www.iFourWinns.com

Hi everyone! I just finished putting together a slideshow of our (us and Flyer51) cruise on Northern Lake Michigan this past summer. I guess getting stuck at home sick all weekend has it's perks as I finally found time to piece something together. We launched our boats out of Petoskey Michigan and spent a week cruising the waters of Grand Traverse Bay, Charlevoix, and Little Traverse Bay. We have always cruised solo but this was our first cruise with another boat and it was an absolute blast!! I hope you enjoy it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wak6KnmZsUE

Ps
Also check this out...I thought this video and music went very well together, what do you think? It's a short clip of Flyer51 cruising on Grand Traverse Bay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuq5oqPk3YU&list=UUN996KuWtCmzgVoWz6BDpBw

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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"

Nicely done video, looks like you had a great time. I hope to go on a trip like that someday.

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Current Boats:
2012 FW H260, 8.2 B3X (DTS) "Ctrl-Alt-Delete"
Previous Boats:
1984 Century 5000, Merc 260 Alpha 1
2012 Yamaha VXR

Kansas City, MO

Looks like you had some good and bad weather.
Thanks for sharing!!

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

Watching that makes me want to go back and somehow I've got to figure out how to get to Lake Michigan this summer. With my son getting married in June and a nephew getting married on Pawley's Island the next month it's going to be tough. I wonder if the Admiral will let me forgo my son's wedding because I'm really excited to go to Pawley's Island.

On second thought I'd probably have a boat for sale if I did that.

Thanks Bliss36 for putting this together!

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2008 Vista 278 Volvo Penta 8.1 Gi 375 hp
1999 Horizon 220 5.7 GSi

Awesome video! Man, that is what boating is all about.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

Nicely done...... as usual !!

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Thanks! We did have some pretty crappy weather to deal with but we made the best of it! We had a Northwest/West wind the entire trip which was the worst possible direction and made for some rough crossings. The one smooth cruising day we had is the video footage in the middle of the video of Flyer51

When it rained in port we found time well spent in one of Michigan's many brew pub's! Mackinaw Brewing Company and North Point Brewing Company in TC being our favorite. Of course I would rather spend time destination cruising in any weather rather than seeing the same dock every weekend...we get stir crazy if the scenery isn't changing.


Sounds like perfect timing to me!! Grab your passports and come to the North Channel in July!! At the very least come visit the Marina Shores crew and we'll plan a fun long weekend with an overnight in New Buffalo and some time well spent at the beach!

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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"

Yeah at the very least I think Wet Ink will have to plan for a long Marina Shores weekend with a dose of boaters beach thrown in. Love to see all of you again.

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2008 Vista 278 Volvo Penta 8.1 Gi 375 hp
1999 Horizon 220 5.7 GSi

That is a great video, Ben!! It is stuff like this that really helps keep my sanity through the cold, grey winter. Having my wife watch this video will help my case for making the Michigan trip this year. I really cannot wait! We are looking at August for this trip, most likely.

Flyer - Beautiful 278! Where did you get the swim platform railing done and how much was it, if you dont mind me asking? That looks great.

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2006 Vista 278
First Boat:
2005 Sundowner 205
Columbus, OH

Hutch that was a factory option. The grill as well as some other accessories mount directly to it. We love it as it gives you something to lean against if you're on the back. It is easily removeable however every time I do the Admiral takes exception to it and orders me to put it back on.

By all means plan the trip. There is so much to explore and I have to thank Bliss36, Firecadet and Jninzi for sharing the places to explore and showing me how to boat on Lake Michigan.

The marinas are outstanding and you'll spend some time in them if the wind happens to come up from the wrong direction.

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2008 Vista 278 Volvo Penta 8.1 Gi 375 hp
1999 Horizon 220 5.7 GSi

Nice!
Makes me really miss summer.
We just missed you guys last year. Spent the week before you got up there in Traverse City, Boyne City, and ended in Charlevoix for the Venetian Fest. The weather turned cold and rainy that last weekend of July.

We hope to have a slip on Lake Charlevoix this summer for the boat. Let me know if your coming up again.

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2004 248 Vista "Amante"
MC 5.0MPI/B3

Well done!

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1969 Chris Craft Commander 47
1999 Four Winns 328 Vista - SOLD

Nice video. Some of your pictures showing the dark clouds kinda reminded me of our own cruise from Lake St. Clair into Lake Erie during the first two weeks of July last year (2013). Had a good time put we did get rained on a bunch with some rough boating days.

Have you guys picked your preferred ports you wish to visit during your North Channel vacation?

Ok, back to the video.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Mike,
The only port that is on the must do list is Sportsman's Inn in Killarney. The other possibility might be Little Current but we try to stay on the hook as much as possible.
Instead we go were the wind takes us and make our decisions based on which way the wind is predicted to howl that night....or all 3 directions like seem to be the norm up there. We have a binder full of available anchorages from the Great Lakes Cruising Club and within each description it tells us which directions the coves or anchorages are protected.

Here's this year's goal list:
*Make it to Thomas Bay anchorage on the west side of Georgian Bay
*Find complete seclusion in Northern McGregor Bay(ideally not see anyone for 2 days)
*Fish for our dinner at least 1 night
*See a bear again
*Campfire on shore
*See Northern Lights
*Naked swimming(see the second goal)
*Anchor in Oak Bay
*Read a classic novel while sitting on a bluff,smoking a cigar, and sipping on a fine Scotch(that one is for me)
*Don't hit any rocks

I think the last one might be the most important one!
Do you ever make it up to the North Channel? How long of a cruise would that be from your home port?

Ben

Ps. I'm currently working on last years NC cruising video and will post it when completed.

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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"

You are a lucky man because it is amazing up there!! Which marina are you looking at? We will definitely have to meet up next time we make it up there.

_________________
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"