www.iFourWinns.com

Well, the trip is over and we are home now. We already miss those beautiful lakes!! The folks up there sure are hospitable as well. That is a trip we will be doing annually if not more often now that we have seen clean, blue, beautiful water that northern Michigan has to offer.

We launched at the ramp mid way down Torch River. This was an extremely tight ramp for us to use!! It was about 8 PM and we were racing the clock for sure! We got off to a late start hitting the road and had to stop too many times on the way. I did NOT want to navigate around stumps in the dark!

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Sunset approaching Skegemog

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We arrived in Elk and found that we were unable to fit under the bridge, just as Cap'n suggested. I got close, just easing forward and my wife was on the bow checking our clearance. We were only an inch or so from making it!! With darkness setting in, we decided to stay at the public docks for the night since we had no other options

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This is actually a picture of the next morning. We spent some time heading down to Grand Traverse and walking up the beach, before setting out to Torch.

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Finally we arrived to Torch!!! I spent most of the night being nervous that the bridge on Torch River would be too low also and what we would do to get our boat launched over there. Thankfully, we fit with only about 6 inches to spare! Our first view of the "Sandbar"

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More Torch

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We stayed there for most of the day before heading to DeWitt Marine for our slip. We found everyone to be very kind and helpful during our time there. We spent one rainy day at the town of Bellaire and had drinks and food at Shorts Brewery. We had a meal at Dockside and enjoyed some Wonton Pickles. Even with a bad day of weather, we still had a great time and are already planning for the next trip! Too many incredible pictures to pick from.

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

Nice pics! Looks like you had a good trip.

I'd suggest trying out southern Lake Michigan....but I may be biased since I can't take my 318 there!

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Awesome hutch !! Glad you enjoyed the trip and the hospitality. People are so nice and helpful, and believe it or not, they get even better the farther north you go.
Wish we could have made it to Torch last weekend, but we had fun on Grand Traverse Bay. May stop at Torch next weekend when we are up there.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Awesome!! Love the pics and the write up Hutch! Between you and Cap'n posting these pic's you've got us wanted to head up there to check it out. Next time you go up there will you be launching at the same place or did you find a different launch you liked better?

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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"

Thanks! We will be launching at DeWitt next time, almost certainly. That ramp was not steep enough and the courtesy dock was too short. We had to jump on the bow. Not to mention that the channel is super shallow and not wide at all. There is another, very nice ramp on Elk toward the south end of the lake that looked very nice and had plenty of parking. That was a public ramp, where Dewitt will charge a fee unless you slip with them. Next time we go, we will spend more time on Elk too. It is almost as beautiful and not as crowded with a larger town to visit.

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

Great pics. looks and sounds like a wonderful time. How long was the drive up. like bliss36 , I think we will try it next season

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1989 245 vista
5.7 cobra

It was about 6 1/2 hours of drive time for us. We made several stops with the infant needing to eat. It ended up being 8 hours there and about 7 home. It was definitely worth the travel time! Also, I would rather make that trip than Cumberland any day! Much flatter.

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

Im an hour south of you so that doesn't sound too long of a trip

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1989 245 vista
5.7 cobra

If you don't want to pay for ramp fee at Dewitts, or they are too busy there is a public access next to the cottage we are fixing up on Clam. It is about 1 mile east of Dewitts and Dockside on the north side of Clam and I have seen a guy put in a 38 foot Donzi ZF as well as another guy pull out his 2 person sea plane.

http://www.antrimcounty.org/maps/cismap ... 1349&y=616

Boat launches in the area

http://www.antrimcounty.org/boatlaunch.asp#SDBClam Lake Access - Clam Lake Road

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

Thank you for the information! If this weekend's weather holds up, some friends with their 268 and us will be headed up there again. DeWitts only had a slip for us, but we have found a couple of places that look possible to stay out on the hook now that I bought the paper charts. Do you know if that public ramp has plenty of parking?

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

The ramp on on the north side of clam lake is not paved and is basically a sand two track. I would not recommend it except for smaller boats. There is parking at the ramp.

For a 26/27 ft boats, Dewitt's or Butches work well. Butches has very limited parking along the road.

Being a holiday weekend, all the ramps will be busy. If you go to the north end of the lake, it is less crowded. There is a nice ramp at the park in Torch Lake Village with parking.

Depends on what you expect in "hold's up" Here is the forecast.




Bring along some fresh deck's of cards and leave the sunscreen home. Hope you get some boating in if you do go.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Well let me know if and when you go next season as I would be interested in making the trek up there too. Maybe start an Ohio caravan up there.

We did not get to go The weather was one deterrent, but another was me having to go into the hospital. Not sure how many more warm weekends there will be up north, but I sure do hope I get to go again soon! The weather looked horrible, so it doesnt make me feel that bad about not getting to go.

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

You probably did not miss much good boating. Rained off and on Friday thru Monday. Also 100 mph winds in Kalkaska an EF-1 tornado touchdown there yesterday. Kalkaska is only a few miles from Torch Lake.

It is hit and miss this time of year in Northern Michigan, it can be beautiful weather, and it can be nasty. Today and tomorrow forecast for Torch Lake area is Sunny 77 to 81 degrees and 5-8 mph winds.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy