Vacation in Michigan !

[SEAWISE]

Next month on July 13th Barbara and I are flying up to Detroit and then on to Port Huron Mi. via rental car. We are going to spend 5 or 6 days poking around the west coast of Lake Huron aboard "Old Hat" our new old 67, 41c hatt. I was wondering if any of our members are from that area. Or anyone that is familiar with the area that might have a couple of ideas of places to see or things to do, that might make this a more enjoyable trip. I had planed on running 30/50 miles a day and then ducking into one of the many state operated marinas. But we really dont have any plans set in stone. At the end of that week I will make a final decision about cruising or trucking "Old Hat" to Louisiana. And then I just might want to leave her up there for a while. I have read where Michigan has more shoreline than any other state. When I was up there last month, I have never seen more beautiful blue water. It looked like someone poured scope mouth wash in the lake. Any input would be appreciated.
Cy Manley

 

[Gina Marie]

Sounds Like a great trip. Congradulations take the trip down you can read many thought on trucking or motoring in the threads by other hat owners. What ever the decision be safe and enjoy. Gina Marie

 

[SKYCHENEY]

From Port Huron, head north to Lexington. It is a nice Harbor. Next, if you head much farther North, you will have to cross Saginaw Bay. I would suggest you extend your trip and make it all the way up to the Straits of Mackinaw area. There are many beautiful places to stay up there.

You could also visit Canada. There are some close trips you can take from Port Huron.

 

[Vic Clevenger]

You can log on to www.lakelandboating.com and purchase their Lake Michigan Ports O' Call guide. I find the info contained in it very informative. Hope you have a great trip. Vic Clevenger 1986 36SC Lake Macatawa, MI

 

[pathat315]

I live in Michigan and boat that area often. Mackinaw is nice, but would take 2-3 days to get there and lots of fuel. My vote would be up the Canadian side of Lake Huron with stops in Grand Bend, Bayfield, and Goderich. Grand Bend is about 30 miles up the lake from Port Huron and the other towns are 10-15 miles north from Grand Bend. Beautiful sandy beaches with the most beautiful blue water you will ever see. The other great thing is you are on the east side of the lake allowing you to see beautiful sunsets to the west across the lake. National geographic magazine ranked this area as the top places in the world to see a sunset and I have to agree. Then you could cut across the lake to Lexington as the other person suggested. That would be about a 35-40 mile run. Enjoy your trip and let me know if you need more info. Bottom line is the Canadian side of the lake Huron is much prettier than the Michigan shoreline in my opininion.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I agree with pathatt 100%. Grand Bend is a fun stop.

 

[garyd]

If you can go to the north channel, one of the best cruising grounds on the planet. This is a serious trip so take spare belts, hoses, battery etc. You can find parts along the way as well.

If your boat isn't in top shape when you leave it will running like a top by the time you get back.

Fuel up at night start at the crack of dawn and you will have the time or your life!!!

have fun boating garyd.

If you like to use your boat instead of just sit on it this is a great trip.

 

[pathat315]

Again, I agree with the other posts. Depends on how much time you have and how much money you want to spend. Continue north from Goderich to Tobemory, Kilarney, Georgian Bay, and the north channel in you have lots of time. For a cheaper but still great trip, Grand Bend, Bayfield, Goderich and Lexington are my vote.

 

[spartonboat1]

Re: start at crack of dawn, I have found that if you can get underway before the sun is above the horizon, you can cover a lot of ground (water?) before the wind and waves come up, which is around 7:30 to 9am. For a 30-40 mile run, you can almost be there at your destination to spend the day, before it gets dusty. The winds usually come up on the Great Lakes, esp. in July, later in the morning, with the attendent waves. But maybe you like that and it can make for some great boating in a Hatt.

Yes, the North Channel and Straits of Mackinaw are fabulous cruising areas, but about 3 days run up and down each way, with related fuel costs.

There is a movie actress who was famous in the 40's and 50's (Francis Langford) who has had a large yacht called the Chanticleer (was 118', but traded for a 90+ footer) and it you ever run to the North Channel you may see her boat. She as been up there for over 50 years!

on the Great Lakes for 50 years....

 

[Maynard Rupp]

We have a 36C Hat and a racing sailboat. Our cottage is on Lake Huron about 12 miles North of Port Sanilac. I would recomend Port Sanilac as a neat harbor and at the top of the thumb stop at Port Austin. Get a ride to "The Farm" restraunt for the best meal you ever had. Jump across Saginaw Bay to Tawas. Next really neat place North is Presque Isle. The others are just OK in my opinion. Harbor Beach, Harrisville and furthur north is Rogers City. None of those are great. Cheboygan is a very nice town with a restraunt called "Pappas". They will pick you up at the state marina or walk about 12 blocks. Best whitefish on earth. If you can get a slip at Mackinac Island it is the premiere spot in Michigan. If not dock at St. Ignace and ferry to the island. Watch your chart for the shaols between the island and St. ignace. If you still have time hop east to Detour Passage and up into the North Channal. Continue for severel days east. Stop on the way out at Tobernory. A return trip down the Canadian side with the stops others have mentioned in Canada will complete an awesome trip that should take 2 to 3 weeks. ENJOY !!!

 

[spartonboat1]

Re: Cheboygan. If you ever make it to the north end of Lake Michigan or Huron, Cheboygan is an excellent port. From there you are 15 miles from the Mackinaw Island (as nice as there is!) or Mackinaw City marinas, the brand new St. Ignace Marina, which is 3 miles from Mack Isle via many ferries, or you are 35 miles from the Detour Passage into the mile wide St. Mary's River or about 40 miles from the county sized Drummond Island.

Did I mention Bois Bois Island, which has a small marina, about 5 miles across the Straits of Mackinaw?

P.s., Mack Isle marina is in a "rough" harbor, as many 700'-1,000' passing great lakes and salty freighters and the frequent high speed ferry boats keep you rockin', plus the rock music from the Pink Pony bar on the harbor. It's a great place!

The Straits of Mackinaw into Cheboygan and Cheboygan River is well marked from the East by the Poe Reef lighthouse and large can bouys, and to the south by the 14 Ft Shoal lighthouse and more can bouys and, in the center of commercial channel, by a 12' high red bouy. The Poe Reef runs a Racon (radar imaging) signal in bad weather (usually!) plus fog signals at both lighthouses. Hail the USGG and Group Sault (Sault Saint Marie) responds.

The Cheboygan River entrance is marked by red and green cans about a mile out, plus a great set of Range Lights (red over red). It is dredged to 26'

It a large, picturesque, "working" river, where I have berthed since 1997. The Cheboygan County Marina is located immediately after passing the breakwater at the river entrance. There are large ships, the 290' USCG Cutter Mackinaw, several US Fisheries ships, two ferries to Bois Blanc Island, plus many working tugboats and barges from Ryba and Durocher maine are there along the river.

Regarding the "Pappas" restaurant (Greek name pronounced pap-puhs), it is downtown. But why walk the 6-7 blocks from the County Marina, when you can tie up at the many river side slips downtown, south of the drawbridge. Pappas (just sold, may now be under another name), would then be a 200' walk. Across the river from the municipal slips is the Cheboygan Harbor Marina, which may have some transient slips, but not on short notice (I don't think).

A Hatt dealer is in Cheboygan called Walstroms, which is a sister to their original Harbor Springs operation. They can handle the largest Hatts with their lift. They may have transient slips, but not many.

Also, a new marina is being built in the heart of the downtown. This will be for transient boaters, plus will have "rack storage" and haul out, eliminating the need for trailering a boat to Up North.

However, before entering the Cheboygan River, to the East is the beautiful Duncan Bay Marina, which is private, but accepts transients. They monitor 9/16 and are helpful.

No, I am not a member of the local C0fC. But Cheboygan is getting some marine recognition., Walstroms doubled their large boat storage and filled up in one season. The same for large boats at Shepler's in Mack City.

Oh yeah, Cheboygan County Marina has good diesel, gas, and pumpout, excellent shoreside pit stop facitlities and you can also get diesel 15 miles west at Shepler's commercial ferry dock in Mack City or at St. Ignace (I think). No, there is no diesel at Mack Isle.