This is maybe a silly question, but I usually sail on a very small lake, so it's usually not something I run into. How do you determine how far you can travel in your small boat? Specifically, I am planning a trip to Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay in about a week. Straight across the east arm of the bay is about 3 miles. So surely we can sail there even if the wind is not perfect, spend a little time in the town across the bay and sail back. But from the cottage we rented around the top of the Old Mission Peninsula and out to Marion Island looks to be about 20 miles. I am guessing that with decent wind I can make about 3 miles per hour (I have never clocked myself) that makes a round trip a 13 hour deal if we never stop to smell any roses, and I have no desire to sleep on my 170. Is my thinking about right? How do you look at a map and say, "We could do that?" What sort of speed do you think I could make with my 3.3hp outboard? Any thoughts would be helpful, Thanks, John
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Best Guess
Sounds to me like your 6 mile round-trip is a nice day. I know nothing of the area but assume there is no potential for a sea state that would overwhelm a 170? The 40 mile roundtrip in a day is a bear in a small boat. Your 13 hour estimate is probably on target and only slightly less time than there is daylight even in summer. I'd get a nautical chart for the area and use a pair of spreaders or a cheap drugstore compass (the things we had in grade school that holds a pencil to draw a circle with) to measure the chart scale and draw a circle from your start point that demonstrates half the distance you can comfortably sail at 3 mph in a day - the other half gets you home. And I doubt you'll motor any faster than you can sail. Have a great trip. Drew
Sounds to me like your 6 mile round-trip is a nice day. I know nothing of the area but assume there is no potential for a sea state that would overwhelm a 170? The 40 mile roundtrip in a day is a bear in a small boat. Your 13 hour estimate is probably on target and only slightly less time than there is daylight even in summer. I'd get a nautical chart for the area and use a pair of spreaders or a cheap drugstore compass (the things we had in grade school that holds a pencil to draw a circle with) to measure the chart scale and draw a circle from your start point that demonstrates half the distance you can comfortably sail at 3 mph in a day - the other half gets you home. And I doubt you'll motor any faster than you can sail. Have a great trip. Drew
Grand Travers Bay
John, I sail the GTB. If you want to go to Power (Marion) Island I'd trailer over to West Bay. Launch at Elmwood Marina in Greilickville near Traverse City or Bowers Harbor. The winds are almost always from the North and don't come up until Noon and stop about 7 or 8 pm so you'll usually be beating. I'd say that it will be very hard to get to Power Island and back without use of motor and it will be a very, very long day. If the winds come up early you'll be reefed all day and it can get pretty sporty above Mission Light. West Bay is popular but you'll have great sailing just fooling around in East Bay. You might try a trip to Elk Rapids. If the winds cooperate, you might try for Suttons Bay. You'll be on a easy reach both ways most of the time. That will also be a long day but an easier sail. Check Accuweather.com as it gives winds by the hour. I've found this site to be pretty reliable for sailing GTB.
John, I sail the GTB. If you want to go to Power (Marion) Island I'd trailer over to West Bay. Launch at Elmwood Marina in Greilickville near Traverse City or Bowers Harbor. The winds are almost always from the North and don't come up until Noon and stop about 7 or 8 pm so you'll usually be beating. I'd say that it will be very hard to get to Power Island and back without use of motor and it will be a very, very long day. If the winds come up early you'll be reefed all day and it can get pretty sporty above Mission Light. West Bay is popular but you'll have great sailing just fooling around in East Bay. You might try a trip to Elk Rapids. If the winds cooperate, you might try for Suttons Bay. You'll be on a easy reach both ways most of the time. That will also be a long day but an easier sail. Check Accuweather.com as it gives winds by the hour. I've found this site to be pretty reliable for sailing GTB.
thanks guys
Thanks Guys, The cottage we rented is directly across from Elk Rapids, so that is where our main sailing destinaiton will be. We also plan to sail up along the coast to mission harbor for a picnic and a swim. I had already thought of trailering across the penninsula and launching on the west bay, it may be that the East bay has plenty of water for us, but I probably wouldn't have bought a boat if I didn't want to explore something! Just got reef points installed this year, we have had slim to no wind here all summer so I will be able to try them for the first time up north. I had also considered that the wind north of the light might get too strong for my novice skills and my 380lb boat, so thanks for confirming. Thank you for all the advice. John
Thanks Guys, The cottage we rented is directly across from Elk Rapids, so that is where our main sailing destinaiton will be. We also plan to sail up along the coast to mission harbor for a picnic and a swim. I had already thought of trailering across the penninsula and launching on the west bay, it may be that the East bay has plenty of water for us, but I probably wouldn't have bought a boat if I didn't want to explore something! Just got reef points installed this year, we have had slim to no wind here all summer so I will be able to try them for the first time up north. I had also considered that the wind north of the light might get too strong for my novice skills and my 380lb boat, so thanks for confirming. Thank you for all the advice. John
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