Lake Michigan Low Water

**sfergson727** · 10-03-2012, 08:55 AM

The low water levels bit me the other day. I went to my favorite anchor spot to clean the hull. After dropping the anchor, the wind pushed the stern towards shore as I expected. What I did not expect was a shelf that was only two feet deep. I frigging beached my boat!

Thinking my anchor would save the day, I started retrieveing the 100 feet or so of rode.....nope, now I am beached, with the anchor not holding the bow! I hopped into the water, and didn't even get my nut sack wet (tmi, I know...but it is for illustration purposes as to the lack of water depth). I pushed and push with all my might, but couldn't get the boat to budge.

With the wind and each passing wave pushing the boat nearer and nearer to the beach, I saw no other alternative to fire it up and power off. (Keep in mind that over the winter I had my props done by propscan to the tune of $1400.). I put the shift levers in forward and engines immediately died. Tried again and this time throttled up before shifting, died again. Not wanting to trash the engines/trannies/props, I very gingerly worked the throttle and shift levers (in aviation we call this "milking the mouse") and finally was able to get the boat free.

Disgusted with myself, I set the anchor again and dove under the boat. Fortunately the props passed the appearance test, as well as the rudders, and exhaust. After cleaning the hull sides (water temp was 62 but I was nice and toasty in my wet suit) I ran the boat, and didn't notice any vibrations, nor lack of WOT RPM. (Fortunately I ran it WOT prior to reaching the site of the crime, so I had fresh data to go by)

It seems maybe I got lucky this time. No sand in the sea strainers, no vibes, but I suppose when the boat comes out Friday, I should go ahead and remove the props and have them scanned again.

Damn low water levels....obviously it's that guy in the white house's fault.

**Woody** · 10-03-2012, 11:45 AM

Yesterday I was going to hop in the water and do some cleaning but the water temp was 54. I don't jump in that stuff unless it's an emergency.

I'll clean it when I pull it

**sfergson727** · 10-07-2012, 09:17 AM

I inspected it pretty thoroughly when the boat was hauled on Friday, and sought the opinion of the mechanic...we both agree that it would appear I came out of my beaching experience unscathed. (whew!)

**KC_Sundancer** · 10-07-2012, 08:47 PM

I feel bad for you Lake Michigan guys - just spent the day down south in Manistique (North shore of Lake Michigan) and stopped by the state harbor to check things out.
Boy is that water down. Fortunately for us on Lake Superior the level has not changed over the last few years. I guess they are not letting it go through the soo.
Let's hope for a heavy snow winter to bring the levels up.

**boltman** · 10-07-2012, 10:25 PM

I'm still waiting in white hall to be hauled out, 10' from boat is dry land, still reading 1.6' under boat but damn its getting really scarey. Here's a thought for us Lake Michigan boaters .... Will we get our boats paid off, before we run out of water???? Just s thought!!!!!

**Sum Escape** · 10-08-2012, 08:44 AM

And we are supposed to lose another 3 inches by Nov. We are only 2 inches above all time recorded low for Oct. With the forecasted 3 inch drop for Nov we will be equal to the all time low for Nov. (1964).
http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/greatlakes/hh/datalinks/PrinterFriendly/weekly.pdf
A longer term graphical representation is here:
http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/_kd/It...ation=ShowItem
If the lowesrt part of the projections come true, we will have to be subtracting almost 2 FEET from our chart data next March!
I hate to wish for lots of snow but the water levels sure need it!

**boltman** · 10-08-2012, 08:59 AM

Grand Haven has got to be looking mighty scarey these days, I'll bet your seeing pylons that you've never thought were there, I know we are up here in White Hall/Montague....Some of our friends in our Marina couldn't even turn on their furnace's, they were sucking in black silt.. from the bottom.. we weren't but with Novembers predictions, it's getting people awefully nervous..

**Sum Escape** · 10-08-2012, 09:05 AM

It is low for sure. Put the boat in gear and just watch the silt rise up when leaving the dock. Marina has dredged the entrance all the way to the fuel dock and hoist to be sure the bid "Chicago boats" can get in for storage. Sailboats have been getting stuck the last couple months in part of the marina. Our boat is in storage now and I'm hoping for more water in the Spring.

**Woody** · 10-08-2012, 04:33 PM

Here's hoping for a nasty a$$ winter with blizzards galore, a wet rainy spring and summer, that ought to fill 'er up.

**Carver370** · 10-09-2012, 08:01 AM

New Buffalo has quite. Few bows on sand in their slips and any boats close to a sea wall are on bottom. The good news is all fairways are nicely open and the harbor entrance is good.

St. Joseph/Benton harbor and mich city are having some major problems getting boats to the hoist pits for storage. I'm waiting for a stong north wind to bring a 46 Bertam up for storage!