Going bigger?

[Scott T-Bird]

@Scott T-Bird

yes, you nailed it. Our favorite sailing destination is grand traverse bay. We’ve sailed out of Sutton’s Bay, and Northport, and Elk Rapids.

We’ve also trailered to Escanaba, DeTour Village, and dipped our keel into Lake Superior out of Lance (or Barraga - I can’t remember). We stick to bays on our small boat, all of those places have nice bays to sail.

I've considered Muskegon. We sailed our old boat on Muskegon Lake a few times, I think that’s 2 1/2 or 3 hours away. I’ll have to check into some of the other Lake Michigan towns. I see myself, especially in the first few seasons of getting used to the boat, sticking to bays. Lake Michigan towns tend to be a little exposed to high waves and big water. I still have a small boat mentality - I’ve got plenty of respect for Lake Michigan.

Well, you have definitely defined the best reasons for having a trailerable boat! You've made the case for it very well based on the beautiful locations that you have enjoyed. I think the matter comes down to how you want your sailing to evolve. Obviously, you don't have a fixed routine that has gotten old. But I do suggest that age makes a difference in how you enjoy your life. I wonder if the physical demand of setting up and tearing down is wearing thin ... it's understandable. Instead of always looking for new destinations, perhaps think about enjoying a favorite location with more emphasis on being settled. It's a change of attitude for sure. I've been through so many changes in my life, that I don't often think twice about what I miss from the past.

With a larger boat, you definitely will change your mentality. Your respect for the challenging conditions on Lake Michigan is certainly understandable, but I suspect that with your experience, you would have no problem adapting and enjoying the new challenges. One of the great things about putting your larger boat anywhere on any of the Great Lakes is your ability to sail to a new favorite location!

 

[Timm R Oday25]

Are you ready for a little differant prespective ? Our Oday 25 is about as large a boat as one can reasonably go without a "wide load permit" or having to rent a crane to launch it . These were criteria I used in picking out our boat . Over the course of the last 16 years ,we've refined the launching and mast raising to the point where strength and agility aren't all that important .. We can step the mast easily singlehanded safely with the boat in the water .
My wife would love us to join the local yachtclub . Great place, nice folks ,somewhat reassonable dues. Bobbie would be the first to help pick out a bigger boat as well. It's hard for me to spend the extra cash ,about $2100.00 yearly after not paying anything for a mooring.I don't get to the boat as much as I would like . So I end up thinking how much it going to cost me each time I visit the boat .5 months of sailing dvided by $2100.00 .
A Com Pac Catboat has hands down the best mast raising system on the planet and are extremely well made . Easily trailerable and are made up to 27' . Retirement in the near future may weell open up more time on the boat ..We'll see

 

[rgranger]

When I had my H26 in a slip... I would overnight about once a week... sometimes mid-week... shower at the marina in the morning and go to work feeling like I had somehow cheated the day.

Slip the boat and you will use it A LOT MORE! It is easy to calculate the out of pocket cost and conclude that trailer sailing is cheaper but if you divide the cost of the boat by the number of hours you actually sail it... slipping a boat is cheaper than trailer sailing.

 

[Marmalade]

Might look into the Lake Huron harbors, suspect the demand for seasonal dockage maybe lower than SW Mich.

Lexington: state harbor offers some seasonal docks, but suspect they might me limited and wait list.

Port Sanilac: both private marina and state docks... lots of sail boats/resources. Don't know availability.

Harbor Beach: city run marina, and looks like a 27ft boat is $1300 for the year. They need to dredge... currently can't get more than 5-5.5ft draft sailboats in/out. Would guess no waitlist.

East Tawas: both private marina and state harbor, suspect getting season docks without waitlist is possible.

Harrisville: city run, with ~35 docks reserved for seasonal dock... don't know the availability.

Presque Isle: city/hoa run, do have seasonal, but no idea availability.

All of those would be less than 4hrs from AA, though Roger's City, Hammond Bay, and Cheboygen are not much over that. Regardless, worth some calls around for find-out availability/waitlists to get a plan/idea.

As for getting board, each year you could pick a different city and explore the area for year... just a thought. Could even move between Huron and Michigan... don't have to stay tied down year-over-year.

 

[john6206]

@Marmalade

Lake Huron appeals emotionally. I’m from Port Huron, much of my family is still there - probably never hurt for crew. Although my sibs are getting old (funny how I’m not).

When we had our boat in Lake St. Clair, we found the actual drive times were much longer than Apple Maps or Google Maps suggested. Construction through Detroit and accidents on 94 were constant. Might have just been a bad year. I’ve been making that drive since I started college in 1984.

Lake Huron doesn’t have the protected bays and small coastal lakes that Lake Michigan has. Learning to handle a new boat would mean learning to handle it in Lake Huron. I wonder if 27’ would be big enough.

When I had my Hunter 170 (400 lb centerboard boat) I tried to sail out of Lexington twice, and the lake rejected us. . . hard. I haven’t tried the Capri 18 (1500 lb wing keel). The Capri stays on its feet a lot better, the 170 tended to sail on it‘s ears.

 

[Marmalade]

@john6206 understood, you have to make the choice for yourself, but I’ll always take Huron… just something about that lake. LM is great too, but doesn’t have the same appeal to me!

Sorry Lexington was a bust for you, but there will be a big difference between a 17ft center-board and a 27ft keel boat! But maybe a year or two on LM balancing the shore lakes/bays and venturing into the open lake would be a good way to adjust. Can still have the option to try different places 1 season to the next.

Still vote that Alpena/Thunder Bay/Presque Isle is worth a look! But of course, up to you!

As you know, the other option is to go south… Toledo Beach/Erie….not my preferred lake, but the drive would be much better. I guess the same applies with bays, but North Cape YC is nice, and the shorter drive gives you the chance to catch good weather on short notice so don’t feel compelled to go out in unfavorable weather. And you avoid Detroit.