Crossing Lake Michigan

[Joe92]

ok so I’m new to this forum but we have owned a sea ray for the past 3 seasons, it was a 250. This year we are purchasing a 310da out of Racine wi and running it across the lake to our home port of Grand Haven MI. I have never ran across the lake before due to only having one engine. I’m a little nervous about it due to the fact that I have heard your phones don’t work in the middle. My question to you guys is what do I really need to know about it. I will have a hand held gps and the build in compass. The previous owner has done the trip many times and is very confidant in the boat. I’ve done surveys of engines and everything like that so every thing seems up to snuff. Being a mechanic myself I feel I can fix a mechanical issue should it arise. Any info would be appreciated! Thanks.

 

[JimG]

You didn't add much information about the 310, but I would assume it has some electronics other that just the compass. Hopefully it also has a working VHF radio.

I don't know anything about the crossing, but weather permitting, it would probably be a fun trip!

Good luck and welcome to CSR!

 

[northern]

File a crossing plan with a friend. Call when you depart. Call when you arrive. Set a time to arrive agree with the friend when he is call the Coast Guard if you do not check in at the end of your journey. Wear PFD. They will not save you in the cold water for long but the Coast Guard should be able to find your bodies. Weather is a big thing leave as the sun gets up and cruise at a speed the boat is happy with. On the west coast we cross 50 mile section and do the above.

 

[Stee6043]

I did my first crossing from Sturgeon Bay to Grand Haven just last year. I have to be honest - doing it in a "new to me" boat was nerve racking. I was also in a very tight weather window.

Every new noise the boat would make had me on edge. I swear I looked at every gauge every minute during the entire crossing. It was the kind of "alertness" that feels fatiguing after a few hours, particularly with less than ideal weather and an understanding that the weather was only going to get worse.

In the end it was an awesome experience and it's set me up to do more crossings this year. You will love it (once it's over ). My biggest bit of advice would be to remove weather from your list of things causing you stress. Based on distance, driving and work schedules I was forced into a position to make a move in less than ideal conditions (three days of small craft advisories). If you have the flexibility in scheduling to avoid having to deal with weather you will save yourself significant stress.

The one bit of safety gear I'd suggest is an EPIRB. Spend the $300, it's good piece of mind. I found that cell phones worked to about 10 miles out from either side. VHF never stopped squawking during my trip between commercial traffic and fishermen.

One other tip - if you have an iPad buy yourself a GPS receiver (and maybe a waterproof case) and use a charting program on your iPad. Having at least 2 forms of nav is probably a good idea for crossing (in addition to a compass).

EPRIB:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JXY0CQ/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

GPS for iPads:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AYAZENY/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[stg099]

My first crossing was last spring in my new to me 280. I was pretty nervous about it, but if you plan accordingly for weather/waves it's a piece of cake. That said, ensure that your VHF is working and tested and that you know how to operate it, let a friend or family member know your plans, and use a compass or chartplotter to ensure you're on the right path. My crossing is considerably shorter than yours (michigan city to Chicago) if you can even call that a crossing! but in the times I've been back and forth there are always a few fishing boats and or shipping boats out there in the middle.

 

[sbw1]

Make sure your boat is in tip top shape. Belts, hoses, through hulls, impellers, engine tune, fluids, transmission, etc. Really any deferred maintenance should be addressed. Make sure you have clean drinking water and something on board to eat. Working radio, compass and a chart book, also a must. Not trying to spook you. These are common sense items. You don't want to being doing repairs 50 miles offshore. The most important consideration after making sure the boat is seaworthy, is the weather. Pick a day when there is a nice high pressure over the lake and little or no winds. Aside from a nasty storm, which you should know about in advance, waves can be a concern on smaller boats. Comfort wise, quartering head seas or seas on the nose can make for an uncomfortable run if you are prone to motion sickness. We've done crossings many times, and if you are well prepared with good equipment they are quite enjoyable.

 

[RollerCoastr]

An epirb is a great idea, but I'd also recommend getting a full-power VHF DSC radio connected to a legit antenna. Handhelds have very little range in comparison.

 

[Stee6043]

An epirb is a great idea, but I'd recommend getting a full-power VHF DSC radio connected to a legit antenna. Handhelds have very little range in comparison.

Agreed that this would be an ideal investment. The only "pro" to an EPIRB (if you had to pick just one, short term) is that it will work in the middle of Lake Michigan if nobody else is around. VHF has some big gaps out there...

 

[sbw1]

As an aside, Frankfort to Sturgeon Bay is a great place to cross the Lake. It's just about 49 nautical miles across there and the waves generally are less of an issue because you are in the lee of a shore for much of the crossing. We also like it because we can fill up on fuel in Michigan, boat in Wisconsin, and return to Michigan with out having to put any e10 fuel in the tanks. Our boat has never used any e10 and I like keeping it that way.

 

[sbw1]

Agreed that this would be an ideal investment. The only "pro" to an EPIRB (if you had to pick just one, short term) is that it will work in the middle of Lake Michigan if nobody else is around. VHF has some big gaps out there...

I believe the coast guard can hear you in the middle of the Lake. They have a very tall tower in Grand Haven. I've spoken to them before from the middle. Cell phone coverage is decent as well so bring your phone. Someone suggested a float plan. Also a good idea. It does not happen often, but there have cases of boaters lost for a few days offshore due to mechanical issues. It's a big lake. There is still an airliner on the bottom off of Saugatuck that went down in the late 50s or early 60s that has never been found. That kind of blows my mind.

 

[Stee6043]

View attachment 67711 As an aside, Frankfort to Sturgeon Bay is a great place to cross the Lake. It's just about 49 nautical miles across there and the waves generally are less of an issue because you are in the lee of a shore for much of the crossing. We also like it because we can fill up on fuel in Michigan, boat in Wisconsin, and return to Michigan with out having to put any e10 fuel in the tanks. Our boat has never used any e10 and I like keeping it that way.

Yeaaaaahhh.....unless it's a wind coming straight from the south! The weekend I crossed last year had a brutal south wind. Sturgeon Bay was about the worst case place to be in terms of waves in that case. I believe I learned the the term "fetch" during this trip...

I ended up crossing Sturgeon Bay to Ludington to reduce my total time on the lake but also to take the waves on the front quarter versus straight on the beam. A rolling 2'-3' on the beam can be annoying.

 

[Stee6043]

View attachment 67712
I believe the coast guard can hear you in the middle of the Lake. They have a very tall tower in Grand Haven. I've spoken to them before from the middle. Cell phone coverage is decent as well so bring your phone. Someone suggested a float plan. Also a good idea. It does not happen often, but there have cases of boaters lost for a few days offshore due to mechanical issues. It's a big lake. There is still an airliner on the bottom off of Saugatuck that went down in the late 50s or early 60s that has never been found. That kind of blows my mind.

I have no idea if this is still current:

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/images/marcomms/cgcomms/Rescue21/SecLakeMich.jpg

That is crazy about the airplane. I had never heard that before.

 

[sbw1]

Yeaaaaahhh.....unless it's a wind coming straight from the south! The weekend I crossed last year had a brutal south wind. Sturgeon Bay was about the worst case place to be in terms of waves in that case. I believe I learned the the term "fetch" during this trip...

I ended up crossing Sturgeon Bay to Ludington to reduce my total time on the lake but also to take the waves on the front quarter versus straight on the beam. A rolling 2'-3' on the beam can be annoying.

I did say "generally"(;-). That said, we don't mind beam seas. Our boat handles them well along with quartering from the rear or full following. Auto pilots really save on the work load, and reduce fatigue.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Don't forget to take your camera to record your first crossing, then share those pics on here so we can all enjoy them.

Oh, and have fun!

 

[Joe92]

Holy cow. Thanks for the quick responses. The boat does have a vhf radio but other than that it’s lacking, and being 4 hours away installing new stuff is a little tricky. Planning on upgrading once I get it home. We bought the dinghy with it so we have a life raft. (That I really hope we don’t need.) I will be checking the weather like a hawk before we cross. Oh and I will take photos. As far as the matinance goes it’s up to date. I may buy a belt just to have a spare with me. Thanks again for the information.

 

[MonacoMike]

One other tip - if you have an iPad buy yourself a GPS receiver (and maybe a waterproof case) and use a charting program on your iPad. Having at least 2 forms of nav is probably a good idea for crossing (in addition to a compass).

GPS for iPads:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AYAZENY/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Not needed if you have a pad that connects to cellular towers for data. That model has built-in GPS, only a wifi only model needs the external GPS.

MM

 

[RollerCoastr]

Agreed that this would be an ideal investment. The only "pro" to an EPIRB (if you had to pick just one, short term) is that it will work in the middle of Lake Michigan if nobody else is around. VHF has some big gaps out there...

I actually meant to say also.

 

[MonacoMike]

ok so I’m new to this forum but we have owned a sea ray for the past 3 seasons, it was a 250. This year we are purchasing a 310da out of Racine wi and running it across the lake to our home port of Grand Haven MI. I have never ran across the lake before due to only having one engine. I’m a little nervous about it due to the fact that I have heard your phones don’t work in the middle. My question to you guys is what do I really need to know about it. I will have a hand held gps and the build in compass. The previous owner has done the trip many times and is very confidant in the boat. I’ve done surveys of engines and everything like that so every thing seems up to snuff. Being a mechanic myself I feel I can fix a mechanical issue should it arise. Any info would be appreciated! Thanks.

Welcome aboard!

Have charts, handheld compass, and your GPS.

The iPad with chartplotter is awesome, use it all the time. Great backup, or even primary in this case and use handheld as backup.

Have an extra handheld VHF, even if you just borrow one.

Since you likely will cross when water is still very cold might borrow a warm diver suit.

Have extra PFD's onboard. The good ones, not the orange ones only.

Have a float plan with someone on both sides, as you leave and as you arrive. Keep in touch as long as you can when you leave and as soon as you can on the far side. Cell signals travel very far in clear weather.

Good luck,

MM

 

[MonacoMike]

My first crossing was last spring in my new to me 280. I was pretty nervous about it, but if you plan accordingly for weather/waves it's a piece of cake. That said, ensure that your VHF is working and tested and that you know how to operate it, let a friend or family member know your plans, and use a compass or chartplotter to ensure you're on the right path. My crossing is considerably shorter than yours (michigan city to Chicago) if you can even call that a crossing! but in the times I've been back and forth there are always a few fishing boats and or shipping boats out there in the middle.

On the south end I cross New Buffalo to Chicago in a 21 bowrider. LOL

MM

 

[northern]

Never thought of it until mentioned by Mike a wet suit will keep you warm in cold water. We had a tour company in the artic and all people wore wet suits. We had people tip kayaks and canoes in 35F water and were OK after 15 minutes. It would keep you warm in a dinghy. Remember the best life boat is the boat you start in until you have abandon ship.