Boating

The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and more than 40 antique boats, restored to splendor, lined the Charles F. Moore Boat Harbor. What an outstanding way for any boat lover to spend their Saturday. Wes Summers was aboard his 27' fully restored 1938 Cedar Temlearn Sailboat, raising his;American flag. Summers restored "Thunder" in his garage with his own sweat and toil. Antique boats from all over the country were represented here. The boats varied vastly in age and style, but there seemed to be a common thread of pride in restoration floating across the docks. ...

With summer just around the corner its time to start thinking about pulling out the boat and heading for Lake St. Clair. And before you head out the door, you'll want to make sure everything is in good working order. Just like your boat, your trailer needs proper care to give you the performance you deserve. The experts at ShoreLand'r Trailers offer these simple, do-it-yourself tips for trailer owners: Keep it clean. Be sure to rinse your trailer thoroughly after each use. If you own a painted trailer, use a good car wax to help protect the finish. Your dealer should be able to provide touch-up paint for repairing minor rock damage. Regularly check all nuts and bolts to see that ...

The Chris Craft and Antique Boat Club put on a great display of vintage wooden boats for the patrons of the 2010 Detroit Boat Show. Former Commodore of the Michigan Chapter John Adams, built a 1930’s Gentlemen’s Racer out of a modified 1968 Chris Craft Lancer Hull, designed by Jim Winn. This 2009 23’ Adams Craft features a 454 cid crusader engine with 330hp. Constructed of 3 types of mahogany: Ribbon Sapple, Honduras, & Philippine. Rechromed period hardware & many coats of Varnish complete the vintage racer look. Rascal…..A Perfect Father & Son Project! Rascal was built over a 9 month period starting tin the fall of 2008 and launched in the summer of 2009. Mark, who is 16 years old, worked on every ...

“The Real Deal” according to Jason Lemerand of Wilson Marine in Brighton. “We’ve sold over 40 pontoons (as of Sat. Feb. 20th, 2010) this week. Manufactures are taking note of what consumers want in order to spend money: quality, value, & great service.” Bennington is such a company. “ I’ve been looking at Pontoon boats for 6 months. I chose the Bennington 20SLi because of the quality of construction.” – Dian Schuchmann, Sylvan Lake, Mi. Tilt wheel, adjustable captain seat, removable cup holders, & deep seats, were amenities that created value for Dian & many others. The Bennington 20SLi was the best selling pontoon for Wilson Marine. At the helm of her new pontoon - Dian Schuchmann of Sylvan Lake, ...

Since 1959, Lake Shore Boat Top Co. has been serving the Lake St. Clair and Metro Detroit area, by providing a specialized service to the boating community. With office locations in Harrison Township, and Detroit ( Kean's Marina ), the business remains a family operated company, and is owned and operated by Bob and Rob (son) Kotowski. Lake Shore Boat Top Co. specializes in custom boat tops (Bimini), bridge enclosures for both sailboats and powerboats, cockpit covers, convertible top curtains, and custom boat interiors. Rob, having literally grown up in the family shop, and working by his father's side since childhood, is intimately familiar with the needs of customers who seek qualified artisans in the field of boat repair ...

Fishing

Joe Balog Fishing ProLake St. Clair LivingUpdate 04-02-10 Spring has sprung, as I like to say. With stable temperatures and a fully thawed out lake, it's time to get back on the water. Our attention has shifted from "walking on the hard water" to spring-time crappies, early season walleye jigging, and a few big pike. But before we pull the cover off the boat and jump right in, it's important to prepare for the upcoming season, much in the way we prepared for winter. By taking the time to inventory and maintain a few items in the boat now, it will cost us less, both in time and money, in the future. Step one for all boaters is universal: charge the batteries. ...

With the smells of spring in the air, most anglers in the Lake St. Clair region begin to look with eagerness toward the spring walleye fishery on the Detroit River . Thanks to a year round open season, this exciting time gives local anglers a chance to target walleye well before those in other regions can, and thousands of anglers take advantage of this fishery. As a full time fishing guide on the river for 16 years, I've targeted these tasty critters my whole life primarily by vertical jigging. This fun technique matches light action tackle with deep water fish which is as exciting as it gets. I love jigging, and it works for all species of fish because the upward ...

Joe BalogFishing ProLake St. Clair LivingUpdate 03-22-10 For the few fishermen utilizing the lake right now, the goal is often crappies. As we all know, the Detroit River offers perhaps the areas greatest walleye run in the spring, and the St. Clair River is a main destination for 'eyes in April. But right now, right out of the box, if you're after a decent catch for dinner around the lake, crappies can be your best option. Crappies spend most of the late winter period in some of the deepest water and basin areas of most lakes. What makes Lake St. Clair unique is that those deepest, basin areas are often marinas. One quick look at a lake map will show you that, ...

I'm Joe Balog, your guide to everything in the outdoors around Lake St. Clair. As LakeStClairLiving.com continues to expand, I'll keep you updated on the fishing, hunting, and outdoor opportunities that are truly unique to our area. Many of you may recognize me from various work in the outdoor sports industry, including writing and television appearances with In-Fisherman, ESPN, Bassmaster, FLW and more. A large portion of what I do centers around Great Lakes smallmouth fishing, but I'm also heavily involved in the ice fishing and waterfowl worlds, and I'm crazy for walleyes, crappies, perch, and anything that presents a good day of fishing. My past tournament accomplishments include a BASS Tour win, several BFL wins around Michigan , and ...

“When the water’s muddy and moving, handlining is hands-down the most productive method for catching walleye,” claims veteran tournament angler and handline advocate Gary (“Bo”) Bowman of Howell, Michigan. “In the Detroit River in the spring, you’ll see more boats sprouting handline reels than traditional fishing rods two to one,” he said, adding: “and you’ll see the method used to catch walleyes in rivers all over the Midwest, including some of the major tournaments like the PWT, MWC and FLW. The walleye pro’s who know how to rig their boats and use handlines use them on the tournament circuit every chance they get.” One of those pros-in-the-know is Joe Rosell, a Michigan-based PWT competitor who allowed me to watch as he ...

Fun

The Grosse Pointe War Memorial In addition to being a constant tribute to war veterans, The Grosse Pointe War Memorial offers a myriad of classes and events for the community. It is one of the very few sites on Jefferson Ave, in Grosse Pointe, open to non-Grosse Pointe residents. Located between the Detroit Yacht Club and the Edsel and Elenor Ford mansion, The Grosse Pointe Memorial inhabits the most stunning views on Lake St. Clair. Visit them online at http://www.warmemorial.org/ GROSSE POINTE WAR MEMORIAL 32 Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236 Phone: 313.881.7511 Fax: 313.884.6638 Grosse Pointe War Memorial 32 Lakeshore Drive Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan 48236 Phone: 313.881.7511...

Learning to Kitboard on Lake St.Clair

What Lake St. Clair lacks in big sandy beaches it makes up for with its shallow, flat water. With a little precaution while launching and landing, the conditions on LSC can be very forgiving for those just learning to kiteboard. Strawberry Island, Harsens Island, and Gull Island offer some of the best kiteboarding around. Kiters have been frequenting these spots via boat for years. Depending on wind direction and forecast, we shuttle around Lake St. Clair to find the best ...

Kiting is a combination of wakeboarding, skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding all rolled up in one. Essentially we have a giant kite that is pulling us on a kiteboard/surfboard. Kiters can jump as high as 40' and can gain speeds of over 45 miles an hour. We can ride giant waves and also ride on snow with a snowboard which allows us to kite on Lake St.Clair all year round. The age of Kiteboarders range from 7 to 70 and attracts a diverse crowd from doctors and lawyers to factory workers and stay home moms. You don't need to be big, strong or athletic to kiteboard... since we are hooked into a harness we use our body weight to counter balance ...

Hop in your car and head to Harsens Island. About 40 minute’s from the intersection of I-75 & I-696 (Royal Oak) you will find a ferry boat that will escort you from Algonac, the main land, to one of the best kept secrets in South East Michigan. Harsens Island. Located in between the North & South Channel, where Lake St. Clair meets the St. Clair River, visitors and residents alike are drawn to the Island to soak up the beauty of the freshwater deltas, wildlife, freighter watching, and a host of other sights. Sportsmen are attracted to the abundance of hunting and fishing offered on the Island. While you’re visiting Harsens Island, stop & check out Browns Restaurant. Browns is located on Harsens Island ...

Many dogs love the water, but not all dogs are naturally designed for water activities. Whether she's a swimmer or a watcher, your dog wants to be with her family at poolside or at the lake or beach. These water safety tips can keep your dog safe this summer: Never throw your dog into the water. Introduce her to the water slowly. Not all dogs are natural swimmers, especially brachycephalic breeds with short, wide heads and flat muzzles like Pugs, English Bulldogs and Boston Terriers, and many body types are not naturally buoyant. Dog-proof the area. Don't throw a ball into strange waters until you check what lies beneath the surface. Large or jagged rocks, sudden drop-offs, slippery river rocks, and frigid ...

On the Water

Nautical Lumber

Welcome To Nautical Lumber! Your premier source for marine lumber and wood products.© We supply pleasure craft manufacturers and restorers locally and from around the country with high quality boat lumber and marine grade plywood. We offer a range of replacement wood interiors for your Boston Whaler, to complete your restoration project and are a proud sponsor of the Boston Whaler Owners Club.

Nautical Lumber Co. is located 3 miles north of Detroit, Michigan near the intersection of I-94 & I-696. Just 5 miles west of the shores of Lake St. Clair, home of the Nautical Mile! We will ship to any location in the U.S. and Canada. Give us a call at 586-777-1288.

Lakeshore Boat Top Company, Inc.

Lake Shore Boat Top Company, Inc. has been serving the Metro-Detroit area since 1959. This family owned business strives for customer satisfaction and take pride in every job. We have two office locations, which are located in Harrison Township, Michigan and also in Detroit, Michigan in (Kean's Marina).

Our mission is to design and manufacture specific needs for our customers. We offer the top of the line marine products for your boating needs. Every product manufactured from Lake Shore Boat Top Company, Inc is a reflection of our commitment to precision, innovation and craftsmanship.

Whether you need a simple cockpit cover for your boat or creative canvas enclosure. We offer a variety of options with 1000's of different materials and marine products to choose from.