www.iFourWinns.com

This year for my MIL & FIL 45th anniversary we decided to rent a cottage on Lake Charlevoix in northern Michigan for a week. Well the trip started out with a bang…literally. We had a HUGE storm coming our way (more on this later). I ended up towing with my mooring cover on. It is a trailerable cover but I have never done it. Glad I did…man did we get slammed about 45 into the trip. At one point…only going about 40 mph the trailer hydroplaned. Man…talk about scary. Armada kept in control.



So before I write a book…I will give you the good and bad points and let the pictures tell our week story.

Good – wife and kids had a blast and we will do it again next year. All three of my kids tubed for the first time and my MIL who can’t swim and is freaked out by water loved going on the boat and even went tubing with my wife and also on a waverunner ride. My FIL also went on a waverunner ride also which is way out of his comfort zone.

The Bad – my niece is a brat and that is being polite. My SIL, BIL, FIL & MIL wait on her hand and foot. No rules and gives her anything and everything she wants. The looks my kids would giver her while she is freaking out which is about 14 hours a day (she sleeps for 10…you do the math) were priceless. My BIL is lazy. He did not help pack, unpack, put cover on boat every night, pack to come home or unpack. He watched me yesterday while he played on his iPad wash and clean the boat, my Armada and my Jeep that we let them use for the week so they did not have to rent a vehicle. My wife and I agreed that a week vacation with them is out of the question due to the lack of respect and willing to help.

The UGLY – starter went out on the Jeep. Trying to get the Jeep out of the way so I could go find a place to tow and fix it…my BIL at the wheel of the disabled Jeep takes his foot off the brake and it rolls back into the Armada…front end bumper damage. Not his fault though when you ask him. Finally…we come home to that storm blowing the fuse in our garage. We had an entire chest freezer full of meat and a full sized fridge full of stuff that all spoiled…smelled like a dead body and will probably be an insurance claim.



BUT WE DID HAVE A GREAT TIME AND WILL DO IT AGAIN NEXT SUMMER…


There are some really nice boats and homes in the area…

















We went to Mackinac Island for a day…











Grand Hotel



Stables of the Grand Hotel getting horses ready









Charlevoix Pier





Thought this one was cool with the fog



I can see my boat from the loft in our cottage where our bedroom was…sweet



Played golf one day with my dad and step-mom





Bode and mom just before tubing run



Annika and mom just before tubing run

Wife and MIL tubing













Final night



Heading home…

WOW what a great trip, and great pics! I know all about the xIL situation... too bad it ended up damaging your Armada. Do you feel the trailer had any greater tendency to hydroplane because of the Carlisles?

I remember the days of 3 car seats... in 3 cars...

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

Nice, looks like a great trip.

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2001 298 Vista
Lagoon city lake Simcoe

No...I do not think it was the tires at all. There was a TON and I mean a ton of water on the road. I was actually commenting to my wife how well they did through the entire tow. Both during the storm and during the nice weather.

Great pictures and beautiful area. Did all that money on the lake come from making cars? Nice homes. Thanks.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

I don't know how much of it is from cars.

Some of it is from Boats. Four Winns boats to be exact.

http://www.winnhouse.com/


I was just on Charlevoix on Labor day for a couple of hours. Great pics. That red roofed house on the South Arm is actually a bit ugly in my opinion.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

Looks like an awesome trip! I'm glad you made the most of it despite the hiccups.

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2005 FW Horizon 250
8.1L VP DP

Thank you for sharing your vacation with us. What area of Lake Charlevoix did you stay in? Dan

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Current Boat: 1994 278 Four Winns Vista

Great pics Dogg! I'm so bad at remembering to take pics when we're out on the water. Glad you made a nice vacation out of your situation. I've definitely been there, but probably not as deep as you!

I thought I had seen that one house somewhere before. It's on the cover of the 2000 - 298/328 Vista owners manual.



My BIL had mentioned seeing the Winn House on TV before and I didn't know what he was talking about. Thanks for posting the link Rotary. It gives me a reason to start purchasing Power Ball tickets!

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2000 Four Winns - 298 Vista

The house we rented was almost all the way south on the south arm of the lake. It is the more narrow arm but is also the quiet part of the lake and for water sports it is awesome since there is far less traffic.

Yes, that is the Winn house. Been inside as he is a family friend (my dad was a dentist in Cadillac and the entire family were patients). The brown house you can see on the right was the first one he built. Lived in it a few years, sold it and built the blue one. It is downright beautiful.

Those mushroom type houses are one of a kind by a local architect and are a sight to see up close. The boat houses and the mushroom type houses are technically not on Lake Charlevoix. They are on what is called Round Lake which is the small lake between Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan. We love the area and the lake and already looking for a house/condo for next summer...minus the BIL and niece

Yes...that red roofed home/mansion is kind of ugly. I would love to see what is in that boathouse. I could not tell if it is a sailboat or what. It is just so tall it very well could be. From what I hear, you can only see about 20% of the entire compound/complex from the water so it is probably the largest estate on the lake. That is located on the south arm, east side just before the no wake zone heading into the main arm.

Great stuff Mark. Can't believe how big the twins are getting!

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Great pictures, I feel your pain with the in-laws. I have the exact same thing here, sil moved clothes into the cabin, they never bring food but complain about what is served and frequently comment that they have the best set up...they don't have to worry about food, gas, upkeep etc,etc,etc. Part of the deal I guess and it does not take away from the family loving the lake.

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Askieffer
2009 SL242

Looks like a great area and nice trip !
Great pics. In-Laws ? I hear ya.
I'm almost positive I saw "Baby Gar " last weekend on the Niagara River. There was an Antique boat show on Grand Island and he must have been taking a spin around the Island.

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2002 Horizon 190 5.0gl

Thanks for the trip recap!! Charlevoix and Clinch are two of your favorite marinas on that side of the pond!

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Michael Bova


"Swept Aweigh"
2003 Four Winns 328 Vista

Previous Boat
2003 Crownline 230CCR