Lake Michigan Boating....

[Yaj Yak]

My dads in reefpoint it’s super nice and pretty cheap compared to Chicago harbors, also if you buy a new boat and keep it in Wisconsin you pay Wisconsin sales tax on your new boat, his is a 27ish cutwater pretty similar to that ranger tug he’s somewhere in Canada with it right now on his was back to Lake Michigan, talked to him a couple days ago he said he was anchored for a couple days due to conditions weather/water

your dad is cool as fuck.

just sayin

 

[Yaj Yak]

here's my big pond rig.

fuckin' send it.


https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/boa/d/herbster-r27-ranger-tug/6941444792.html

i got a huge cutwater & ranger tug boner yesterday, ranger makes this size boat now with a 300hp yamaha outboard, and it'll run over 40 mph and i want it bad.

run 30 mph at 2 mpg... or putz at 5mph getting 4.5 mpg... all with a 150 gallon fuel tank.

https://www.rangertugs.com/models.aspx?itemid=2634&prodid=13917&pagetitle=Ranger-Tugs-R-27

 

[1quick]

Someone has one in Racine with a 250 on it, 40 is ripping for a boat like that I think my dads runs upper 20’s full tilt with the Volvo diesel

 

[Yaj Yak]

 

[MrMezger996]

That is something to run the great loop with, bucket list item for me..... maybe one day.

 

[10thSVT_03]

We used to have a boat at Burnham. This was quite a few years ago but was a great spot regardless. I’ll tell you this, the Lake is a totally different water than any other you’ve been on. That pond turns on you in a second. Get the biggest boat you can afford because a small boat on that water is plainly just dangerous. We used to head to Hammond Harbor for parties all the time and it was a fun ride to and from UNLESS a storm was brewing. Become friends with the Harbor Master too, that helps immensely. 31-35 foot is perfect and cuddy is in my opinion the way to go.

 

[Yaj Yak]

Well now have to sell boat and trailer, start shopping.

[MENTION=10343]Bub[/MENTION]

 

[MrMezger996]

We used to have a boat at Burnham. This was quite a few years ago but was a great spot regardless. I’ll tell you this, the Lake is a totally different water than any other you’ve been on. That pond turns on you in a second. Get the biggest boat you can afford because a small boat on that water is plainly just dangerous. We used to head to Hammond Harbor for parties all the time and it was a fun ride to and from UNLESS a storm was brewing. Become friends with the Harbor Master too, that helps immensely. 31-35 foot is perfect and cuddy is in my opinion the way to go.

This would be my exact worry. I end up in a 27-28’ Cuddy, cause it’s less $$$ all around but would not want to regret going to small. I know the point is to try and avoid bad weather all together but you always want to be prepared. Proper size boat, be educated on the waterway, have the proper equipment. I would want to be as stress free as possible since that is the name of the game when boating.

 

[Yaj Yak]

i personally, if i was in your shoes, i'd be more concerned about reliability/seaworthiness/quality than 27/28ish to 31/32 ish feet of boat.

there are some "BIG" 28's out there, boat sizing is first marketing gimmick, second, a measure.

i mean, in alaska, there's dudes ripping open water in 22-26' aluminum outboard stuff with no fucks given.

my point i guess is, concentrate on sea-worthiness, quality construction, and THEN overall length

 

[Yaj Yak]

I'd likely be more comfortable on that 27' ranger tug i posted above, on the big lake, than like any 30' crownline-ish cuddy.

 

[MrMezger996]

i personally, if i was in your shoes, i'd be more concerned about reliability/seaworthiness/quality than 27/28ish to 31/32 ish feet of boat.

there are some "BIG" 28's out there, boat sizing is first marketing gimmick, second, a measure.

i mean, in alaska, there's dudes ripping open water in 22-26' aluminum outboard stuff with no fucks given.

my point i guess is, concentrate on sea-worthiness, quality construction, and THEN overall length

Oh I hear what ur saying. In my mind I would be thinking of Formula, Chap’s, Crownline..... I guess I don’t normally associate SeaRay as a top of the line boat but man they are up there in price. Oh and I really like Monterey, not sure about quality.

 

[MrMezger996]

i personally, if i was in your shoes, i'd be more concerned about reliability/seaworthiness/quality than 27/28ish to 31/32 ish feet of boat.

there are some "BIG" 28's out there, boat sizing is first marketing gimmick, second, a measure.

i mean, in alaska, there's dudes ripping open water in 22-26' aluminum outboard stuff with no fucks given.

my point i guess is, concentrate on sea-worthiness, quality construction, and THEN overall length

Side note, I really enjoy all the pics you post with your comments

 

[Yaj Yak]

i dont know that crownline would be in the same league as cobalt/chaparral/formula to be honest... i dont know that their quality, after they went out of business, recovered to what it once was.

monterrey's im unsure about, but shit have they infilitrated the chain quite well, never really heard of them in the same sentence as cobalt/formula whatever.

 

[Yaj Yak]

Side note, I really enjoy all the pics you post with your comments

Thanks, I love this stuff

 

[Yaj Yak]

i should also mention, bigger boats from sea ray- there was quality there. for sure. i wouldn't write them off.

i'd LOVE a bigger amberjack. for reasons.


what price range you think you'll be around?

 

[Yaj Yak]

like this is straight fucking cool.

but you aren't towing this

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/boa/d/spring-park-sea-ray-33-express/6955139792.html

 

[MrMezger996]

Not only am I NOT towing that, I’m not affording that!! I would want to stay under 70k. Figure after selling boat, lift, trailer and associated Chain item I will damn near be able to stay away from a payment with a little cash down.

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

This would be my exact worry. I end up in a 27-28’ Cuddy, cause it’s less $$$ all around but would not want to regret going to small. I know the point is to try and avoid bad weather all together but you always want to be prepared. Proper size boat, be educated on the waterway, have the proper equipment. I would want to be as stress free as possible since that is the name of the game when boating.

I drove a 28’ to portage in legitimate 6’s coming over the bow. You can putt to the playpen in that stuff no problem.

Ask [MENTION=16]PANDA[/MENTION] how fun that one was.

Easily the worst conditions I’ve ever been in.


30’-32’ is plenty for a cruiser and I’d say it’s the ideal size. You get twins at that point and more beam to the boat. After that size you’re just paying for more space on top of the bow.

 

[Yaj Yak]

again, huge thing to remember with sizing though is for instance- this 2006 chaparral, became the "310"? at some point... chaps 280 from early-mid 2000s- became the 300.


it's actually 31' feet long... and has a 10' beam but it's called a 290.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/boa/d/bayport-2006-chaparral-290-signature/6953454516.html

again, size in boats is a marketing bs term first, measurement second.

I just took delivery of a 310.
I had a sig 280 which is the same size as the 310.
I had 4.3s in it and with 6 adults, I had no trouble getting on plane.
I hit 43mph on the gps consistently.
My 310 has 5.0 engines and will snap your head back when you push the throttles down.
I have not had it wide open throttle for too long but I got it up to 48mph

BoaterEd - 290 vs 310

 

[MrMezger996]

again, huge thing to remember with sizing though is for instance- this 2006 chaparral, became the "310"? at some point... chaps 280 from early-mid 2000s- became the 300.


it's actually 31' feet long... and has a 10' beam but it's called a 290.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/boa/d/bayport-2006-chaparral-290-signature/6953454516.html

again, size in boats is a marketing bs term first, measurement second.




BoaterEd - 290 vs 310

Yea I see what ur saying, makes sense. Nice boat right there!

 

[PANDA]

Boat neighbor at Diversey had a Powerquest 280SC. Pretty cool boat, he also slept on it alot.

 

[Yaj Yak]

right, and here's the perfect example- 2005 280 sundancer- significantly smaller boat than that 280 chap i posted.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/boa/d/minnetonka-searay-sundancer-lake/6954624120.html

 

[Yaj Yak]

Boat neighbor at Diversey had a Powerquest 280SC. Pretty cool boat, he also slept on it alot.

those are sweet, i think there was bigger sizes too.

i remember posting one on here somewhere that had heat & air.

 

[Yaj Yak]

found one

https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/boa/d/rockwood-2003-powerquest-320-sc/6942393070.html

Twin 6.2 merc with bravo 3 Outdrives
Cruises at 30 mph (at 3100 rpm) and will run 50 mph
Air and heat
New 7 in Garmin and VHF radio with gps / ais this year
Hot water tank
TV and DVD player
Microwave
Full camper top enclosure and cockpit cover
Rear seating area converts to a bed
2 year old survey available to serious buyers
Boat is very similar to 33 Formula SS but this boat has more cabin head room and cockpit space
734-552-746 three

 

[MrMezger996]

found one

https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/boa/d/rockwood-2003-powerquest-320-sc/6942393070.html

Oh I like this!! Nice find!