Tell me about Lake Michigan

[Middleton]

I have a 21ft chaparral bowrider with a merc 5.7L.I live just north of Indianapolis and have only boated on small lakes for a number of years now.I'm thinking about planning a trip to Lake Michigan in the summer of 08.I have read some posts on here about it being rough and some that say it isn't bad (as long as there is no weather blowing in).I think it would be a cool trip to drop in somewhere around St. Joseph,Mi and run straight across to the Chicago or vice versa.It looks to be about a 60 mile trip (one-way).Would this make for a nice time or am I just talking out of my head?I am always looking for more info on boating on the lake.I would appreciate any comments or info you guys could give me to help me out.
Thanks,
Middleton

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

I lived in St. Joseph for 20 years. Think of Lake Michigan a bit like th ocean. It can be dead calm one day/moment, and then raise up 3' waves another. Storms can also come out of nowhere. It is a great boating lake; used to do all kinds of fishing out there, but you just have to respect it and pay attention to the weather. On a clear day, you can see the lights of Chicago from St. Joe.

 

[Esox]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

Boating/fishing on Lake Michigan can be a great time. Like Dvan said...think of it as being a bit like the ocean. I'm not sure I'd want to be too far off shore in a smaller boat though. The last thing you want is to find yourself several miles offshore and have some nasty weather come up. I was out a few years ago in a friends 17' alum deep v and the weather started picking up. In no time there were 4+' rollers. Luckily we were close to the harbor so we were able to get back in fairly quick before it got worse.

 

[burroak]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

In a younger life I worked on the docks south of Milwaukee and heard many reports of the ship's captains getting sea sick from Lake Michigan.

I've spent years salmon fishing on Lake Michigan and will attest to the vagaries of it. Prudence and common sense, with the acquisition of experience is paramount.

What you are proposing should be pursued cautiously. That trip would not have been my first excursion on Lake Michigan. Just my opinion.

Red skies at night.

 

[Frank Martin]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

we do it all the time
have to have a little better plan though
i would try much shorter trips say st joe to michigan city then to pastricks marina then may be cal harbor then down town chicago then waukeegan then racine . lot more to see lot more forgiving if weather kicks up can allways take a taxi to the south shore train back to pick up your trailer none of these streaches would be more tab 30 min to a hour
st joe has great burgers and drinks rite on the water
michigan city has a zoo and mall and great steak place with in walking distance of the marina
pastrick has a great yatch club casino with great food hotel
calumet harbor has a nice park and ramps
chicago HAS IT ALL monroe harbor has great harbor master can you rent a can to tie your boat to and take water taxi to shore radio channel 68
waukeegan has a great harbor and yatch club
racine has beauty full marina hotel and food rite up the hill

plan your trip for july or august when the water is as warm as it gets
you will have a blast and will come back for more I AM CERTAIN

great week ends to be on the water in chicago are for the chicago air show or when the tase of chicago is going on

 

[Middleton]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

This is the kind of info I need to hear.Right from people who have done it.I was wondering if all that open water would be a bad idea or not.Sounds like I should stay closer to the shoreline..And did I hear CASINO!!!!....Something I probably would have never heard about except from you guys.Keep the suggestions coming Im already getting a better picture in my head thanks to you guys,but still feel I need to do alot more homework.
Thanks,
Middleton

 

[dc_gentry]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

You might try the Chicago Circle Tour. Its a full days trip, traveling between 60 and 70 miles.

Put in at the Alsip ramp which is west on 127th street off of I294. Go right on the Cal Sag to the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal and turn right at the little light house. Continue on the Sanitary and Ship Canal running into the South Branch of the Chicago River into downtown Chicago. Bear right at Wolf Point to the Chicago Lock. Lock thru to Lake Michigan and Navy Pier. Weather permitting head right out of Chicago Harbor down the lake front to Calumet Harbor and the Calumet River. Lock thru the Thomas J. O'Brien Lock into the Little Calumet River and continue onto the Cal Sag back to the Alsip ramp. If the lake is bumpy, go back thru the lock and retrace your route back to the ramp.

The rivers are working waterways complete with barge traffic and industrial sights and smells. Downtown Chicago is something everyone should experience by water. Navy Pier is a huge tourist attraction with lots of excursion boats and the lakefront is gorgeous. You can tour the various harbors on the lake on the way to Calumet Harbor - Monroe Street, Burnham, 59th Street and Jackson Park.

Its an interesting trip. Bring a camera. Make sure your gas tank is full as gas is "iffy" until after O'Brien Lock.

 

[rheyboer]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

Wednesdays forcast for the open water South half:

11-15' waves. Chance of waterspouts. Enjoy!

 

[Ben Paquin]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

Wednesdays forcast for the open water South half:

11-15' waves. Chance of waterspouts. Enjoy!

I had no idea how bad it could be on the great lakes.
I have never been on anything larger than a big river and smallish lakes in fair weather. Wow. And I didn't know that waterspouts were very common.
This thread as sparked my curiosity and I'm reading some scary stuff about landspouts, waterspouts etc...

I didn't know that landspouts where very common too and often cannot be seen.. This may explain some small planes accidents (Cesna).
While a waterspout is easy to spot and therefore more commonly reported.

 

[rheyboer]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

I take an 18' bowrider ot there. When the forecast and my gut say it's ok. Used to do a lot of sailing. With the slow speeds you can be out in much heavier weather. Never heard of a landspout. The best thing about the Great Lakes, especially when compared to a river, is how much space you have once your 5+ miles out.

 

[Middleton]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

Heard 3 people got killed when a wave broke their boat apart.

 

[GottaHunt]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

Since you have a bowrider, I suggest you keep the bow cover on.
Years ago I had a new 19' bow rider and was out about 5 miles in Lake Michigan in 4-6' waves. Watched as a fully loaded freighter went by...until the wake from the freighter caught up to us. We were extremely lucky that we had all the canvas up and the bow cover on, as the boat dropped into the trough from the wake. The water washed over the entire boat when the wall of water closed around us. Our boat came up just like a bobber. I find myself leaving a pucker mark in the seat everytime I think about that day!

Your suggestion can be done, but please be careful - bad stuff can happen out there if you aren't prepared.

 

[ztim]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

If you would like to go about 80 miles further north from Chicago, look into attending Summer Fest in Milwaukee. Great harbor and a million things to do. To find dates and times, Google summer fest.

 

[Middleton]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

Does Chicago have a fireworks show visible from the water for the 4th of July? and does the water get "crowded" that weekend like every other lake in America?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

Have you ever heard the song "Edmund Fitzgerald". She was about a 1000 foot long ore carrier that went down in a storm on Lake Superior some years ago. The great lakes are littered with sunken ships so attacking the lake in a small open boat needs to be taken with a great deal of respect, preparation, and experience. Enjoy the trip -- it can be done -- but do it carefully.

 

[J. Howard]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

Does Chicago have a fireworks show visible from the water for the 4th of July? and does the water get "crowded" that weekend like every other lake in America?

Yes and it's fantastic. I sat out on Monroe Harbor for the fireworks this year with my fiancee and some friends and we felt like we could almost reach up and touch them. The lake gets ridiculously crowded and they pretty much shut down the harbor, but we just got out there plenty early with plenty of drinks and snacks, and just sat on the mooring can all evening without ever turning the engine on. I wasn't crazy about trying to navigate through the crowd anyway, and I wanted to enjoy some cold ones myself. I highly recommend doing this sometime, and you can rent a transient can for a night or a weekend. It's pretty fun to be out on the water relaxing and watching all the people building up on the shore throughout the evening claiming their spots to watch the fireworks show, and the show was great.

 

[Pony]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

If you would like to go about 80 miles further north from Chicago, look into attending Summer Fest in Milwaukee. Great harbor and a million things to do. To find dates and times, Google summer fest.

Summerfest is definately worth going to. Its over now, but its a ton of fun. Lots of different foods, tons of music etc.

 

[Middleton]

Re: Tell me about Lake Michigan

Well I have decided that I 'm going to take the plunge next weekend (weather permitting).I'm going to launch from the closest ramp from interstate 65 and work my way around to the chicago waterfront.I have been looking online for a detailed map of the lake around there and have come up empty handed.I figured they would sell some sort of map at the marina/ramp.I was looking for one that would have water hazards,restricted water spaces,marinas,idle zones,shipping lanes and any other info that would give me a heads up and help me stay out of trouble.If anyone would have a link to one it would be appreciated.Also any tips about boating in the area will be appreciated too. I'm certain my boat is coast guard compliant and I'm studying the boating "rights of way". I'm so nervous about this trip no matter how small it will be but the only way to learn is to jump in literally. Thanks again and I will give a report when I return, hopefully I return
Middleton