www.iFourWinns.com

Bliss & Everyone,
When we stayed in Charlevoix, we were allowed to store our trailer for a week at Irish Boat Works. There may have been a nominal fee. When we went to the North Channel, we started in Detour, MI at the municipal marina. They have a courtesy lot just down the road. It is the same with Sutton’s Bay and Elk Rapids. Dan

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Current Boat: 1994 278 Four Winns Vista

Ok, title of thread is "Best Boating Lakes" Well, hands down, Lake Powell. But then I read the OP, wants to know best boating lake Within 6 hrs driving distance of his house..... Can not help with this one.

But if your willing to drive a very, very long ways, you will find Lake Powell, my vote for best boating lake.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Surprised nobody has mentioned Dale Hollow Lake. We've been to Norris, Cumberland, and Laurel River lake, but enjoy the layout of DHL the best. We usually stay at Holly Creek or Eagle Cove as the cabins are very nice. Only downside is that the local attractions are very minimal.

Laurel Lake probably has the best clarity of water but it is very narrow and gets choppy pretty easy. Few places to drift and swim...somewhat similar to Norris in terms of "river-like".

Someone mentioned Lake Ouachita. I've been thinking about heading there. Any activities on the lake? Looks a little desolate in terms of marina's and such.

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We have been several times to Dale Hollow, and enjoy it very much. Usually stay at the State Park lodge (KY). It is big, but not as big as Cumberland, and I like the rock cliffs and coves of Cumberland compared with DH. I think DH is a close second imo. I cant remember where Holly Creek or Eagle Cove are located off the top of my head, but I'll have to check them out because we'd prefer to find a nice cabin or condo to a lodge room any day. Do these places have docks for rent/available?

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2005 Horizon 250

OK now you gotten to our favorite!! Dale Hollow is a calmer, cleaner, more peaceful lake than Cumberland IMO. We have a slip @ Sulphur Creek Resort, and love it . Sulphur also has camping, cabins, and a lodge( more like condos) , and houseboats and boat slips for rent. Sunset Marina has the same. There is a restaurant on the water at both of these marinas and lots of friendly people. We have been going to Dale Hollow for almost 40 years now, and love everything about it.

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2008 Vista 278, Dale Hollow Lake

This thread has a lot of good info but it is missing something....PICS! C'mon guys it's snowing outside right now and we need some visual reference when you speak of your favorite lake!

Let me help kick things off. My favorite lake within driving distance of Xavid is:Lake Michigan!

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

8" of snow so far today in South Bend !! So how about these warm thoughts from Torch Lake Michigan

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

Man, some great pics! Carribean blue water!
I'll see if I have any good photos of Dale Hollow or Cumberland.

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2005 Horizon 250

dale hollow family vacation. can't wait till it warms up!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDYsDDH7OA4

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Thats what is so neat about Torch lake, the water is crystal clear and the sugar sand bottom gives it the color. Had some friends up there last year, thought the water was 8 feet deep where we anchored, when in fact it was closer to 20.

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

bumping this up...anybody here have experience with Lake Ouachita in Arkansas?

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Have never been, It looks like it would be fun, but also be careful, as I found this bit of info:

Ouachita was not clear cut before it was filled, so a forest is still standing beneath the surface. Many trees left standing were over 60 feet tall. Always be on the lookout for shallow water markers and tree tops.

With over 200 islands showing, there are many just under the waters surface. Even in seemingly open water you can go from 150 feet to 2 feet in a short distance.

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

Yikes....I used to live up in Angola, IN and kept my boat on Lake James. Obviously a different style of lake, but it was wild going from 35' to 2' in a matter of a few hundred feet. Learned the hard way, very first boat was a beautiful used 1973 sea ray and found a "stump island" in less than a minute. Fortunately I only bent the prop. I also used to live in Hot Springs Arkansas (as a kid). Would like to try Ouachita, but it actually looks a little too desolate. Hardly looks like any marina's or anything on the lake.

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