www.iFourWinns.com

Who has done it? What do I need to know. Am I crazy to try it in a 26 foot open bow boat? Obviously I'll watch the weather and marine forcast very carefully. I've run that many miles on a river. I've been off shore far enough where I can't see land. If I'm careful, have a float plan, proper safety gear, a good VHF, GPS, and all the basics, I should be fine. Right?

I'm thinking Muskegon to Milwaukee and then come home along the coast around the bottom of the lake. Any idea how far the trip is?

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Dave
How far across is the trip?

I have been 15 miles out in Lake Ontario for a day trip out to the Main Duck Islands and it was an easy trip on a calm day. We watched the wind and water and as soon as the winds started to pick up we headed home. In about 25 minutes @ 35-40 mph we were back safely tucked behind Amherst Island to spend the rest of our day.

I would like to go from Main Duck over to Rochester NY some day too. I would then take the Southern coast back home over the next couple of days.

Hell if 4 NFL players can go out 50 miles in a 21' boat I am sure you could make a substantial run in you 26' boat that is made for big water.

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

You are more gutsy than I am. The guy I bought my boat from, slipped in Muskegon, and told me he did that very trip, in the fog no less (without radar ). A quick check on google earth and it looks like 75 miles across and 250 miles back around. I have never been on Lake Michigan, but heard it can change very quickly. I would definatly have an EPIRB device if I tried it. I think you can rent them from boats US and I see there some out there for about 400.00

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Since you mention it, be aware that EPIRB frequencies are in the process of changing and there exists the possibility of using an old unit that wouldn't be heard. I have no details - we don't use them much here in flyover country - but anyone who depends on EPIRB's should be up to speed on this issue.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

EPIRBS all changed on Feb 1st to the new 406MHz units. Older ones are no longer monitored.

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

That's quite the trip. I have gone straight from Michigan City to Chicago. That seems to be a more reasonable trip. You don't want to be 35 miles from land and have a problem. Also, make sure you have unlimited towing from BoatUS. As long as the waves don't creep up on you you should be fine. I also wouldn't be in any big hurry.

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

We ran from Holland to Milwaukee on October 6 of 2007 on the spur of the moment. We had tried to do it all that year with the 2 other couples we boat with but could never get it together. On that weekend the others already had their boats out of the water so we were all on our boat at Laketown Beach that day and as we were packing up to head back to the marina for pizza and cards, someone commented on how it was such a perfect day (88 air and 75 water temp.) and how flat the lake was. So we topped off with fuel, grabbed the pizza, called loved ones with our float plan and 3 hours later we were going under the bridge into Milwaukee harbor. What a beautiful sight at night! I don't know if I would do it without radar, but that's just me. As we got closer to the other side of the lake, as expected, the water temp dropped like a rock (48) and fog ensued. When we got within 3 miles, the heat of the land took over and it lifted. We ran up the river and saw the sights. Then we squatted at the municipal dock (noone around at that time of night). We asked some locals about where to go for B-fast by water and they all said The Wicked Hop. I know they make great sangria and bloody marys but don't go for the food!! It was the worst. Headed back around 1:00 pm and stopped at the half way point to swim (water back to 70)!

This past summer we ran Holland to Chicago just prior to the 4th. That trip started out in 2 ft. seas and ended in 5-6 with chop. Great run back, though. If memory serves, Holland to Milwaukee is 70 nm and believe it or not, Holland to Chicago is only 10 nm further. I have the data saved in my C80 but I'm not at the boat! The key is the weather. Look for a high pressure system to build in so you know the weather will hold. There is a great wind and wave forecast model I use but I'll have to look up the website and post it later.

Holland to Milwaukee = 74 nm at 281.7 deg
Holland to Chicago = 81 nm at 228.9 deg
Grand Haven to Milwaukee = 71 nm at 268.4 deg
Muskegon to Milwaukee = 68 nm at 259.9 deg

All distances are from pier head to pier head using NavPlanner.

You are really lucky to even have the ability to be able to do something like this. Living in Texas, we have a lot of lakes and several are within are relatively short drive. There is NOTHING like the great lakes here that make for any sort of a trip like that. A trip like that sounds like a WONDERFUL trip if you ask me. Of course, be sure you are properly equipped and your boat is ready for that sort of a journey, but WOW, what fun something like that must be. I am so jealous. Let us know if you take this trip and keep a little diary of stuff like pics, how long it takes etc.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

WOW!! What a trip that would be. The lakes around here are on the smaller side here too. But up in N.H. on Lake Winnipesaukee you can spend all day out on that lake and not hit the same spot twice. If you do decide to go for it like the others said just make sure your fully prepared.

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2006 Horizon 180 3.0 Volvo SOLD
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The site for sea and wind prediction I use quite a lot is:

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ofs/lmofs/fore_wind.shtml

It will give you about a day and a half look forward. Anything in the blue for wind will give you calm to a foot waves. Get into the green and yellow and you'll start seeing 1-3's and if they stay yellow long enough it will creep towards 4' seas. Red arrows will for sure mean 4' plus. Keep in mind, the longer the distance across the water it blows and the longer the time, the bigger the waves can become.

I usually combine this info with looking at surface lows and highs and long range forecasts. It is a great trip across. You just need to be prepared to stay if the weather turns while you're on the other side. Once summer bears down, Lake Michigan tends to calm down at dusk so sometimes the best time to go is in the late afternoon or evening. It generally picks up around 10-11 am. Play around out there a bunch this summer and compare it with the forecasts and you'll get the feel of it.

Before my Four Winns I had a 21' aluminum fishing boat, we would regularly fish 40-65 miles off the coast of Oregon. The key to that kind of trip is preparation, make sure your electronics work well, have a float plan, have a good ditch bag. Do you have the confidence to make decisions if the going gets rough, can you handle the boat in 6-10' swells with a 3-4' wind chop? The trip is definatally doable watch the weather closely and have a 2 day window of good weather.

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser

The only problem is that the average wave period on Lake Michigan is 2 to 4 seconds so if you get 6-10' swells they are not swells at all. They get very steep! And you can get wind chop on those, too. Fortunately, the average wave height tends to drop in the summer months. These two links will show the average wave period and wave height as monitored at the mid-lake bouy, which is roughly half way between Holland and Racine.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/images/climplot/45007_wa.jpg

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/images/climplot/45007_wh.jpg

Beer-garita

Wow that NOAA site is awesome. I have the Lake Huron page in my favorites. Another tool to plan a good day out. Thanks for the information.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Another thanks to Beer-G. Awesome data and I just bookmarked the Lake Ontario page.

This forum just keeps on giving!!

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2008 H210SS Yellow VP 5.7 GXi 320 HP (sold May 2010)
2008 Mercedes ML 320 CDI Diesel