Am I crazy? Lake Michigan crossing

[dlochner]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression that VHF is basically line of site. How far can a signal typically reach on a cloudy and on a clear day?

VHF is line of sight. Figure 20 to 25 mile range with a fixed mount VHF on 25 watts power with a masthead antenna. The problem with SSB or Ham is that most boaters don't have it and the CG won't monitor it. For part of the trip you will have limited Cell coverage. Depending on the area, some where around 10 to 12 miles off shore there is no cell coverage.

Assuming a straight line from Michigan City to Chicago, the furthest offshore you will be is ~13 miles. You should be able to see the southern coast the whole trip and see the Chicago skyline from about 20 miles out.

The first long trip I made was across Lake Ontario from Oswego, NY to Cape Vincent, NY. About 40 miles. We went with a boom box and a compass. This was in the days before cheap VHFs and no one could afford Loran. A gps? What's a gps? This in a 22 foot boat. The trip was similar to the one you plan.

Pick the weather, pick the time, and you'll be good. Study Google Earth.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Watch the weather and pack a lunch with some granola bars ETC.

A week or two's worth of food and 30-40 gallons of fuel was my thought. Probably overkill

VHF is line of sight. Figure 20 to 25 mile range with a fixed mount VHF on 25 watts

Good Point. I can see the Chicago skyline all the way from Waukegan (very close to IL/WI border).

I suppose if all else fails and I'm still floating I'll drift back to some shore eventually LOL

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

That is just because you are wisely cautious going off shore into the Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle or Hurricane Alley. There have been US Navy Pilots that disappeared in that very area...

actually several crossings of the Gulf of Mexico, one of which was singlehand

 

[JRacer]

Probably wouldn't make the trip in the second week of July - lot of traffic then. OTOH if done then, there will be the CG Cutter Mackinac nearby!

 

[Parsons]

Sounds like a fun trip, and not crazy at all. If you can average over 4 knots over the 37 nm, you're in under 10 hours. It's coastal cruising all the way, and you can always bail out in Calumet or Jackson. In fact, I'd take a look at some of these harbors so I knew my "plan B" in case the weather changes. Perhaps bring a friend who sails to keep you company, and allow you to get a little nap? Personally, I'd avoid Chicago itself, but that's because I don't like crowds on the water or on land. Guess that's why I live in the boonies.

 

[rgranger]

If you stay within 2 mi of shore, your phone's GPS will work. Download a Nautical nav. app to your phone.

 

[shemandr]

Looking back at the OP the question was what to do to develop navigational skills during the Winter. One answer is Power Squadron. They have excellent training in navigation. You don't have to go all the way up to celestial navigation. The basic course and the next in line, I think, Coastal Piloting will put you way ahead of where you are now. It's not expensive. Navigation is at its core a system of awareness of your environment and using observations to locate your position and other observations to check the first observations. I firmly believe that a course like CP imparts an attitude to the student that carries over to GPS, Radar, and AIS. Those are just other ways to make observations. An alternative might be the Annapolis Book of Seamanship and I'm sure a online search will reveal many other books, videos, podcasts etc. of how to navigate. There's also USCG Auxilliary training and American Sailing Association training. Not to mention the whole Colgate empire, North U., and captain's license courses. There's plenty of training out there. You have to put the effort in. You should anyway because it will enhance your appreciation of being on the water.

 

[JRacer]

Looking back at the OP the question was what to do to develop navigational skills during the Winter. One answer is Power Squadron. They have excellent training in navigation. You don't have to go all the way up to celestial navigation. The basic course and the next in line, I think, Coastal Piloting will put you way ahead of where you are now. It's not expensive. Navigation is at its core a system of awareness of your environment and using observations to locate your position and other observations to check the first observations. I firmly believe that a course like CP imparts an attitude to the student that carries over to GPS, Radar, and AIS. Those are just other ways to make observations. An alternative might be the Annapolis Book of Seamanship and I'm sure a online search will reveal many other books, videos, podcasts etc. of how to navigate. There's also USCG Auxilliary training and American Sailing Association training. Not to mention the whole Colgate empire, North U., and captain's license courses. There's plenty of training out there. You have to put the effort in. You should anyway because it will enhance your appreciation of being on the water.

And, I would suggest that a copy of Chapman's Piloting is a good book to read over the winter!

 

[Tally Ho]

The answer to that question is probably. I bought an O'Day 25 that's in Michigan City and I plan on sailing it to Chicago or Waukegan, IL in the spring. The boat has a bunch of sails (working set is in excellent shape), the starboard bulkhead will be replaced before launch, 25w VHS, 3w handheld, Saildrive (see my post other concerning this), head furler, working head w/tank, bimini and a whole lot more. My main concerns at the moment are that I have near zero navigational skills. What would you suggest I buy, read, learn, test etc before doing this trip?

Mayhem,
You have nothing to worry about. I bought my first boat (Hunter280) in Milwaukee and took her to East Chicago, Indiana. Had zero experience. Worst of all possible conditions the day I left Milwaukee ...38 F, sleet & rain, 20-30 knots from the east (I am sailing down the west side of Lake Michigan). I made it, but did learn to pay attention to wind and weather.

Bought my second boat in Holland, MI and took her to East Chicago. Had more experience on this trip, but had engine problems out of the gate. Had to lay up in a river marina about an hour south of Holland. All ended OK when I made it home the second day.

There are several marinas between Michigan City and Chicago or Waukegan. Michigan City to East Chicago Marina is a day sail (about 20 NM). EC to Chicago is about 20 miles (spend the night anchored in “the play pen”). Chicago to Waukegan is about the same I think (maybe even shorter). On my trip down from Milwaukee, I spent the night in Winthrop Harbor on the Wisconsin/Illinois border. I made it home to East Chicago from Winthrop Harbor in one LONG day.

Also, it is hard to get lost since you can see Chicago from a loooong, looong way on the Lake. Use it as a landmark and you can’t go wrong (unless there is no visibility).

A compass heading of 343 degrees should get you from MC to Waukegan, but it is about 55 NM,

If you have an iPad or iPhone, you can get a free (or cheap) nav program called iSailor. Uses free maps and while not perfect, would keep you on track while on a Lake Michigan. Or get a small handheld GPS.

Stop by the East Chicago Marina and I will buy you a beer and point you in the right direction the next morning.

I took charter lessons in Michigan City with Michigan City Sailboat Charters. Beautiful marina.

I assume you won’t be shoving off until next year at this point. All of the marinas are closed now for the winter.

Good luck on your adventure (and no, I don’t think you are [too] crazy).

Greg

 

[Tally Ho]

Sorry, the iPad nav program is called iSailGPS.
Here is a quick route from Mich City to Waulkegan :


Greg

 

[justsomeguy]

Here is a quick route from Mich City to Waulkegan :

More volume please. I can't hear it...

 

[1980Cat30]

Mayhem,
Great topic. Especially for a newbie like myself. I am looking to make it from Key West to the Dry Tortugas at the end of the month and all of this wisdom and knowledge is giving me a little confidence boost. Thanks for bring up the subject.

John

 

[Davidasailor26]

If you stay within 2 mi of shore, your phone's GPS will work. Download a Nautical nav. app to your phone.

Phone GPS should work anywhere as long as the maps are downloaded ahead of time. Same with cell equipped tablets - you don't need to be in range of the cell towers, just have the chip which communicates with GPS satellites. The primary tradeoffs with those devices are screen brightness and weatherproofing.

 

[heritage]

If you stay within 2 mi of shore, your phone's GPS will work. Download a Nautical nav. app to your phone.

My Android phone does not need a cellular signal to use the GPS function. If you are running something like google maps then a cell signal is needed to update the map as you travel but the GPS is still available. I use the MXMariner navigation app with downloaded NOAA charts for the area I'm sailing in. I also use the Open CPN navigation app on my android phone because of its great graphics with the NOAA charts. We used both of these nav apps on android smartphones and tablets on the East Coast and the Bahamas.

 

[Tally Ho]

More volume please. I can't hear it...

Oops not sure how I captured that in there

Greg

 

[agprice22]

At least learn to read a chart! Then you will know which light you are looking at in the middle of the night as a freighter runs you down and passes a yard off your port quarter! Or which inlet you are looking at by the frequency of its lights. Just managing to hit some land after 11 hours of sailing will not be all that interesting! Oh, and then actually take a chart!

 

[agprice22]

Oh, and never be on a schedule. The weather dictates when you leave.

 

[shemandr]

Continuing from my earlier post: It isn't the navigation that will make this trip. It is the weather. As all midwesterners know spring is when the warm humid southern air dukes it out with the cold dry northern air and that donnybrook causes a lot of dangerous weather conditions. You shouldn't be on a schedule. Just get the right weather and you can have an easy trip.

 

[jssailem]

Probably overkill

If you say that, it is probably true.

Man you have gotten a wealth of good support for the trip. While the navigation is fairly simple. Head boat west and sail into the afternoon sun, you’ll likely want to come ashore at a specific spot. That means selecting a Harbor and then finding it. Dead Reckoning.

Why not practice?

Take your car out on the road with a paper map. Choose a start point. Nearby Walmart parking lot. Get a compass. And make a list of compass headings and time periods between turns to let you drive to a pub with good food and a beer maybe 37 miles away.
Then try to follow your list of compass and time calculations. If you find the pub. Celebrate. You have navigated your way just like you do in a boat. Couple more times and you might be able to qualify as a sailor/navigator. At least you’ll become popular with sailors as you have demonstrated your ability to navigate to a good pub.

I’m looking forward to hear about your success.

 

[Joe]

First a comment on VHF radio distance... remember that most regional coast guard and weather broadcast centers extend well beyond 20 miles because the transmitters are place on top of buildings towers and mountains. Even farther range can be expected if you invest in a fixed mount model with a masthead antenna. If it were me... I'd go one step further and get something that can receive AIS. An additional, inexpensive handheld gps is a nice backup and handy in the cockpit.
Also... since I guess you're single handing... why don't you go ahead and invest in a tiller pilot.... such as the simrad or raymarine types... they sell for around $400 for the non networking models. A great, great investment.
Get this book to study during the winter months..... it'll give you confidence.. there's a big section on piloting and navigation... Sounds like a fun trip