your welcome,,you wont have any problems with the little boat..my formula digs up some their but i also never had any problem with getting stuck..if guys with 500k skaters boat their it really cant be that bad of lakes..its really a fun spot..kinda like loto but bo 10 wakes lol..i have been boating their my whole life,,i find that the people that talk bad about it either dont know where to go or have bad experiences their..ben watts had the pass's or the ace hardware has them as well..i forgot all about the river,,that too is a blast in a smaller boat,,i usually cruise around 50/60 on the river..have fun and dont sweat the small talk..

The ramp at the hotel is on the river. It is going to be a challenge to say the least. FYI the hotel is under a renovation the last time I passed by it. Port of Blarney and Watts are both great ramps. Not alot of "modern" hotels in the area near the water. If your up to it Port of Blarney's even rents slips with power for the night instead of staying at a hotel.

If you do stay there you MUST go to Epic Deli across the street from the hotel in Johnsburg. Places to go I agree on Snuggery is a must. Famous Freddies has a great outdoor bar and good piers. For swimming Pistakee Bay is very nice. If your looking for people watching then Petite Lake, Channel Lake, and Columbia Bay on Fox lake are all good.

Yes it isnt ocean blue water by any means. In fact I dont think it is even a shade of blue. You would really have to try to not have a good time on the Chain.

Be careful by the waterfront hotel. I stayed there years ago, when it was paradise motel (total dump, I slept with my shoes on in that place). Looks like the new place is nice though. Anyhow, we went out for a ride on my buddy's 21ft deckboat and we were coming back to paradise, and getting off plane in the river out front when he smacked a rock/stump right in the middle of the river. He had started the weekend with a 3 blade prop, and finished the weekend with a single blade prop after that, and a half a skeg.

At that time I had a Four winns 241 Liberator. I was lucky and didnt hit anything that weekend, but I kinda followed the advice from some locals. I remember going to blarneys island, and had to trim the drive way up to get in there, lots of mud splashed all over the transom.

I did a night cruise on the river down to Vicki's place for a bite to eat and a few beers. That was fun. I wouldnt be afraid to go back for a day or two if I had a smaller boat. You're still on the water getting some sun. I wont take my Fountain there, because for starters I dont know the lakes that well, and I am not gonna tear up my speedmaster style props, they simply cost too much. I dont want to be dodging jet skis, and all kinds of boats when I am trying to run mine. Lake michigan you get wide open area to sit back and relax and enjoy the boat. Im all about relaxing on the weekends.

Hook up with one of the guys from here if you can. Have them lead you around a bit. Thats what I did, and had an uneventful weekend as far as hitting anything. I think you'll have fun with the scout there. Be sure to bring something to clean the yellow stains off the hull though when you pull it out.

Port of Blarney over nite slip is good, Ben Watts also does over night slips I think $20 bucks (The slips are nothing great and I churn up some mud but they are very protected just put your flip flops on as soon as you get on the dock!). You can get your sticker at Ben Watts or just up the street to the Fox Waterway Agency and pay a little less. http://www.foxwaterway.state.il.us/contact.htm

With your smaller boat you will be fine in most areas I'd still be careful going to Dockers. If I was you just say NO better yet HELL NO to the waterfront hotel. McHenry IL. is close by with a Comfort Inn hell even the Super 8 is several step above the Waterfront!!!! The Chain is not LOTO or Florida coast but it's plenty of fun. Yea I run out of Winthrop, Kenosha and run up to Milwaukee but just try and goo tie up and swim this week in Michigan its a warm and welcoming 50 deg.

Good looking boat I'm going to date myself but there was no Casino back when I lived in the area!!

What is the casino brand? Caesars? MGM?

I run a 36 footer out there every weekend. Been out there for 25 yrs. Sure it is muddy/murky water, but it is water with no speed limits and the cops leave you alone on the noise as long as you are not completely ignorant. There are some nice spots to anchor/float or even get out of the boat and stand on the bottom. I can give you some general ideas of where to go/not go. PM if you want to discuss anything.

Smitty

I stayed at that place a couple years ago...the ramp blows and the "hotel" is a dump....Just saying

Amen!

I think Iv'e seen your boat a couple times Smitty we are the black/red 35 Outlaw (pretty sure I'm the only one with that color) if you see us say hello sometime.

Blarney Island Pimp & Ho party tonight..... I don't have enough brain bleach for this anchor up time and heading home and folks said don't go to the chain who would want to miss this!