Illinois Chain o Lakes

**2thelake** · 01-11-2022, 02:48 PM

Came across this video of the chain… Anyone have any chain stories from back in the day? It’s kind of funny when he says part of the allure of the chain is the danger….When I first went to the broken oar bar on the lower fox I couldn’t believe how close and fast some of those boats were ripping around that bend.

Also anyone know what kind of Cat that was as 6:08? It’s got trips!

https://vimeo.com/315106990

**scott reierson** · 01-11-2022, 07:25 PM

Cool! Thanks for posting. I remember that White dual OMC Cat. Others here will too. Lots a memories on the chain.

**Speed Jr.** · 01-11-2022, 07:29 PM

It's still my favorite place to boat on a weekly basis. Love the Thursday night Blarney Races.....

**JPEROG** · 01-11-2022, 08:03 PM

I agree with Larry-Blarney is a very special deal. I used to love the events Sam Baker put together 25 years ago. Between he and Balzy we all had great guides.

Joe

**Greg G** · 01-11-2022, 10:51 PM

Not aware of that area of the country and you all are a bit older than I am but I see how special that was. Thanks for the post, need more of that!

**outboards4life** · 01-12-2022, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by 2thelake

Came across this video of the chain… Anyone have any chain stories from back in the day? It’s kind of funny when he says part of the allure of the chain is the danger….When I first went to the broken oar bar on the lower fox I couldn’t believe how close and fast some of those boats were ripping around that bend.

Also anyone know what kind of Cat that was as 6:08? It’s got trips!

https://vimeo.com/315106990

Thats Dave Poole. Pretty sure he said it's a 24 Thunder.

**mikesufka** · 01-12-2022, 08:27 AM

"Firewater 2000" .... I was there !!! That seems like forever ago - those were the good ol' days.

MDS

**mikesufka** · 01-12-2022, 08:29 AM

Allisons, Hydrostreams, and STV's were everywhere !

MDS

**JPEROG** · 01-12-2022, 10:54 AM

I wish we wouldn't have scared the insurance industry away. If not, we would still see young guys buying them and running like we did (no insurance=no loan). I must say the bigger boats and increased traffic also play a role in not wanting to run the small stuff of many chains.

Joe

**2thelake** · 01-12-2022, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by JPEROG

I wish we wouldn't have scared the insurance industry away. If not, we would still see young guys buying them and running like we did (no insurance=no loan). I must say the bigger boats and increased traffic also play a role in not wanting to run the small stuff of many chains.

Joe

Can you even insure a STV/Allison ect if it goes over 100? It must be an astronomical yearly payment if you can.

It must have been nuts back in the day with all those boats flying around blarney island. I still feel like it is nuts. I have a few buddies who still live on the chain and they say a lot of jetskis get into accidents up there….did insurance go away due to a lot of boat accidents back in the day?

-Mark

**DanUmbarger** · 01-12-2022, 04:33 PM

I live on the chain now and yes there is a lot of traffic...so much so I can't take my little 16' Hustler out on the weekends. Even with all the traffic there really isn't much in the way of accidents...that we hear of anyway. Not what I would consider an insurance problem, unless I'm just living with my head in the sand...lol.

**WARLOCK** · 01-12-2022, 10:02 PM

I also still live on the Chain on the lower river. Many, many Broken Oar fly by's! When I think about it, we were very lucky nothing ever happened. I'm sooo much more mature now! The Chain is still a blast, but there are just so many novice boaters out there. You just have to be more careful. Dave

**JPEROG** · 01-12-2022, 11:33 PM

I am looking forward to hearing that the ice is off and bringing my "new to me toy" up to IL. to ripping around with friends for a weekend on my way to LOTO for the summer.

Joe

**JPEROG** · 01-12-2022, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by 2thelake

Can you even insure a STV/Allison ect if it goes over 100? It must be an astronomical yearly payment if you can.

It must have been nuts back in the day with all those boats flying around blarney island. I still feel like it is nuts. I have a few buddies who still live on the chain and they say a lot of jetskis get into accidents up there….did insurance go away due to a lot of boat accidents back in the day?

-Mark

Mark,

I used to buy a new STV every two years. I bought my first one when I was 18 (no money down, 188.00 a month, and insurance was $600.00 a year with State Farm). After a few claims were made and speeds where verified, the insurance industry pulled back on pretty much every air entrapment hull. When you can't provide insurance, you can't get a loan-We killed it for ourselves. The other thing that comes into effect is age (nobody wants to insure an old hull and pay a claim because of de-lamination).

Joe

**2thelake** · 01-13-2022, 12:38 AM

Warlock I think I’ve seen you go by on your DW. Very nice boat. I have taken a few trips with jetskis up and down the lower but when I got my 24 skater and took it up to the chain launching on the lower it just seemed like it the lower was too small for that boat…what I once thought was a long way from Kiefs reef to broken oar on a jetski seems like a few seconds on the skater. I still need to explore more of the upper chain with it and that looks to be the place where I can open it up from what previous posts have said on here.