Hardy is in my backyard; the big boats can launch and run there but that's not where I'd head - other than HB Weekend - with that large a boat. I think you'll get bored in a hurry.

Torch is a "bucket list" lake; everyone should experience it at least once - the water has to be seen to be believed but the launches are less than optimal for that size boat and there's nowhere to go…you're stuck on Torch & I like my boat so won't chance the wall and rental pontoon "captains" at The Dockside. We pull out and then head there..the parking lot isn't great but it's better than the idiots in the channel.

Our personal favorite is the Boyne/East Jodan/Charlevoix area..Boyne is a great little town with a very nice launch and facilities…and you have access to Lake Mi and Traverse Bay area. I could spend a lot of time in the area and not get bored.

A 32' ish V is in our future & we plan on putting in on the west coast of Mi and going north and exploring the small towns and harbors as time and weather permits…skipping only Grand Haven due to overzealous enforcement issues there in the past…we plan to go all the way to Mackinac Island eventually.

Cheers

s

Just bear in mind all inland lakes in MI have a 55mph speed limit (Charlevoix may be an exception). The Great Lakes have the limit until you get 1 mile offshore of MI.

Put it in the water at your home port and cruise the Great Lakes. You are big and have comfortable accommodations . Cruise as far North or where ever you want to go and lay over . If you have to go back for work rent a car and go home.

Than rent a car and come back.

I cruised all over the great Lakes as a kid with my parents. Dad went home on a weekly basis for his business.most of the time he drove and just payed to get a ride back to the port we came from to pick up his truck.

The best combo of inland lake protection and big water is Grand Traverse West and East bay Traverse City Michigan! Wide enough to run no speed limit down the middle, just as beautiful as Torch, power island, and multiple other ports for cruise destinations!

Plus some jackwagon puts on some pretty cool fun runs!

Traverse City Offshore Fun Runs

https://www.facebook.com/traversecityoffshorefunruns

it's a phukin 38 foot boat . Put some fuel bladders on it and go to Central America.Fuel will be 80 cents a gallon in another 3 months

Are you married? Do you like dark skinned young beautiful women?

Maybe this will help some of you guys wanting to come up here with your boats....

There a few places where you can launch in Cheboygan, Michigan and go up the Cheboygan River that leads to the north end of Mullet Lake...beautiful water. You can take that all the way to the south end of Mullet Lake and enter in/go up the Indian River...just follow the river makers as your guide as it leads you into the little town of "Indian River"...which will lead you out to Burt Lake. I did this back in 2006 on Labor Day weekend (last big boating weekend of the season) with my 32' Active Thunder with smooth idling 565cid engines and Stellings dry open headers. There was a guy there who had a 46' Black Thunder with Merc #6's that he kept on the Indian River and I always saw him going up and down the River so, if he could do it in a 46 footer, then it should speak for itself. My boat was loud on plane, but was very smooth sounding at idle speeds.

As I was returning from Burt Lake to go back thru the Indian River...we stopped and tied up for lunch along the river. Little did I know, the water Po Po was lurking for us (County Sheriff's Dept). He stopped un in the middle of the river in heavy boat traffic and a strong current and acted like we personally offended him in some way---he was definitely trying to make a big show out of it. He came up from behind us trying to catch us at idle speeds. Obviously, I had to shut down my engines so that we could communicate decently with each other. It was the wrong place to stop us....he could have waited about another 150 yards or so while we were out of boat traffic, but I guess he felt he wanted to show me who was boss while other boaters were coming from 2 different directions causing everyone to try and maneuver around us in a narrow river in strong currents and keep from hitting each other, he quickly caught on and could see that it was fast turning into a cluster **** and told me to go back to wherever I launched my boat and put it back on the trailer and if he ever saw me again he was going to basically throw the book at me. I had figured with it being the last big weekend of boating that it would not have been a big deal---but I was wrong. I was staying at a hotel on the Cheboygan River anyway with dock slips so, I just tied the boat up when I returned there. We boated the rest of the weekend, and were able to go thru the locks and go to Macinac Island, etc.

The following year I went out on Mullet Lake a few times---and it is a pretty big lake with very few boats out on the lake at this specific time I was there. My cousin had his boat...a 32' and I had my 32'.....we were having fun running around out there......here come the Po Po...young kid following me (trying to catch up to me) I wondered why my cousin suddenly slowed down at an idle and wasn't smilling anymore.....so I looked back the other side just before I started to turn around...and no wonder..... there's the Po Po trying to catch up to me! My cousin saw him first and thought the po po wanted to stop him...but he bypassed my cousin was actually coming after me....probably because I was the faster, more colorful and louder boat. So, I stopped the moment I saw him and shut down my engines,....and just stood there waiting for him to say the first words (keep in mind my cousin and I were about the only 2 boats out on Mullet Lake....at least as far as we could see from our vantage point.....nobody else was around us) He asked what the speed limit is out here...and I said....55mph, yeah???....he says, "how fast do you think you were going?" and I said, "not exactly sure, but obviously fast enough for me to get your attention for you to run way out here to stop me."...and he said, your boat is probably over the sound decibel limit too...sounds kinda loud.....and I just tried to be kind and civil in my demeanor towards him...and I just said, "okay". tried to say as little as possible and let him do all the talking....I felt like if I said one wrong or derogatory word that he would find an excuse to write me. It seemed as if he was trying to tick me off enough to give him the excuse----it was in 2007 Labor Day Weekend again so, I cannot remember everything that transpired, but he did not write me for anything....I just headed back down the Cheboygan River to my hotel for the evening.

Again, both times were during Labor Day weekend. Also, I think if you went up to Mullet Lake, the Indian River and Burt Lake during the "Top O'Michingan Boat Races" (these are the mini boats with outboard engines) which are held annually during August of each summer, then with all the boat engine racket going on, then perhaps the po po will not bother you during the boat race weekend. Just go up there and observe the race and it will give you a chance to see all the other cool scenery---the water is crystal clear in most areas. If I ever go back up the Indian River, then this Race is probably the only time I will attempt to go again with a boat like mine...do a search on the race for dates, and info.

Torch Lake....Also, as far as Torch Lake goes, I witnessed a 40' Skater launch from the boat launch at Luhr's Landing on the Torch River...and my friend's 38 Powerquest, etc---but the water is kinda murky in that area and cannot always see the bottom there.

Torch River Marina....There is also a boat launch at the Torch River Marina that would be able to launch a 38' boat, but it gets real congested in that marina with people wanting to launch their boats and then it gets tight once in the water.... especially on busy weekends.

Elk Lake (which connects to Torch Lake via Lake Skegemog and the Torch River), has a public boat launch just off of Elk Lake Road that will accomodate a 47' Fountain with triples. Although, it does not appear that the dock and dept of water can handle it, but I have a friend who knows some guy that owns a 47' Fountain that has launched there several times. I have personally gone there a few times to look at the launch and it seems to be okay, the water is very clear so you can see the bottom easily if it is not too windy,...also, I could see that if the wind is blowing enough, then it could cause a problem with the shorter docks while trying to load the boat on the trailer.

Elk Rapids, there is also a ramp for launching boats right in the city of Elk Rapids that launches into ELK LAKE----(not to be confused with launching in Lake Michigan), I have launched my 32' AT there in past years, but I was barely able to get if off the trailer. There is a cement curb at the end of the launch...if your rear trailer tire goes over that curb it drops way off and down and you will need a crane to lift your trailer back on to the curb...you definitely will need someone to help you and spot for you as you launch and retrieve your boat there. Cost is $5 or so. A friend of mine lives near there and says he has launched his 38' Powerquest there several times....where as I could just barely get my 32' AT off the trailer there....you will have to see for yourself. If you are able to launch there, then you can park down the street along the side of the road...might take about 2-3 minutes of walking. You will have to go under the U.S. 31 bridge as you head out into Elk Lake....there is a stump field, so pay attention and do a little homework as you make your way out into Elk Lake...then to Lake Skegemog and thru the tricky stump field...you must go at idle speeds as it goes into the Torch River. You must come off plane about 250 yards before you enter the stump field in Lake Skegemog or you will take a big chance on hitting something.

Awesome info. Maybe I'll try to roll the dice this summer then. 55mph limit though on Burt and Mullet thougg? All idle through the river too.

I know how that current is on the river, we were having beers and dinner watching a few dock.[IMG][/IMG]

Awesome info, it looks like Luhr's landing might be the bast bet from what you have explained at Torch. Is there a place to park the truck and trailer near that launch?

My answer for torch is I have a 6 ft dinghy that I can launch anyhwere and w a small outboard can easily get to the sandbar. No way am I taking the 37. Just cant chance F ing up a drive prop or ingesting a bunch of sand and overheating.

Higgins lake is pretty big by inland lake standards, a LOT deeper than Houghton, and prettier in my opinion. But I've never launched or driven a boat as large as yours so I'm not sure about the launches and whatnot.