Nepidae
Senior Member
Great lakes Cruising
Admittedly, my experience in Great Lakes cruising was limited to crossing Lake Ontario on a good day and the using the northern reaches of Lake Huron (the North Channel) before we hit Lake Washing Machine (Michigan).
The North Channel was some nice cruising.
We used the eastern side of Lake Michigan and that might have been a mistake. The western side is in the lee of the land and may be more protected.
I hear Lake Superior is great cruising, but I take that with a grain of salt.
Looking at the predominant boats in use on Lake Michigan they were either sail or go-fast motor and I would agree if the Great Lakes is going to be a cruising ground for most of your cruising you may want to change tools.
Again, as to Lake Washing Machine there is a cruising book put out by the state of all of the Safe Harbor marinas on the Lake which encompasses most if not all of the state marinas. NOTICE, I say Safe Harbors and that is mostly what they are.
We got pretty beat up in South Haven with the wind & waves coming down the channel into town with no abatement. The mate left the boat, for the dockmasters office and I spent the day trying to use spring lines to keep the boat off the pilings. We lost a section of wood trim banging against the pilings.
We never looked more to get out of a body of water than we did with Michigan.
IF you haven't been there then it might be nice for the experience. We've had our 1 time visit and NEVER plan to go back.
Now, if you want a place in NY to keep your boat in the 9mo you can't use it I could make some recommendations, PM me if interested. I'd gravitate toward the NY Canals and Canada.
Good luck,
Admittedly, my experience in Great Lakes cruising was limited to crossing Lake Ontario on a good day and the using the northern reaches of Lake Huron (the North Channel) before we hit Lake Washing Machine (Michigan).
The North Channel was some nice cruising.
We used the eastern side of Lake Michigan and that might have been a mistake. The western side is in the lee of the land and may be more protected.
I hear Lake Superior is great cruising, but I take that with a grain of salt.
Looking at the predominant boats in use on Lake Michigan they were either sail or go-fast motor and I would agree if the Great Lakes is going to be a cruising ground for most of your cruising you may want to change tools.
Again, as to Lake Washing Machine there is a cruising book put out by the state of all of the Safe Harbor marinas on the Lake which encompasses most if not all of the state marinas. NOTICE, I say Safe Harbors and that is mostly what they are.
We got pretty beat up in South Haven with the wind & waves coming down the channel into town with no abatement. The mate left the boat, for the dockmasters office and I spent the day trying to use spring lines to keep the boat off the pilings. We lost a section of wood trim banging against the pilings.
We never looked more to get out of a body of water than we did with Michigan.
IF you haven't been there then it might be nice for the experience. We've had our 1 time visit and NEVER plan to go back.
Now, if you want a place in NY to keep your boat in the 9mo you can't use it I could make some recommendations, PM me if interested. I'd gravitate toward the NY Canals and Canada.
Good luck,