mar 8, 2019

Sorry should have mentioned we usually stay on plane, roughly 23mph at 3300rpm. would have to adjust for weather etc.

RollerCoastr · Mar 8, 2019

St Clair to East Tawas is about 130 statute miles, so about a 5.5-6 hour run?

Heading across the mouth of Saginaw Bay can ugly - somehow that area of Lake Huron has an attitude. If the lake isn't friendly along your way north of the Bluewater, then I'd recommend a stop in someplace like Lexington. (which is hardly a sacrifice - it's a nice town/harbor)

jzanthony · Mar 8, 2019

Thanks, will make some plans to stop on way to bay city in case the water gets crappy. We are stopping at Lexington on the way back if time permits i believe the art show is on.

Gofirstclass · Mar 8, 2019

jz (and anyone else who is interested), I put together an Excel spreadsheet of distances between ports on the Great Lakes. If you shoot me an email ( gofirstclass at Hotmail dot com) I'll attach it with a reply.

Now, a word of caution. If you're anal about keeping track of your cruise miles it may not be exactly the same as what your GPS shows. I included a mile or so to get out of the departure port and another mile or so to get into your destination port. So there is a fudge factor built into it, but it's pretty damn close.

Jaws · Mar 8, 2019

Don't forget about Port Austin. Great marina and a cute little town. I could suggest to try for East Tawas on the way into Saginaw Bay (weather permitting because as Roller says the mouth of that bay sometimes is stirred up), then Port Austin on the way back. It's an easy run back down to Lexington from there and usually protected.

Brent Nutting · Mar 9, 2019

Jaws said:
Don't forget about Port Austin. Great marina and a cute little town. I could suggest to try for East Tawas on the way into Saginaw Bay (weather permitting because as Roller says the mouth of that bay sometimes is stirred up), then Port Austin on the way back. It's an easy run back down to Lexington from there and usually protected.

Agree with Jaws.
Port Austin is great. One of my favorites and will be up there again this summer. Also, Lexington is always a good stop, gonna be fun at Margarita Fest (again)
East Tawas had new floating docks in 2017, when I was there.

jzanthony · Mar 9, 2019

Thanks everyone Port Austin looks like a nice stop, could go there first if mouth of bay is bad.
gofirstclass email being sent now, thank you

Jamie

1956olds · Mar 9, 2019

Usually the turn around the tip of the thumb can be choppy but then smooth out as you depart toward tawas,not always though wind from the west or nw wont be great over 15 knts. untill half way across.Time about 7 hrs to tawas ,2.5 to baycity from there,i can make baycity from tawas in 1 hr 45 minutes at 30mph.About the same from baycity to port austin.I am pretty sure i was in port austin when brett was there,we go every year.eat at the bank if you can and dont miss the farmers market on saturday morning.The lighthouse is a unique little place for breakfast and there are a couple putt putt places you can walk to also,Oh and an old fashioned soda fountain in the dime store.My relatives own the ace hardware a block from the marina.We slip in baycity at wheelers landing yacht club.Glen

jzanthony · Mar 9, 2019

Thanks 1956olds, A dock mate cruising with us will be running a 92 370EC as well. Ill be making a list of all the ideas and passing them on to the group we will be travelling with, I like to plan ahead so these options will help.

Will look up Wheelers landing now.

Jamie

Gofirstclass · Mar 9, 2019

jzanthony said:
I like to plan ahead so these options will help.
Jamie

IMHO route planning, timetables, provisioning and all the other parts of planning an extended cruise are almost as much fun as actually doing the cruise.

Well, not almost as much fun, but something to do to while away the hours until cruise day comes!

jzanthony · Mar 10, 2019

I agree Gofirstclass, looking at all the stops, figuring out fuel stops, what marinas have OK water etc.

Thanks again for the email, will be a handy tool.

Jamie

1956olds · Mar 10, 2019

Also check out caseville harbor.Cool stop for a night during the cheeseburger festival and a nice beach.

javenius · Mar 11, 2019

Agree Lexington, Port Austin and East Tawas are all worthy destinations. However, if you are planning to stop in Port Austin on your way north, do not cut the corner short. You have to stay north of the Port Austin Reef Light rounding the corner for Port Austin. It can be very shallow inside of the light. Just watch your charts and you will be fine.

Jim

jzanthony · Mar 11, 2019

Thanks Jim

will be my first trip down this way so those things will be very helpful to know.

Jamie.

Ezsteps · Mar 14, 2019

Just finalized our plans for our trip up that way. As mentioned in another post we will be traveling on a buddies boat so Bottoms Up will be staying at home (Great Lakes and Gasketguy will have all week to wax it, if you guys get bored

). We booked Port Austin for July 4th and 5th (slip 40), East Tawas July 6th and 7th and then across Huron to the Canadian side to Bayfield and Grand Bend. A couple nights at each. On the way back we'll probably stay a night or two in Port Huron and then back to Lake St. Clair. I have never been past Lexington so I can't give much advice about the trip. We have 3 boats traveling together. Following this thread and an email coming soon to Gofirstclass.

Brent Nutting · Mar 14, 2019

Ezsteps said:
Just finalized our plans for our trip up that way. As mentioned in another post we will be traveling on a buddies boat so Bottoms Up will be staying at home (Great Lakes and Gasketguy will have all week to wax it, if you guys get bored). We booked Port Austin for July 4th and 5th (slip 40), East Tawas July 6th and 7th and then across Huron to the Canadian side to Bayfield and Grand Bend. A couple nights at each. On the way back we'll probably stay a night or two in Port Huron and then back to Lake St. Clair. I have never been past Lexington so I can't give much advice about the trip. We have 3 boats traveling together. Following this thread and an email coming soon to Gofirstclass.

Joe, looks like I will see you up in Port Austin. Like in Detroit last year at Milliken. Haha.
We will be up in Port Austin the same time, also planning on spending a couple of days over in Caseville.

Ezsteps · Mar 15, 2019

That’s awesome Brent. We'll be on a 400 DB with tan canvas. It sounds like we're going to pull out of Beacon Cove early on the 4th. What day are you traveling up?

Brent Nutting · Mar 15, 2019

Ezsteps said:
That’s awesome Brent. We'll be on a 400 DB with tan canvas. It sounds like we're going to pull out of Beacon Cove early on the 4th. What day are you traveling up?

Hey Joe,
We are heading up into Lk Huron on Saturday June 29th and will be up in the thumb area for the week, with reservations for Port Austin between July 1st, - July 5th. I don't expect to be in Port Austin until July 2nd or 3rd, just going to bump between ports, pending weather.

1956olds · Mar 22, 2019

one other thing JZ,when traveling from east tawas to bay city it will get choppy even on a nice day around gravelly shoals for a mile on either side (confused waves),watch for fish net bouys in that area also.

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