Wild Ride on Lake Michigan near Charlevoix Freebird on The Great Loop

[@leegardner4692]

Crossed the Lake to Charlevoix from Wis in a 23' sailboat in 1967 with my teenage buddy & his dad. Had roughest water going south to Leland & Frankfort. But I'd been sailing since age 10. Now 79...

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Thanks for sharing your experience on Lake Michigan. In my 20’s I crossed from Milwaukee to Muskegon in 260 Sea Ray Sundancer - the waves were so large we couldn’t see over them. 🛥

[@grimmvoorhees3160]

to those of you saying 'i've been through worse" Good for you, don't be that person. This is still scary and dangerous. I'm happy you guys faired the waves without incident. keep up the great videos !

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Thank you so much. We love to hear other peoples experiences and we do try to learn from ours. Some people are just angry for some reason. That's ok. Glad to let them get some of that out.😃

[@RAV1953]

I've seen a lot rougher conditions, (very glad you're safe!)....hope all will have a very high respect for all the Great Lakes & their fury!!!

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

The Great Lakes are beautiful but can be dangerous! We try to avoid cruising in bad conditions but this time the last 10 miles was exposed to large swells that were not forecasted. Thanks for watching.🛥

[@calvincareen7609]

Dear God!! Newfoundland here, if only we had it so smooth.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

That would be an awesome place to explore by boat!

[@wilzboyz]

Yeah. Been in a 325 conquest in much bigger seas on Michigan. Door cty to Beaver.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Safe boating!

[@MSG3726]

Charlevoix is great. I was there a few days after this was filmed.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Charlevoix is one of our favorite places on Lake Michigan. We will be back next summer. Thanks for watching. More video of Charlevoix coming soon. 🛥️

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Were you there by boat?

[@MSG3726]

@@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop Yes. My homeport is in Racine, WI. We were on a 2.5 week boat trip where we made it all the way to Mackinac Island. This was my third time in Charlevoix by boat. Love that town.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

@@MSG3726 We do too! Great place to have your dinghy down. We love cruising around Round Lake. That will be what our next video will be about. Can't wait to get back there this summer!

[@Trevieze]

I used to go salmon fishing in Lake Michigan and was out in 6 to 8 ft seas. What you 're experiencing is relatively calm for the lakes.

[@heaven-is-real]

Same here but in three to four foot chop. You were rockin and rollin.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

I have been out there in way worse conditions in a 260 Sundancer crossing lake MIchigan. The swells were so large you couldn't see over the top of them! This time they were just hitting us on port beam. If we were going with the waves, we would have been fine.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

@@heaven-is-real This time they were just hitting us on port beam. If we were going with the waves, we would have been fine.

[@Gundus1000]

Nice boat.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Thank you. She's pretty comfortable.

[@Setsail-e8b]

New sub here. Thanks for sharing your experience! The Great Lakes can change up quickly even on a beautiful day! I had a horrendous experience leaving Manistee, MI heading to Ludington, MI on a gorgeous day. Securing gear is a must. Kissed the ground after docking 😉🛥🌊

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Welcome! Yes, I am definatley "wave shy" 😁 after our experience. We will be watching the weather closely each time we head out. What boat do you have an where is your home port?

[@Setsail-e8b]

@FreebirdTheGreatLoop That experience was years ago. Since then for reasons I moved from power boating to a small 22ft sailboat. My homeport is Oscoda, Mi. Although my heart is still with power boating. I respect those who do the Great Loop! Where is your homeport?

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

@@Setsail-e8b Ours is Chattanooga, TN We are right on the Tennessee River. We love cruising up and down the river. Lot's of places to go. Never had the chance to sail. We were on a commecial sailboat in Maine and it was beautiful when they put up the sails!

[@Morassabe]

As a sailboat sailor, we would appreciate it if you would stay on plane and pass astern if possible. This makes for a smoother ride for both of us. Your wake isn't as large, and if you pass astern, any wave will push us forward and not knock our momentum down. This is just my personal request to all power boaters. On a Lake as large as Michigan (having grown up on that lake) it probably matters less as to whether you are on plane or not. The other thing I would suggest, is what I was taught while serving in the Navy, stow for sea, even if you don't anticipate rough weather. As you learned on that short trip, you can experience a lot of damage, and possibly get injured by flying debris. Good luck, and Happy Boating!

[@paulleep618]

Typical rag boat….thinks he/she owns the water

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Thanks for the tips! We always try to be respectful of other boaters. The sailboat in this video had it a lot worse than we did so we did slow down and did a wide pass off his stern. The sailboat was heading North up the coast while we were heading more West into Charlevoix.

[@kenb.9976]

I’ve told my wife many times, things don’t fall off the floor.

[@coldspring624]

Been there so many times I see it as an amusement park ride.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Hang on! 😁

[@barrywilkinson3420]

We went to Beaver Island on the ferry, I served on a Navy destroyer for 27 months and I was scared about the size of the roll on the shallow draft ferries. People were falling, puking and the waves were breaking over the port side, blue water hitting the cabin windows. With a deck of vehicles below made me wonder about the stability of the ferry. The return trip on the smaller ferry was worse than the ride out.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Wow! That sounds scary. Beaver Island is a really pretty port. We want to go back there again one day.

[@patrickcox1313]

The Great Lakes are awful, the seas are always confused and stacked up. I’d rather be in 10 footers in the New York bight than 5 on the Great Lakes.

[@craigbaker9252]

It’s called being Stowed For Sea. And yes those mini yachts are terrible outside of protected harbors. Best days of a boat owners life are the day they buy it…..and the day they sell it/ dump that money pit.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

This time they were just hitting us on port beam. If we were going with the waves, we would have been fine. We have had the most wonderful days travelling on Lake Michigan! We saved our whole life to have this boat. It was our dream and have enjoyed every day we are able to be cruising on it. Our happiest day was the day we bought it and our saddest will be the day we sell it. 😃

[@omegalamda3145]

Nothing like Superior.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

We haven’t been to Lake Superior yet. May go next summer after exploring the North Channel in Canada. Thanks for watching. 🛥

[@mattmacpherson1033]

I’ve fished Michigan in 5 ft rollers on a 39’ sport fisher. Great time if you have chummers on board. Caught my biggest salmon in those seas. 😂😂

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

We love going down and seeing the fishing boats come in with salmon. It's amazing how huge they are!

[@lbuehler325]

Looks like your daughter saved the day!

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

She did! She's the best!😁

[@BillP-kg1yp]

It was a wild ride, but I am sure Northern Michigan is also one of the most pleasant places on the Great Loop journey.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

It is awesome! We love it so much we are planning another summer up there!😃

[@robpowell461]

3 to 5 ft are you kidding me

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Very hard to capture the wave size on camera. When traveling with the wind and waves Freebird easily handles waves that size. Thanks for watching.

[@davidstrickler6570]

No gear adrift. Nothing out, nothing that can become a projectile. Golden shellback out.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

What is: Golden shellback out.

[@davidstrickler6570]

@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop I crossed the equator at the date line. Double ot's. I stood before king Neptune and his court. And was found worthy of being a sea farer. All the land lubbers be poly wogs. Old navy traditions. From before political correctness bull shit.

[@brettgerber795]

It’s crazy how bad it is in actual view vs seeing the lake through the camera! We had a similar looking mess coming home from Saugatuck to St. Joe in August (5 with occasional 6’ off our stern out of the NW) and going to Chicago in July (3’ waves off our starboard out of the north). Our Chris Craft 381 handled great in both.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

I now know that along with laying down the lamps, the coffee maker and everything on the counters need to come down if it at all looks iffy. Seems like it is always worse then the wave predictions say.

[@robertkelman9924]

What date was this?

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

June 23, 2024

[@timgreen4137]

Last time I transited from Atlantic City to Stuart, it was in seas at least as bad as that. Not much fun.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

We would love to do that one day! What boat do you have?

[@timgreen4137]

@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop I was delivering a GB 60. I deliver yachts part time. I own a 1967 GB 36 that I'm restoring.

[@johnjcoxiii9401]

I follow many LOOPERS and I am amazed at how really stupid they are when it comes to readiness to go to sea. I am ex Coast Guard. I spent many years on the International Weather Patrol in the North Atlantic. Before we threw off the lines to go to sea, we secured all gear in lockers and storage spaces and tied down anything that was loose. I watch these videos and see loose appliances on galley counters, etc., etc., ad nauseum and realize that all these people have is the money to buy their toys....NO LOVE or UNDERSTANDING of or RESPECT for the Sea!

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

I probably would not call them stupid. Maybe you could say inexperienced. Everyone has to learn somewhere. I'm sure you were not born with the knowledge you currently have. Maybe learned what you know serving in the Coast Guard? And how a few things falling, on one trip on a lake, equates to us not loving the sea is really hilarious! All that aside, we really respect The Coast Guard.🥰 Thank you for your service!

[@Niki10-32]

Been there done that... turned around. lol When I switched from inland boating (in a 27 foot Sea Ray SLX) to Lake Michigan in a Cruisers Yachts 38GLS (triple 450R) I thought I could go where I want when I wanted. Nope. Lake Michigan decides. Its funny... As I acclimated to Lake Michigan boating, when we are at various ports/marinas talking to other captains I started asking what kind of seas they cruise in. What is their "go/no go". You'll hear "Oh 5-7 I'll go" from all these guys... (yeah bullshit). When its 3-5 out there their ain't a boat to be seen! Asking a captain what he'll cruise in during docktails is like asking a fisherman how big his fish was. And I've also learned video and pictures never do justice to the size of the waves. Do you have a seakeeper? Best money I ever spent. I'll never own a boat without one again. Doesn't do a thing in heading seas, but sure saves the day with beam seas. My problem is with all the weight on my stern, my efficient cruise is 42mph+or- (top speed 66.5). I struggle to stay on plane under 26-28 depending on the swell. So some seas that would be no problem at 28 I'm blowing through so much fuel plowing H2O I'd need a mid-lake refuel... and taking them at 30+ is torture. I have to run 30+ or 10. So yeah... my go/no go is 1.5 foot or less. :) on the good side I can cross from Milwaukee to Muskegon in under and 1hr 45. One time we went from Milwaukee to Saugatuck... glassy ride over on Friday. 1hr 50 min. The ride back on Sunday during a small craft warning 2-3's with the rouge 4-5... heading seas... torture...

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

We were definatley "wave shy" after this experience! You are right, videos never capture how bad it really is out there. We are retired so we can stay as long as needed before we head to the next port. But sometimes, all the weather apps and marina weather information is just plain wrong. We have learned that if they predict 1-2 ft they mean 3-5 feet! I hope this will be our worst day on the lake! Your speeds and fuel consumption sound crazy! But must be a lot of fun to ride that fast! Where is your home port?

[@Niki10-32]

@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop Milwaukee

[@guygav]

No stabilizers?

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

No. Not on this boat. Do you have them? If so, how well would they work on port beam waves?

[@craigmrohde9989]

Rule of thumb...Before traveling on open water, stow the gear and all the toys!!!!

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

We do lay down the lamps and take things off of areas that will fall. This time it was way worse then we have ever been in, in this boat, so we learned a few more things that we need to stow.

[@cestmoi1262]

@ 4:32 Sure you have your priorities straight? LOL

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Sometimes I wonder!😁

[@douglasnorth2964]

Better job at securing - RIGHT. You're amateur's.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Thanks! Glad you are enjoying our videos!😁

[@captseamus]

Lake michigan is no joke. I been out there in red flags conditions. I was in a Hatteras 50C Sportfishman @ 12 knts... 10 foot waves. 30 knt winds from the NNW Saugatuck to Holland, Mi... Spray over my radar arch @ 24ft.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

@@captseamus Why were you out there in those conditions? We stayed at Eldeans in Holland almost a week in the Spring this year because of the weather. We were rocking and rolling in the marina! What time of year was this?

[@douglasnorth2964]

@@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop Live and learn - fortunately for you.

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

@@douglasnorth2964 We do do a little more prep now. The coffee maker even fell on that one so it's on the floor now.

[@marktykwinski5344]

Watch the hots!

[@FreebirdonTheGreatLoop]

Thanks for watching!