17'er St Ignace - Mackinaw Is

capta · May 17, 2017

I did the Great Lakes on an 80' motorsailor and we got out butt kicked quite a few times over that summer. To be fair, it was before satellite weather and the internet, but I still have little faith in weather forecasters, even with all the new fangled tools they have at their disposal.

SchwarckT · May 18, 2017

I read an article once about someone doing that trip in a sailing canoe. Most of the times I sailed out of St. Ignace, the lack of wind was more of a problem than rough weather.

DougM · May 18, 2017

Consider the current in the straits, you might find yourself going backwards, even with a small outboard. Its doable, but you need to be aware of the weather. It like the old saying about Michigan weather; if you don't like it, wait 15 minutes, it will change.

You will be contending with wakes from the high speed ferries that run to and from the island.

As far as reserving a slip, that can be a crap shoot depending on when you go. In July there would be competition with about 100 other Mac Race boats, or cruisers. This would be true for St. Ignace and Mackinaw City as well.

SchwarckT · May 18, 2017

I once spent a few hours adrift between St. Ignace and Mackinaw when the wind died and my outboard failed. I almost drifted ashore on the island. If there was a current, it wasn't enough to move my boat anywhere. I was getting ready to call for a tow, but the wind finally came back.

dlochner · May 18, 2017

Marty said:
We have a small outboard that will push us at 5-6 mph. Looks like it's only 5 miles over there. My thought is that if the weather does suddenly turn on us, we could drop the sails and motor back in under an hour.

These days weather forecasts are good enough that you should not be surprised by anything in the very near term, i.e., the next 3 or 4 hours. Also you would likely be more comfortable and the boat more stable with reefed sails than with no sails and the motor. If the wind is on your nose, leave the main up and motor sail, you'll point higher and the boat will be more stable.

Marty said:
Would a little hand-held VHF be nessesary ?

Necessary? No. Better than a cellphone? Yes. A cell phone only lets you talk to one person at a time, a VHF allows you to talk to many people at a time. Cell phones are also more susceptible to water damage. A decent Standard Horizon submersible VHF can be had for around $100. They also access the NOAA and Environment Canada broadcasts and can receive weather alerts.

LANCE ON CLOUD NINE · May 18, 2017

If it were me, I would invest in a hand held radio that included DSC and would get and register a mmsi number for my boat. There are many advantages to this that you can read up on online....but basically it allows calling the Coast Guard with one button. When they receive your call it tells them your position and a description of your boat so they know what they are looking for. It also lets them see other boats close to you with a similar radio...and they will direct them to you. These radios are 200+ $ but are a great asset to have tethered to you life vest while in open water. I would do the trip in a heart beat. I hope you enjoy it!

capta · May 18, 2017

I wouldn't leave the dock on anything but the smallest dinghy without a few lines, a suitable anchor with rode and a fender or two. Certainly, if you are planning to spend a night or two in a marina, you will need some dock lines and possibly fenders. Marinas do not supply these things, but I'm sure they would be happy to sell you them, at an exorbitant price.

NICK1951 · May 18, 2017

Marty,
I made same trip 40 years ago on a 21 foot swing keel sailboat and had a great time! I suggest you think about being self sufficient. Do you have a GPS and charts, fog is not uncommon. Bell, horn, life jackets, flares and vhf are, in my opinion, required. Is the boat, motor and fuel confidence 100%. Do not expect to enter the water to retrieve a head sheet wrapped around the rudder or what ever, w/o a wet suit. Leave time on both sides if conditions are not optimum. Finally, plan your strategy for freighters. Of course I did not do any of these things and survived. Good luck.

Nick