Canceled my trip across Lake Michigan

HavingFun

HavingFun

New Member
Nov 14, 2006
238
Grand Haven
Boat Info
2005 SD220
Engines
350 Mag Alpha
I keep my boat in rack storage in Grand Haven MI. I had it placed on the wash rack for some clean up. As I washing my boat I noticed that the boat next to me was draining a lot of water. Below the plug was a pile of sand. I couldn’t image all of that sand coming from the boat, about 4 buckets of sand. When I got on top of my boat I could see into the other boat and it looked like everything was stripped from it. Every compartment door was open and the boat was empty. I asked one of the service guys what happened and he said they boat was beached in Lake Michigan and was towed in. He said it took 3 hours to float the boat.

So now I thought the boat must have been stolen. No owner would let this happen to their boat. It was a 2001 25 foot Four Winns deck boat. It has a V bottom but not a deep v that you see on the SD. An hour later and the boat is still draining. The owners show up and you could imagine the look on their faces. They said that a wave came over the bow and flooded the boat. This changed the weight distribution. He then couldn’t control the boat and the bilge pump couldn’t remove the water fast enough. The waves then pushed him into a sand bar and luckily no one was hurt.

I have always wanted to cross Lake Michigan and though about doing it in my open bow boat. I still want to do it but I think I will wait until I have a larger boat.
 
You definately have to pick your days for a crossing of the big lake. And add a couple of days just in case the weather is not favorable.
 
HavingFun said:
Yeah - I thought of those same posts. I know its very tempting. It seems easy - 60 miles at 35 miles per hour.
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It's more than 60 miles from Grand Haven to Milwaukee and you will not average 35 mph in a boat that size. Not a good idea in a small boat period, even when the weather looks pretty good. If you ever do decide to do this in a 22' boat, make sure you have food, water, a waterproof hand held, a gps and cell phone in a water proof bag, and a wet suit. If you run into trouble, plan on being in the water for 24-36 hours before help arrives. Northwest winds can turn 70 degree water into 51 degree water almost any day in the summer. Help may show up sooner than 36 hours, but people lost in Lake Michigan can spend a long time floating around before being found.
 
sbw1 said:
It's more than 60 miles from Grand Haven to Milwaukee and you will not average 35 mph in a boat that size. Not a good idea in a small boat period, even when the weather looks pretty good. If you ever do decide to do this in a 22' boat, make sure you have food, water, a waterproof hand held, a gps and cell phone in a water proof bag, and a wet suit. If you run into trouble, plan on being in the water for 24-36 hours before help arrives. Northwest winds can turn 70 degree water into 51 degree water almost any day in the summer. Help may show up sooner than 36 hours, but people lost in Lake Michigan can spend a long time floating around before being found.
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Most importantly you need an EPIRB so they can find you!

We use them in the gulf because it isn't unusual to go out 30-40 miles to fish. Your radio is worthless at that distance and the coast guard get's ticked off if they have to hunt around all day looking for you.

Thankfully the gulf usually doesn't get waves over 2-3 feet for much of the year. In fact we usually do yard work when the forecast is for anything other than 0-2 feet. Water temperature in the gulf right now is 89 degrees. I bet that 51 degrees doesn't lend itself to much swimming off the deck!
 
Fishnut said:
Most importantly you need an EPIRB so they can find you!

We use them in the gulf because it isn't unusual to go out 30-40 miles to fish. Your radio is worthless at that distance and the coast guard get's ticked off if they have to hunt around all day looking for you.

Thankfully the gulf usually doesn't get waves over 2-3 feet for much of the year. In fact we usually do yard work when the forecast is for anything other than 0-2 feet. Water temperature in the gulf right now is 89 degrees. I bet that 51 degrees doesn't lend itself to much swimming off the deck!
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Yes 51 degrees can cause some shrinkage. I avoid going in unless the water is >66 degrees, exceptions being to recover what people drop overboard. Warmest we've been in this summer is 73.
 
Fishnut said:
Most importantly you need an EPIRB so they can find you!

Your radio is worthless at that distance and the coast guard get's ticked off if they have to hunt around all day looking for you.
I'm pretty certain the coast guard can monitor your radio traffic any where on Lake Michigan.
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You may be right, but I have spoken with the CG in the middle of Lake Michigan before. They have some tall towers.
 
The distance between Grand Haven and Milwaukee is 84 miles. Just about the widest point. We see all size boats come across for festivals in Milwaukee. There is a mid lake bouy that sends wind wave and temp. data. I would not recomend a crossing alone ( Single Boat ) at all. We cross in groups only. We focus on weather for both sides of the lake and the mid lake bouy before departing. The best set up is Sirius or XM Weather for real time data while underway. As others have mentioned this pond can change for the worse in ten munites. Sorry to disapoint but, at this lattitude better suited for boats in the 30'+ range ( Twin engine ) for saftey. When you do decide to cross I'll be glad to pass along any info needed on the area. This weekend Harley is having thier 105th anniversary here. Behind our marina will be a concdeert series with Foo Fighters and Springsteeen. Should be a great time in Milwaukee.
Mike
 
Mike, Is it possible to buy gas without ethanol at your marinas. We've been staying away for that reason. We have the range to go over and back without filling up in Wisconsin but it could become a little dicey if the lake kicks up.
 
The fuel in both Milwaukee and Racine are " Re Formulated " w/ ethanol. Any marina, Port Washington and North are O.K. and usually cheaper than Milwaukee too.
Mike
 
sbw1 said:
You may be right, but I have spoken with the CG in the middle of Lake Michigan before. They have some tall towers.
Click to expand...

Tall towers or not, just because you can hear them doesn't mean you can talk to them. A handheld VHF isn't going to transmit for more than a few miles on a good day and realistically about a 1 mile if there are any obstructions. A higher power permanently mounted VHF is needed to get 15-20 miles and then you are really pushing it. The antenna also determines your range... a small 3-4 foot metal whip antenna with a 3 dB or 6 dB gain is not going to get 15 miles of transmit strength either...

No one even asked what kind of equipment was being used before advice was given that the CG can hear you wherever you are... sheez... Hell... I'm on the ocean and I can sometimes pick up CG calls from 75 miles away... they sure aren't going to be able to hear me though.
 
Still a good idea to have a hand held, portable gps and cell phone if you cross in a small boat which what this thread is about. Cell coverage is strong in many but not all parts of Lake Michigan. The portable hand held is another option, which may well reach another boat near your location that can relay your position to the coast guard using its better broadcasting capability. It's not uncommon to hear boaters relaying other's requests for assisitance because of VHF limitations. When crossing the lake from Grand Haven to Milwaukee, you can speak with the coast guard virtually the entire way.
 
Have to agree with Escapade that the Lake can be different on both sides. Last year we went from Winthrop Harbor (IL/WI border) down to New Buffalo. We left in 5-6's and the lake laid down as we crossed. I had cell phone reception except for about 1/2 hour in the very middle of the Lake when we could see no land in any direction.
 
Best bet in any SD would be to trailer her AROUND the lake! Besides, my 220 only holds 50 gallons. I don't even know if I could make it across the lake without extra fuel. I have never tried filling up my boat with 5 gallon tanks while on the lake and I don't want to try. Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen (hello Exxon Valdez).

I have had a couple of waves come over the bow of my 180 sport while on lake St. Clair. It's not a nice feeling. Makes you start to wish you had a bigger boat.

Has anyone installed a second bildge pump on their boat? I have been toying with the idea for several years now. It sounds like a good idea to have a back-up and the extra volume would definatley help in an emergency situation. Nobody ever thinks that it will happen to them until it does.
 
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