www.iFourWinns.com

Tomorrow begins our first real boat journey!
We are pullling out of Green Bay about 4 in the afternoon and heading to Sturgeon Bay. From there we'll hook up with 17 other boats and depart Thursday morning for Michigan, after a raftoff at Manitou Island we'll fuel up in Leland and then head to Traverse City. 80 nautical miles from the end of the canal in Wisconsin to Traverse City. We are going to spend the weekend there and then return on Sunday!

This is our first trip across the "pond" so going with 17 other boats should be a learning experience and not to mention a lot of fun!!
I'm pumped about spending five days on the Swept Aweigh!

Hope the weather cooperates, I'll be taking lots of pics!!

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Michael Bova


"Swept Aweigh"
2003 Four Winns 328 Vista

Previous Boat
2003 Crownline 230CCR

Have a safe trip. You will love the Michigan side of the lake, nice beaches and crystal clear (but chilly) water.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

That sounds like a damn fun expedition! Have fun. I'm sure it's a little unnerving losing sight of the coast!

Does the water ever get warm enough to comfortably swim in?

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Vic
"Byte Me"
1989 Vista 245
Lake Norman, NC

Have fun. Have made the crossing a few times...once in an 18' bowrider . Traveling with all those boats is a great idea. Water up north does get to 65 - 70 degrees by August. Plenty warm enough to swim.

Where are you guys going to stay in Traverse City...the muni marina?

Just tried to secure a slip this morning at Clinch Park marina for Thursday thru Sunday, no reservations available, he told me they have a 17 boat group coming on Thursday and leaving Sunday.

We are going to try anyway, they have a couple first come first serve slips. That is an awesome marina. It should be a great time.

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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)

Lucky Lucky Lucky Lucky!!!!!

This sounds like so much fun!!!

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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

Clinch Park is great. That is essentially where I grew up in the summers. Parents had a boat in the marina. I lived on it and worked at the local grocery store that I could walk to. I did that when I was 14, 15 and 16. Man...do I miss those summers. I was not allowed to take the boat out AT ALL. But I had free reign with the dinghy. Lets just say...you can be very popular with a boat to yourselves at that age.

That marina has really changed since those days though...they did a complete overhaul and it is very nice.

If you guys need anything while in TC. Feel free to give me a shout. I can shoot you a PM with my mobile number. Some places to eat at are North Peak, Mackinaw Brew Pub, or Apache Trout Grill. Hopefully the weather holds out. It has been cold and rainy on the weekends.
-Scott

jeff - check grelickville (elmwood twp) marina or maybe harbor west to see if they have slips available. If not, many people just drop anchor just west of clinch.

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'99 Horizon 200

We are going to leave very early on thursday morning, I think we will be ok.

What is the bowers inn like, and can you dock your boat there for dinner?

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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)

They have very good food at bowers harbor inn. It is definately a place to go to eat at, a little on the pricey side. Apparently the inn is haunted by ghosts. There aren't any docks there though. You would have to anchor and take a dingy in to shore. There is the bowers harbor yacht club which is probably less than a mile up the road. I think it is all private slips though. You could give them a call and see if they have some transient slips: 14039 Peninsula Dr Traverse City, MI 49686-9709 - (231) 223-4137. Bowers Harbor is a very nice harbor that is protected from the north and west winds. Many of the locals boat up to power island (called basset island on google maps for some reason) and anchor/raft up on the east side. Northport is a nice marina too. I don't recall how the marina is at Suttons bay. I will say to watch out for the shallow areas off the end of Old Mission and in between bowers harbor and power island. You can make through those areas, just be aware that there are some shallow spots.

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'99 Horizon 200

Has Leland opened back up? I remember reading that it was torn apart for work. Hope you have a safe trip! The weather looks like it's going to suck here in Traverse City for a few days (it's raining now). Yep, scattered and isolated thunder storms Thursday through Saturday. Of course, the weatherman hasn't been very accurate this year so it'll probably end up being 75 and gorgeous out with a couple 5 minute rain sessions on those days.

Tom

You are one lucky duck to go on that trip. 17 boats will make an awesome floatilla for sure!

I hope to be able to make a trip all the way around Michigan someday from Bay City to Grand Haven. I will need a bigger boat and such, but I am starting small with 195 Horizon on Saginaw Bay.

Michigan has the most beautiful lakes on the planet as far as I am concerned. If anyone doubts that, check this webcam out at about 9:30 EST or so.

http://www.surfgrandhaven.com/640cam2.php

I spent a good part of my teenage years chasing the opposite sex off that pier!

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Don't forget the plug....
.......Don't ever forget the plug......

I need to get my bank to sponsor that cam and not the big green one. When in GH, come over and say hello!

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Writing this from the Clinch Marina! Pulled out of Sturgeon Bay about 9 yesterday, we were delayed due to fog. Sun followed us all way across, caught some 3 footers for about 45 minutes, other than that it was fairly smooth. We took some pictures of the Francisco Morazan, a visble shipwreck on the south side of Manitou Island.

Leland doesnt have permits yet for fuel, so we didnt go near there, made for Northport to fill up before the 23 miles south to Traverse City. We put on 130 miles yesterday!!!

Scott this marina is awesome! Thanks for the heads up on the eats. Found Northpeak for some grub last night, and the omelette shop this morning for breakfast. pm me your cell, are you going to be around this weekend? I may give you a call.

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Michael Bova


"Swept Aweigh"
2003 Four Winns 328 Vista

Previous Boat
2003 Crownline 230CCR

Memories ........

I grew up in Glen Haven (official ghost town, now. How many can say that they are from a ghost town ... and still be living!), at the tip of the Sleeping Bear Dunes (right down the beach from the Coast Guard station, which is a park now). Our front yard was the beach. South Manitou island was visible from the beach. We would watch the freighters pass on the horizon............

That old Coast Gaurd station was all beat up & scarry for a couple little kids ..... I'm sure it was full of ghosts!

I'd love to go back boating in the area.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner