Trip to Chicago next year????
 

We live in St.Louis, and we are thinking about heading up to Chicago next year for a long weekend trip, I have a 24 Baja that I run at Loto, its no 40fter but we manage...so anyway, would we just get totally destroyed up there? Where do we go? Where are the hot spots? Where do I put the boat in? I want to keep it in the water, I don't want to tow it around and I know it wont fit in a parking garage..Give me the ins and outs of it..is it worth doing?

Do yourself a favor and go south of go to michigan..illinois sucks,,dont ask me how i know...lake michigan is just ok but it will eat a hole in your pocket...really nothing to do on the lake but hang out,,no really bar lifr to speak of unless you hang at a yaught club..if your looking for boating like loto then the chain o lakes is where you want to go..tons of bars and real easy to get lost because its marked like crap..head up on a Wednesday and catch the jetboat races at blarney's island and then its a party all weekend from thurs to sunday afternoon.. funonthefox.com

I would say your best bet for a good time is to come up the weekend of the Michigan City boat races. You can get a slip at the marina and check out some racing! The big hangout spot is boaters beach which is only about 20 miles from the marina. As far as conditions it is hit or miss. You can head out at noon in 1' and come back at 4-5 in 6-8's. Ask me how I know.

Come up to lake st clair, there is all kinds of boating to do, 24' will do just fine there, it gets sloppy some times but nothing like the big lakes. If you're looking for a party, Muscamoot bay is a huge party every Saturday and Sunday(200-300 boats) throughout the whole summer. Everyone rafts off in waist deep water and its a sandy bottom. There are plenty of waterside restaurant/bars to checkout. You could stay at Metro park which is centrally located to most places. They have nice docks and a lot of people cruise through there during the day so it's pretty cool boat watching.

or go north don't go to Chicago nothing to do , not boater friendly milwakee is much better , launch at whinthrop harbor you can get transient slips as for the lake their are days its flat or days its 5'

How far of a drive is it to all these other lakes..Im not one for towing a boat for more then 5-6 hrs anymore..

I would second the idea of the chain for bar hopping, people watching, prop bending, etc. For long range cruising head to the Michigan side. Tons of good boating!

Agreed, I would come up during the Summerfest week. Last week of June 28-July 10th. Lot's going on.

Lake st clair is only about 11/2-2 hrs from Michigan/Ohio border. Here is a picture of Muscamoot Bay fun times.[IMG]http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps1ef3f678.jpg[/IMG]

Damn 12 centimeter Joe that looks like a party!! that does go on every weekend or once a year kind of thing?


and about $hitcago...it could be something great.. but it isn`t.

Every Saturday and Sunday all summer. There is a "raft off" party once a summer which is basically the same thing just more people, but on average it's not uncommon for a couple hundred boats to show up every weekend. A few years back we beat the world record for most boats in a raft off. Not sure if it still stands but was something to see, I believe it was 1600 boats or something crazy like that! We have a blast every weekend out there and Mondays sure do suck!

I`m gonna have to put that on my 'to do 'list!

Dan,

Lake Saint clair is a BLAST. Worth the tow.

the chain..

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...psaa9764fe.jpg


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...psab45188c.jpg

As for Lake Michigan, in a 24ft boat....Theres some days that can be almost flat water, theres somedays that theres water that will make a 41 apache feel small. It can be a hit or miss depending on weather/wind. Theres something to be said though, about being on a large body of water, and being able to run freely. No jet skis cutting you off, no 3ft deep swamp zones everywhere, just you, and your boat. You'll be more than likey to come home with your props and lower unit intact, a scum free bottom, and less chance of catching the crabs or a staff infection vs. fun on the fox. I agree with the posts about Chicago being somewhat boater unfriendly, but depends what you wanna do. If bar hopping is your thing, than Chicago isn't the place. If you wanna see a great skyline, run your boat in some clean water, soak up some rays, and make your own fun, its great for that. Theres a pretty good party going on every weekend in the "playpen" just off navy pier where people drop anchor and party.

Not sure if you'd be overnighting on your boat or not. If you are, then you can always come up, launch at 31st harbor, get a slip there, and at night catch a cab to downtown for dinner. If sleeping in the cuddy isn't a option, Racine, Wi, is a great harbor, with a nice hotel right there on the water. Good boating there, and plenty to do in town, bars, food, etc. If the water is right, a trip up to Milwaukee for the day is doable from racine.

I finally made it up with my boat for the first time this year and i had a blast. Water was pretty rough so i know if i had a 24' boat i might not have had as much fun. Ill agree on the part of not being boat friendly. But id put in in hammond Indiana and boat up and stay at 31st street. Chicago river at night is worth the trip alone if you've never done it. And as far as finding something to do...all depends on how much gas you want to burn. Pick a destination and go. You'll want a gps though

"...yaught club..."

Seriously?!? That's a very creative misspelling. It actually HURTS my brain.

Mild is giving the best advice, IMO. Post up in the Northern IL section here on the board when you are thinking of coming up, and we can help you out. At least we can give you a general idea of what the Lake is going to be like for the weekend you want to come up. North wind = BAD.

Do you know what weekend the "raft off party" usually falls on? Or a website link that has info on this? My calendar could use another option.

Don`t get me wrong I love staying in Chicago and seeing the skyline and feeling "downtown" I`m just saying the river downtown could be so much more and not being able get off the boat and go to a beach is ridiculous. I tried bucking the system one day and got kicked off 6 beaches .. police were involved on one of those. lame

I agree that Racine probably is the best bet plus If Michigan to nasty your only 30 mins from the Chain O Lakes. If you have any question let me know.

I have been on The Chain O Lakes in NW Illinois since 1985. Be glad to show you around if desired. I will tell you that it is very shallow in some spots and I know where not to go.And the water is muddy since it is a silt bottom. The up side is no issue with rough water, lots of bars and restaurants. And a few sand bars to hit that are fun to anchor at. I have a 36 ft boat if that eases your fear of hitting something.

Don't forget to tell him about the use permit he will need to buy just to use the chain, not to mention that it is crawling with cops!

Go past Chicago and get on 131 northbound in Michigan and visit Traverse City, Charlevoix or Torch Lake.

It's usually the second weekend in August I believe. Usually don't get all the event dates for the season till spring. There might be something online already but I never checked as its a word of mouth thing around here.

I'd like to do the Chicago river at night. What time do they stop operating the locks on the weekend?

So no pulling up on any sand bars huh?

No sandbars on Lake Michigan that I know of.
You`d enjoy Racine, its my new favorite place and even if the lake is ugly its only a 5 minutes to a protected cove.

There are no sand bars around Chicago. Its 20-30 feet deep everywhere...about 15 or 20 miles out. If you get a nice day on the lake (which DOES happen pretty often in the summer when there's a south wind)...you can run out to Boater's Beach in Portage, IN. Gorgeous beaches on the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Downtown at night is pretty cool...but there's not really any place to go, with the exception of one restaurant/bar right on the main channel...but you are pretty exposed to the wakes from all the ferryboats, and they are ruthless. I don't know that they stop the locks? Latest I've left the city has been midnight or so with no problem...

I used to come thru the downtown locks at wee hours of the night/morning when I rack stored downtown . I don't think they shut them down? Pretty sure they are man'd 24/7.