Places to boat in your state.

[Instigator]

Boating through the week is a huge bonus, for actual boating.

If the social side is a part, then it changes.
I was surprised to learn how much of a part it was for me, 20 yrs ago.

I always push for early/late season Lake Erie boating.
When I do it, and am the only one there, totally different sensation.
Even on a busy weekend, but stay over until Monday and everyone else is already gone.

100% agreed on boating in the dark.
Ive done it but never liked it.
Seen too many things in daylight that no way I’d have seen them in the dark.

Likely would have felt/heard them!

Most of my boating is during the week when it's less crowded. No more running at night unless it's an emergency.There was a trajic boating accident here last week when a fishing boat was leaving out about 4am and hit a day marker. The collision killed one of the fisherman.

[JBS]

Gary,how long is the boating season up there?

[moatorbotin]

Gary,how long is the boating season up there?

Not to speak for Gary, but here in Michigan just south of Flint. May 1 - November 1 is fairly realistic if you are willing to go out on cooler days.

Swimming season is a little different, that's usually June 1- Spetember 1 depending on the lake and your tolerance. But this time of year we need at least 85* to jump in the lake to cool off, water is still probably in the lower 50's.

[Instigator]

Depends on the yr.

I always figure April 1 to Nov 31 and have boated then multiple times.

Probably more often than not though, early/mid May to late September.

We are in mid May if this yr and have had two good weekends so far.

So that actually is another ingredient in the formula.
When you live in the south where it’s boating season 10 months of the yr, how special is it?

As in, living in Fla Vs living there where we take it for granted.

Gary,how long is the boating season up there?

[sonicss33]

Not to speak for Gary, but here in Michigan just south of Flint. May 1 - November 1 is fairly realistic if you are willing to go out on cooler days.

Swimming season is a little different, that's usually June 1- Spetember 1 depending on the lake and your tolerance. But this time of year we need at least 85* to jump in the lake to cool off, water is still probably in the lower 50's.

Thats so funny. Water temp in Cudjoe Bay is currently 83*, just a month ago or so it was in the mid 70’s and we thought it was freezing cold. When I vacationed here I thought the locals were crazy and now just 2 years after being here full time I’m just another sissy.

[JBS]

Yes,a 10 month boating season here is accurate.My favorite time is spring and fall down here when it's not so hot. During the brutal summer heat and hurricane season, I'd like to be up there by you or on a Canadian lake.

[moatorbotin]

Thats so funny. Water temp in Cudjoe Bay is currently 83*, just a month ago or so it was in the mid 70’s and we thought it was freezing cold. When I vacationed here I thought the locals were crazy and now just 2 years after being here full time I’m just another sissy.

Lake superior fluctuates about 6* year round.

The surface temp warms into the high 40's and low 50's, but 5 ft down it is within that 6* ....... and it remains about 35-40* year round.

THAT's cold. Refreshing, but cold.

The inland lakes in the mitten part of the state however get very tolerable with water temps that do get into the 70's and occasionally I'd bet into the low 80's during a good hot stretch.

The great lakes though stay pretty cold year round, not a lot of flat out neck deep swimming that's for sure.

If I wasn't shaking out a new rebuild on the motor, and a few rigging issues on a new to me boat, I'd have about 10 days under my belt already. But it'll be a few weeks before I spend anytime sittin' in my floatie or standing in waste deep water for hours on end.

[Pulse186]

The water in the St. Clair flats can warm up fast with a few weeks of 80 degree days. Last year we were swimming on June 5, water was about 67.


Shot this vid last summer with an old gopro. Heading south on the Sni Bora by bare-naked bay

https://youtu.be/uao3h7nP1q0



Another from Nov 1 2020 heading south out of Big Muscamoot bay.

https://youtu.be/Pr4DoAbSrlQ

[Instigator]

Great videos.
Thanks for posting them.

I haven’t been on Lake St Clair since I was kid but want to again.

The water in the St. Clair flats can warm up fast with a few weeks of 80 degree days. Last year we were swimming on June 5, water was about 67.


Shot this vid last summer with an old gopro. Heading south on the Sni Bora by bare-naked bay

https://youtu.be/uao3h7nP1q0



Another from Nov 1 2020 heading south out of Big Muscamoot bay.

https://youtu.be/Pr4DoAbSrlQ

[Pulse186]

If you ever want to make the trip shoot the MI guys on here (including me) a PM, sure we'd be able to put together a small group to race around the bays for a day or two.

[moatorbotin]

If you ever want to make the trip shoot the MI guys on here (including me) a PM, sure we'd be able to put together a small group to race around the bays for a day or two.

LSC is my favorite place to boat. Especially when it isn't a bath tub filled with weekenders blowing 4' cruiser wakes everywhere.

The flats are some of the coolest areas to explore.

[perfmarine1]

Raystown lake in central PA. I prefer to boat there through the week because the weekend crew all run around with 25-30' cruisers putting out some pretty healthy waves. Some beautiful mountain Scenery. Pretty good fishing lake too.

[FUJIMO]

...12 months of boating here in south florida. boy, did it feel good getting back here & stepping off the plane yesterday from visiting s.e. michigan. fudge that place. never in may again...lol...

[Will hedrick]

I got family in Monroe mi. Went up there for Christmas, whole new kind of cold

[Instigator]

About the only argument to that is, in comparison to us in Ohio, at least they have a real winter.

My buddy MiamiDave visited me one winter and after flying in said, you could tell in the plane when we were over Ohio.
There was no snow, everything was just gray and dead!!

My wife is sick of me telling that story ��

20 yrs ago I tried to turn a new leaf and accept our winters.
Tried skiing.

Problem was, I had just spent 2 wks in Portland and skied on Mt Hood.
Ohio only has ski hills, no mountains.
So 7hr drive to real skiing.
Which meant, a $500 weekend, same as a weekend on the boat, at the time!

Then I thought about a sled like my friends have.
Similar to skiing, no good sledding in Ohio.
So, 7 hrs to the UP of Mich or Canada.

So now I need a trailer, a sled, a place to stay, $$$$.

That was about the time I moved to Fla the first time!

I got family in Monroe mi. Went up there for Christmas, whole new kind of cold