Chicagoland maiden voyage - where to go?

[freak007]

Hi all, my wife and I recently bought a '87 Rinker V195 Bowrider. It is powered with a 185hp mercruiser. We are taking out tomorrow on it's "maiden voyage", but we are not sure where to go...

We want to just cruise around, but might kick out a skier or tuber, and need to test some props...

I would like to find a place with enough room to play, but not so isolated that we would be in serious trouble if we had a breakdown.

Lake Michigan is out due to me not yet being familiar with the boat.
Lake Geneva is out due to a weekend speed limit of 35mph not being very practical for testing props on a boat that I expect to see high 30s or low 40s out of.
I am still an Illinois non-resident, so access to the Fox Lake chain will cost me $100, a pill I find hard to swallow, as I am originally from Minnesota where lakes are a public resource...I have also heard that there are speed limits on the chain.

We are packing a lunch and intend to make a day out of it. I am open to driving 1 1/2 to 2 hours if needed.

Right now I am thinking Lake Delavan in WI would be a good option, but I am open to other suggestions...

 

[freak007]

Re: Chicagoland maiden voyage - where to go?

Nobody has any suggestions?

 

[JRgt205]

Re: Chicagoland maiden voyage - where to go?

Not a whole lot of options in that area. I am from the N.W burbs of chicago. when I had a jet ski (1998) we had gone out to the chain in the spring and once in the summer time on a weekend. frankly, I would stay away from that place. the water is nasty and its really not a safe place to be on the weekends. most of the smaller lakes in the area are closed to the public.
the launch in Winthrop harbor is real nice. I would drive there from mt.prospect and have a blast. check your wave reports before you go.
I had never made it to Lake Delavan but I hear its really nice.

 

[jeffbyrd66]

Re: Chicagoland maiden voyage - where to go?

I know you said Lake Michigan is out but its a wonderful lake on a non-windy day we lived on the Indiana side and would drive 20 minutes north to St Joe and go out through the river in a 13' Sugar Sand jet boat and it was a older model that I never did trust but that lake is so nice and I have seen more than once someone getting free help when they had boat problems we even had to me towed to the dock on one occation. Have Fun.

 

[h20skiluvr]

Re: Chicagoland maiden voyage - where to go?

If you don't mind making a drive South about an hour, the Kankakee River isn't bad. Take either the Stevenson or Ryan and head South. The Illinois isn't bad either- (Morris and Channahon area)

 

[drakus]

Re: Chicagoland maiden voyage - where to go?

You can try Cedar Lake in Cedar Lake or Pine Lake in LaPorte or Bass Lake in Knox or N Jusdon (I forget which). These in NW Indiana

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Chicagoland maiden voyage - where to go?

I went on the chain o lakes last year for about $15 for a day pass and I am out of state. It was a horrible place to boat IMO. Come up to Racine and launch onto Michigan on a nice day and it will be great for ya. Its $7, Eagle lake here is a shallow kind of mud bottom lake but is desolate, warm and nice for tubing IMO. Michigan is too cold for my blood. Eagle lake in Racine county is also about $7 to launch.
Chain o lakes is too packed with boats and partiers. I like to have some room. I use an 18" 165 hp on Michigan all summer, live 3 blocks from the launch.
Waukegan also has a decent boat launch but its about $20, Winthrop Harbor may be free to launch you just have to have cops watching you, same thing at chain o lakes and be prepared to wait to launch and retrieve. Busy busy busy.

 

[freak007]

Re: Chicagoland maiden voyage - where to go?

Well, I went on Delavan. Launched from the community park which costed $10 or so. Lake had some decent room to play and depth but there was several idiots who don't understand what 200' and no wake means...

All in all we had some fun. We did develop some fuel system problems later in the day, but I attribute them to the boat having sat for several years... I believe I have it all sorted out now, but will not know until I get her out and running again...


The plan is for tomorrow... The location is still undecided...

With the holiday I am probably going to avoid Geneva and the Chain again...
Michigan is not an option until I get everything sorted out and operating properly...

Not a fan of river running due to debris and possible damage, but I do eventually want to see Chicago from the water...


I am leaning towards Delavan again, but I am open to suggestions...

 

[mike1trim]

Re: Chicagoland maiden voyage - where to go?

I have a place in Delavan. Weekdays are awesome. Nobody is out on the lake. Like one of the previous posts says there are a lot of idiots
but mostly weekends

 

[bekosh]

Re: Chicagoland maiden voyage - where to go?

It would be a bit of a longer drive for you, but Milwaukee Harbor is a nice place to boat. If the weather is calm you can go out on Lake Michigan and have all the room in the world to play. Or you can stay inside the breakwater and be more protected from conditions.

There is a "Special Anchorage" area off of Bayview Park where you can anchor off the beach and hang out.
A lot of restaurants on the river through the downtown area. It's all slow no wake and makes a nice relaxing cruise. A great way to see the downtown scenery.

Check out the "My Google Map" link in my signature and zoom in on the Milwaukee area. I have several restaurants, boat ramps & docks marked.

The area is also well patrolled by the CG, Milwaukee PD & County Sheriff so there is always someone around if you get in trouble. Pick up a cheap handheld VHF, everyone monitors channel 16 if you need help. Plus it's always fun to listen to the chatter.

Here's the view from just outside the breakwater.

 

[Wecanoe]

Re: Chicagoland maiden voyage - where to go?

Eagle lake here is a shallow kind of mud bottom lake but is desolate, warm and nice for tubing IMO. Michigan is too cold for my blood. Eagle lake in Racine county is also about $7 to launch.

I had to smile -- I used to live a couple of miles from Eagle Lake when in high school. When did they start charging to launch? It was free in 1971!

Guess I'm spoiled big time -- there's only 1,005 lakes in the county I live in, now, in MN. The only time I have to pay is when I "launch" my Jeep in January when I use a resort access.

 

[apenney]

Re: Chicagoland maiden voyage - where to go?

It would be a bit of a longer drive for you, but Milwaukee Harbor is a nice place to boat. If the weather is calm you can go out on Lake Michigan and have all the room in the world to play. Or you can stay inside the breakwater and be more protected from conditions.

There is a "Special Anchorage" area off of Bayview Park where you can anchor off the beach and hang out.
A lot of restaurants on the river through the downtown area. It's all slow no wake and makes a nice relaxing cruise. A great way to see the downtown scenery.

Check out the "My Google Map" link in my signature and zoom in on the Milwaukee area. I have several restaurants, boat ramps & docks marked.

The area is also well patrolled by the CG, Milwaukee PD & County Sheriff so there is always someone around if you get in trouble. Pick up a cheap handheld VHF, everyone monitors channel 16 if you need help. Plus it's always fun to listen to the chatter.

Here's the view from just outside the breakwater.

Wow! Bekosh...Hi. My family and I boat out of McKinley and we've been trying to find a place to anchor that is somewhat protected in this area. I'm excited to hear about Bayview Park. Have you ever overnighted in the "special anchorage" area there? Thanks.