St Mary’s River (Michigan)

[john6206]

Hello Friends,

Just got the boat hauled out for the season and already dreaming about next year.

One possibility we are talking about is Sault Ste Marie. The trip from Detour to the Soo is about 75 miles, so Im thinking two days.
I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who has done that trip before.

The furthest I’ve been up the river is Lime Island.

 

[dLj]

I've never done this trip but very interested in hearing about it.

Are you leaving from Detour? When next year are you thinking of going?

Who is "we"? Would you want to run at night? If you don't want to run at night my first guess would be maybe better 3 days rather than 2 but that's just a guess.

Looking forward to hearing more.

dj

 

[jssailem]

John
I have never sailed in your Great Lake water.
What I can share from cruising in the Pacific Northwest, try to manage you sailing time to 5 hours. At 6 knots, that’s about 30 nm each leg. That gives you time to get up, eat a good meal, and get anchored or in a harbor with time to experience your arrival and explore the surroundings.

Happy sailing.
john

 

[john6206]

@jssailem
Thanks for that. Yes, we only have two seasons of “big boat” cruising experience, but we have found about 30 nm to be the sweet spot. My wife certainly enjoys a 5 hour leg more than a 9 hour leg.

or, as I usually put it.
if I wake her up at 6 so that we can be underway at 7, everything goes pretty well. If I wake her up at 5 so that we can be underway at 6 … nobody’s going to have a good time today. (Actually she usually helps get us underway and goes back to bed).

Availability of marinas and weather windows and whatnot have caused us to stretch it out. I think we did 55nm once, we’ve done 50 a couple times. Annual spring and fall trips to and from winter storage are about 40 - usually a cold 40. I think I might haul out in September next year!

Autopilot is expensive, but it might make some things easier.

@dLj

Harbor hopping up the Michigan coast from Tawas to Cheboygan, cut across the tip of the lake from Cheboygan to Detour, then probably two days up the river to Sault Ste Marie would be my first draft of an itinerary.

I don’t have a proper chart yet, but looking at navionics and active captain it looks like there are several good anchorages.

Anchorages and freighter traffic are the kinds of information I’m seeking from people who have done it before.

 

[jssailem]

The AP serves as a silent crew member. Performs smoothly allowing the skipper to manage the sails. I would not be without one.
Some creative boat owners even give them crew names.

 

[kappykaplan]

Some creative boat owners even give them crew names.

Otto

 

[john6206]

@jssailem
It’s definitely on the list.
All new standing rigging / running rigging and electronics last winter, Genoa this off season, main next year, dodger and Bimini would be nice, auto pilot …

This boat will be sweet by the time I’m too old to sail it!

 

[jssailem]

Age is a number. Work at keeping yourself fit, and you'll be sailing into your 80's like @Terry Cox. It is my plan.