Torch Lake info....
 

Thinking about hitting Torch this weekend. I was there once years ago but not with a boat. Wondering where to put in....where to stay....what not to miss ;) When I was there everyone was hanging out on the sandbar on the South end....is that still the deal? How are they about speed on that lake?...and noise....lol. Any info appreciated.

The Sandbar is still "the" place to be. Dockside on clam river is the only place to eat on the water, but they have good food and atmosphere. If you go there, park on the seawall, don't try the finger slips on the north side, shallow and rocks. Alden bar is a good place to go too, they have slips in Alden where you can park and walk there, not far though. Watch it there too, shallow and rocky.
Johnny law is THICK up there. They are cracking down on noise due to deputized lake association ###holes. They got a STOCK single PQ this weekend at 104db. Backed right up to him with their boat so the sound had nowhere to go.

Hmmm....that could be a problem....Johnny Law won't like my boat.

They don't seem to understand proper noise testing technique... It's pretty spelled out in black and white in the handbook, but you know how officers can't read when it comes to the handbook (like harrassing you for something you don't have and is required, then you inform them that it is only required on the big water and not on the inland lakes:D...)

Were they asking to see your flares last week Fish??:party-smiley-004:

Pulled pork burrito at dockside! F'er is awesome. Ate like 3 last week...

All the boat launches suck.

Well...you guys talked me into staying in Muskegon/GH this weekend....lol.

The best launch is Whitewater park on Elk Lake. The cops are thick but if your not an ahole they usually leave you alone. If you're going to do any hotrodding don't do it in the south end. The cops are usually after the pontoons with 20 drunk people on them.

torch lake noise test
 

My two sons and I were on Torch this past weekend on Sunday my boy's and I were at the Sand bar for about 3 hours when we left I had my son drive my 22 Donzi 502 prorcharged needless to say as soon as we fired her up the sheriff requested that follow him out into the lake away from the sandbar to conduct the noise test. It took 10 minutes, he explained every step of the procedure he also informed me that they were not issuing tickets this year, they are informing the boaters that the legal limit is 90 mine registered at 103.9 he informed next year they will be. My son asked how much a noise ticket would the sheriff thought it was about $300.00. I must say the sheriff did not ask any other questions or ask to see life jackets or any other safety devices. Time to start saving up for noise tickets for next year. If you have a loud boat go this year and don't worry about getting a ticket, next year will be a different story.

Funny. My buddies cat registered exactly 103.9 as well with the same meter on torch. Hmmmm sounds suspicious.....

Grand Haven is way way way worse than torch on noise. I would go to torch any day of the week over GH. You can go as fast as you want on torch as they have no radar guns. Don't be an idiot and you will be fine

Funny, the STOCK 280 that got checked was 103 something too...

Sounds like we got a junk meter scaring people into mufflers....

Sounds to me like you have a cop that doesn't know how to use the meter and measure properly.

Or a hard dik cop that wants to quiet down every boat out there...

i have had tickets at torch and gh torch fixit but you can boat the rest of the weekend gh put it on the trailer and dont comeback til its fixed and luhrs landing seen 40 skaters bless thier launch there is also resturants in elk rapids to go to and alden has courtasy slips and you can walk a block into town, dont let the narrow minded that never leave the sand bar unless they have drank to much turn you off its worth going

No worries. I was up there a few weeks ago. I know mine will not pass but I am still planning a trip for next summer. Had a place at Higgins and dealt with their chit too. Haven't been there in a few years. With the way things are going with the elite waterfront owners associations I as with many of my friends will take our money elsewhere...

I was hoping you were going to Torch this weekend. I want to check out that Chris Cat! We have a cottage rented all next week, right straight across from Alden. If you change your mind, look me up. Black 24' Pantera with Green Eyes are hard to miss.

Shawn

Luhrs launched a 43 black thunder last week... I'm pretty sure it can handle anything you throw at it... Andtthe marina launches a 46 BT each year... Launches are no excuse to skip on torch. Best water out there, period.

Why go to torch this weekend when a few miles down the road is boyne thunder???

For sure, you WILL NOT find a more beautiful place to boat that is fresh water. Kool-aid water and 19 miles to run, not to mention the chain. I'm slipped there and will continue to be for many years I'm sure.
Everyone that has commented on this Loves torch, and is far from being "narrow minded" when it comes to the lake. Sure, we spend our share of time on the sandbar, but burn PLENTY of gas as well. Just trying to warn about the pigs up there that are being heavily influenced by the lake association and the lake preservation society, that's all.

I bought my own meter at Radio Shack and I carry it with me. I haven't been pulled over yet, although I did buy a set of clamp on Gibsons. I do the inland water way from Lake Huron to Burt Lake, the rivers are beautiful but they are heavily patrolled. I saw so many patrols on Memorial that I'm watching my speed. It might be a little obvious that I'm doing close to 90. Gotta love that inland lake chop.

Thats where I will be!

LOL...yeah right.

I actually forgot about Boyne being this weekend. Kind of late to plan that trip I think.

I'm still on the fence about Torch though. I think I'll put a more organized plan together and do it next month.

As far as GH goes.....agreed....the cops are absolute pricks there. If my friends would just start hanging out in boater-friendly Muskegon I'd have no reason to take my money there at all.

Man this is not what I like to hear. I've been going to Torch for 10+ years and have only been pulled over once and I deserved it. Since then I have used my head around the sandbar and run hard once I get out a couple miles. I had a sheriff follow me last year in the river for a short time and they didn't even give me a second look.

It was a matter of time. With all the attention Torch has been getting the last couple of years more people mean more ideas on how it should be governed. We have been boating Torch since 1985 and have been pulled over only twice and that was last year with the family. The cop said we were racing coming from the main lake side by side with three boats in our group. We always run side by side as a group and we were only cruising 50-60. The cop looked like the Molboro Man and stated " I dont want any racing on my lake"
This may only be the start.

Sounds like it may be. I haven't even made it up there this year so I guess I will wait and see until I am a total buzzkill. LOL

BTW did I meet you at the Elk Lake launch a few years ago?

That was us. We chatted for awhile. I have always liked Pantera's. We have been going to Grand Haven and Charlevoix the past couple of years alot more. Between the swimmers itch and the local cops at Torch the fun was wearing off. GH and Char cops will not even look at us and I cant pass 90db, also there is more water to run and beaches to hit.

I will have to schedule a weekend on Torch.....looking into it now....

Swimmers itch????????? Damn THAT sucks!!

I have only gotten it once there(actually our whole crew did) and it was a few years ago when the water got warm.

I thought so. If I remember right you(or someone in your group)had an alternator crap out. I have just avoided Torch on holiday weekends and haven't had any issues but haven't been there this year. Holidays are just too much now. I love to have a good time but I'm too old(yes I said it) to hang out on a sandbar where 19 year olds are puking in the water at 1pm. LOL

Knock on wood, I haven't been messed with yet, but I'm sure it will happen. I am all stock with factory muffler tips, so I don't know what to do if I get ticketed. If you read the rules it states that silent choice must be used at all times on inland lakes in MI. I'm out there every single weekend so lots of chances already for them the last 2 months.
There's a new guy in charge of water patrol and he's trying to be a big tough guy. They've also deputized the pres. of the lake association and the pres. of the lake preservation society. Earlier this year the patrol actually seemed a little less than usual, but the 4th week was an incredible presence. We'll see how it goes from here.
Swimmers itch is alive and well since the water got warm, kind of annoying but goes away in a couple days.
Bottom line is some people simply cannot stand it when others are having fun.