What’s To Come

Have you ever looked up at a night’s sky to see stars so brilliant they take your breath away? I have a vivid memory of camping at Young State Park in Boyne City, Michigan, and seeing the brightest sky, lit up like a Christmas tree, making Lake Charlevoix sparkle. So when Michigan announced its newest Dark Sky Park, located at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, we had to check it out (p. 44). Visit this Upper Peninsula natural wonder, one of three Dark Sky Parks in Michigan, to relax under a blanket of stars.

Another place to slow down is in Algoma and Kewaunee, Wisconsin (p. 48). These small towns, just south of popular Door County, have much to offer, including travel-worthy sportfishing, Wisconsin’s oldest winery (von Stiehl Winery), a variety of dining options from casual to classy, and fun summertime events. Plan a cruise to these towns this spring!

Our February issue is packed with a bunch of new boat and product debuts, from the new Blackfin 400CC (p. 30) and Four Winns’ first catamaran, the TH36 (p. 31), to Grady-White’s Adventure 218 (p. 38), Mercury Marine’s industry-first V10 outboards (p. 42) and so much more! So flip through these pages and get excited for what’s to come this year.

Enjoy and stay warm!

Do you have a story idea you’d like to suggest?

Email me at kbush@lakelandboating.com to share your ideas.

AREAS MENTIONED IN THIS ISSUE

Contributors

TONY ESPOSITO

A life-long boater, Tony has nearly 30 years in the marine industry having worked at Mercury Marine, Mercury Racing and Custom Marine, Inc., as well as providing marketing and communications support for clients from parts and accessories providers to yacht builders. He has been writing for a variety of boating publications since 2003.

READ HIS STORY ON P. 42

Fish Creek, WI p. 54 Bay Electronics p. 56

Keweenaw Dark Sky Park p. 44 Algoma & Kewaunee, WI p. 48

HHH HHH

KATH USITALO

Bi-peninsular Kath grew up in Detroit and now enjoys life on Lake Michigan in the Upper Peninsula, where she writes about her home state, including three books about things to see and do in the U.P.

MARY BERGIN

Mary is a Wisconsin native whose writing specialties are exceptional rural tourism and regional foods, especially in the Midwest. Coming in late spring is her sixth book, “SmallTown Wisconsin: Fun, Surprising, and Exceptional Road Trips.”

MARYBERGIN.COM

READ HER STORY ON P. 48

Opinion Piece

I have lived in Toledo all of my 60 years and when I read that someone would recommend Toledo as a Port of Call in its present condition (Nov./Dec. 2022 issue of Lakeland Boating) I was amazed and shocked. I started boating by fishing around Toledo in the 70s, and when time came to explore the area more in the 80s, there were plenty of docks and things to do along the awesome Maumee River. Starting out on the lake, boaters would see the Toledo Harbor Light, and while headed south in the shipping channel, you could see the shipyards along the port side; the freighters in there were a beautiful sight. The world’s largest crane stood proud. As you cruised farther south towards downtown, there were marinas where service was available. As boaters came to the Cherry Street Bridge, they entered downtown and could call Portside and get a dock for an hour or a week! The entertainment, restaurants and sights were then enough to make every age and interest satisfied. Weekends were impossible to get a dock because every Friday night was “Party in the Park,” where various big bands and singers entertained and boaters anchored to listen. The restaurants were kid friendly, as we took ours every time we went. This was the way Toledo used to be.

Today, a visitor would still start their cruise in at the Harbor Light, and following the channel they will cruise past freighters in for repair or unloading, but the old shipyards sit bare, as the cranes are no longer there. As you continue, the only riverfront marina (Brenner) for service will be on the starboard side, but be careful entering as unmarked pilings make entering a chore. Cruising on, boaters will go under the I-280 Glass City Bridge that is a beautiful site and then you will come to the only thing I think would bring others here: The National Museum of the Great Lakes. There are the free docks mentioned, but don’t expect any help using these docks. As you continue south and pass downtown you will see beautiful buildings and, on the starboard side, many places where docks, entertainment and restaurants used to be. There is the Imagination Station Science Museum, and if you are a science buff, contact them for docking information because I have not been able to find any. On the port side, past the MLK Bridge, is a row of restaurants. In order to dine, you must pay to tie up. We were told the prices were by the hour. In my opinion, this area is not for children. As you continue on, you will come to I-75 bridge, the grain silos and mural, before you enter Rossford, Ohio. This is the way Toledo is today.

Toledo is a city of diversity, but they have done nothing to bring boaters, fishermen or water lovers here. Dockage is available at the named yacht clubs but you must be a club member — what about the average family boater? Toledo could be a great city for outdoorsmen, but with only Cullins Park having a public launch and the city pulling the docks by mid-October, we have fall anglers and hunters that must travel to surrounding cities.

In closing, I want people from outside Toledo to know the real Toledo and what it had but was taken away from us. In my opinion, this is not a boater-friendly town!

—John Jakubowski

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, John. We’re curious to know what other readers think of boating in Toledo. Please write in!

Everyone Looks Great in a Lakeland Boating Hat!

Need a gift for your favorite boater? Our Lakeland Boating hat is constructed from soft cotton twill for a great fit. Leather band adjustment in back with antiqued brass closure. Available in Nantucket red. One size. $24.95 + S&H. To order, visit LAKELANDBOATING.COM/STORE.

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E-mail us at KBUSH@LAKELANDBOATING.COM or drop us a line at Lakeland Boating, 1555 Sherman Ave., Suite 313, Evanston, IL 60201. Opinions expressed in “Dock Box” are not necessarily those of Lakeland Boating. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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Linda O’Meara

PUBLISHER IN MEMORIUM

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EDITORIAL STAFF

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Assistant Editor: Abby Thorpe

CREATIVE STAFF

Art Director/Production Manager: Christy Tuttle Bauhs

CONTRIBUTORS

Helen Aitken, Mary Bergin, Tony Eposito, Glenn Hayes, Ken Kreisler, Capt. Frank Lanier, Capt. Tom Serio, Heather Steinberger, Tom Stock, Kath Usitalo, John Wooldridge

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Regional Sales: Patti McCleery

Accounting: Marguerite Wristen

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Lakeland Boating (ISSN 0744-9194) Copyright 2023, by O’Meara-Brown Publications, Inc. is published eleven times per year (except December) by O’MearaBrown Publications, Inc. • Business/Accounting and Editorial Offices: 1555 Sherman Ave. Suite 313, Evanston, IL 60201, 312-276-0610. • Call 847-5048475 to subscribe. Lakeland Boating, P.O. Box 386, Lincolnshire, IL 60069 (U.S.). Annual subscription rates: United States: $24.95 per year; International and Canadian: $39.95 per year, includes 7% G.S.T. tax (G.S.T. 894095074-RT 0001) and $12 postage included. Single copies are $4.99 for U.S. and Canada. Only U.S. funds are accepted. Periodical postage paid at Evanston, IL and additional mailing offices. • POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Lakeland Boating, P.O. Box 386, Lincolnshire, IL 60069. • Lakeland Boating is a registered trademark of O’Meara-Brown Publications, Inc., Evanston, IL. Published as Lakeland Yachting 1946-1955. • Unsolicited work may be submitted at the creator’s own risk. Lakeland Boating assumes no responsibility or liability for unsolicited material. All submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed envelope with sufficient return postage. All published photos are courtesy of the manufacturer, unless otherwise noted.

JAN 29 – FEB 4

I-500 Snowmobile Race Sault Ste. Marie, MI I-500.COM

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon Duluth, MN BEARGREASE.COM

FEB 2 – 5

Perchville USA Tawas City, MI TAWAS.COM

FEB 2 – 20

Hamilton Winterfest Hamilton, ON HAMILTONWINTERFEST.CA

FEB 3 – 4

Holland on Ice Holland, MI HOLLAND.ORG

FEB 3 – 5

Ice Breaker Festival 1 South Haven, MI SOUTHHAVENMI.COM

Magical Ice Fest 2 St. Joseph, MI STJOETODAY.COM/ICEFEST

Rockford Boat, Vacation & Fishing Show Loves Park, IL ROCKFORDBOATSHOW.COM

Winterfest

Fish Creek, WI VISITFISHCREEK.COM

FEB 4

Ice A Fair Vermilion, OH MAINSTREETVERMILION.ORG

FEB 9 – 12

Fort Wayne Boat Show & Sale Fort Wayne, IN FORTWAYNEBOATSHOW.COM

La Crosse Sport Show

La Crosse, WI

LACROSSESPORTSHOW.COM

FEB 9 – 13

Snowsfest

Les Cheneaux Islands, MI LESCHENEAUX.NET/SNOWSFEST

FEB 10 – 11

Harbor Springs Ice Fest Harbor Springs, MI DOWNTOWNHARBORSPRINGS.COM

Two Harbors Winter Frolic Two Harbors, MN TWOHARBORSWINTERFROLIC.COM

FEB 10 – 12

Meijer State Games of Michigan Marquette, MI STATEGAMESOFMICHIGAN.COM

St. Cloud Sportsmen’s Show St. Cloud, MN STCLOUDSPORTSHOW.COM

FEB 11

Door County Pond Hockey Sister Bay, WI DOORCOUNTYPONDHOCKEY.COM

FEB 11 – 12

North American VASA Festival of Races Traverse City, MI VASA.ORG

FEB 15 – 19

Grand Rapids Boat Show 3 Grand Rapids, MI SHOWSPAN.COM/GRB

Miami International Boat Show Miami, FL MIAMIBOATSHOW.COM

FEB 16 – 19

Central New York Winter Boat Show Syracuse, NY CNYBOATSHOW.COM

Duluth Boat, Sports, Travel & RV Show Duluth, MN MINNESOTASPORTSHOW.COM

Labatt Blue U.P. Pond Hockey Championship St. Ignace, MI STIGNACE.COM

FEB 16 – 20

UP 200, Midnight Run & Jack Pine 30 Sled Dog Races Marquette, MI UP200.ORG

FEB 17 – 18

Fire and Ice Sturgeon Bay, WI STURGEONBAY.NET

FEB 17 – 19

Green Bay Boat Show Green Bay, WI

RESCHCOMPLEX.COM

Meijer State Games of Michigan - 4 Lower Peninsula Grand Rapids, MI STATEGAMESOFMICHIGAN.COM

Winterama Carnival Penetanguishene, ON WINTERAMA.CA

FEB 17 – 19 & 22 – 26

Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show

Indianapolis, IN

INDIANAPOLISBOATSPORTAND TRAVELSHOW.COM

FEB 18

Book Across the Bay Ashland, WI BATB.ORG

FEB 18 – 26

Kenosha Restaurant Week Kenosha, WI VISITKENOSHA.COM

FEB 23 – 26

Cottage & Lakefront Living Show - Detroit Novi, MI

SHOWSPAN.COM/CLD

Outdoorama Novi, MI

SHOWSPAN.COM/OUT

FEB 24 – 26

Boat Show in Springfield Springfield, IL

THEBOATSHOWINSPRINGFIELD.COM

FEB 25

Smeltania 2023

Boyne City, MI

BOYNECHAMBER.COMW

GREAT LAKES NEWS

Organization Aims to Make Apostle Islands More Accessible

The nonprofit group Friends of the Apostle Islands has recently launched its campaign, Access for All, to make Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands National Lakeshore accessible to all visitors. The group aims to raise $325,000, with matching funds by the National Park Service, to add ramps, handrails and more to the park to make it easier to experience. The money raised will be used to build a 520-foot gently sloping ramp that leads to a scenic overlook at Meyers Beach. The group has already completed the following projects: Adding a wheelchair-accessible overlook on the dock at Little Sand Bay; creating accessible campsites, restrooms and more than a mile of boardwalk on Sand Island; making an accessible amphitheater and campsite on Stockton Island; and more. For more information about this campaign, visit FRIENDSOFTHEAPOSTLEISLANDS.ORG/ACCESS-FOR-ALL.