lake st claire
 

Ive been looking for areas to move to in a few years, because 1000 islands isnt coming back for powerboating like i was thinking it would in the size i was hoping. Obviously the LOTO and S. fla and the usual spots have been visited and thought about.. but it seems like st claire would be a good fit... any of you guys in the area care to post up about the area in general? regards to powerboating, surrounding marinas, painters, wrenches, etc...

thanks!

Well, it's Lake St. Clair and I live 30 miles from the launch at Selfridge. I love the lake. It has the largest delta on the Great Lakes, it connects to the St. Clair River which is a fun run up into Lake Huron. It also connects to the Detroit River which makes runs to Put-in-Bay a lot of fun. It's some of the best boating in the world, in two countries. Check out the raft up video. Just learn the lake first if you've never been on it.

Real busy on nice weekends. See some nice rides. Be careful of the ones not watching out for you.

Live on a canal in Anchor bay it's like coming home from work to being on vacation.

You will find life cheaper, buildings cheapers, gas cheaper, etc. in ohio as opposed to michigan

thanks for the replies !
damn auto correct on my phone added the e to clair. but thats awesome to know. ive been looking into it and planning on making my way up there this summer. and cheaper in ohio? really? i drove through OH on my way to LOTO and fuel prices were not much different than NY.. hopefully MI isnt higher cost of living than NY. Is the lake a deep lake? IE shoals, or sand bars to watch out for? lots of channel markers or can you just go and run?

Depends a lot on lake level, but no, you can't just run anywhere.

Lake St Clair is awesome! I own a house on the Clinton River which runs out to the lake. I really miss it I can't wait to move back one day. The lake is shallow and lots of shoals to look out for. Study the charts and familiarize yourself with the lake.

Considering I live less than a mile from the ohio/mi line, the differences I mentioned between the 2 are pretty obvious.

You dragging 88bullet with you?

I cordially invite you to an east wind on Lake Erie. Heading for the bay or Kelly's from Monroe mi.

10-15 mph with gusts 20-25.

Good times had by all. :D

I thought business was booming for you in NY. 2 or 3 businesses right ? And just recently an Offshore Boat Restoration business ?

Lk St Clair is a gem.Michigan has the most registered boats,Outdoors mans paradise State land galore.The UP. Freeway posted speeds ignored.Thousands of miles of Snowmobile Trails for when the boat is hibernating.

FReeway speeds arent an issue, because there are so many damn orange barrels you couldnt get up to freeway speed if you tried. Hell they breed faster than welfare recipients...

http://imageenvision.com/450/22638-c...-toons4biz.jpg

^^ Please I got nailed to the cross for 16 Mph over in ohio. Soon as you Hit Michigan state line I 75 ...it's ON
Better be running 85 plus in da left.

One of the rodeo roundups off ottawa river and 75?? the ohio cops do like the state line., though between toledo and monroe the cops are constantly pulling over the semis....

Your young and ambitious. If you are going to go through all the trouble to move and start all over again move South.

If you love boating why move to an area where you can only boat 4 months out of the year and out of that 4 or 5 weekends can be chitty.

Michigan state income and property taxes suck. Florida has no state income tax and the property taxes are are a quarter of what they are in Michigan,

I could never move to Ohio because their freeway speed limits are Bullchit.

Have family that live in Naples.They are retired and get the heck outta there in april back to Mich. too friggin hot.lol
Sandusky Us 250 saw the 2014 CamaroSS no front plate... Bingo!

Don't get me wrong - I've thought about moving to Florida a bunch of times (especially now that we've already gotten 30 friggen inches of snow this year), but there are lots of great things about midwest boating:

1) No salt water and the crap that comes with it
2) Not as many old people as Florida
3) It's not ridiculously hot in the summer
4) Since everyone is cooped up all winter, everybody gets out every weekend they can in the summer. The parties are great!
5) We don't put as many hours on our boats = save $$$
6) You just can't beat Michigan summers. Period.
7) More time for OSO. I mean, what the hell else are we going to do for the other 8 months?

Florida guys could probably put a pros list much bigger than this, but just sayin'

im used to shoals and stuff, are most of them marked? there is one lake by us that only takes about 20 mins to run to one end to the next... they joke about it being a land mine if your not in the channel markers. Though i boat in the 1000 islands so its constantly knowing about shoals etc. but thats always good to know! keep the replies coming! what about marinas, fuel cost, restaurants etc.

Landscaping business is great here. But the good thing about that it's very easy to sell landscaping businesses here because everyone is trying to expand so selling is easy and I will sell in a few years. It's all theoretical at this point. Still in planning stages. And I want to stay more north because I love seasons, snowmobiling etc. But that's what I was curious about Income tax and property taxes. The south is great don't get me wrong... I just don't know If I would be able to raise my kids down the road with out snowmobiling and skiing!!

This is the midwest, most of us own our own lawnmowers...

Not looking at doing lawns out in MI... I just said I'm looking to sell my business and accounts and get out of landscaping..?

Nephew owned a Lawn care snowplow biz that he was making a killing with up in Grand Rapids. Just sold it so he can go sailing more.

Well than the next question is what will you do for work to support your boat restoration business.

Move to Grand Rapids Mi than . A great clean area with a happening scene downtown. 45 minute drive to either Holland or Grand Haven where there are more offshore boats than Florida now I think.A few hours from the UP and some great snowmobiling.

tommy, if your from florida how do you know all about it up north? or did you used to live up here?

Most people in Florida are transients from Michigan. Atleast what I've seen in Naples / Ft Meyers, FT Meyers Bch, and semingly rest of SW Florida. LOL.

Moved to Naples Florida 30 years ago from Grand Rapids Mi I couldn't take the weather anymore It's not just the snow and cold it;s that grey non sunny weather that I can't stand up there.
Also after boating in crystal clear 88 degree water poop brown 60 degree water doesn't look to inviting anymore.

I have a lot of family and friends that still live up there but I rarely visit. Believe it or not even the summers up there don't turn me on they are kinda like boating here during the winter. It does get a little hot here and about September you are ready for the heat and rain to subside.

I don't suggest moving to Naples for you but maybe something North like Tampa or something North of Miami on the other coast. Only problem with going North of here is it is quite a bit cooler during the winter just a 100 miles north.

Problem with Naples is way to many old people and the way the town is exploding again we will be driving on the sidewalks because there is simply not enough roads during season for all the cars.

in the area, what it like for performance shops, any dealers that specialize in performance boats? i know there is BC in MI, glass dave in toledo, and mitcher T all for paint and glass work, and XT is in the area correct? i mean in florida you have TNT and many others, and in LOTO its a performance shop on every corner, and you have PBC, LOM, etc etc... im sure i will answer alot of these questions once i go out there this summer, but its winter so might as well educate myself on the area as much as possible while im waiting for my new motors

Wesco racing engines, Ck motorsports, baker engineering, precision power offshore all in west mi. For paint work, T and D custom paint, Boat customs, mitcher t, and Taod is on the boarder or mi and Indiana. Also pier 57 is 2-3 hrs away in Chicago. Lots of competition by established company's.

Glass dave, tyler croockket, Brian orlandi, sterling, ilmor,xt, there are a lot of shops around.

The main channels have markers. Plenty of shoals to look out for that are not marked. And water levels play a major part, some areas that normally have been 3ft deep might only 1-2ft depending on the water level. Plus as others have mentioned if you start a shop here you will have a bunch of well established shops to compete with. And Midwest people tend to be loyal customers, if they receive good service they from a shop they stick with that shop.

all great info! what are the marinas like? boat sales, fuel, etc..

Depends on how much you want to spend. All depends on area that you are on. I know there is a marina that you can get a dock at for 450 from May till November. It's a 15 min idle to the lake but it's $450. Closer is more. Lake st Claire is more like $1600 from what I've heard.

I'm on Lake Erie.

Miller Marina, lots of go fasts on hoists. Great location.

Miller0001 on here.

Phil, if you want to come to the lake and have fun in the summer you will have a great time!! Many Marinas and Restaurants on the water!!

If you want to try and start a shop here you will loose your money. Unless you have Millions of Dollars to spend on a giant shop/marina on the water that can hire Factory Certified Volvo and Mercury Mechanics you will never be able to start a shop here and stay in business. This area is one of the best boating areas in the country and has many Marinas and Shops that have been established way longer than you have been alive. This would be one of the worst places in the country to try and start a new shop unless you have the knowledge and MILLIONS in cash to back it up.

Not trying to be a a$$ (i'm done with internet fighting) Just speaking from my knowledge of the area.