St.Clair River

[colinhulse]

My 30 O'day runs at 5 knots. I want to travel up the St.Clair river from a Marina near Detroit to Sarina / Port Huron. Anyone have any Idea how long that will take? It Takes me 3.5 to get to Seagull Island at the mouth of the St.Clair. The chances that I would have an aiding wind are slim.

 

[justsomeguy]

http://www.boatnerd.com/facts-figures/strivcp.htm

Ain't the internet cool?

 

[gettinthere]

Slim indeed. Seems the wind always funnels down the river much stronger than the gradient wind.
Unless you are going down the river, then it funnels up the river!!!

Figure minimum 1.5 knots. Under the bluewater bridge it can run at least 3. Stay close enough to the canadian shore to hi 5 the fishermen under the bridge! South of the bridge near the casino there is a bit of counter current that will give you a break.

 

[Darwin19229]

We generally take about two days with an overnight stop at Metro Beach in Lake St. Claire. Between the current and the freighters it is a very interesting trip. As with the recommendations of the previous poster, stay out of the center as much as possible as this is where the strongest current is.

 

[gettinthere]

Also, the Black river in PH runs about 3 knots.
In the lower river the dock slips are perpendicular to the flow making docking 'fun'. Better slips upriver but you have to get 2 bridges to open and waiting in the current can be sporty.

 

[Randylb]

It takes about 10-12 hours from Windsor Municipal to Sarnia. As a previous poster indicated stay close to the Cdn side when approaching the Bluewater Bridge and you will catch eddies that will actually assist. Once out of the eddies you'll have less than a quarter mile through current to the lake.

Randy

 

[JohnnyMac]

If you motor at 5 kits you will be netting 3 going upriver. It will be 13 hours from the Delta of the St Clair to Port Huron. I've never had the wind helping heading north so I wouldn't count on it in planning. The admiral loves this part of the trip looking at houses along the river.

 

[colinhulse]

slow ride

I guess I will be watching people on foot along the shore passing me! I wish there was a place to stay half way up but I see nothing.

 

[gettinthere]

Halfway?
St Clair, Mi. I forget the river name but its a left turn on the way up. Draw bridge about 100 yards in. Lots of face docks on both sides of the river. As I remember, we docked on the north side for shorter walk to town. The St Clair Inn is highly rated. There is a big art fair every year. Lots of people make St Clair a weekend destination.

 

[JohnnyMac]

Algonac is where the St Clair River splits. Marina has a nice restaurant and swimming pool. Halfway up is the town of St Clair with a nice municipal marina. Town is within walking distance. There's a drawbridge which will give you practice for Port Huron.

 

[colinhulse]

I google mapped St. Clair.MI. I don't see any sailboats in the harbor. There is a drawbridge however. Will have to research. Thank you