Crossing Lake Michigan

Joe92 said:
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.
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That's going to be a solid crossing. 80 statute miles +/-. Just for kicks have you considered making it a 2-3 day trip? Run down to Chicago on day 1. South Haven day 2. Run to home port in Grand Haven on day 3. If you had the weather window, of course. Could be a really fun trip.
 
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Stee6043 said:
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.
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The VHF chart portrays a 1 watt signal transmitted about 6 feet above the water. The OP was talking about a boat that is 31 feet. He should have an antenna that is higher than that by at least 4-6 feet wouldn't you think? Also, he could transmit at 25 watts and that would boost his distance some more. I'm not sure how high the Grand Haven tower is but I called them in the vicinity of Big Sable PT 35 miles offshore concerning some weather changes and their comeback about blew my ears off. I think if you are using a hand held radio in a small boat, you are spot on about coverage.
I believe the airline that crashed was a North Central Airlines airplane from Chicago. Scott the moderator probably knows all about this because of his profession. Will be interesting if it is ever located. Went down in a thunderstorm.
I just looked this up. The plane was a DC-4 from New York. Went down in South Haven area in 1950.
 
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Ok. I chickened out when I bought my boat. Had to take it from Holland to Winthrop Harbor/Waukegan. Early April. Cold water. Old gas. New to me boat. Iffy weather. I took it down to St. Joe on day one -- wanted to make Michigan City, but the weather turned. Kept in St. Joe for a week and took back on a better day. Second day was Sunny and Calm. Went from St. Joe to Michigan City, filled up, and took across to Chicago and then veered up towards Winthrop Harbor. Other than the pit stop, the trip went fine.

So for me, in a new to me boat, I would not do it in April. Weather is too iffy. Even if you think you have a good day while making plans, it could turn out not so good (That's what happened to me -- the forecast changed). I would wait until May or June if possible -- better weather and more traffic. Water will be a touch warmer too. It also will give you some time to try the boat locally and get all the kinks worked out. As others have said, regardless when you go, have your safety gear readily available. One thing I would include are the wooden plugs you can use to close thru hulls -- you want to keep afloat at all costs. Good luck.
 
I've crossed on a 24' runabout. My run is 60 miles across, and I've done it as a day trip there and back.

Weather is your #1 consideration, assuming the boat is mechanically sound and the fuel is good.
I wouldn't attempt the trip unless you have a good weather window (waves and storms, not sunshine). The water temp this time of year is unforgiving, and the lake can be really mean this time of year.

I would 2nd the advice for an EPIRB. They are affordable and good to have if you are going to be venturing offshore to any degree. BOAT US rents them if you dont want to make the full investment. https://www.boatus.org/epirb/rentals/. You might be OK with just a VHF, but you have multiple risk factors against you early in the season in an unfamiliar boat.

I also agree with the cold weather gear. If you have a wetsuit or dry suit, or can borrow one, that will extend your survival window should you end up in the water.

It's usually not the single issue that causes problems. It is the combination of events that gets you in trouble. An experienced sailor, who was a very capable swimmer, wearing a PFD, drowned in warm weather in the middle of the Mac last summer with boats all around him. You will be in the middle of the lake in an unfamiliar boat with very cold water and likely no immediate support.

I agree with the float plan, that would be a minimum, but that just activates the coast guard well after you might be in trouble. If something goes really wrong you want to be able activate help right away, and have them know exactly where you are, to give the coast guard the best chance of saving your ass should it.cone to that.

I've seen people underestimate the lake for 40 years. I've personally rescued dozens of them over the years. I just want you to safely make it across, to come back and tell us what a cool trip it was!
 
yobub said:
I've crossed on a 24' runabout. My run is 60 miles across, and I've done it as a day trip there and back.

Weather is your #1 consideration, assuming the boat is mechanically sound and the fuel is good.
I wouldn't attempt the trip unless you have a good weather window (waves and storms, not sunshine). The water temp this time of year is unforgiving, and the lake can be really mean this time of year.

I would 2nd the advice for an EPIRB. They are affordable and good to have if you are going to be venturing offshore to any degree. BOAT US rents them if you dont want to make the full investment. https://www.boatus.org/epirb/rentals/. You might be OK with just a VHF, but you have multiple risk factors against you early in the season in an unfamiliar boat.

I also agree with the cold weather gear. If you have a wetsuit or dry suit, or can borrow one, that will extend your survival window should you end up in the water.

It's usually not the single issue that causes problems. It is the combination of events that gets you in trouble. An experienced sailor, who was a very capable swimmer, wearing a PFD, drowned in warm weather in the middle of the Mac last summer with boats all around him. You will be in the middle of the lake in an unfamiliar boat with very cold water and likely no immediate support.

I agree with the float plan, that would be a minimum, but that just activates the coast guard well after you might be in trouble. If something goes really wrong you want to be able activate help right away, and have them know exactly where you are, to give the coast guard the best chance of saving your ass should it.cone to that.

I've seen people underestimate the lake for 40 years. I've personally rescued dozens of them over the years. I just want you to safely make it across, to come back and tell us what a cool trip it was!
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That is for sure, even the Titanic was not one thing, but rather a series of dominoes kept falling until she sunk. The more you do of the list the less chance for catastrophe to set in. And of course Murphy's law and all. LOL

I recently did a move that was risky but prepared for any calamity I could and nothing happened, had I not prepared it all would have gone wrong. LOL

MM
 
Take it for a one hour run a few days before at the speed you find comfortable. Then sit in the engine area with a beer when things have cooled down. Look for leaks and condition of all things. Fix or fiddle as required. Get a couple of spare gas filters. You probably have screw on type. Spare belts are good also and a set of spark plugs. Plugs 99% chance you will not need them but makes one feel better.
 
BTW - @Joe92 I forgot to ask - does the boat have radar? Fog is a real consideration on the lake this time of year.
 
Joe92 said:
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.
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Boat being new to you...I'd have a shake down run before crossing the lake. Look it over yourself, you may see something as a mechanic you want to address before going or something surveys missed, burn up a bunch of that old fuel, start with fresh fuel/fuel filters....the boat been sitting for many months, it doesn't matter what the previous owner said or how well it ran last year before being put up for the winter. Have a decent tool kit on board, spare fuel filters, oils, and antifreeze.

Check out your built in compass, it'll make things easy if you can glance at that to hold a straight course. Determine your bearing from port to port in advance. Depending on weather/wind/waves you might have to make adjustments to that but you won't have to be taking your eyes off things so often to look at your handheld gps.

If your going across soon the water will be upper 30's to low 40's, you don't want to spend any time in it. The air can be cold out on the lake, have warm clothes, and I'd run with canvas up. Watch the weather, if you're not comfortable/have any doubts at all, stay in port.
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Woody said:
If your going across soon the water will be upper 30's to low 40's, you don't want to spend any time in it. The air can be cold out on the lake, have warm clothes, and I'd run with canvas up.
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Bring a portable digital CO detector to keep at the helm area to be certain CO in not coming in the canvas. That very well could be that first domino...

MM
 
ok so the boat does not have radar or gps built in. That’s the first upgrade that I will be doing to the boat once it is home. I am planning on sea trial once they put it in the water and then the trip across. I talked with the broker and now it’s sounding like it might be May before they get the boat out because it’s in the back of the building. Now hearing what all of you guys are saying it kind of makes me ok with them not splashing till May. I never would have thought of a portable co detector. Old boats canvas leaked so bad never would have needed it lol. Once again guys thanks so much for all the input.
 
Joe, congratulations on the new boat, we also bought our 420da in Racine. Man we were nervous on our first crossing and we had radar and auto pilot, turned out to be smooth as glass, that was five years ago, we now have seven crossings and each time I still get the chills. I have the West Marine gold membership that comes with BoatUS unlimited towing, TowBoatUS has boats on both sides of the lake monitoring ch 9 & 16.
When are you planning on crossing? Lots of boaters from Grand Haven make the crossing, you may check around to see if you can pair up with another boat. There is a FaceBook group, I Love Boating in Grand Haven Michigan, you could post on there. I will be in Racine on the 4th of July.
As mentioned before, it gets very cold in the middle of the lake, we start out in teeshirts and end up in winter coats and gloves with the canvas up. I have crossed in complete fog before and that was worse than waves.
 
J.Wilt said:
Joe, congratulations on the new boat, we also bought our 420da in Racine. Man we were nervous on our first crossing and we had radar and auto pilot, turned out to be smooth as glass, that was five years ago, we now have seven crossings and each time I still get the chills. I have the West Marine gold membership that comes with BoatUS unlimited towing, TowBoatUS has boats on both sides of the lake monitoring ch 9 & 16.
When are you planning on crossing? Lots of boaters from Grand Haven make the crossing, you may check around to see if you can pair up with another boat. There is a FaceBook group, I Love Boating in Grand Haven Michigan, you could post on there. I will be in Racine on the 4th of July.
As mentioned before, it gets very cold in the middle of the lake, we start out in teeshirts and end up in winter coats and gloves with the canvas up. I have crossed in complete fog before and that was worse than waves.
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Great suggestion to get BoatUS tow insurance.

MM
 
If it helps any, the boat you are buying belongs to a good friend and dockmate. They love the sport, wash it every weekend, spend a lot of time running her, including many crossings as you said. Filters,oil,buff wax everyseason. I have no reason to believe you will have anything but a successful sea trial.

Sea conditions would be my concern. It is just as far to make chicago as it is to cross the lake from racine. I would not cross without a second companion that could operate the boat or assist if a situation were to arise. You cant drive and problem solve in the engine room at the same time.

Navionics on phone or ipad seem to work for some folks. Your getting a real nice dingy and essentially a new outboard to boot! Keep the boat at reefpoint, watch for your window and make it happen. We wont be in until mid May, if your still around and need anything look us up on dock w8. Riverside marine will have most any of the smalls you might need.

Congratulations on the boat
Cale
 
Oh I’ll have fun. Once I can see Michigan on the horizon, my phone gets reception and nothing has gone horribly wrong I will take a deep breath and go to my happy place lol!
 
For all times we cross open areas or in areas where it can get windy we secure all loose items. Put all counter items in the sink, anything on a counter or shelf that did not go in a sink go on the cabin floor. On the aft deck make sure all items are tied down or attached to the boat, in the engine room make sure things are secure so they will not fall into the engine. If it get rough you will find it difficult to move around in the boat to secure items. We have a bar fridge on the upper deck on the shelf that is the roof that covers the aft deck. Once we cut behind a freighter a mile or so back waves were very close frequency. Fridge and all in it fell off the shelf. Never figured it would happen again but it did in rough water on a 30 mile crossing. It is now screwed down.
 
Take a spare sea water pump impeller. Spare belts.
 
Stee6043 said:
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.
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Note the bottom disclaimer on that map - it states a 1 watt vhf radio with a antenna 2 meters from the water surface. In that boat you must be at least 3x that.

Also make sure the vhf radio on the boat works and if it's a dsc capable radio get a MMSC number and input the number into the radio.
 
Make a Spare parts list and get those parts before you go. Spark plugs, Spare Belt, Idler Pulley, Cap, Rotor, Distributor Ignition Module, Spark Plugs, Tools, Oil Filter, Oil, Antifreeze(If its closed Cooling), HD Duct Tape.
We bought our boat in Ludington, MI and drove it to Racine. Everything went perfect until about an hour into our trip. The ignition Module went out on the port motor. We couldn't go over 3000 rpm. Top speed was 11.4 mph. Made for a LONG! trip. A friend of mine crossed from Frankfort to Racine and had an Oil filter bypass fail. Luckily he had a spare filter, but he didn't have any extra oil. He ran 3 hours 1 quart low which made him really nervous...
Long an short, carry some spare parts and extra fluids. Just in case...
 
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I find all of the advice about spare parts pretty interesting. It's as if you are going to be able to perform major repairs in the middle of Lake Michigan. Any boat that is likely to need some of the work being suggested has no business being used for a crossing. Instead of a major spare parts for inventory, spend the money on preventive maintenance so repairs offshore are not required. We have been offshore in weather that would make a person with a cast iron stomach wretch their guts out if forced to work on a major mechanical issue in the bilge while the boat is going up and down and rolling 25-30 degrees. Need to be prudent when going off shore, but common sense prevents making issues from ever happening.
 
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