Newbies to LOTO
 

Hi everyone.
We are coming down on Friday for the weekend and this is our first time to LOTO.
We are staying at a friends house at MM1.
Seeing as how we have never run down here, we do we need to look out for and where is going to be the best spot to see the races?
We have a Formula 292 and our other friends that are coming with us have a 27' Baja.
If any of you guys are from around the 1MM area, maybe we could meet up with you and follow you down to the races.
Any info or advice you guys could give me would be greatley appreciated.

shootout is easy to find, best place to view is to tie up along the spectator line in front of shooters, just head upstream you will go under a large toll bridge that is at the 17mm, go a few miles and stay to right at the y in the lake you will see all the boats at that point, would try to be there by 11:00 am get a good place near the end of the race course. you can come to the oso party at dog days friday to hook up with people, it is right at the y in the lake at 19mm, no wake area right before another bridge called grand glaize bridge.

Thanks for the info.
Are there alot of no wake areas on the lake?

Just in the coves mainly and up close to some docks. You will be free to blast the whole main channel. As far as getting to the shootout, just follow about any other boat out at 10am.

be sure to obey 30 mph after dark ... watch the water patrol there are more of them then you have probably ever seen on water.

Got it, Thanks for the heads up

Newbie also
 

First time visitors for us also- will be at Glen Cove Marina MM 21 near Shooters.

Wannabe

Getting there is easy. Getting away from there after the races - well, that is the fun part.:party-smiley-020:

I'm looking forward to some quality playtime this weekend.
This will be the second weekend this year that we will be out without the kids. Adults only:party-smiley-048: .
So I dont have to worry about hitting a good roller and ejecting my 3 year old son.

You still have to worry! Nothing like the ride leaving when everyone fires up at the same time!:D

Kinda sounds like when they have the firworks on the chain by us. The only difference is that this will be day light so you can actually see whats coming:D

No its different. I always say that loto is the only lake that you CAN"T see what is coming. It is truley a washing machine. That is why so many boats have sank from being swamped at loto. Be very careful when leaving the shoot out.

I always use the that as a great argument for a bigger boat.. The moment everyone leaves the Shootout is bar far the roughest water we have ever been in...

2 years ago... my wife let me go from a 30' to a 38' after riding in those waves... This year I am hopping for another 6' of improvement.. :cool-smiley-011:

That is putting it mildly.

This will also be my first time! Im staying at the Tan-tar-a. I have a small boat! 20 foot! reading this makes me a little nervious! this is my first boat and I already feel the need to step up! look for the little Power Play!

Please be very carefull. There are a lot of large cruisers down here and the wakes can really sneak up on you.

Thanks for all the input.
I will be sure to take it easy getting out of there for sure.
Looking forward to hopefully meeting some of you guys.
See ya Sat

One of the quietest places to stay at the end of the day is right in front of Shooters. For the most part folks will idle away from the area before they take off - but you may be waiting 20-30 minutes before things even begin to calm down.

thanks for the Info! it was sounding like it was going to be pretty nasty and the lil powerplay was going to be taking on some water! I plan on returning to Michigan save for labor day!

Word of advice. Leave about a half hour or more before the event gets over. You only have a few miles from the no wake to Tan Tar A.

Has anyone ever been to the the Great lakes in MI? I was just told that this weekend won't even compare to the rough waters of lake MI. I have the lil guy out there all the time getting crazy. So i should be fine! I will still take the advise, I rather be safe then sorry!

Big difference is you can not read and time the waves on the lake. It is like a giant washing machine and they hit you from all directions and some of them you do not see until it is too late. Be careful out there.

A 20' boat will almost certainly take a wake over the bow or transom in that water. The breakup at 5:00pm at the Shootout is worse than the fireworks. Boats are running in every direction at 5:01 right in front of shooters at speeds from idle to 80mph.
My advice in that size boat; Idle into the cove just past Shooters (21 1/2MM) at 4:50 and let the traffic clear out. It's a deep enough cove so waves wont be a problem. It's the same cove where Shorty Pants and Glencove Marine are located.
My $0.02
Gary

I get into tan-tar-a around 2:00 thursday. See you there. The boat is a eliminator cat that say "don't panic" on back.

I won't be there until friday morning. I will look for you though. cant miss me the lil powerplay.

thanks for all the advise! I think I have found a hobby that will never leave me. The people you meet and that are willing to help are priceless. see you guys there!:party-smiley-048:

Congrats on your new toy. This hobby as you called it is officially in your blood now:D
Unfortunatley, this is not a cheap hobby and you will always want something bigger:D most call it 2 footitis.
By the way, you do know what BOAT stands for don't you?
Break Out Another Thousand!
Were always willing to help a fellow boater out if we can. If you have a problem or a question, just ask.
Anyway, welcome to the boating lifestyle, I hope you enjoy it as much as the rest of us:party-smiley-048:

I'm staying at tan-tar-a, I'll be there late thursday nite. It is also my first time. It is it better to try to tie up with a bunch of boats, or anchor out on your own. Would like to see your eliminator gsmith9898, thinking about getting one. I have a 32 fountain right now.

the end of the shootout is the best water of the day!! :cool-smiley-027:

No matter where you are, its always better to tie up with a bunch of boats. Never know what you'll see in the boat next door.:party-smiley-020:

Thanks! Im learning the meaning of BOAT very fast. I think i have waisted a couple thousand maybe 4k so far. just to get this boat over 65 MPR. o-well... I love every minute of it. I will be there next year with something around 28+ foot! the guy who painted my boat and some others will be with me! check out his work www.boatcustoms.com.

That is a sharp looking boat, kinda looks like a mini Cig.
We will keep an eye out for you.
We are in a Formula 292 with red, blue, black stripes with world champion logo on the sides.
Name is Never Satisfied
Stop by and say hi if you see us

I boat on lake Erie with my 23 Baja.We were at Loto a month ago with it and that lake gets crazy rough as said before,waves from all directions.
I think boats over 15k lbs should be banned from that lake. Dam crusier wakes.

There are a lot of offshore boats that weigh 15,000 lbs. My 36' Apache weighs well over 12,000 lbs with fuel and a few people.

Be careful what you wish for.

Jassman and Sandy came up for the weekend for his first trip to LOTO. He road with us all weekend and got a new appreciation for washing machine water.:party-smiley-048:

Just got home tonight.
What a great time we had on the lake this weekend.
Met a ton of great people and had a blast.
And I also have a whole new respect for the washing machine effect. There were some huge waves on Saturday afternoon.
The boat ran fantastic, handled the rough stuff like a champ as usual and everybody made it back in one piece.
Looking forward to next year already:party-smiley-048: