Great Lakes Walk About

[JohnnyMac]

No Agenda, We've made the trip from Port Clinton to the North Channel 3 times with the limitation of a two week vacation. I'd suggest making the trip to Port Huron the weekend before your vacation. You can leave your boat on the wall of the Black River for a reasonable price. In a 30' boat the best SOG you will achieve is 4 knots and the south light of the Detroit River to Port Huron is 80 miles.

 

[JohnnyMac]

Continued. At the south end of the Saint Clair River there are Martina's around Algonac. We have done Port Huron to Port Elgin at night and Port Huron to Tobermorey at night but I'd stay off the Detroit and St Clair rivers at night.

Coming back the current is with you and I've done PH to Put In Bay in a long day.

If you're interested, you can PM me at jmcwilliams76@gmail.com and I can meet you sometime and look at charts and go over options. That is if you're planning to go up the Bruce Peninsula. I don't know the Michigan side of Lake Huron.

 

[MSN-Travelers]

Water levels are at historical lows on Huron-Michigan. Do not assume that various harbors will have enough depth to allow entry if your draft is 5 foot or deeper.

Most marinas staff up on or shortly after April 15th. Start contacting the harbor masters to see what conditions are as you plan your trip.

Fuel can be an issue in the greater Chicago area too. Make sure you have a full fuel load before heading into the Windy City or know the harbors you can get into that have your fuel type (some fuel docks can only be reached by power boats).

The channel leading into Winthrop Harbor (IL) is heavily silted on its eastern half (to port). The channel leading into Leland Harbor (MI) is heavily silted on its eastern half (to starboard) and there was some talk that they may have only 3-5 foot of depth. Have a 5' draft but its closer to 5'6" when cruise loaded and we grounded pulling into a slip at South Haven (MI) last June.

You may find many of the harbors in Wisconsin's Door County close too. Again, start contacting harbor masters to see what may be openrclosed at your draft and our current water levels. Pray for heavy spring rains.

 

[NoAgenda]

Thanks JohnnyMac, I am hoping our boat will be done soon. Some repairs are being finished that didn't get done before we took delivery last year.