Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

All you Lk. Mich. members,
Considering buying a place in Elk Rapids or Empire.
Am I correct that Leeland is the nearest harbor to Empire ?
How our our type boats treated Elk Rapids and Leeland ?

ed

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

You will stand out in leland, but it's a sweet little port. Did you buy a TG yet?

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Nykamp,
Gave up on the T.G., kept the beakboat and put the money into property.
Leland is a neat port.
I'm looking to retire in one of those areas and don't want to deal with a bunch of tight a*ses.
thanks,
ed

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Try the Boyne city area, come up and do the poker run and you will get to cover some sweet areas. Good call on property, you are a wise man. Hope all is well, steve.

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Hey Ed, Tracy here. The wife and I boat out of Charlevoix. We launch in LK Char. about 3/4 mile south of round lake every w/e in the summer(weather permitting). The Char. marina is nice in round lake. We C alot of offshores in there. Have never stayed in the Elk Rapids marina but have been there and it is nice. The launch in ER is real decent, long docks! The cool issue w/ LK Char. is that when it is rough out in LK MI U can pull into gorgeous LK Char. and do a little boating or find a nice spot 2 throw a hook out and chill!!! Good luck! Wrink

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

My friend "Dyno" has had a few sailboaters throw a fit at him about his exhaust as he over nighted in a slip at Elk Rapids in the marina as you come in from Grand Traverse Bay---and he didn't even have dry exhaust, but that was DEEP inside the marina...not by the launch ramp. The launch ramp is very nice and adequate for longer boats...even a 47' if you had one.

Last year while I was Elk Rapids on Elk Lake with my 32' A/T I was going to a friend's house and apparently a couple people on the lake called the Sherrif's Dept Marine Patrol on me because of how loud I was. I was making some high speed passes by my friend's cottage.

The Deputy hunted me down, but he was real cool about it and told me that the same people complain over just about ANY boat that makes a little noise. Of course, mine makes more than a little with no mufflers, but I suppose the complainers have cried "wolf" too many times.....so, he basically told me to go easy. Actually, I saw/passed the same Sherrif's Patrol boat earlier as he was coming in as I was idling out through the "NO WAKE" zone and he just waved as I rumbled by at 800rpm.

I don't usually spend too much time on Elk Lake anyway, but I use it to get to Torch Lake via Lake Skegemog and navigate through the infamous "stump field". Torch Lake is beautiful and and I didn't have troubles there even with a few Sherrif's Patrol boats that were present. LOTS of boats on Torch Lake especially by the "sand bar"---very fun.

Also, on a different day while I was up at Lake Charleviox there were plenty of Marine Patrol boats around...Sherrif's Dept, DNR and Coast Gaurd---no problems. Went by them several times. Again, I'm not exactly quiet and it's pretty hard to tippy toe by them, I just wave and smile :o as I try to hush those Stellings full length tubular dry racing headers. :D but I try to be a cool customer.

That same day as we headed in to Grand Traverse Bay and stopped and dropped anchor at Marion/Power Island for lunch I had a few locals who were enjoying the day with their little family type run-about boats came up to me and asked questions about my boat and they all said they really like seeing boats like mine up there and would like to see more. :)

Anyway, Sorry for being so long winded, but that is what I have experienced so far while up there. I plan on being up around those areas again this summer. Hope to see you around.

Mark

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Kaama, come on dude! U R being modest! Your boat is no louder than a through the hub 4.3L-V6 alpha drive 20 ft. runabout! :p Hope all is well dude! C ya up north! :D

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Ed - from Empire - Leland or Frankfort closest launch to the big Lake. Have friend who picked up 3 acres in Empire and they can't wait to build. Beautiful area. No probs at the Leland ramp - most will ask you tons of questions about your boat as they don't see offshore boats except peak weekends. You planning on year-round living there?

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

I am up on Elk and Torch Lake all the time. I agree with KAAMA the patrol up there is great. (Knock on wood!)

As long as you don't do anything stupid around other boats you're usually fine. Not to many tight azzes up there.

And Torch is BEAUTIFUL! :D

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

I have to get further up in Northern Michigan. I have been as far as Hardy Pond and I love that! I really want to try Torch and some of the other lakes up North but it is a long tow from Indiana!

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Magic Med, You have to come up there with us....and bring Wette Vette/Craig with you. The nice thing about Elk Rapids is that if it is too rough out on the big lake you can go out on Elk Lake and over to Torch Lake...it IS a blast. The water is great and there's much to see. The same applies to Lake Charlevoix.

noboat, If you ever see me up there make sure you drive over and say hello....I don't always notice those that I should so, you may have to throw something at me to get my attention.

Hiya Trace! Yeah, you're right...my boat is really as quiet as a creampuff. I'm itchen to see that new boat of yours! How's it coming along anyway?

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Hey Mark you have a great memory. It was only a few years ago when you helped a couple Hoosiers find Hardy Damn Pond, I was a boatless wonder back then. I want to try to make it up their, I 'll even try to bring Wette Vette. How much further up is Elk Rapids/ Torch Lake area from say Cadillac. I go to Caddy sleddin alot in the winter and it takes me about 3.5 hrs to get their. Hope to see ya on the water this summer. When our you going to make it one of the Chicago Powerboat Club events???

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Thanks all for the replies. Sound like things will be fine around those ports.
ed

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Ed,
I'm from Elk Rapids and do alot of boating in the area. Are you looking for a slip or are you trailering? I don't know about the Empire area but you will be treated fine in Elk Rapids. Sure there are a few blow-boat a-holes everywhere you go but other than that the Harbor and it's staff are great. Good ramps, good proximity to Charlavoix and T.C.. And you can drop in at Elk Lake if you want to do the Inland lake thing. Shoot me a PM if you need me to bird dog for you:D. Good Luck.
Hope to see you around.

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Elk Rapids is about an additional 50 miles or so north from Cadillac---not far so, come on up. I am going to try and make at least one CPC event this year if I can.

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Cool the more I hear about the area the more I want to come up. I have the Mrs. talked into going. Maybe will make a very long weekend out of it! See ya up there.

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Weve boated in alot of the northwest area, I have to say my favorite is Horbor Springs. Not as well known as some of the others but its a nice ride in any direction from there. Nice sand bars and friendly boaters. You have to like big water.

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Magic, I live in Cadillac and it takes me about 45 minutes to get to Whitwater Park on Elk Lake(south side) which is where I launch. Probably about an hour or so if you want to put in further north closer to Torch. But I prefer the longer ride in the boat, not the car! :D You have to get to Torch at least once. Words can't describe it!

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

[QUOTE=KAAMA]noboat, If you ever see me up there make sure you drive over and say hello....I don't always notice those that I should so, you may have to throw something at me to get my attention.
[QUOTE]

Will do! I usually have something heavy on the boat that I can throw! :D

I'm usually on Torch every other weekend, so I'm sure I will see you there.

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Do you sled? I love it in Caddy, I am going to try to rent a house this winter. I would like to be over near the Cross Roads Bar and Grill on highway 37. If you ever want a great meal go their and tell them Andy from La Porte Indiana sent you. I remember a while back you were looking for a new boat, did you get one? The more I hear about the Torch Lake area the more I want to go, I think I will definately try to get their this summer. It might be easier than I think my best friend is moving to the Traversity area soon! Do you ever boat on Lake Caddy or Mitchell? Is so how is it?

Thanks,

Andy Magic Medicine

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Anybody have any pics they can post of Torch Lake and the surrounding lake areas. I would like to show them to my better half, so we can get the ball rolling on planning a vacation up their! :drink:

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

WE BOAT IN LELAND AND STAND OUT LIKE SORE THUMBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :evilb:

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

PS. The Harbor master is really great! They have had a few *******s, but he's Russ has been the best. Also the local law can be a little hasty if they don't know you, well wait, they are hard on us and they have known us for 16 years, but maybe it's just me! :) :drink:

The sunsets from Leland are great and there is room to run all dam day. PM me and I can fill you in, I am actually headed that way tomorrow!

We may have no boat though this summer.... It's still at the factory.. :(

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Magic,
Come on up and boat with us. Love to have ya. Also the snowmobiling is great but I'm geared toward boating right now:D Here are some pictures.
I keep my 38 PQ at Torch River and run all of the rivers without any problems. Hope to see you.

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

I hope to be able to come on a fun run this year up to Lake Charlevoix :cool:

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

That is a beautiful pic. We are definately coming up, we just need to set a date. I would like to come up for 4 days Thurs-Sun. We should get a group together, that would be great. Thanks for the invite. I am way out of the sledding mode myself.

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Used to sled big time. I was a diehard from 1993 to 2003 but I got burned out. I had 9 sleds in 10 years from a XC500 to a XC925 Genesis big bore. Lost Pines lodge used to be my second home! :D

I had an Unlimited 191 last summer and I picked up a Pantera 24 this last winter.

I do boat on Caddy and Mitchell once in awhile. They are dirty lakes but better than nothing considering I can be on them in under 5 minutes.

I only have one pic on this computer of Torch. I'll post some more tomorrow. Water isn't very blue, is it? :D

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

If you guys want to come up and check out the area I HAVE A DEAL FOR YOU. I'm looking for a couple more boats for our rescue team for www.boynethunder.com on July 14-15 What your duties would be...
I would put a couple of EMTs on your boat and send you out of Boyne City on Lake Charlevoix into Lake Michigan, you would have to sit at 3 different locations along the course and watch the Poker Run Boats fly by. And if there was ever a problem you would have to take the EMTs there to assist...Now for doing this I will give you tickets for Friday nights dinner at Garretts, lunch at Bay Harbor with the Poker runners and dinner and party back at Boyne with all the Poker run guys and GIRLS plus a place to dock your boat. You can ask anyone on here that has run the event and I'm sure they will tell you you will love it. Let me know if you have any more??? Thanks, JB

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No boat,

I spent alot of time at lost pines. We have probably crossed paths or raced at one time or another. I used to ride a Formula III 800 that was all done up, I have since moved to the REV chassis. Good luck with the Pantera, they are awesome boats. What do you have for power?

Keep those pics coming!!!!!!

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Oh I've never raced on the road at Lost Pines! :rolleyes: :D

The Pantera has a 502.

I'll post some more pics in a few.

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

A couple more.

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Those pics are unreal. The women just saw them. We will be up for sure this summer, we just have to set a date. I will see you all up there. I will start a thread of when were going up so as many of us can go as possible. See ya up there! :drink: :D

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As nice as the water looks in the pics anyone that has been there can tell you the pics don't do it any justice. When you head up let me know! :D

Sorry for the hi-jack Interceptor.

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

NoBoat,
It's not hi-jacking, it's information and it all sound good.
ed

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Keep the pics coming.. few from Empire/Glenn Lake - Sleeping Bear Dunes. Great boating area.
Torch in August - doesn't get much better.
Anyone go to Legs Inn in Cross Village by boat? Been there plenty but never by boat - no prob anchoring off that park there? Would put in at Harbor Springs.http://www.legsinn.com/

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These pics are simple amazing, keep em coming!

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Ttt

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

few more - its almost here

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Here's what my hog looks like incase you guys are up there and a picture of the city launch ramp at Lake Charlevoix...big enough to handle a 47'...no problem.

Re: Northern Michigan harbor info. needed
 

Hey KAAMA, it looks like maybe we should have a OSO get together on Torch Lake this summer :drink: