New boat orientation - week #2

The biggest news of the week was a move to a new slip.

The boat next to us in the original slip extended a good 3 or 4 feet into the fairway with its bow pulpit and anchor.  Any docking trauma, and I risked dragging an anchor down the side of my boat.  It is against the state regulations for a boat to extend beyond the slip boundaries, but I learned (again) that the rules are mere guidelines.  The solution was that I could move if that would work better.  So I did.

Slip #63.

It's a wider dock by nearly a foot and the slip itself is at least a foot wider.  We're a little further out on the pier which offers a better view of the lake and it's a floating dock so regardless of the water level, the dock lines will remain constant.  I think the end result of the issue resolution was a big win for me.  The new neighbors are much more cordial as well.  

The Port Huron to Mackinac sailboat race was early in the week but we don't see any of those boats from that race.  They approach the island from the east.  We did get to see a couple of the tall ships that are touring the lakes currently.

So we lazed around the marina for much of the week and did a few odds and ends on boat maintenance.  It was a nice week, but remained quite windy until Thursday.  It finally calmed down and we went out for a couple hour cruise.

We headed out to the bridge.

Then took a lap of the island, passing the Grand Hotel.

On the back (north) side of the island is a resort that is being restored called Silver Birches.  When we were last there a few years ago, much of the building was just the support structure.  It appears mostly complete now.

It's a terrible location on the island if you want to do anything other than relax at the resort.  It's just about the direct opposite side of the island from the city.  It would be a 4+ mile ride to town, bars, restaurants, etc.  They shouldn't expect my call.

We watched the "fudgies" come and go all week on Shepler's and the Star Line.

Those are the two ferry lines that now service the island.  Arnold Transit no longer exists.  Back in the 1970's, you would have never dreamed that the Arnold line would vanish.  The Star Line still uses a few of the old Arnold Transit ferry boats while others were sold and shipped elsewhere in the Great Lakes.

We also enjoyed some scenic sunrises.

Sunsets were probably just as nice but the sun sets over town from where we are so we don't see that unless we make the effort to do so.  By that time of day, we're not too apt to move a whole lot.

We're back at the ranch for a few days to do chores and take care of some appointments before heading back north.  Kathy is chomping at the bit to get to the island.  I'll probably have to concede and make that happen soon.

Back in the Saddle Again

Wow!  What a busy three weeks this has been.  But let's get in to the "way back" machine and review where we've been.

It all started with a Starcraft 14' rowboat back in about 1981.  That soon gave way to something with a little more pizzazz.  My 15' Sea Nymph runabout.

That was a fun little boat that I had for several years.  In 1989, I decided to step up a little so I felt a bit more secure on the big lakes.  My 17' Yar Craft.

That was a very seaworthy boat for its size.  I didn't hesitate to run offshore when I had a good forecast.  But then, the family voiced the need for a potty on board.  In 1996, my first Sea Ray.  A 1986 23' Weekender. "Always Sum-Thin"

That boat was a great little salmon boat.  By that time we were a family of four and #4 (Kathy) decided maybe she was "missing the boat" and wanted to join the fun.  At that point, we needed another berth in the cabin.  So it was time to move into a Sundancer with the mid cabin berth for the kids and in 1998, I added the 1989 268 Sundancer.  "Undertow"

We fished a ton with that boat and in the early 2000's discovered cruising with it.  While cruising, we discovered a little more length, beam and weight would be a better distance cruiser.  So in 2004, we welcomed our 1989 300 Sundancer.  "Play Dough"

That was our weekend retreat and fishing machine for 13 years.  After hundreds of pounds of salmon caught and hundreds of cruising miles from Ludington to Wisconsin to Canada and the North Channel, we sold her after the 2016 season to focus on land travel.

Now after a two year hiatus from the cruising world, we now own a 1997 330 Sundancer.  "Final Edition".  

The name reflects the fact that this is the last one...I think.  

Six months ago, I purchased this boat on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky.  After a frigid winter, record flooding, and a transport that didn't pan out, my new boat was finally transported and arrived in Mackinaw City June 26th.

It was launched, I ran it to the gas dock to top off the tanks and took my first Great Lakes cruise.  All of maybe 1/4 mile from Straits State Harbor to Mackinaw City Marina.

We spent a couple days cleaning 700 miles of highway grime off the exterior and who knows how many years of southern "stuff" out of the interior.  The southern world of boating has an endless fight with mold and mildew.  It was evident in this boat so Kathy spent three days cleaning EVERY surface inside the boat while I wiped down the upholstery on deck.  

We were finally ready to give this machine a little test run.  So off we went.

We took a little spin out around the bridge and back.

It wasn't a big trip.  I'm still working on learning how this boat handles.  It's inboard and a lot different from the outdrives I've used since 1996.  That's going to take a few trips to get used to.

We've been enjoying our return to Mackinaw City.  The early morning sunrise.

Watching Shepler's come to life while checking the mail.

Shopping the local crafters.

Rocking with "Toast & Jam" at the Crossing.

And watching the water level rise and fall.  That was strange.  While sitting on the back of the boat, I noticed the water level on the slips across the fairway seemed much higher than usual.

An hour later, it was back to this year's "normal".

I have no idea what is pushing that much water in and out of the harbor.  It doesn't seem like the ferry boats coming and going would make that much difference and it didn't fluctuate with each ferry arrival.  It remains a mystery.

On the 4th, we had another bluebird morning so decided to venture out again for another training session and cruised over to the island.

Passing the Round Island lighthouse.

It was a perfect morning...

...except for the bugs we encountered over there.  Seems to lack of wind invited a bug reunion.  We closed the cabin hatch to keep the critters out of the house and got out of there.

After an evening of fireworks, we left the next morning to prep for the next adventure.  

We loaded up the RV and the Crestliner and left for a week at Aloha State Park on Mullet Lake.

We were set up on a lakefront site and anchored the boat off the shore in front of the site.

We were there to fish for Mullet Lake's rainbow trout.  Unfortunately, this trip coincided with the mayfly hatch.  That put the brakes on the fishery.  We struggled to find hungry fish and only boated one keeper during the first two days.  Finally on the third day, the hatch ebbed and the fish cooperated.

It was a group effort.

Shanna's behind the camera.  

Anyway, we ended day three with seven bites and five fish in the boat.  So the trip was saved.  A weather front blew through Wednesday night and Thursday was a windy day so we were done fishing.

So the sun sets on week #3 of our summer kick off event.

Back to Mackinaw City in a few days.