At Long Last !!

[bobk]

Exsailor, welcome. We ought to be in Port st. Lucie as you get underway. We will be starting up the ICW about the first week of May. Give us a shout, and maybe we can run together part of the way if you can stand 8 knots.

Bob
1981 48MY

[spartonboat1]

Well, just so us 'trolls' can keep an eye out for you, where will you berth? Duncan Bay, Walstrom's, Cheboygan Marina (old Lund's machine shops), or elsewhere on the Cheboygan River. Sounds great and in a 53' you can head anywhere you want, anytime you want...North Channel, Les Cheneaux, Mack Isle, Drummond Isle, Detour and St. Marys, etc. Did I mention le Lac Michigan? Lots of great choices!

Sounds beautiful!

[SKYCHENEY]

Here is the location:

Thanks again to all.

Home port is Duncan Bay Slip no 9.

ByronS

[jlightonjr]

As far as boating, nothing beats a summer cruise on the Great Lakes!!! You'll have a fantastic summer!!

[Maynard Rupp]

Thanks for all the comments.
Boat is currently in Alva, Fl at mile 119 on the Okeechobee waterway. We plan on the ICW as much as possible, understanding we have to go outside at New Jersey. We are in no rush. By leaving May 1st, we'd like to be home by mid June at the latest. We have some extra crew planning to go part way with one person committed for the Canals. Had heard about the clearance problems, but I assume we will be OK since arch does hinge down.
ByronS

We made the trip from Detroit to Miami last fall with our '86 36C. You should be able to take the Erie Canal from the Hudson river to the Oswego cutoff. From there you lock down to the eastern end of Lake Ontario at the town of Oswego. travel west to the Welland Canal and lock up, (with the freighters), to lake Erie. You will have plenty of clearence. If you can get down to 15' you will be able to use the entire Erie Canal,(it is beautiful), to lake Erie. If you go up the Chesepeke toward the C&D canal, spend a night on Tagier Island. It is really a neat place. Travel down Deleware Bay to Cape may NJ. during an outgoing tide to avoid tidal waves. Outside to NY City is the only safe way.