Great Loop Day 010 Sept 7, 2016, Can a 9.8 hp outboard push a 22-foot sailboat against the current of the St Clair River?
Port Huron to Port Sanilac.
“A man can pretend to be a lot of things in this world, but he can only pretend to be a sailor for as long as it takes to clear the harbor mouth!” ― Bernard Hayman.
<Day 9 Previous Post | First Post | Next Post Day 11>
Day 10 Wednesday, Sept 7, 2016. I left Port Huron after a 2-night stay. The outboard motor vibration problem has been solved and was basically an easy fix. Apparently, the prop loosened just enough to cause that vibration. There is a cotter pin holding the prop nut that moved just enough that at high revolutions shakes the motor and anything the motor is attached to. All it cost me were a few stainless cotter pins from Great Lakes Marine Outfitters.
The store is incredible. A short walk from the marina. 10 times more items in half the space of West Marine in North Olmsted. I bought a few more items including a 3-gallon gas tank and a new female fuel connector for the dinghy motor. There was no fixing that old connector. A small crack developed in the connector that leaked fuel. I bought the higher-priced tank with a fuel gauge for the price of one without. The price was mislabeled on the shelf and the proprietor sold it for the lower mislabeled price. Bonus!
Port Huron is a nice place with nice marina people. The River Street Marina employees are in my humble opinion the best around. First, they give you a small map of the local eateries and other stores like the CVS Drug Store, and don't forget to stop at the Wolverine Party Store for your liquid refreshments. It's worth the walk. And the marina personnel will give you a ride on their golf cart to where you want to go. How sweet is that!
Well, this is it! This is our day of reckoning. Will the outboard engine on the Sea Marie be strong enough to push us up over this current into Lake Huron? Or is this the end? If we don't make it, which is very possible, I will have no regrets. The trip so far has been very rewarding, I learned to handle this boat like no other and Mickey learned how to swim. What is not to like?
I spoke to a few local mariners about going up against the current under the Blue Water Bridge which connects Port Huron and Sarnia in Canada and they told me what to look for.
So let's do this!
Left this morning later than usual. The outboard with all its problems was working fine. She was ready. I had 2 bridges to lift for me and using the handheld Baofeng radio set to VHF marine frequencies was convenient with the hand mike/speaker accessory. Small yet powerful.
Leaving the Black River under the first of 2 lift bridges.
I placed the Raymarine ST1000 auto tiller on standby and held the tiller in my hand. I notice early on the autopilot was not reacting fast enough to correct the shift in position caused by the current. It relies on an electromagnetic compass and the mechanical drive buffers the gears so we’re not overcompensating and zigzagging back and forth. But here in the river if the current catches your bow and you're slow to react to it, then it's too late. The current grabs you and will spin you 180 degrees back to where you came from.
Up ahead the Blue Water Bridge and beyond Lake Huron beckons but first got to get past this raging current.
I must admit I was apprehensive about entering the swift current under the Blue Water Bridge. It was flowing faster than 4 mph. More like 5 or 6 mph. I eased the bow into the river and slowly slid across the river to the Canadian side where the Canadian Coast Guard Station is located as suggested by the locals. And to my surprise found an eddy current that flows opposite the main current and was pushing us upriver along at 6.2 mph. But only for a few hundred yards.
Then I saw it.
Never seen anything like this on Lake Erie. The waters of the river had this strange surface turbulence that looked like water coming up and around the same spots. Not waves mind you but like water swelling in an agitating washing machine. All I had to do now was to focus and keep the boat pointed straight into the oncoming current and give it enough throttle to keep her going forward. I eagerly watched my GPS speed indicator on the Lowrance chart plotter. 3 mph, 2.5 mph, then 2 mph, and with my hand on the throttle it was set at a hair over half. My other hand was starting to sweat holding the tiller that moves the rudder. I can feel the power of the river current rubbing hard against the rudder in my hands. Making slight adjustments to keep her steady and straight. Every now and then I feel the current wanting to push the bow over on one side or the other. Steady girl! Steady. We start to slow down, 1.8 mph, - 1.5 - 1.0 mph. I was right under the Blue Water Bridge. 1.1 mph 1.2, 1.3 and slowly going faster. I felt we were going to make it.
1.4 mph - There's another vessel not too far behind me on my starboard side. Looks to be a small barge-like vessel for carrying loads around. She maintains the same speed as I am just a little faster as she slowly overtakes me. At 1.5 mph my motor was humming fine with no unusual vibration; all systems were on go. 1.6 mph but not quite out in the lake yet.
It just amazes me to think all the water from Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron plus the waters from all the Canadian, Wisconsin. and Michigan lakes and rivers are flowing under me right at this moment. As spectacular as Niagara Falls appears, it is not all the water in the lakes flowing over the falls. Massive amounts of the Niagara River are diverted to hydro plants on both American and Canadian shores. Fun Fact: About 50 to 75% of the water from the Niagara River is diverted to the power plants. The rest is what tourists see going over the falls.
2.5 mph. Now the great expanse of Lake Huron opens up. At 3.5 mph I can feel the current releasing her grip on us. I'm out of the funnel. 4.0 mph 5.0 mph 6.0 mph. The lake in front of us is flat; not a ripple to be seen. No power boats to create wakes that go for miles. No freighters nearby but I can see a few on the horizon. We have done it! We have defeated the Pillars of Hercules. And at half throttle makes me more confident the journey will continue. 30 miles to Port Sanilac and needed rest for my tired kitty who spent the entire voyage below and me. Enjoying the heat for I know it won't be long before the weather turns and shows us her cold bitter side.
Opening to the Port Sanilac Marina. We had a light northerly wind the whole time.
Distance 33.4 miles today all motoring.
Until next time, fair winds and a gentle sea.
Photos from Port Sanilac, MI.
Did I come full circle back to Sandusky? No, it’s Sandusky, Michigan not my home port in Ohio.
Most of the tourists have dwindled down to a few stragglers here and there leaving the town for me to explore unencumbered.
A sleepy town with most locals getting ready for a long winter’s nap…
…once this heat wave leaves. Automotive gas remained reasonably cheap.
Home to many dive shops.
Mickey takes on a true sailor’s life of sleeping wherever he finds shade.
Comments from 2016:
Brian Bortz Great to follow along with your adventure!
Bob Meredith will retire in the Spring. What are the chances of doing this trip again, with a passenger?
Henry Krzemien RN I'd love to do the trip again but we need a bigger boat!
Bob Meredith
Mary Jo Cartledgehayes What a day! Wonderful storytelling, too.
Scott Stanley Sikorski Spent the night at Port Sanilac about 15 yrs. ago., a very nice marina, got up the next morning and crossed Saginaw Bay, and headed to our next stop which was in Thunder Bay...if you get near Thunder Bay ask around the marina you stay at because there is a shipwreck that sticks out of the water....safe travels Henry.
Henry Krzemien RN That's up in Alpena. Looks like I'll be doing marinas along the Lake Huron coast. My comfort range in distance has been 30-35 miles. Get the sailing done and enjoy the marinas. The last 2 marinas have been very quiet. Very few transients. Rarely a local. For most boaters, the season is over. Heard today the marinas are open till mid-Oct on the Lake Michigan side. It may take me that long.
Scott Stanley Sikorski Yes, it was Alpena, getting old and couldn't remember the name. When we traveled up there it was the last week of July and 1st week of august. We would leave at about 7 am each morning and then try to dock by about 1 pm. We had to call the harbormaster for a dock. Back then there were a lot of people traveling by boat in the summer. We used to run about 4 to 5 miles offshore to avoid a lot of local boat traffic. Of course, we had a 28 ft. cabin cruiser with a 350 hp motor. How far are you planning to go before you stop for the winter?...
Henry Krzemien RN Plan A is to continue to sail to Ft Myers. If necessary I could bail out anywhere along the loop. Have my son pick up the trailer and haul our ass home.
Scott Stanley Sikorski, I hope you make your journey there, we will be in Florida in Jan, Feb, and March. Would love to be waiting at the dock when you arrive, will be following your journey. Prayers for your safe travels.
Henry Krzemien RN Thanks, Scott. That means a lot!
Paul Ritchie, Glad the engine is working for you now. One less thing to worry about.
Henry Krzemien RN It just took tightening the prop. I like problems like that.
Dan Sheridan Bicycled across that bridge in 2001.
Henry Krzemien RN Greetings from Lake Huron.
Dave Litespeed Looks like the Blue Water Bridge in the background!
Henry Krzemien RN Yep picked a perfect day to sail under it. Half of it was tarped up for sandblasting. I can hear the compressors. The waters are calm no power boaters are in sight yea!
Henry Krzemien RN Dave Litespeed, This is one of many dive companies.
Dave Litespeed We were diving off a boat from Sarnia and did a drift dive down the St. Clair River, it was very interesting.