Mackinac Island Marina?
 

Anyone been to Mackinac by boat recently? Thinking about going up there for the 4th of July and debating whether or not to take our boat. Is there anywhere to run around besides the island? How about a good launch ramp with overnight parking somewhere on "main land"? Thanks!

Went up there last year, although I launched from St Ignace, which is a nice launch with plenty of parking, there is a launch with parking in Mackinac City, it may be busy that weekend.

Here is a link to the launches with details like how many parking spaces type of launch.

http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/MRBIS/countysearch.asp

From the Island you can run to Cheboygan go through the locks follow the river down to Mulllet Lake, or head east to Drummond isle, run down the St Marys River and several miles down the river is the Soo locks, if you go west you can go to Beaver Isle.

You might want to reserve a slip here is a link.

http://www.midnrreservations.com/HarborIndex.aspx

Thanks J. Hadn't even thought about Drummond haven't been there in years. We hit Beaver Island during the Boyne Thunder run. Thanks for the ideas, just looking to do something different.

It's been a few years since I've gone by boat, but I've done the trip plenty of times in the past.

Mackinac City marina is small and crowded. The boat launch is tight. My 32's Sunsation made it in and out no problems, but I had to back the trailer down for quite a way since there wasn't enough room to turn the trailer around once down at the ramp. Pay the extra couple bucks in bridge fare and launch at the newer, and larger, marina in St. Ignace.

Back in the late 90s, it was impossible to get a slip on the island at the state docks if it was a nice weekend. Boats would anchor out in the harbor waiting for a slip. However, it seems the crowds have died down in the past 5 - 6 years. I never had a problem getting a dock that last few times. "If" the state docks are indeed full, try getting a dock at the Murray (I think) hotel. This is the hotel between the state dock and Arnold Ferry line. I remember people tying up for a few hours while eating / drinking on the outdoor patio.

Places to go from the island vary. Cedarville / Hessel is a medium ride to the north east. Never been there, so I can't comment. To the south east about 15 miles is Cheboygan. Quiet sleepy little town with an OK launch ramp right at the entrance to the Cheboygan river. I say OK simply because the river current can play havoc with launching / retrieving. 10 miles up the river (after locking through the Cheboygan River Lock) is Mullet Lake. It's a really... really.... really... long no idle zone, so be prepared for plenty of conversation. Switchable mufflers will help as well. Johhny Law won't give you any problems, but your passengers might after an hour of idling. Mullet Lake has a pretty nice state park on the north east corner of the lake with a protected pseudo marina where the boats will beach themselves for the night. Kinda cool and worth checking out.

A little longer drive from Mackinac, but well worth it, is out to the west and then south to Petosky / Harbor Springs / Bay Harbor. This is about a 30 - 40 mile ride. Pay attention to the weather, it can be glass smooth one second, and then 6 - 7 foot rollers the next. An additional 10 miles south of Bay Harbor is Charlevoix. Really fun town with access into Lake Charlevoix. The docks in Charlevoix are limited, so you might want to make a reservation. Otherwise, the little town of Ironton about 5 miles down Lake Charlevoix has some docking available for transients.

A few years back, I did a "fun run" that started off in Charlevoix and ended in Indian River by way of; Bay Harbor, Mackinac Island, Cheboygan, and Mullet Lake. We started off around 9AM and finished around 9PM. Hell of a day, would do it again in a heartbeat.

EDIT: One fricken post? I've been here since 1998 and I've got one fricken post to my name? Jeesh... something got screwed up. ;)

Hey Nick, stayed at the island marina the w/e after labor day last summer! Went up into Hessel area, cool up in there! It helped 2 have someone that knew the area! Launched my 38 Formula in Mac city a few years ago, no prob! Good luck!

There are a couple launches in Cheboygan....one is near the mouth of the river and down stream from the locks and is quite adequate for the larger boats...very nice launch ramp---cannot remember if it is a city or state launch ramp...??? And I don't remember there being much of a problem with the river current there---not saying there isn't a problem, just don't remember being a problem with the current there during launch/loading. Anyway, it is only a few moments of idle time out to the big lake---Michigan/Huron.

The second launch ramp I have used is right down town Cheboygan near the bridge and upstream from the locks. I have lauched my 32' AT there a few times with no problems----not sure if the ramp will handle much more than a 38' footer. Can be slightly weedy in there/in spots until you get into the main stream of the river---don't remember the current being much of a problem there either. The locks are only a moment away from there. The current can be slightly tricky when coming out or going into the locks from DOWN STREAM side/lower side) of the locks/river....this is especially true if there is a lot of boat traffic coming/going from the locks especially if you have to wait in line to go upstream/into the locks, but they DO have some wood posts to hang onto if you have to wait in line---but boy, if you let go of one of those posts and there is lots of other boat traffic----it can make for some tricky manuvering with that current and bend in the river there. The bigger the boat you have the more challenging it is. I have found that if there is several boats waiting in line to go upstream into the locks you may need to "raft off" with some other boats. It's requires lots of jockeying around and it helps to have some crew hands on board---makes for good teamwork. You will have several minutes of idle time going through the locks and down the river until you reach the Lake Michigan/Huron, but to me that's just part of the fun and enjoyment of boating.

Actually, There is also a nice launch ramp (non-public) at a small marina further up stream on the Cheboygan River right next to a bridge with a road that takes you around the east side of Mullet Lake. I have launched my boat from this little marina and slipped my boat there for a few nights with a bathhouse (requires a key code). The launch ramp looks like it could handle a 45' footer if needed...very nice little spot.

Grand Traverse Bay, Torch Lake, Lake Charleviox, Mac Island, Indian River, Crooked River, Burt Lake, Cheboygan River, Mullet Lake, and the inland water way, Leeland, Sleeping Bear Dunes, etc, etc. And you don't always need a boat to enjoy yourself.

Sorry for rambling on, but I just love it up north....it's GOD'S country! Part of the fun is the drive up there from the moment I leave my drive way---it's really a whole different world up there.

Thanks everybody for the replies. I've spent a lot of time up in the UP snowmobiling and I have family in Cedarville, just never took the boat and everytime I go up there I think, "man I wish I had the boat." Kaama, I've been to almost every lake on your list and then some. All good choices. I pretty much go "up north" any chance I get as my family is from the Alpena area and we still have property on Hubbard Lake. I agree I can't get enough of it either.

I have launched my boat (32 Sunsation) out of the Mackinaw City Harbor a few times without problem. Had to park the trailer offsight one time because I was going to be gone for several days (North Channel trip). It was a short walk. The other times it was just for the day and was able to keep the truck and trailer at the marina. Mackinac Island Harbor is nice. The only words of caution are that the docks are very high making it difficult to get onto the docks from the boat. The other thing is that the harbor can get rough from all of the ferries coming in and out of the ferry dock nearby. From Mackinaw City I have gone to Cheboygan through the locks into the lakes for the day. I have also used that marina as a starting point for my trip into the North Channel. I highly recommend taking the time to explore the North Channel. Like Bayley and others have said, it is a great central location to get to many great boating areas.

Hey Red Tail,

How long did it take, and where was your first point of (Canadian) entry during your North Channel trip? Been talking about that for years, but still have yet to do it. It's nice to hear of another fellow Sunsation owner making the trek.