I'm not positive, but fairly sure, all you have to do is call CanPass. I have a friend who works for Canada Customs in the marine division at that- he said he thinks that's it. Figures Canada Customs doesn't have a clue!

Can anyone recommend a good power boat broker for a 40ft boat in the Detroit/Windsor area? We'd like to get rid of it fast as I have my eye on another.

Any suggestions would be great!

Matt

"I'd rather be with them"

Crown and diet- hold the ice.

I've lived on the Great Lakes all my life. I can remember some years having to sand bag, the water was so high- but I never remember being able to walk 200 ft out into Lake St. Clair in mud off the end of our dock. This year you could do just that. It's scary.

You read in all the boating magazines, hear on all the boating websites about studies, and engineers, and commissions, etc. How about fixing what ever the problem is, before it's way too late?

Susie,

I think your son would like any of the books by Wes Oleszewski. You can get them at Amazon.com or Amazon.ca- depending on where you are.

The book 'Great Ship Disasters by Carolyn and Kit Bonner was good as well. It's about salt shipwrecks.

Another I liked was The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the heart of the inland seas by Jerry Dennis. He sailed around the Great Lakes as crew on a schooner being delivered to a new owner off the Hudson somewhere near New York or something to that effect. It was good from a history aspect and an adventure aspect.

When you look for these on Amazon, it will give you similar books by different authors.

I feel there's going to be a lot more "lessons learned" on the Great Lakes if the water levels don't start to go up. I've been in the Caribbean all winter, but have heard you are getting a ton of snow- hope it helps! I'd like to have some water to come back to.

There's almost no excuse for grounding with modern GPS- unless something has drastically changed since the chip was updated- that being said- a good skipper checks on these things!

Another important thing- you have to pay attention- that seems to be my problem most of the time.

I have my 2 boats for sale and we're not getting bites at all. I sold one 3 years ago and got a ton. I think people are real scared to spend a dime right now- especially in the area I live in- the automotive capital of the world. I guess we'll have a few more summers with the boat!

I have a cousin that learned a real good lesson on lighthouses- when they put them somewhere, they are there for a reason. In Lake St. Clair, if I'm not mistaken, there used to be a garbage dump in the water (yes, thank our grandfathers for that one) just off Peache Island- the east side. He thought he could take his boat to the west side of the light and ended up hitting bottom- hard. He needed new props and a new shaft. He's lucky he still had a bottom ;-)

Lesson- navigation markers are where they are for a reason!

I'd have to second Gull Island in Lake St. Clair. The party of all parties.

I see there's a little GM bias in those pictures? I guess I can understand that, I'd only put up Ford and BMW pictures if it was me. To be honest, when we go to the auto show, we never even go to the GM or Chrysler booth- at home growing up, my dad even hated when non-Ford products parked in the driveway.

I'm preferential to BMWs. I can't see driving anything else- truly driver's cars! If you own a BMW, you get into the BMW lounge above their display at the auto show every year. You get a great view of the whole show- in addition to some free libations and hors dourves!

We have relaxed rules with all 'herbs' here in Canada!

I'd buy a Chris Craft Connie 501 MY- early 90's. Great for a weekender or extended trip. We use our boat as a cottage of sorts so the 501 would be perfect.

Windsor Yacht Club is a great place for dinner and drinks- great food, very friendly staff, and just minutes from all the Canadian and American marinas!

He may also like the website www.lighthousefriends.com. You can click 'view lights by state' at the bottom. There are enough lighthouses there to satisfy his appetite.

I know for sure you can stay in the one at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point in Northern MI. The website is www.shipwreckmuseum.com

I heard it was a good time- I'm sure he'd like it. I've also read about a few on the MN and WI shores of Superior. Off the top of my head, I can't remember where- but I'm sure the shipwreck museum would tell you- or maybe google?

Ha! I've read that too! I've thought about doing that for a few months. It must be a guy thing- a few of my buddies think it's the best idea since sliced bread!

I guess you can add lighthouses to the list of things that keep men busy- fast boats, flashy cars, and now lighthouses...the list continues.

Capt. Don,

I wonder if you mean Crystal Bay? I think we're talking about the same place. Right in front of Bob-Lo Island?

Susie, I also know that there is a large group of women that take the sailing every year- I heard they're a hoot. They also do the off the dock races on Thursday nights. It's the DYC and Bayview Yacht Club members- it's race, then drink (not in that order).

I haven't taken the Detroit one- but have heard from many people that it's awesome. They have awards nights, BBQ's, etc...

I think when I get back to the U.S. I'm going to take it. A few friends of mine want to as well.

There is a sailing program at the Detroit Yacht Club for adults and there's a junior program as well. In the Windsor area, South Port Sailing Club offers a sailing camp. There are 2 sessions a summer. I spent my childhood summers sailing at South Port- met some good friends and it kept me out of trouble! My fiancee is going to take the Detroit Yacht Club program.

I practically have my own library of Great Lakes history books from lighthouses, ship wrecks, great storms, to maritime history (fur trading to modern day). Personally, I liked the shipwreck books- very interesting. If anyone is interested, please contact me, I can recommend a few.

"I reckon Chris Craft were ahead of the times!" from BrucElmorE.

Duh! They still are today. They did start recreational boating!

Also, forgot one of the best times on the Great Lakes- Put-In-Bay, South Bass Island, Lk. Erie, Ohio. Not very kid friendly, and if you plan on a long weekend- get there early to get a spot!

It's a total "Cancun" in America- Ohio no less!

It's a very good adult-type weekend. The kind that takes 30 years off your life. If you're not the partying type, there's still a lot to do on the island, lots to see. You can rent golf carts and see the scenes, there's tourist-type shopping, you can take the hydro-ferry to the mainland, etc.

Detroit Yacht Club!

Sorry, had to drop the plug for the DYC!

We've gone to Gull Island a few times, there's usually a lot of people there (mouth of St. Clair River on Lk. St. Clair). We also liked Algonac, MI (it was cool for overnight), Mitchells Bay on Lk. St. Clair, Crystal Bay on the Detroit River at the mouth of Lk. Erie and there's a ton of restaurants all along the U.S. shore on Lk. St. Clair. There's only a few along the Canadian shore. For younger people, the Beach Grill in St. Clair Shoes, MI is a ton of fun on a Friday night! If you're a member of a club that has reciprocity at the Detroit Yacht Club- it's worth a stop. The DYC has the best food you'll put in your mouth, olympic sized swimming pool for the kids, indoor pool, 480 wells (up to 130ft.), courteous staff, great harbor staff, and very reasonable for overnight! There are parties and events going on all summer long. If you can make it for the International Freedom Festival in the summer (usually July 1-3 sometime), the fireworks are the best you'll ever see. You can watch them right on the river between Detroit and Windsor. There's also rides and entertainment in downtown Windsor on the water. For the fireworks alone, they get 1-2 million people to the waterfront- worth a few hours!

Our 1966 Chris Craft has a hull number. I've been told many times that Chris Craft put then on stringers, engine room ceiling beams, and hatch doors. I'm not sure if that is any help, but ours was found on the engine room support that holds the floor up.

I suggest something with sails! I've lived in St. Maarten for the past 16 months- fuel is expensive and everyone with anything smaller than 150 ft. and $6 billion in the bank seems to go with a sail boat. You're going to find that the under 45K is going to be the problem.

1952? What model? That seems to be the case more often than not- someone has an old Chris rotting behind a barn. To own and maintain an old wooden boat, you have to be pretty dedicated- and wealthy!

There are a ton of websites to find old parts. If you google Chris Craft parts- you'll get more than enough hits.

I have a 1966 Chris Craft Roamer Riviera. We usually look for and get parts from the ladies and gents in the Roamer Club. It's a wealth of information, experience, stories, and parts!

We got 2 Paragon transmissions last year- worked out perfectly.

I agree, but think it's interesting how pretty universal people's perception of car brands is.

For example- most of the boats coupled with BMW/Mercedes are described as "nice finish," "great ride," good quality, ect. That being said, I own several BMWs and have had Mercedes in the past and they are very different cars. To me, a BMW is a younger person's sports/luxury car (at least the newer ones) and a Mercedes is an older persons luxury car. A BMW is like sliding on a leather glove each time you get it- they're drivers cars. To find a boat that matches the luxury, but sport when you want it, is a hard match to make. Moreover, if BMW's made boats- they'd never leave the dealership- a lot of do-hickeys to go wrong.

Further- it depends where you grew up that dictates your perception of cars. An example in my case is Toyota. A few people put Toyota in the "tuff," or better quality boats category. For someone like me that grew up in the Motor City- I wouldn't be caught dead in a Toyota, so I associate that with what I would consider ugly or lower quality boats.

At the same time- I've noticed we pretty much all have the same idea about boat brands quality. It makes me laugh, because we're all victims of advertising an hear-say. I'm probably the worst affected, but nice to know I'm not in it alone!

That's a very comprehensive list!

Can't go wrong with a Mercury- except if an Evinrude was an option.

I'd love to go with something larger- but 40-50 is kinda perfect for the Great Lakes region. If you go any larger, you run the risk to missing out on a lot of things on account of drawing too much water- especially these days.

I got an email from home yesterday, there was a wind from the South and you could walk out into the Lake 200 ft! Global warming- we had all better do something soon.

I would buy a brand spankin new Chris Craft Roamer 40. You can see her at www.chriscraft.com. They're about 600K all tricked out! I had better start a 'toy' fund.

My opinion of Hinckley would be something semi-customized, or at the very least, rare. Maybe an Aston Martin or something to that effect. A Mercedes is an everyday car. I don't think a Hinckley is really an everyday thing- they're rather rare in most areas.

Just my 2 cents.

I can see the Cadillac things- the Old Caddy's are like the old Chris'. Heavy, smooth, indestructible...

The problem with this match thing, is that most people have a different opinion about brands. I myself see the Toyota/Sea Ray thing as hilarious. But that's because I dislike Sea Rays and disliking Toyotas has been embedded in my DNA. I'm from the Motor City after all. Therefore, Toyota/Sea Ray go very nicely in my mind. Other people think different, I'm sure.

Let's hear it...Chris Craft is a tough one to nail.

On one hand, the new ones are outrageously expensive, on the other hand you have all the old ones around with the fudy-dud old guys that spend their pensions and all their time on them. It sounds like a classic BMW scenario- the new ones are expensive and the old ones take everything you have to keep running.

Toyota = Sea Ray

Interesting. Couldn't agree more!

I also agree with the Mini Cooper = Mastercraft thing. (VW may also work there)

Mercedes reminds me of an 80 year old man with a big Silverton Aft Cabin. All air conditioned, no space outside, and never leaves the dock.

From my experience, a ton of Chris Craft owners have BMWs. A few Mercedes in there too.

Guess than answers any questions anybody would have.

A 1988 Chris Craft 501 Connie or a 60+ Roamer. I'm moving back to Detroit, MI in April and I am seriously considering living aboard for a few years. We'll see. There's some REAL good real estate deals in the Detroit area right now. We'd liveaboard at the Detroit Yacht Club if at all.

What was the outcome?

Carver is also making a hybrid yacht now-- that would help save the wallet from the gas monster. You could also buy a sailboat- but I would never recommend that!

Being a Canadian, we can go to Cuba without a problem. Many of my friends and neighbors have vacationed there- it's a beautiful, great place with nice people. A ton of my American friends have a 'Soviet-esk' view of it. It's nothing like that at all-- it looks and feels like any other Caribbean Island. Im not sure if you Americans can legally go there, but if you can-- I think it would be an awesome cruise and some priceless exploring. I think Michael Moore enjoyed it!

How do you get more information about getting your captains license? What size boat requires a captain's license?

I'm looking into getting a 50-60ft- would I need a license?