February 2025 by Lakeland Boating Magazine

MARLOW

A bold statement.

MARITIMO M 75

Your new destination.

COMMANDER GREENE

The commanding oﬃcer of USCGC Mackinaw shares what it’s like to work on this 240-foot ship.

PORT OF CALL

St. Ignace, MI: Just over the Mackinac Bridge, this city is a charming entrance to the Upper Peninsula!

Your gateway into the U.P. !

FEATURES

32 Marlow 70E MKII

Daring to be bold.

Story & photos by Capt. Tom Serio

36 Maritimo M75

This boat is the destination. By Capt. Tom Serio

40 Mackinaw Arriving

A captain’s journey through love and loss, from Colorado to the Great Lakes. By Heather Steinberger

44 Port of Call: St. Ignace, MI

Your Home Port: A gathering place for centuries, the Upper Peninsula city of St. Ignace, Michigan, continues to draw travelers by land and freshwater seas.

By Kath Usitalo

ON THE COVER

The Marlow 70E MKII breaks from the norm with its cool, contemporary hull color, lack of exterior teak and bold design choices inside. Take a look to ﬁnd out what makes this yacht a bold statement of ownership!

Stay current on the latest Great Lakes news Peruse dozens of exciting destination stories Read our latest Features and Columns Explore all of our Boat Tests & Boat Spotlights Place a classiﬁed ad Shop boats for sale by owner Access past issues with our online magazine Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and more!

From the Helm 6 Dock Box 10 Calendar 12 Scuttle 14 Great Gear 20

Marine Maintenance 22 Tech Deck 24 Life on the Loop 26

Boat Spotlights: Chris-Craft, Grady-White, Kadey-Krogen, Mag Bay 28

Lakeshore Life: South Haven, MI 50

Boat Biz: Boatlauncher 52

Marine Marketplace 55

Classiﬁeds 67 Classic Craft 68

About Time!

There’s welcome news for Great Lakes boaters: Lake Michigan has two new marinas! The Navy Pier Marina in Chicago broke ground late last year and is expected to open this summer, while Muskegon’s Adelaide Pointe Marina opened for its first season last summer. And both marinas are hosting boat shows this August. It’s about time we had some additional in-water boat shows in the Great Lakes! Last summer, my family checked out Muskegon Brewing Company at Adelaide Pointe, which had a ton of available slips in the marina for restaurant-goers, a great menu and even better views. The cruise back up to Whitehall lulled my daughter to sleep (pictured here).

If you’ve ever seen the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw plying the waters, you’ll be interested to know the commanding officer, Commander Jeannette Greene, is one of only two female U.S. Coast Guard commanding officers serving on the Great Lakes. Contributor Heather Steinberger speaks with Commander Greene about what it’s like to oversee the 240-foot ship (p. 40)!

Our Port of Call this month heads to the city of St. Ignace, Michigan, just north of the Mackinac Bridge (p. 44). Though well-known as a launch-pad for its famous sister city of Mackinac Island, St. Ignace has just as much to offer visitors, including shopping on State Street, outdoor adventures and tons of events throughout the 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

St. Ignace, MI p. 44

Beachlauncher p. 52

South Haven, MI p. 50

KEVIN KOENIG

Kevin is an awardwinning journalist living and working in Greenwich, Connecticut. His 15 years in the marine industry have helped him live a fulfilling and adventureladen life thus far.

READ HIS STORIES ON P. 28

HEATHER STEINBERGER

Heather is an awardwinning writer/editor who has specialized in boating, travel and outdoor adventure for more than 25 years. She grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan and enjoys powerboating, sailing, and stand-up paddleboarding with her husband, professional photographer Richard Steinberger, and daughter, Johanna.

READ HER STORY ON P. 40

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.

READ HER STORY ON P. 44

DOCK BOX

CANINE CREW

FEBRUARY 2025

VOLUME LXXIX, NO. 2

Koda

Our ship’s bosun, Koda, a 6-year-old Siberian husky, just loves to take sunset cruises on beautiful Lake Charlevoix! She always heads to the bow of our 2014 Formula 350 CBR for the best seat in the house and always speaks to and greets friends that are dockside as we pull into our slip at the marina in Boyne City.

—Carol & Sanford Vieder, Boyne City, MI

Calling All Canine (and Feline) Crew!

We want to learn about your furry friends onboard! Send a short write-up with your pet’s name and your home city, as well as a high-resolution photo (at least 1 MB) to: KBUSH@LAKELANDBOATING.COM. Please put “Canine/Feline Crew” in the subject line. If we publish your submission, you’ll win a Lakeland Boating hat!

LAKE LENS

Sunset from Shipyard Island Marina on Washington Island, Wisconsin. Taken from Nepenthe, our 510 Sea Ray Sundancer. Washington Island is one of our favorite cruising destinations.

—Mike Froh and Susie White, Elkhart Lake, WI

Lake Lens

We want to see the gorgeous Great Lakes from your point of view! Send a high-resolution photo (at least 1 MB) and a short write-up about that photo to KBUSH@LAKELANDBOATING.COM. Please put “Lake Lens” in the subject line. If we publish your submission, you’ll win a Lakeland Boating hat!

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 weathered navy or Nantucket red (khaki sold out). One size. $24.95 + S&H. To order, visit LAKELANDBOATING.COM/STORE.

Opinions expressed in “Dock Box” are not necessarily those of the Lakeland Boating. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

PUBLISHER

Linda O’Meara

PUBLISHER IN MEMORIUM

Walter “Bing” O’Meara

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editorial Director: Kate Bush

Assistant Editor: Abby Thorpe

CREATIVE STAFF

Art Director/Production Manager: Christy Tuttle Bauhs

CONTRIBUTORS

Jordan Bohonek, John Ferne, Glenn Hayes, Kevin Koenig, Capt. Frank Lanier, Chuck Warren, Patti McCleery, Capt. Tom Serio, Heather Steinberger, Kath Usitalo

BUSINESS STAFF

National Sales: Mark Conway Director of Business Development: Joe D’Onofrio

Accounting: Diane Fairchild

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICE

1555 Sherman Ave. / Suite 313 / Evanston, IL 60201 312-276-0610

INFO@LAKELANDBOATING.COM LAKELANDBOATING.COM

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

1555 Sherman Ave. / Suite 313 / Evanston, IL 60201 312-276-0610 / Fax: 312-276-0619

CBAUHS@LAKELANDBOATING.COM

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Lakeland Boating

P.O. Box 386, Lincolnshire, IL 60069 847-504-8475

O’MEARA-BROWN PUBLICATIONS INC

President: Linda O’Meara

Secretary: Timothy Murtaugh

Lakeland Boating (ISSN 0744-9194) Copyright 2025, by O’Meara-Brown Publications, Inc. is published eleven times per year (except December) by O’Meara-Brown Publications, Inc. / Business/Accounting and Editorial Offices: 1555 Sherman Ave. Suite 313, Evanston, IL 60201, 312-276-0610. / Call 847-504-8475 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 selfaddressed envelope with sufficient return postage. / All published photos are courtesy of the manufacturer, unless otherwise noted.

CALENDAR

JAN 26 – FEB 1

I-500 Snowmobile Race

Sault Ste. Marie, MI I-500.COM

JAN 29 – FEB 2

Detroit RV & Camping Show Detroit, MI

MICHIGANRVANDCAMP GROUNDS.ORG

JAN 31 – FEB 2

1 Ice Breaker Festival South Haven, MI SOUTHHAVENMI.COM

Winterfest Fish Creek, WI VISITFISHCREEK.COM

FEB 1

Ice A Fair Vermilion, OH

MAINSTREETVERMILION.ORG

St. Joe Winter Beer Fest St. Joseph, MI STJOETODAY.COM

FEB 1 – 8

Progressive Detroit Boat Show Detroit, MI BOATMICHIGAN.ORG/ DETROIT-BOAT-SHOW

FEB 1 – 17

Hamilton Winterfest Hamilton, ON HAMILTONWINTERFEST.CA

FEB 5 – 8

Winter Carnival Houghton, MI MTU.EDU/WINTER-CARNIVAL

FEB 6 – 9

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

La Crosse Sport Show La Crosse, WI LACROSSESPORTSHOW.COM

FEB 7 – 8 Holland on Ice Holland, MI HOLLANDONICE.ORG

2 Two Harbors Winter Frolic Two Harbors, MN TWOHARBORSWINTERFROLIC.COM

FEB 7 – 9

75th Annual Perchville USA Tawas City, MI TAWAS.COM

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

Meijer State Games of Michigan Marquette, MI STATEGAMESOFMICHIGAN.COM

Snowsfest Les Cheneaux Islands, MI LESCHENEAUX.NET/SNOWSFEST

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

Sturgeon Spectacular Fond du Lac, WI STURGEONSPECTACULAR.COM

FEB 8 – 9

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

FEB 12 – 16

Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show Miami, FL MIAMIBOATSHOW.COM

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

FEB 13 – 16

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

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

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

FEB 13 – 17

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

FEB 14 – 15 Fire and Ice Sturgeon Bay, WI STURGEONBAY.NET

FEB 14 – 16 Green Bay Boat Show Green Bay, WI RESCHCOMPLEX.COM

Meijer State Games of MichiganLower Peninsula Grand Rapids, MI STATEGAMESOFMICHIGAN.COM

Winter Wonderland Weekend Petoskey, MI PETOSKEYDOWNTOWN.COM

FEB 14 – 16 & 19 – 23

6 Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show Indianapolis, IN INDIANAPOLISBOATSPORT ANDTRAVELSHOW.COM

FEB 15

Book Across the Bay Ashland, WI BATB.ORG

FEB 15 – 16

Winterama Carnival Penetanguishene, ON WINTERAMA.CA

FEB 20– 23

Cottage & Lakefront

Living Show – Detroit Novi, MI

SHOWSPAN.COM/CLD

Outdoorama Novi, MI SHOWSPAN.COM/OUT

FEB 21 – 23

Boat Show in Springfield Springfield, IL THEBOATSHOWINSPRINGFIELD.COM

FEB 22

Burning Snowman Port Clinton, OH FACEBOOK.COM/ BURNINGSNOWMAN

FEB 22 – MAR 2

Kenosha Restaurant Week Kenosha, WI VISITKENOSHA.COM

FEB 23 – MAR 1

Traverse City Restaurant Week Traverse City, MI TRAVERSECITY.COM

Vision Marine has partnered with Smoker Craft to produce a pontoon platform for Vision’s E-Motion 180-hp electric propulsion system, specifically P-Powerpack. The new pontoon is intended primarily for rental operations, boat clubs and commercial applications.

SCUTTLE

Navy Pier Marina To Host New Boat Show

Revel Republic announced an expansion of its popular In Water Boat Show Series with the addition of the Chicago International Boat Show at Navy Pier Marina. The show, scheduled for August 21 – 24, 2025, brings an innovative approach that blends luxury elements with the thrill of boating, offering a multifaceted experience that includes luxury boats, gourmet cuisine, VIP entertainment, exotic cars, private aviation and jewelry.

“Our goal is to introduce new boaters to a world they haven’t experienced while reintroducing seasoned boaters to an innovative way of enjoying boat shows,” says Anthony Trimino, CEO of both Revel Republic and TRAFFIK Advertising.

Learn more at OFFICIALCHIBS.COM and NAVYPIERMARINA.COM.

Great Lakes News Boats Must-Have Buzz Events Business

Highfield Boats Adds 110 Jobs in Michigan

Highfield Boats is expanding its assembly process in Wexford County, Michigan, with the support of a $990,000 Michigan Business Development Program grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The expansion is expected to generate over $3.1 million in capital investment and create 110 new jobs in the state.

“Our investment in Michigan marks the company’s first major investment to the U.S. market and we chose Cadillac for its rich legacy in recreational boat building and the unwavering support of both the local and statewide communities,” says Christophe Lavigne, president of Highfield USA.

Learn more at HIGHFIELDBOATS.COM.

BOATS

Sunseeker Premieres New Manhattan 68

Sunseeker International had the global debut of the next-generation Sunseeker Manhattan 68 (2025) at boot Düsseldorf 2025. This never-before-seen luxury motoryacht builds upon its celebrated predecessor with innovative enhancements that elevate the yachting experience.

The Manhattan 68 (2025) now boasts a sleeker, more dynamic profile; a redesigned flybridge with a larger, more versatile seating arrangement and an ergonomic console with cutting-edge technology; as well as new exterior upholstery. The aft cockpit has been redesigned to offer more functionality and seclusion. A built-in privacy screen enhances this area’s exclusivity, making it ideal for relaxed drinks or unwinding in the shade.

The Manhattan 68 (2025) now offers configurable interior layouts, including a four-cabin layout with a private staircase leading to the owner’s midships full-beam cabin. Alternatively, the boat can be configured with a single staircase to all cabins, creating space for an opposing seating group in the main salon. This layout offers flexibility for a threecabin configuration with a grander entrance to the owner’s cabin, complete with an office, or it can include a Pullman-style fourth cabin.

For more information, visit SUNSEEKER.COM.

SCUTTLE

Southwest Florida Yachts Seeks Pre-Owned Boats

Southwest Florida Yachts (SWFY), a yacht rental and charter company in Florida, has an immediate need for late-model, diesel-powered sail and power vessels in the 30- to 50-foot range for its charter ﬂeet.

“The hurricane of two years ago devastated our ﬂeet and we are now rebuilding,” says SWFY Co-Owner Barb Hansen. “Simply put, the demand for chartering and classes exceeds our supply! We have an immediate need for a variety of sail and power yachts, including monohulls and catamarans.”

Popular vessels in the SWFY Charter Management Program include monohulls such as Catalina and Island Packet, sailing cats like Fountaine Pajot and Leopard, and power yachts such as Mainship, Grand Banks, Sabre and Beneteau.

“Charter revenue is a great way to help oﬀset the cost of boat ownership,” Hansen says. “If you are in the market to purchase a vessel, we can ﬁnd a boat for you that meets both your needs and our charter requirements. We may also accept a wellmaintained late-model (from approximately 2000 to present) vessel that you already own if it meets our standards for condition and equipment.”

For more information, visit SWFYACHTS.COM.

Hurricane Launches New SunDeck 3200

Hurricane Boats’ latest model for 2025, the SunDeck 3200, ushers in a new era for the boat builder. A well-appointed offshore-capable cabin cruiser, the new model maintains the DNA of Hurricane with head-turning good looks and ample seating, while packing in features and design elements that break the mold for an elevated time on the water.

Offered with the latest technological advances in the marine industry like the Seakeeper 2 stabilization system and joystick docking, the 3200 is a dream to operate. Rated for a maximum power of 1,000 hp in a factory-installed twin-engine configuration, the boat tops out at just under 55 mph, while the 250-gallon fuel tank provides multi-day range. For added comfort, there is an enclosed head in the cabin with a 30-gallon freshwater system, sink, electric flush toilet with 23-gallon wastewater tank and hot water shower. For more information, visit HURRICANEBOATS.COM.

BOATS

Beneteau Reinvents the Antares 9

The Beneteau Antares 9 has been completely redesigned for 2025. Distinctly recognizable from its sleek exterior lines, the Antares 9 has been thoughtfully updated in the interior. Updates include new, comfortable cockpit upholstery, more resistant backrests, lacquered furniture and walnut woodwork.

The modular aft cockpit is incredibly spacious, featuring L-shape bench seating that, with an additional seat, converts into a U-shaped salon. The cockpit bench seating also transforms into a sundeck, great for relaxing in the sun. The protective cockpit boasts an extended coachroof.

The forward owner’s cabin, with its queen-sized berth, is spacious and refined. This model also features a guest cabin with a double berth and windows in the hull, as well as a shared head and shower compartment. The salon can also be configured with an optional berth.

Options abound, including heating, air-conditioning, a generator or accompanying lithium batteries, solar panels on the coachroof, an opening sunroof, storage space for a paddleboard and more.

The Antares 9 is powered by a 500-hp outboard engine, boasting a 130nautical-mile range at cruising speed.

For more information, visit BENETEAU.COM.

Princecraft Unveils All-New Vogue RL Pontoon

Princecraft Boats announced the launch of the all-new Vogue RL Pontoon for model year 2025. The new models will be available in 25- and 27-foot conﬁgurations.

The new Vogue will have modernized features unlike any other pontoon from Princecraft, including a contour made with ABS bonded with an acrylic skin laminated on it, new RGB lighting and digital switching. In addition, the Vogue features a new modern and sleek look that matches consumer demand with a new wakeboard tower and an optional 15-inch Ultrawide Simrad screen.

The new Vogue will feature high-performance Hertz audio with a remote control for convenience. Two storage drawers and an easy step boarding ladder will be a welcome addition to passengers and their pets. The Vogue features 40% additional storage under the seats than the previous model and an option for a 12V refrigerator strategically positioned below the driver’s seat. Visit PRINCECRAFT.COM for more information.

BOATS

1. “Ramblings of a Modern-Day Lightkeeper”

As managing director of the lighthouse preservation organization Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior, Paul Morralee documented his island experiences over the course of a decade in a series of articles, “Lighthouse Dispatches,” that appeared in the Thunder Bay newspaper, The Chronicle-Journal. Those articles have now been collected together in a single volume, providing a compelling record of the remarkable work done by Morralee, together with many volunteers to preserve the lighthouses and their stories. This book highlights the important role these iconic structures played in the development of the region and the history of Canada. $45 (PAPERBACK) AT BARNESANDNOBLE.COM

2. West Marine Deck Throw

Nothing compares to cuddling up on the bow during a cool spring cruise. With this oversized 60- by 70-inch throw blanket, you’ll be able to share the warmth. The cute, nautical patterns offer a fun design for your deck or cabin. The front is printed on a super soft polyester, reversing to cozy sherpa fabric. Easy care with machine wash and tumble dry. Available in four fun designs: Sealife, with crabs, octopi and turtles; Sailboats; Anchors & Compasses; and Seashells. $29.99 AT WESTMARINE.COM

GREAT GEAR

Must-have goodies, gadgets and more for every boater

3. JBL Rallybar

Outdoor audio gear needs to withstand all the spray, dust and vibration that’s thrown at it. It must also produce accurate and clear sound, no matter the volume. Delivering a dynamic LED light show is a bonus. The new JBL Rallybar checks all these boxes and more. Party mode Bluetooth connectivity allows two devices to pair to the soundbar simultaneously to stream music, one smartphone at a time. USB and AUX inputs add functionality, while a 3.5mm AUX-out will connect to external powered speakers. $799.95 AT RIVERPARKMARINE.COM

4. SILWY Magnetic Crystal Glasses

Enjoy your beverages onboard without the risk of spilling. This set of two crystal glasses features an integrated magnet in the glass base that attracts the metal foil in the coaster pads, so the glasses won’t tip over on a hard turn. Glasses are made of the ﬁnest German crystal glassware. The magnetic nano-gel-pad coasters can be removed and are washable, reusable and stick virtually everywhere. $69.99 AT NOMADICSUPPLY.COM

5. Hurley AquaJet Davit

Your Seabob water scooter now has a home on your swim platform. Designed exclusively for safe and eﬀortless retrieval, launch and storage of the F5 Seabob water scooter, this cutting-edge davit is user-friendly and provides peace of mind. Crafted with high-quality materials and made in the U.S. Features a form-ﬁtting linear bunk system made of King Starboard, a durable plastic designed to withstand exposure to sun and saltwater. A stainless steel mounting system with a quick-release mechanism allows for easy removal of the davit when not in use.

$1,195 AT HURLEYMARINE.COM

6. Humminbird XPLORE Fishfinder

This new fishfinder combines high-definition sonar, advanced map technology and easy control for anglers to maximize every moment on the water. Featuring intuitive shortcut buttons, anglers can quickly access key features like navigation, Spot-Lock and advanced mapping tools with just a click. Integration with the One-Boat Network means anglers can easily sync with Minn Kota trolling motors and anchors. Features a quad-core processor, fast start-up, intuitive shortcuts, and easy-to-use touchscreen interface. Available in 9-, 10, or 12-inch displays. STARTING AT $1,299.99 (FOR XPLORE 9 CHO) AT HUMMINBIRD.JOHNSONOUTDOORS.COM

MARINE MAINTENANCE

By Capt. Frank Lanier

Diesel Engine Dissection

Make sure you know these 10 diesel engine components.

Familiarity with your diesel engine is crucial for conducting routine maintenance and effecting repairs when emergencies arise. Here’s a “by the numbers” look at 10 diesel engine components that every boat owner should know on sight and why.

1. Raw water seacock and strainer: Marine diesels have cooling systems just like their terrestrial counterparts; however, instead of air, they use the water your boat is floating in (via a heat exchanger) to keep things cool. The raw water seacock is simply an on/off valve located at the intake through-hull that provides “raw” water (the water outside the hull) to the cooling system. The seacock allows you to shut off this water when the engine is not in use or in the event of a problem (such as a ruptured hose). The raw water intake strainer is located in line between the seacock and engine raw water pump. Its purpose is to prevent debris and other stuff from reaching the engine, where it could damage the engine raw water pump or cause overheating issues due to clogging. The bowl of the strainer should be clear, allowing you to readily see if it’s dirty or clogged.

2. Engine raw water pump: As the name implies, it draws raw water in and pumps it through the open or raw water side of the engine’s cooling system. Inside this pump is typically a replaceable rubber impeller, the vanes of which can fail and break off due to age or overheating when running the pump dry (forgetting to open the engine raw water seacock is a common cause of this). Opening the engine raw water seacock before cranking your engine and checking the exhaust for ample water discharge after starting are two important items for every boat owner’s engine startup procedure.

3. Coolant system (fill and reservoir): Like the radiator in your car, the closed cooling system contains and circulates coolant (aka antifreeze) throughout your engine to prevent overheating or freeze damage. External reservoirs (if installed) allow you to check coolant levels at a glance.

4. Primary and secondary fuel filters: Fuel filters keep gunk from reaching your engine and can clog if you take on bad fuel or when sediment in your tank is stirred up due to rough conditions. Primary filters are normally mounted external to the engine on a bulkhead or other suitable structure. They contain

replaceable elements and typically have a clear bowl, providing you with a visual clue as to the condition of the fuel. Secondary fuel filters are normally a screw-on, cartridge-type unit mounted on the engine. They have a finer (smaller diameter) element to catch any contaminants that make it past the primary filter.

5. Fuel lift pump: Practically every diesel engine has one. It lifts fuel from the fuel tank, pulls it through the primary fuel filter, then pushes it through the secondary fuel filter and into the fuel injection pump, which then sends fuel to the individual cylinders for combustion. It’s also where the manual hand priming lever is normally located, which allows you to bleed air from the fuel system.

6. Air filter: A diesel engine needs two things at a minimum to run: Clean fuel and air. The air filter keeps your engine from ingesting airborne dirt and grime. A clogged air filter means loss of clean air for combustion, which can lead to any number of problems, from sputtering and loss of power to engine shutdown.

7. Battery and primary switch: You need power to start your engine and that comes from the starting battery. It can be a single battery or a battery bank (two or more batteries connected in parallel to mimic a single, large battery). Most boats have DC volt meters (typically at the main DC control panel) to help monitor battery charge; however, a handheld multimeter can also be used. The battery switch (typically big and red) allows you to turn battery power to the engine on or off.

8. Alternator: The power you need to start your engine comes from the starting battery, but it’s the alternator that keeps the battery fully charged and ready. Alternators are powered by the engine via a pulley and belt system (newer engines use a serpentine belt, rather than the old V-belt design found on your granddad’s Buick). If the belt fails, the alternator stops charging the batteries, which in turn will eventually discharge and fail to start the engine.

9. Starter: Another easy one that does just what it says, which is to crank the engine (using power from the battery) until it starts.

10. Dipstick: Not your know-it-all dock neighbor, but rather the device that lets you check oil levels in your engine and reduction gear (aka transmission) — something that should be done every time before getting underway.

CAPT. FRANK LANIER

Alternator belt

Raw water pump impeller

Starting batteries

TECH DECK

By Glenn Hayes

Have it Your Way

Exploring your electronics options when buying a new boat.

The elections are over, spring is not too far away, and more importantly, it’s boat show season.

If you are in the market for a new boat, there is much to consider before signing on the bottom line. Apart from the obvious decisions, such as the model of the vessel and the size of the engine(s), other vital choices must be made. One of those decisions is the electronics you want aboard. These electronics include multifunction displays with GPS, chartplotting, fish finding, audio equipment, VHF radio, radar, autopilot and more.

Forethought and planning before purchase can save money and aid in your enjoyment when on the water. Depending on the builder, dealer and salesperson, you may believe your electronics options are limited to what is initially offered. However, you have many choices.

Starting from scratch

Start by asking yourself what electronics you will want onboard. What kind of boating will you do and what will help you enjoy that time on the water? Spending time on manufacturer’s websites, YouTube and other online resources can help you decide what matters to you and what will be needed to equip your new boat to fulfill your needs.

purchased along with the boat, the cost of the package can be rolled into the loan and paid off over time. Make sure you compare the increase to your payment over the loan term versus the cost of buying the equipment outright. Also, remember that if you plan on keeping the boat longer, you will probably replace the electronics at some point, as the typical lifespan is usually 5-10 years. If this is the case, you may not want to keep paying for them long after they are swapped out.

Pre-installed situations

The most common situation for new boat buyers is the purchase of a boat with some electronics already pre-installed at the factory. In many cases, the pre-installed electronics provide the new boat owner with the basic electronics they need or want to get out on the water. These options might be all that is required for less demanding boaters but may fall short if you’re looking for more advanced or specialized features.

If your boat is a custom or semi-custom build, you can configure your electronics as you desire, with your only restrictions being space and budget. This is usually the best scenario with no pre-installed electronics. Buyers can choose the brand and models that best suit their boating application and fit into their custom build. Some builders and dealers will allow the buyer to purchase their electronics and provide them during the build for installation. The benefit of doing things this way is you can save money on the electronics purchases but still have them professionally installed by people who know your new boat better than anyone.

Boat shows are often the best time to purchase electronics, as manufacturers typically offer specials and discounts to distributors and vendors. The downside is that if you have a warranty claim, you will have to deal with whoever you bought the equipment from rather than the builder or dealer. Another downside to purchasing electronics outright is that you are buying the equipment separately from the financing of the new boat. If

It is important to research the provided equipment and ensure it can fulfill and grow with your needs. If the supplied equipment does not meet your needs, you can request it be removed and have it credited either against the purchase or toward the electronics you want. In many cases, it need not be removed. Some multifunction displays can be updated by adding modules, swapping transducers, downloading software and chart updates, or even adding additional displays with new built-in features.

If you’re a first-time boat buyer and are not sure what to look for in electronics, don’t just take the advice of your salesperson. Try to find other boat owners in your area who do the same type of boating and speak with them about what electronics work for them. Local marinas and launch sites are great places to initiate a conversation, and online user groups and forums are another great place to get input. Read online reviews of the electronics offered to reveal their pros and cons.

The key to being happy with the electronics onboard your new boat is to research what you want beforehand and to ensure you are not swayed by convenience or a salesman wanting to close the deal. Electronics can be a considerable investment and should be precisely what you want and need.

A customized multifunction display on a new ChrisCraft Launch

GLENN HAYES

LIFE ON THE LOOP

By Jordan Bohonek

The Great Boat Search

Things to consider when searching for your Great Loop boat.

As not only a Looper but also a broker specializing in Great Loop travel, it always excites me to see “where people’s stories begin.” Some folks have vast boating experience, and some — as crazy as it is to think — have none. Some own a boat, and some start from scratch.

Living on the water offers peace, simplicity and tranquility, away from the constant noise that life can sometimes be filled with; however, deciding what works for you in terms of a boat can really guide the overall experience of your Loop trip.

Essential requirements

The Great Loop journey is about personal growth, navigating new challenges and embracing a sustainable lifestyle aboard a boat. For some, “simplicity is bliss,” but for others (like me), “it only costs a little more to go first class!”

their own stateroom was best for not only privacy but sanity. It allowed us to have guests onboard at different points in the trip, and my favorite part: To have large parties while docked at moorings and marinas! During our Loop, we had 16 onboard for Thanksgiving dinner and no one felt crowded.

On the hook

Another aspect to consider while Looping is how much time you see yourself spending “on the hook,” or at anchor, versus being in marinas. It has been said many times that marinas and fuel are your two biggest expenses on the trip, but having the ability to stay on anchor for multiple days takes a little preparation for power management if you have refrigerators or connections such as Star Link.

Transportation to and from the boat while on anchor is also a consideration. I know many a Looper who has completed the trip without a dinghy, which wasn’t an option for a busy family of four with a dog. One struggle we had during our trip was that our tender was mounted on our aft deck roof, so it needed to be dropped with a crane. While it gets the boat out of the way and lessens the length overall (yes, you pay by the foot at a marina and your tender counts,) it was very clumsy to mount and dismount.

What’s your Loop lifestyle?

When you begin to plan for a trip like this, I can tell you that expectations and reality are two very different things.

For us, we intended to be at anchor as much as possible and to enjoy spending time just as a family. The reality was, we spent 95% of our time at marinas and enjoyed time with some of the greatest people we have ever met over “docktails” and shared meals.

Some Loop boats offer the basics with a small berth, a compact but functional galley, and a wet head. Others provide multiple staterooms with ensuite heads, large galley facilities, and expansive living areas not only inside the salon but also out on the aft deck and flybridge. For us, outdoor living space was crucial, so we specifically looked for an aft cabin boat with a large aft deck where we could have convertible furniture for lounging and dining. For my family of four, we decided everyone having

As a broker, a question I often pose to my clients is: “What is your current lifestyle, and how does that translate into your Loop experience?” There isn’t a “perfect” boat for most people, but the selection of styles can give you a product that will provide a very enjoyable experience as you travel America’s Great Loop.

I suggest making lists of must-haves — deciding as you go about things you can and can’t live without — and working with a broker who has done the Loop and can give you good firsthand knowledge of what works and what doesn’t.

JORDAN BOHONEK

Originally from southern Minnesota, Jordan now lives on a boat with his family. He combines his love for the water with his passion for helping others ﬁnd vessels as a yacht broker, enabling them to live their dream on America’s Great Loop. Follow along the Bohonek’s Great Loop journey at their Facebook page “Live the Dash | Traveling America’s Great Loop.”

BOAT SPOTLIGHT

By Kevin Koenig

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 31'

Beam: 10'1"

Draft: 1'10"/2'10"

Weight: 11,300 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 142 gals.

Water Capacity: 39 gals.

Max Power: 860 hp

Base Price: $484,070

CHRISCRAFT.COM

DEALERS

CenterPointe Marine CENTERPOINTE SERVICE.COM

Gage Marine GAGEBOATS.COM

Tower Marine Boat Sales

Walstrom Marine

Chris-Craft Launch 31 GT Prepare to launch.

Few things say fun on the water like a Chris-Craft bowrider, and the Launch 31 GT from one of America’s most storied boatbuilders is an excellent example. One of the Launch 31’s coolest features is a Lumishore LUX LED lighting system. It’s controlled at the helm and allows you to sync colored lights to whatever music is playing on the speaker system. It also offers multiple colors for underwater lights, which is always a hit.

The boat’s open layout — which includes plentiful seating, a grill and a folding teak table in the cockpit — is perfect for entertaining. An inward-opening dive door to starboard in the cockpit lets swimmers in and out of the water with ease and is also useful for boarding. A T-top overhead provides the requisite amount of shade to keep everyone cool and comfortable. Meanwhile, the boat’s open bow is a favorite spot for thrill seekers and those looking to work on their tans.

The Launch 31 GT also has a head down below as an added creature comfort.

Craig Duchow is the general manager at CenterPointe Marine in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is in love with this new model and speaks glowingly of it: “If you’re searching for a luxury bowrider with powerful performance and iconic design, the Launch 31 is it,” he says. “Whether you’re cruising Lake Michigan or relaxing at your marina, this boat will turn heads and deliver unforgettable experiences. CenterPointe is extremely proud to be a Chris-Craft dealer.”

When kitted out with twin 380-hp Mercury V8 8.2L B3 DTS AXIUS engines, this boat can launch itself across the water at 50 mph.

If you are looking for a small-to-medium-size dayboat with loads of style and a concentration on fun, you should give the Chris-Craft Launch 31 GT a good hard look.

BOAT SPOTLIGHT

By Kevin Koenig

Grady-White Freedom 345 Free

bird.

Grady-White has one of the best reputations in the world when it comes to mid-size boats geared toward gentleman anglers. And with this new Freedom 345 dual console model, the builder does nothing to tarnish its well-earned name.

The 345 has a notably wide 11-foot, 7-inch beam and a 34-foot length overall, and it packs a lot to like into that rather sturdy footprint. She comes with dual 450 XTOs or triple 350-hp Yamaha outboards that offer a 56 mph top-end and a 30 mph cruise. Just forward of the engines is a small platform with diamond-patterned non-skid that makes it easy to gaff a fish, if need be.

In the cockpit, the boat has inward-opening dive doors to port and starboard and bench seating at the transom. Inside that transom is a refrigerator and freezer that doubles as a fishbox, as well as a cooler and a livewell. A grill forward and to port helps keep everyone full of energy as they set out on the adventures this boat was designed to tackle.

A passageway leads forward past the starboardside helm and a small L-shape dining settee to port and into the boat’s bow lounge. This deck space really opens the Freedom 345 up and is the linchpin that takes this vessel from being a fishing boat to an all-around player capable of doing whatever you ask of her. Wraparound seating up front is the perfect place to ride while underway in calm seas, or to create a separate space for a group of people while at the sandbar. Down below, the boat has a convertible settee/berth that is usable for a nap or as a place to stash the kids, but more likely than not will end up being extra stowage.

This Freedom 345 packs a lot of punch into a mid-size package that will excel on the lakes thanks to its versatile and thoughtful design and sparkling performance numbers. If you are looking for a boat that can do it all, this Grady-White should be at the top of your list.

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA (w/out engines): 33'6" Beam: 11'7"

Draft: 27"

Fuel Capacity: 293 gals.

Max Power: 1,050 hp

Base Price: Contact Dealer GRADYWHITE.COM

DEALERS

South Shore Marine

SOUTHSHOREMARINE.COM

Desmasdon’s Boat Works DESMASDONS.COM

Drummond Marine DRUMMONDMARINE.COM

Jerry’s Majestic Marine JERRYSMAJESTIC.COM

Mega Powersports & Marine MEGAPOWERSPORTS.COM

The Boat House BOATHOUSEH2O.COM

BOAT SPOTLIGHT

By Kevin Koenig

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 63'3"

Beam: 18'10"

Draft (w/ twin engines): 5'4"

Weight: 99,230 lbs.

Fuel Capacity (w/ twin engines): 1,760 gals.

Water Capacity: 400 gals.

Std. Power: 325-bhp

John Deere

Base Price: Contact dealer

KADEYKROGEN.COM

DEALER

Kadey-Krogen Yachts

772-286-0171

YOURCREW@ KADEYKROGEN.COM

KKadey-Krogen 58 EB

The world beater.

adey-Krogen has done a masterful job positioning itself as one of the top long-range trawler builders in the world. They have done so by turning out boats with excellent fuel efficiency, incredibly stable rides, and a level of onboard comfort that begs owners to stay aboard for extended ocean-going treks. But, of course, those qualities all translate well to lake boating, where a boat like the 58 EB effectively becomes a home away from home.

The 58 EB comes with either a single- or twinengine package. If the single engine is chosen, it’s a 325-hp John Deere. If the owner opts for twins it will be 160-hp John Deeres. Regardless of the engine package, the powerplants are housed in a spacious engine room designed to ensure that an owner-operator can comfortably and effectively carry out her maintenance duties. Down below, the boat comes with either a

two- or three-stateroom layout, both of which have a full-beam amidships primary ensuite. That primary stateroom has a king-size berth that is very comfortable, as well as extra stowage throughout to make sure the owner has enough clothes and other comforts to accompany her on the long journeys this boat was designed for.

Up top, the Kadey-Krogen has a large flybridge that acts as an excellent place to pilot the boat and also functions as a main entertainment space.

The 58 EB was conceived of as a world-girdler. As such, her windows are extra thick and strong at 12 millimeters. She also has wing stations for help with docking and navigating in places like the Pacific Northwest where flotsam and jetsam abound. Her hull was designed for fuel efficiency and stability, both underway and on the hook. Her range at 8 knots is 2,600 nautical miles — enough to go from Seattle to Anchorage, Alaska, without refueling.

BOAT SPOTLIGHT

By Kevin Koenig

Mag Bay 38CC Bay watch.

Since it was founded back in 2015, southern California’s Mag Bay has been a favorite among boaters who appreciate a versatile boat with a smooth ride and eye-catching aesthetics. The builder pulled from the human capital of the much-loved Cabo Yachts after it was sold to a new owner. That decision brought together a workforce that simply knows how to build great boats.

Its latest offering is the Mag Bay 38CC, a big, fast center console that can do anything its owner asks of it and more.

“The layout isn’t reinventing the wheel but it’s got a nice cabin down below to get away from the elements, and the fit and finish is like nothing else you’ll see in this category,” says Brent Reed of Reed Yacht Sales. “The welding on the T-top, for example, gets 100 hours of polishing all by itself. It’s like a piece of jewelry. No one else in the industry does that.”

While previous Mag Bays used designs by Michael Peters, this 38 has a cross-step hull dreamed up by Steve Matthews, featuring a variable deadrise bottom with transverse and longitudinal steps.

“The stability and the ride on these hulls is just incredible,” Reed adds. “People will really need to feel it to believe it.”

The 38 comes with either triple Mercury 400-hp outboards or twin Mercury 600-hp outboards. Either power package is going to have this boat flying across the water.

“You could get from Chicago to Holland, Michigan, in an hour and a half,” Reed says. “And you could do it with lots of people onboard. It’s really the perfect dayboat. But also with that cabin, you can sneak away for a weekend as a couple and have a nice time too.”

Variety is the spice of life, after all.

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 38'6"

Beam: 11'

Draft: 2'6"

Dry Weight: 15,880 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 595 gals.

Water Capacity: 65 gals. Std. Power: 3 x Mercury Verado 300-hp V8

Base Price: Contact dealer MAGBAYYACHTS.COM

DEALER

Reed Yacht Sales Grand Haven, MI; LaSalle, MI; Racine, WI REEDYACHTSALES.COM

BOAT TEST

MARLOW 70E MKII

Story & photos by Capt. Tom Serio

DARING TO BE BOLD.

Breaking from the norm can be rewarding, from a subtle upgrade to a major change. This Marlow 70E MKII is making it happen on all levels.

When I arrived at Marlow Yachts’ southwest Florida yard, I looked around the marina for a 70-foot yacht. By habit, I was looking for one of its white or signature blue hulls. I was surprised as I was directed to this 70E MKII, a bit of a horse of a different color. The gray hull stopped me in my tracks. I know Marlow has used this color once or twice before and I had thought it was more of an experiment. But yet here was another — of course with the familiar Marlow lines and lapstrake hull, from the raised wave-slicing bow with generous flair to the enclosed command bridge. The more I looked, the more I liked the color combo. And there are a few things this owner opted for to help carry the color scheme from hull to house. Let’s take a look.

NO TEAK ZONE

First off, aside from the aft deck hi-gloss teak dining table, there is not one lick of exterior wood to be seen. No teak decking, caprails, steps, railings, staircase — not even the swim platform. This gives a much cleaner look to the esthetics. The biggest benefit is that it eliminates all that maintenance that goes along with keeping wood finishes looking fresh. Don’t get me wrong, I like a cleaned and oiled teak surface and highly varnished rail. But this 70E MKII, with its bold exterior color scheme, doesn’t need the teak accents.

Marlow worked with the client’s desires and painted the window frames jet black all around to give a cool “blacked out” effect. Even the hull portholes are frameless and dark, giving the appearance of a “mystery” yacht. Carrying the color scheme to the top, the radar arch, radar antenna and domes are all finished in Awlgrip Shark Grey. An additional item with no maintenance is the radar stanchion, as it’s fiberglass, not metal that can chip and rust.

So as not to be a grey blob on the water or look too much like a naval vessel, the house superstructure is a brilliant Matterhorn White, contrasting with the metallic Stone Gray Awlgrip hull to accentuate the deck levels.

MARLOW 70E MKII

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 81'3"

Beam: 19'8"

Displacement: 125,000 lbs.

Draft: 5'

Fuel Capacity: 3,620 gals.

Water Capacity: 400 gals.

Power (as tested): 2 x MAN V12

1.650-hp diesel engines

Price: Contact Marlow MARLOWYACHTS.COM

DEALER

Marlow Marine Sales, Inc 1-800-362-2657

MARLOWMARINE.COM � Cool color scheme

Low-maintenance exterior since no teak surfaces

Galley has ample draw and overhead cabinet storage

Salon sofas are very comfortable

PONY UP

With such a contemporary look, it would be unfounded if you weren’t introduced to what’s “under the hood.” Get that trawler misnomer out of your head. In the spacious engine room is a pair of MAN V12 1,650hp diesel engines coupled to Twin Disc transmissions ready to go.

Taking the average speed and fuel consumption over reciprocal course lines during our sea trial, the 70E MKII topped out at 32.2 knots — an impressive cut of speed for an approximately 125,000-pound vessel. Of course, you won’t run like that all the time, but feel confident that you have the horses to beat it to port. Running at 75% load at 2100 RPM, the two MANs burn 130 gph combined yielding 28 knots.

ENTER HERE

If you’re looking for the teak, then step inside the 70E MKII and you will see the magic the Marlow craftsmen perform in creating top-end quality furnishings. With the dreams of the owner and skilled hands of the builder, Marlow customized this yacht to perfection.

Port and starboard Ultraleather sofas with storage below maximize the seating capacity in the salon. Hi-gloss teak and holly flooring contrast against the satin-finished teak cabinetry and furnishings. Since Marlow’s designers have repositioned the engine air vents, the salon sofas can be installed a bit further outboard. This results in more usable floor space in the salon, like for the low-fiddled custom wood coffee table with dual ottomans. These ottomans also double as storage space, perfect for keeping the family games together. Of note are the power outlets at the base of the sofas, allowing you to charge and recharge on the sofa simultaneously. Other niceties are the forward 60-inch

TV, custom coﬀered ceiling, end tables and Subzero wine cooler and fridge/icemaker.

TO COOK OR NOT TO COOK

Rivaling a home setup, the galley is large and fully functional. Designed like a country kitchen, there’s ample workspace and social gathering areas. Nestled under the forward windows is a large L-settee dinette with teak table. With the kitchen being a key gathering place, the chef and guests can continue to be together. Add in a few bar stools around the large central island. Housing two Subzero fridge/freezer drawers on one side, GE trash compactor on another and multiple storage drawers, the island is certainly a welcome addition. Along the starboard side are the Fisher & Paykel dishwasher, a Kohler double sink with integral cutting board, a Wolf four-burner gas stove (that’s right, a gas stove onboard), a lower Wolf oven, a microwave and a full-height Subzero fridge. If you have culinary prowess, this galley will not disappoint.

LOWER LEVEL LIKINGS

To port, next to the dinette, is a staircase to the lower-level staterooms. Within the fullbeam midship primary stateroom are a center king berth, a walk-in closet, plenty of drawers and lockers, and a ﬂat-screen TV. Jack and Jill sinks allow for cohabitation next to the voluminous shower stall and Sealand Vacuﬂush toilet. A classy touch are the Shoji Screens to cover the portholes, Forward is the VIP with a center king berth and teakplanked walls. Either side has permanent Pullmans, great if needing to sleep in proximity to kids or for storage. A head with a shower stall has private access.

To starboard is an additional stateroom with a queen berth and a head.

Via a hatch in the hallway sole is a mechanical room with hot water heaters, pumps and more storage space. As with all Marlows, space is not wasted.

Accessible from the covered Moondust non-skid side decks, the foredeck sports a Portuguese Bridge with side access doors and a center seat with fender and line storage underneath. Even though there are aft boarding gates from the platform and sides, forward boarding gates assist in provisioning and give additional access to ﬁxed docks.

COMMANDING BRIDGE

With an enclosed command bridge, the yacht can be operated in most any weather conditions or seasons. Twin Stidd helm seats oversee the vast array of electronics, including four Garmin GPSMAP 9224 multifunction displays, MAN 7-inch engine monitor displays, Sidepower thruster controls and more. An overhead console houses additional systems, neatly arranged, helping to keep the dash uncluttered. Motion is controlled by twin Quick MC2X gyro stabilizers. The house power is supplied by two 24kW Kohler generators.

Aft is an L-settee with an angled teak hi-low table, captain’s quarters and a day head.

Entertain on the aft ﬂybridge deck with the large seating and twin stools flanking the starboard ﬁberglass table. A grill station to port allows for BBQ cooking, unimpeded custombuilt railings hold the life rafts, and an Aritex 1,600-pound davit makes the upper deck a storage spot for toys.

Keep the Marlow 70E MKII on your shortlist. Customize as you wish. Make it a bold statement.

BOAT TEST

By Capt. Tom Serio

MARITIMO M75

This boat is the destination.

Picture this: You’re sitting with your buddy, enjoying the beautiful vistas out the windows, the outdoor deck is just through the sliding doors, the fridge is filled with chilling refreshments, a cool breeze is drifting through the windows, you’re on buttery-soft leather seating and the big game is on the TV. No, you’re not in someone’s living room, you’re on the top deck of the Maritimo M75 Flybridge Motor Yacht. And you aren’t watching the game — although you could thanks to the pop-up 43-inch TV; you are waiting on a freight train at the railroad bridge on the New River in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Let me expound on this situation.

MARITIMO M75 �

Twin helm seats for captain and companion Foredeck seating and sunpads

Option for foredeck or aft deck davits

Crew cabin space can convert into utility room

Helm footrest was not sized right, needs redesign It would be nice to have a staircase from aft deck to ﬂybridge

AND SO IT BEGINS…

Maritimo introduced the M75 to the U.S. market during the 2024 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Staying around for a few weeks, I got my chance to perform a sea trial for this publication. Since the yacht was tucked way up the river, it would take about an hour to transverse the route to the open ocean. Captain Tom Jagucki, my wheel man for the day, is a customer service manager for Maritimo Americas and an all-around encyclopedia when it comes to Maritimo info and news.

With feather-like controls, the M75 responds instantaneously to throttle commands and joystick controls. Keeping us in one spot was the station hold option, perfect for this or tending to lines single-handed.

With a floating helm pod to port that houses three Garmin 22-inch multifunction displays, and a lower console with engine monitors, VHF and other electronics, everything is within line of sight and touch. To starboard are the throttles and joystick controls.

The rest of the flybridge is well-appointed

and comfortable. Ambient air flow is refreshing thanks to the open side windows, sunroof, wide bi-fold aft doors and 6 feet, 8 inches of headroom. Nestled in the U-shape sofa across from the pop-up TV is a dedicated credenza. A forward U-settee is next to the helm. This is a great private social area or a central gathering place for a cruise.

A great feature on this yacht is the aft flybridge terrace. Through the aft door, the 175-square-foot deck is yet another lounging area, with a starboard L-settee and portside tiered bar with two bar stools. I like this as it offers outdoor enjoyment away from the foot traffic on the docks. Or opt for an open floorplan with your own seating configuration. Another benefit of the full-feature helm in the flybridge is you don’t need one on the main level, reserving this deck for full enjoyment. Entering from the aft deck, you’ll see a gorgeous galley to starboard with a high-gloss wood finish on the cabinetry, including on the large center island (with dishwasher and storage). Add in the solid surface countertops, Karndean design flooring, large windows and sliding aft doors, and the galley now becomes the center of

the yacht. Complementing the ability to feed the masses are the full-size fridge/freezer unit, fridge/freezer drawers, four-burner flat cooktop and microwave oven.

A nice feature is the wool-carpeted and lit staircase from the salon to the flybridge, offering sure footing.

Forward in the salon is a setup akin to a home’s living room. There’s an L-shape lounge to port and a U-shape sofa to starboard, both fitted with buttery leather. An electric lift reveals the hidden 65-inch TV.

POWER UP

Powered by a pair of 10-V MTU diesels producing 1,625-hp each, this big 122,000pound pleasure craft is nimble yet powerful. Running in mostly flat conditions, at 1,800 RPM, the M75 gets up to an impressive 17.8 knots, burning 89 gph. There’s more if needed. Push the sticks to wide open and you’ll get a really impressive speed of 27.9 knots (average over reciprocal routes) at 2,450 RPM, drinking up 168 gph. Point is, the M75 may not be the fastest yacht but it can run when it has to, keeping owner and guest safe.

I did notice upon quick acceleration

that there was minimal bow rise and slight lean into turns. It’s important to know the balance of your yacht, for your understanding and the guest’s safety

The Maritimo line has a fleet of stout yachts that can handle just about anything. That’s because they are manufactured in Australia, an island with about 32,000 nautical miles of coastline. Boating is in Maritimo’s lineage, as evidenced by the 60-odd years founder Bill Barry-Cotter has been crafting vessels. And when you look at the details of the yachts, you see a true attention to craftmanship, performance and function. Let’s not forget that Maritimo has a history in offshore racing, with certain lessons from the sport applied to its motoryachts.

DOWN UNDER

If you think the fine furnishings are only for the upper decks, wait until you go below to the accommodations. The midship full-beam primary is masterfully laid out. With a king center berth, there’s a vanity to port and drawers to starboard (or you can opt for a desk or lounger).

The minimalistic head is simply laid out with a Jack and Jill sink setup and an oversized shower stall. A walk-in closet and wall-mounted 55-inch TV fill out the stateroom. It’s a bonus to have 6 feet, 10 inches of headroom here.

Forward in the peak is the VIP, with a caddy-corner island berth that allows for walk-around access (and helps when having to make the bed). A private head has its own shower stall.

Two additional staterooms have side-by-side berths they can slide together and upper/lower bunks. These rooms share a head that also acts as a day head.

Throughout the yacht, Karndean flooring and wool carpeting make for perfect accents to the leather seating, satin Enviro Walnut (standard), Enviro Plantation Teak woodwork and Shangri La Silhouette roller blinds on windows and aft doors

What’s nice about the lower level is that the large stateroom windows, high ceilings, open-step floating staircase and indirect lighting provide a sense of openness; it’s not claustrophobic like some yachts feel.

AFT END FAVORITES

A favorite spot of mine on the M75 is the main deck aft area. Not only is there an L-settee with teak table and additional chairs, but it’s also tucked into the starboard corner, making the dining area private. To port is a sofa and aft entertainment center. This is all under cover from the flybridge deck and can be enclosed with curtains to make it an all-weather area, ideal for the Great Lakes’ changing seasons.

Of note is the huge aft platform “Adventure Deck” with a lazarette hatch, which offers great access to the water and toys and has its own huge garage for those toys and other gear.

I can’t give this yacht enough justice in this short four-page story. Its standard specifications listing is a mini booklet, with nearly everything included in the base model. Flip to the options listing, which is five pages long, and you will see how you can truly make the M75 your own.

After stepping aboard, you will be convinced that the Maritimo M75 really is the destination after all.

FEATURE

By Heather Steinberger

Mackinaw Arriving

A captain’s journey through love and loss, from Colorado to the Great Lakes.

The city of Greeley lies roughly 70 miles northeast of Denver. This is a different Colorado, one that is home to sprawling feedlots and dusty farmland rather than tony ski resorts and jaw-dropping mountain vistas. It is also the hometown of a Great Lakes ship captain — and not just any captain. This is where the commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw was raised.

GOING TO HOGWARTS

A career on big water was the farthest thing from Commander Jeannette “Jeannie” Greene’s mind when she was young. She did not grow up around water, other than the nearby Cache la Poudre and South Platte rivers, which spill out of the Rocky Mountains and carve their way eastward across the high prairie to the Missouri.

Greene attended Highland High School in Ault, Colorado. One of just 43 students in her class, she planned to attend art school after graduation.

That is, until her older sister, Molly, took the first step on a path that would change life for both of them. Greene said she still remembers the day the U.S. Coast Guard Academy information packet arrived at their house.

“We saw a photo of this three-masted ship, and as a kid from the cornfields, we thought, what is that?” she recalls with a laugh.

“It’s a pirate ship!”

Molly applied, was accepted and began her life as a cadet at the U.S Coast Guard Academy. She encouraged her younger sister to apply to the academy’s introduction program for high schoolers.

Greene says she rolled her eyes but applied anyway.

“[Molly] was driven and serious, got good grades and planned to attend a military academy after high school,” she explains. “I wasn’t what I thought a military person would be like. I was a jokester, and I didn’t push myself like she did.”

To Greene’s surprise, she was accepted. She stepped onto an airplane for the first time and traveled to New London, Connecticut.

“What a different atmosphere,” she says. “I couldn’t see anything, just trees, trees, trees. It was a little claustrophobic, but the academy felt like going to Hogwarts. I loved it right away, and I knew I wanted

The USCGC Mackinaw is a Great Lakes icebreaker and buoy tender out of Cheboygan, Michigan

to work toward a career in the service — stopping drugs, protecting the coast and saving lives. Yes, I was a free spirit, but I also liked the structure, mission and teamwork.”

AsAs she prepared for college, Greene also considered the other military academies and went through the process to secure nominations from her Congressional representatives and senators. Her heart, however, remained with the Coast Guard.

“My big sis was two years older and already there, so I went for it and somehow got in,” she says. “At the time, I think Molly and I were unique in the Coast Guard, as two sisters from Colorado!”

A COASTIE CAREER IS BORN

College life at the academy was an eye-opener for the new cadet in 2001. It was a rigorous environment, and she had a heavy academic schedule, but she was willing to work hard and couldn’t wait to earn her first commission.

“I enjoyed it in a weird way,” she remembers. “When everyone is in uniform, you have to look beyond that to see people for who they really are. I also loved marching, the uniforms, the flags and being with young people from all over. I thought that was the coolest thing ever.”

During the summer, Greene finally got to sail on that pirate ship. It was the training vessel USCGC Eagle, taken from the Germans after World War II, and she found herself in the rigging, at the helm and practicing to fight disasters like fire and floods.

She earned her degree in civil engineering in 2005 and then experienced a defining moment in every cadet’s career. She received her first commission at the Class of 2005 Billet Night.

“Molly got assigned to the original USCGC Mackinaw in 2003 (she would also serve as commanding officer of the USCG’s Neah Bay and Hollyhock), and she let me in on a secret,” Greene says. “The ship was going to be decommissioned after 62 years, and they were building a new Mackinaw that would be both icebreaker and buoy tender.”

U.S. Coast Guard cadets often hope to be assigned to a buoy tender, she explains, because they are aboard for weeks rather than months at a time. The nature of the work keeps the ship in shallow waters, which means it is closer to shore and can make routine port calls.

The new 240-foot Mackinaw would be home-ported in Cheboygan, Michigan. As sought-after as buoy tender commissions are, Greene noted that Cheboygan does not have the same allure as seaboard ports, which improved her odds of landing a commission. “Molly suggested that this might be the right opportunity,” she says.

Jeannie followed her older sister, Molly, to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy

The sisters’ ﬁrst command in the Greeley streets

Commander Jeannette “Jeannie” Greene

Sisters Molly and Jeannie

“I applied in January and found out I got it at Billet Night in March.”

Greene reported to Marinette, Wisconsin, where the new Mackinaw was under construction at Marinette Marine Corporation, which today is part of Fincantieri Marine Group. She learned everything about the new vessel, from the electrical system to the propulsion system, which incorporates two Azipods and a bow thruster; this system, unique for the military, allows the ship to push a large amount of water in any direction.

As a deck watch officer, Greene also learned to drive the ship. She says she will never forget the excitement of launch day.

“We motored away into Green Bay, a baby icebreaker born into beautiful ice,” she reflects. “To date, that is the biggest ice I’ve ever seen.”

BY LAND AND SEA

When Greene’s tour aboard Mackinaw ended, she served as the operations officer aboard a 140-foot icebreaking tug and then as an operations officer aboard the 225-foot buoy tender USCGC Juniper. While serving aboard Juniper, fate stepped in with a new twist.

“I met this hot dude in a bar,” Greene says, laughing. “We got married.”

At that point, she took advantage of Coast Guard-funded graduate school and earned a master’s degree in ocean engineering at the University of Rhode Island. She was assigned to a civil engineering unit in Cleveland, Ohio, where her son Grady was born in 2013.

“I got my engineer license, but I realized I missed being on a ship,” she says. “I sat down with my husband and told him I wanted to go afloat again. He said, ‘Of course you do.’”

With her husband’s support, Greene returned to shipboard life. She was assigned to the 225-foot Juniper-class buoy tender USCGC Maple in Sitka, Alaska — a move that thrilled them both, but she often felt torn about the life she chose.

“It was what I wanted, but I hadn’t seen moms on ships before,” she explains. “There are two of us on the Mackinaw right now, but that’s not how it was then. So there was this interesting push and pull of life happening all at once, and there was guilt because this rewarding yet demanding work took me away from my family.”

Greene thrived at sea, however. She was a natural at the helm, and her captain treated her as a captain in training.

“I never imagined that would be me,” she muses. “I always thought ‘I am not the type.’ But whenever the captain would leave the bridge, he would say, ‘You got it, XO!’ He taught me so much.”

Yet Greene headed shoreside again when she discovered she was pregnant with her second son, Sawyer. She took a position with a civil engineering unit in Oakland, California.

“We happily went,” she says. “My husband, Eric, was stoked about the mountain biking and the skiing.”

Then, one day, a mentor asked when she was getting underway again. In the moment, Greene says, time stopped.

“I thought, ‘oh no, I’m not done after all… it’s in me,’” she says. “I’m so fortunate that my husband supported me and was not only willing to take care of our home and the kids, but also was incredibly patient and talented in doing so.”

HOME TO MACKINAW

Then, in 2019, tragedy struck not once but twice.

On January 31, a mobile crane tipped over, killing the bosun of USCGC Hickory in Homer, Alaska. In May, Commander Molly Waters, Greene’s sister, died in a motorcycle accident in Washington, D.C., where she worked at USCG headquarters. As an organ donor, she saved three people’s lives.

The sisters had been estranged for years, and despite Greene’s ongoing attempts

Highlights in Jeannie’s USCG career include her cadet experience, meeting President George W. Bush, serving aboard USCGC Maple in Alaska, and forging bonds with her shipmates at sea.

at reconciliation, they had not spoken prior to Molly’s passing. On the heels of this gut-wrenching loss, she learned that the position of commanding officer aboard Hickory had just opened up.

“With full support from my husband, I applied and got it,” Greene says. “I took my broken heart to be with a crew that was as traumatized as I was. I was the captain they needed, as much as I needed them.”

Together, Hickory and her tightly knit crew tended buoys from Dutch Harbor to Ketchikan. It was a powerful experience, Greene says, and the bonds they forged proved vital when they lost a junior officer to suicide at the end of her tour.

After three years with Hickory, Greene decided she wanted to return to Mackinaw. She didn’t expect to get the commission, as it is rare for a commanding officer to serve in that position twice in a row.

“When I got the call, it brought me to my knees,” she says.

Not only was Mackinaw where Greene’s career started back in 2005, it was where her sister’s journey ended in 2019. The family scattered Molly’s ashes in Lake Huron from Mackinaw’s decks.

“Now I was aboard the same ship as captain,” Greene says. “I just couldn’t believe it.”

Greene became Mackinaw’s commanding officer in 2022. Once again, she found her second family in her crew, and the strength of that connection carried them through another dark day: On October 21, 2024, MK2 (machinery technician second class) Joshua Brown, 32, took his own life in Cheboygan.

“We love him, and we miss him,” Greene says. “We want to keep his memory present. Josh was an amazing, wonderful person, and he should be remembered.”

The Brown family is planning to do a burial at sea aboard Mackinaw, which will happen this spring. Greene says she is glad she can support them in this after her own family’s experience laying Molly to rest.

“I know this is all pretty heavy,” she says. “When boaters see the Coast Guard, they might not realize we are real people with our low moments and heartbreak. I think it’s important to share that we all struggle with work, seasonal affective disorder, family and losses — but we also gain so much. We are proud to represent and serve our country, and we are grateful to do it together.

“Our crew is amazing,” she continues. “Everyone works hard and supports each other. We share stories, we have coffee when no one else would be having coffee, and we love each other unconditionally. And we always talk about the hard stuff, because wounds that aren’t visible are dangerous.”

As captain, Greene says she has learned that these relationships are her greatest gift and greatest responsibility.

“Yes, I can drive a ship, but people are the job — the very best part of the job — more than the buoys and the ice — although those are cool too,” she says. “Mackinaw is the core of my life. It is an honor to represent this ship and this crew.”

It has been a remarkable journey from the eastern Colorado plains to the Great Lakes — one that began with a brochure and a photo of a would-be pirate ship. It is a journey that continues every day with the crew’s clarion call when Greene arrives on the bridge: Mackinaw arriving!

Indeed, the captain has arrived.

Commander Greene with her mother, husband and sons

Every year, the Mackinaw is transformed into Chicago’s Christmas Ship, bringing trees to inner-city families for the holiday season

PORT OF CALL

By Kath Usitalo

Your Home

A gathering place for centuries, the Upper Peninsula city of St. Ignace, Michigan, continues to draw travelers by land and freshwater seas.

Wawatam Lighthouse

Port

ST. IGNACE Mackinac Island

Lake Michigan

Lake Huron

Mackinaw City

Cheboygan

Petoskey

Charlevoix

Leland

ST. IGNACE

The first people of Michigan’s Straits of Mackinac, where the waters of the Great Lakes Huron and Michigan mingle, inhabited this part of the Upper Peninsula for thousands of years. Michilimackinac, including Mackinac Island, was a meeting place and a sacred place for the Anishinabek. By the 17th century, the waterway between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas had become a nautical highway for French explorers, fur traders, voyageurs and missionaries, including Father Jacques Marquette. In 1671, the Jesuit priest established the St. Ignace mission, named for Society of Jesus founder St. Ignatius of Loyola. Through the 1700s, the Straits evolved into an important fur trading center, and was a strategic military outpost until the War of 1812 was settled. In the late 1800s, the region became a destination for steamships transporting city-dwelling tourists seeking its fresh air, clear water and natural beauty. St. Ignace, the second oldest European settlement in Michigan, is now a city of about 2,300 residents that attracts visitors in all seasons. Located at the northern end of the 5-mile-long Mackinac Bridge — the only physical connection between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas — it is the gateway to the U.P., a departure point for passenger ferries to Mackinac Island and, as the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau describes it, “Your Home Port.”

Aprime location

Bureau Executive Director Lora Brown ticks off a list of destinations easily accessible by water from St. Ignace: Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island, Les Cheneaux Islands, Cheboygan and the North Channel. But, she says: “St. Ignace is not just for boaters. We think of our town as a place to stay and take day trips. You can go to places like Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie, Les Cheneaux, Tahquamenon Falls, Whitefish Point and year-round activities,” including birdwatching, snowmobiling, hiking and fat tire biking trails.

Within a 45-minute drive west of St. Ignace along the US-2 Top of the Lake Scenic Byway are miles of dunes and sandy Lake Michigan beaches, the Cut River Bridge, GarLynn Zoo Wildlife Park and Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum. At the Garfield Township Marina in Naubinway, a giant Michigan map recognizes the northernmost point of Lake Michigan.

In the immediate St. Ignace area, Brown says, “There is a lot to do, including fun for families.” Longtime roadside attractions include Deer Ranch, which, since 1950, has allowed close-up interaction with dozens of whitetail deer and fawns at what is called the oldest live whitetail exhibit in North America. For generations, the “World Famous” Mystery Spot has entertained and confounded with its guided tour of gravity defying and optically

Map of the US-2 Top of the Lake Scenic Byway

Mackinac Bridge from Straights State Park

World Famous Mystery Spot zipline

The Marina

The Wawatam Lighthouse welcomes boaters to the city’s St. Ignace Marina on Lake Huron’s Moran Bay. Open from mid-May through mid-October, the 136-slip facility can accommodate boats up to 150 feet in length, with slips reaching 18 feet deep.

“Located in the center of town,” describes Marina Director Joe Stearns, “it’s an easy walk to shopping, the museum, library, dining, bars and host of other activities. We also have two courtesy bikes with baskets available for patrons who need to make a grocery run for supplies. It’s a short walk to two hardware stores.”

The marina recently upgraded its internet service to ﬁber through a grant from the American Inﬂation Reduction and Recovery Act.

“Our customers now enjoy high-speed and continuously connected internet, perfect for the family traveling together, or the work-from-home seasonal customers who choose St. Ignace as their ‘work-from-anywhere location.’”

Stearns continues. “We have fuel services, pump-out, ice and laundry facilities available. We maintain our restrooms and showers in the best state of cleanliness as possible. We work with our young staﬀ to instill a sense of service in their onboarding, and teach them the importance of radio contact and dock line help.”

Maybe the most striking advantage of the St. Ignace Marina is the seawall constructed to protect the harbor from the ferry boat wakes, and the notorious east winds, which can be challenging for boaters in the northern Great Lakes.

“We try to accommodate all cruise-ins, but our summer season can get very busy, so please consider making a reservation to ensure a slip during your stay.”

challenging settings. It caters to all ages with ziplines, a maze and 18-hole miniature golf.

Castle Rock, an ancient sea stack of breccia stone that towers 195 feet above Lake Huron, was known as Pontiac’s Lookout, after Ottawa Chief Pontiac, for its miles-wide vistas. Since 1929, it has been accessible to tourists via 171 stairs up to the viewing platform.

Chuck LaBash, visiting from the Detroit area with his wife, Cathy, and two young grandchildren, says: “It was a beautiful view when I made it to the top. Incredible views of the bridge and the lake. I highly recommend it and would do it again.”

Discover the Straits story

The Museum of Ojibwa Culture is an indoor/outdoor cultural campus that explores Native culture through exhibits, a sculpture park, clan park and recreated longhouse. The museum hosts live programs focused on traditions, teachings and history, as well as workshops and activities for kids. Each May, the day-long Native American Festival fills the museum grounds with the sights and sounds of traditional dancing, drumming and heritage demonstrations.

Adjacent to the former chapel that houses the Ojibwa museum exhibits and Native American arts gift shop, Father Marquette Mission Park marks the very location of the St. Ignace Mission established by

The Ferries

There are two ferry lines that transport passengers to Mackinac Island from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.

Since 1945, Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry (SHEPLERSFERRY.COM) has been shuttling passengers to and from Mackinac Island. The ferry company is also well-known for its fall color cruises, lighthouse cruises, night sky trips, a can’t miss 4th of July ﬁreworks viewing experience and private charters. The ferry company was recently acquired by Hoﬀmann Family of Companies (HF Companies).

The other ferry option visitors have is the Arnold Transit Company (ARNOLDTRANSITCOMPANY.COM), formerly known as Mackinac Island Ferry Company. The company revived its historic name, which was originally launched in 1878, after also recently being acquired by HF Companies.

For more information on either ferry service, visit: STIGNACE.COM/ FERRY-SERVICE.

Museum of Ojibwa Culture

Castle Rock

Events

St. Ignace bustles with free, public events throughout the warm weather months, including Bayside Live! and Music By the Bay concerts, and Saturday night ﬁreworks over the water. The Bayside Farmers Market brings fresh produce, baked goods, syrup, jams and other prepared foods to the waterfront every Thursday afternoon July through September.

• February: Labatt Blue UP Pond Hockey

• May: Native American Festival

• June: Car Show Weekend

• July: Fireworks Over the Bay

• August: St. Ignace Heritage Festival

• August: Rendezvous at the Straits Pow Wow

• August: Arts Dockside

• Labor Day: Mackinac Bridge Walk

Also dotting the calendar are parades across the Mackinac Bridge from Mackinaw City to St. Ignace, dedicated to speciﬁc vehicles including Jeeps, antique tractors, Mini cars, semi trucks and antique snowmobiles.

the Jesuit priest 354 years ago. The historic site is also the final resting place of Father Marquette.

The mile-long, waterside Huron Boardwalk becomes a self-guided history tour through interpretive displays that dot the route between Kiwanis Beach and the American Legion Memorial Park. Along the way, a dock leads to the Wawatam Lighthouse, an active aid-to-navigation.

Recreational opportunities in St. Ignace include the 181-acre Straits State Park with camping, a mile-long hiking trail, picnic areas, playgrounds, beach and views of the Mackinac Bridge. Golfers may be distracted by the scenery at the city’s St. Ignace Golf & Country Club, which overlooks the Mackinac Bridge and Straits. The nine-hole course dates back to 1927, 30 years before the graceful suspension bridge opened to traffic. Golf carts and club rentals are available.

Mackinac Straits Watersports Rental Co. makes it easy to get out onto Lake Huron by kayak, paddleboard and PWC. Guided kayaking options include excursions to the Mackinac Bridge and fireworks tours. Electric bikes and bicycle beach cruisers are also ready to rent.

Shopping is always an option, and the one-of-a-kind stores that line State Street, the main vein through town, do not disappoint. From the work of local artists to antiques and vintage wares, Native American crafts, souvenirs, wearables, fine jewelry, Michigan-made food

Huron Boardwalk and Wawatan Lighthouse

Mackinac Straits Watersports

Labatt Blue UP Pond Hockey

St. Ignace Car Show Weekend Farmers Market

Music By the Bay

St. Ignace Heritage Festival

Labor Day Bridge Walk Rendezvous at the Straits Pow Wow

Arts Dockside

Resources

St. Ignace Visitors Bureau

St. Ignace Marina CITYOFSTIGNACE.COM

US-2 Top of the Lake Scenic Byway US2BYWAY.COM Upper Peninsula Travel

products, furnishings and home goods, the variety and quality of goods reflect the care and attention of the locally owned and operated businesses.

A taste of the Straits

This is the home of Lehto’s Pasties, an institution since 1947. The pasty (pronounced past-ee) is a handheld meal of meat and root vegetables wrapped in a sturdy but flaky crust that was favored by copper miners in the far western U.P., but has remained popular long after the mines closed in the 1960s.

Whitefish, fresh from the Great Lakes, pops up on menus all around town, including tasty tacos at Jose’s Cantina and as appetizers and entrees at The Galley. Locally smoked fish is a must, simply flaked onto crackers or in dip, sausage and jerky.

Since 1940, Bentley’s BML Café has been baking pies and making from-scratch soups and classic American diner fare in an authentic soda shop setting. At old-fashioned Clyde’s Drive-In, rave-worthy burgers, fries and shakes are delivered curbside by carhops. Java Joe’s Café is the colorful spot for a shot of espresso and extensive breakfast and lunch menu.

Salty Mac Brewing Company brings locally made craft beer to St. Ignace, in a combination coffee house within the brewery. It joins the Boardwalk Coffee & General Store in pouring specialty coffee drinks and other beverages.

The Boardwalk, located across the street from the marina, also serves a short menu of sandwiches, soups and sweets, and carries a selection of specialty charcuterie items and packaged foods.

It is the second local business opened by Californians Charlie and Rene Chiara, and neither venture was planned. Charlie discovered St. Ignace while in northern Michigan working with a marketing client, Avalon Pontoons, and decided to rescue a 1928 lodging. The couple transformed the three-story brick structure into The Boardwalk Hotel & Fireworx Bar, a luxe, 14-room boutique property.

Rene’s eclectic, vibrant décor in the individually designed guest rooms and the new, first floor lounge is, Charlie admits, “a little different” for St. Ignace, where typical accommodations are mom-and-pop motels and chain properties. However, he says, “People are craving something different.” Fireworx Bar has become a place for live music, socializing and enjoying specialty cocktails and small plates, and fills a void in St. Ignace for both residents and travelers.

Visitors Bureau’s Lora Brown is excited about the hotel as a tourism attraction, the addition of a 100-room waterfront Hampton Inn, the historical asset of the upcoming new Straits Cultural Center and more.

“We have really grown over the last few years,” she says. “A lot of people have discovered the Upper Peninsula and what towns like ours have to offer.”

Salty Mac Brewing

Boardwalk Hotel & Fireworx Bar

Bentley’s BML Café

LAKESHORE LIFE

By Abby Thorpe

ADDRESS

500 Blue Star Highway

South Haven, MI 49090

SPECS

Acreage: 21

Water Frontage: 345 feet

Price: $6,600,000

CONTACT

Andrea Crossman

Coldwell Banker

Woodland Schmidt

616-218-0267

ANDREACROSSMAN GROUP.COM

FSouth Haven, MI

A stunning 21-acre lot on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.

or the lake lover who wants acres of space, privacy, views and flat, easy access to a sandy beach, this gorgeous plot of land has it all. Formerly a tennis camp, these 21 wooded acres sit on the shores of Lake Michigan and offer unparalleled views and access to the lake. The property, which has been in the same family for decades, features trails, a pond and a drive to the sandy beach that is shared with the seller, whose home sits to the north on over 20 acres.

Multiple flat building sites and city water and sewer offer the opportunity for future builds on the property. A variety of mature trees include shagbark hickory, while a path near the pond leads to a sandy, open beach with no stairs to navigate. Drive your vehicle to the shore, or pull watercraft on and off the beach on the drive leading through the property.

A whopping 345 feet of Lake Michigan frontage offers plenty of space to enjoy the water, soak

up the western-facing views and relax in the sun. Enjoy wandering the property afoot, set off on a lake adventure, or build your dream home on this incredibly private acreage that sits in a prime location along Lake Michigan, with three new homes to the south.

“This is a very special parcel, the ‘Hope Diamond’ of Lake Michigan beach parcels with great walkable beach, no stairs to the beach, 21 acres of beautiful woods and a picturesque pond in a great location along West Michigan’s shoreline,” says the listing from Andrea Crossman, Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt. “Sunsets, walks on the beach, privacy, quietude and nature are yours to enjoy.”

Enjoy the privacy of acreage on the lake, with easy access south to the downtown shops, restaurants and marinas of South Haven in under 10 minutes, and north to Saugatuck in just over 20 minutes. This is a rare opportunity to create your Lake Michigan waterfront dream estate.

BOAT BIZ

By Abby Thorpe

Beachlauncher

Shallow

shoreline? We’ve got the solution.

Those of you who have a home on a Great Lake and are unable to have a personal dock or lift may relate to the angst of not being able to walk out your door and hop aboard your boat.

Luckily, a Milwaukee-based company has the solution. Beachlauncher, part of Beachworks LLC, is a remotecontrolled hydraulic-track drive system that can launch your boats right from your shallow shoreline.

Originally known as the Boat Launcher and started by Launch Vehicles in Ontario, the first system was ATV tire chain-driven, which limited its capacity and strength. In 2012, Roger J. Tietz secured both the U.S. and Canadian Beachlauncher patents and designed the hydraulic Superlauncher, which features wireless, remote-controlled steering. The systems, now driven by rubber tracks, can accommodate boats up to 30 feet, as well as smaller personal watercraft units.

“The main thing here is that it allows people who aren’t normally able to have a lift or a boat

dock, able to own a boat and launch from shallow shorelines in minutes,” explains David Nawrocki, head of marketing for the company.

Beachworks constructs five different models at its plant in Milwaukee and has even custom-designed units for personal submarines.

Beachlaunchers cost anywhere from about $29,000 to launch PWCs to $100,000 or more for larger vessels, and typically take 12 to 14 weeks to build.

The entire process includes having your beachfront assessed to determine if the system is right for you. Tietz is also the superintendent of Gillen Marine Construction Company, which specializes in building and restoring marinas and residential shorelines along Lake Michigan, so you’re in good hands when it comes to preparing and analyzing your lakefront.

If you’re in the market for a Beachlauncher, get your order in now, because summer will be here before you know it!

Cobia 220 DC 2025 38 Regal Grand Coupe

Cobia 220 CC (demo)

2022 ZODIAC YACHTLINE 490 DL w/ Integrity Trailer. Low hours, freshwater, turbo swing, sounder, stereo, cover, loaded! Asking $36,999. Call Brent @ 616-402-0180. RYS

2023 PURSUIT DC 246 Fresh low-hour trade! On a trailer and ready for an adventure. Low hours on a Yamaha F300 (16 hours) and is properly equipped with the latest tech. Contact for more information or to set up an appointment to see at our Milwaukee location. Asking $159,000. Contact PJ Tamer for more information at pj@centerpointesales.com or

2004 BOSTON WHALER 270 OUTRAGE Cruise or ﬁsh — this boat can do it all. Ready to go w/ twin Mercury Optimax 225-hp outboards, Fosgate stereo w/ Bluetooth, Bluave amps with 8 Bluave speakers, Icom VHF marine radio w/ antenna, Lenco trim tabs, NOCO Genius Gen Pro Dual Bank Battery Charger. Comes with Vantage tri-axle trailer. Asking $52,900. Call Bob @ 616-843-1225. RYS

2017 RANGER TUGS R-29 COMMAND BRIDGE LE Freshwater, low hours, generator, AC, loaded! Asking $229,900. Call Brent @ 616-402-0180. RYS

2018 RANGER TUGS R-31CB LE Designed with comfort in mind, and gets you there with minimal stress. Electric windlass, Volvo D4 300 diesel engine, generator, Bimini top and more! Two cabins and ample space throughout. The comment is usually “I can’t believe that this is a 31.” Asking $295,000. Call Chuck @ 734-497-3721 RYS

2023 FOUR WINNS H260 Check out this almost-new Four Winns H260. Gray with Mercruiser 6.2L 350-hp, only 10 hours on the engine. Tandem axle custom trailer, ﬂoor storage, anchor locker, head with sink, depth finder, docking lights, ski/wakeboard tower with Bimini top, JL Audio system, lots of under-seat storage, stainless steel cleats, swim platform, and much more! Asking $98,986. Contact info: tom@ centerpointesales.com or 414-232-2955. CNT

Visit LAKELANDBOATING.COM/ CLASSIFIEDS for details and to submit your materials. Payments cannot be accepted online. We will contact you for payment once your ad proof is approved. QUESTIONS? Email Christy at CBAUHS@LAKELANDBOATING.COM.

2013 PURSUIT ST 310 SPORT Freshwater, 409 hours. Well maintained, buﬀed and waxed in July. Twin 4 Stroke 300HP Yamaha Outboards, Lenco trim tabs, Raymarine touchscreen electronics. Wraparound bow seating, ready to ﬁsh! Asking $169,900. Call Elijah at 920-973-5955. BAY

2009 WINDSOR CRAFT 36 HARD TOP

Live the romance of the golden age of boating! Teak ﬂoors, rosewood dash panel and mahogany all around. Large galley cooktop and day grill. Power sunroof to enjoy a warm breeze on a perfect summer evening. Twin Volvo 5.7 Gi sterndrives with only 186 hours. Asking $239,000. Contact Chris DePrey @ 920-366-4320. BAY

36' 2022 BENETEAU ANTARES 11 FLY Excellent opportunity, 100% freshwater, well-maintained. Popular Beneteau model. Options include: joystick w/autopilot, Panda generator, AC, Garmin elect. incl. radar, VHF, plotter. Full galley, 2 staterooms, head w/ separate shower. Asking: $399,000. Contact Joe today 414-7930195 or joe@centerpointeservice.com. CNT

CLASSIC CRAFT

FunForAll 1953 18' Lyman Islander.

Over the past 70 years, ﬁve generations of the Ferne family have enjoyed riding in our side-steering 18-foot 1953 Lyman Islander. I am the middle generation of the ﬁve.

In the spring of 1953, my Grandpa Ferne bought the FunForAll from Gem Beach Marina on Catawba Island, near Port Clinton, Ohio. I was 10 years old. The boat was used brieﬂy on Lake Erie that spring, before being taken Up North to the Les Cheneaux Islands.

My dad rented a trailer and brought the boat a few miles to home where the photo was taken with me standing on the trailer tire. I was along for the trip north, across the Mackinaw Straits via ferry, and on to Hessel where the crew at Mertaugh Boat Works launched the boat oﬀ the cradle.

For the next seven decades, FunForAll has lived, winter and summer, in our family boathouse. The boat is all original, deck and all. We still have (and use!) the original cushions, Bimini, side curtains, etc. Several years ago, the Gray Marine model 620 engine was overhauled and upgraded to 12V. Back in the day, I learned to ski behind that boat, and the number of pike, perch and bullheads brought into the boat is beyond counting. Many visitors and friends have joined for “a little ride” past Dollar Island, into Hessel or Cedarville. Who knows how many Jersey Muds have been enjoyed in the process.

The secret to the boat’s longevity lies in the long, cold winters Up North, especially with living in a boathouse. The old-timers knew that a wooden boat needed protection from the elements. Our boathouse is 120 years old. We winter store now with a modern electric lift, but the concept has not changed.

The generations of the Ferne family come and go, but our Lyman’s attraction among the younger folks is still strong. We are all eager to see what the years will bring.

—John Ferne, Marblehead, OH

JOHN FERNE