1st time put in bay trip
 

Im making my 1st trip to put in bay with my boat. Is there anything I should watch for. I dont have gps. I going by compass heading from my charts. Im going to come down the livingston channel by the detroit light house then heading that way.

Very easy run, livingston chanel to the light house, then you are going to run SE towards Middle sister island, I usualy stay west of it to stay away from the canadian fishing nets, from there you can see perrys monument and head towards it to the marinas. Chart your compass course from the light house and you are good to go.

Its late in the season, but keep an eye out for the nets like Lazlo said. They are supposed to be maked with flags, but sometimes all you will see is a bleach blottle bobbing. There are a couple shallow spots around the island like starvereef, but they are all well marked on the charts and shouldnt give you any problems. Pack an extra liver, it can come in handy.

On a clear day you will have a visual of Middle Sister Island not far past the Detroit River Light. I stay to the right of the island. Continuing on you will soon have a visual of Perry Memorial Light. This is where the harbor entrance is and what you want to head for. Look at my chartplotter screen shot and you will see that you must enter the harbor via the track on the right. If you try to follow my track on the left you will ground your boat on rocks. Other than that there are no other hazards. The little track loop at the bottom is the gas dock. We like to dock at the Boardwalk since they are a little cheaper and have nicer facilities than the municipal docks. Have fun; We make this run all the time. Might even go tomorrow.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...cs308Small.jpg

We have been going there for our holidays the last 2 years. We stayed at The Crew's Nest, www.thecrewsnest.com , Great facilities and you are parked near the Boardwalk. Make reservation as it get really buzy on weekends.

Thanx for all the info an help

One more thing, if you are going without kids B dock is the most fun place, good luck and have fun.

like thirdchild said stay away from his track on the left a buddy junked his jet boat there last year it is real shallow and rocky on that spot between the little island and the docks

Yes, on that trip I did "softly" ground my boat on rock. We were proceeding very slowly through shallow water when all of a sudden there is a rock shelf. Nothing to do but raise the drive and cut the throttle. We got in the water and lifted the stern and pushed it off the rocks. Luckily the only damage was two small scratches on the bottom and a slightly dinged prop. That was my second trip there and I screwed up! What's messed up is that people were watching us and no one shouted out a warning. Maybe they think it's funny to watch peeps ground their boats there.:angry-smiley-038:

Never try and go thru the opening on the west of the little island you will junk your boat, go in the main opening at the monument and you will be fine.