No wake in SNI (or whatever you call it)

[ronhuntfish]

I always get confused (big suprise) when navigating down the SNI/Chenel Bout Rond off of the n-channel on St. Clair.

When traveling on the north channel heading down stream, when I vear to the left to head down the SNI, when does the nowake start?  I know it's no wake from there heading down the north channel.

I usually no-wake from that point down the Sni also.  But then I get confused when people water ski past me.  I don't know if I'm wrong, or if it's just locals/non-locals that don't care.

I know there is two sections of the SNI that are no wake, right?

[motocross269]

Ron, do you have the  hotspots map for LSC??? I think it shows the No-wakes on there.  I don't have mine at work with me.   I don't really remember there being a whole lot of no-wakes around the SNI,  but it has been years since I have been there.

[smbassman]

You can run from the N. Channel to the no wake bouy down by where it curves to the south, near Strawberry Island.  From there to where it dumps into goose bay is no wake.

[Revtro]

I know it's confusing because there are several no-wake buoys and sometimes you don't know if that's where the no-wake area stops or starts.  Rule of thumb: Houses = No-wake.  When you navigate down the Sni you'll notice that there are buoys that start and stop where there are houses.  That's my understanding of how that area works.  I think the stretch smbassman is referring to is that section where there are homes.

[ronhuntfish]

Ron, do you have the  hotspots map for LSC??? I think it shows the No-wakes on there.

The Hot Spot Map does not show it, and I don't think I have ever seen a map that did.

You can run from the N. Channel to the no wake bouy down by where it curves to the south, near Strawberry Island.  From there to where it dumps into goose bay is no wake.

Looking at my map, see where you are talking about, as revtro stated, there are houses just up-stream from Strawberry, which should be no-wake.  I think there should also be no wake, as revtro stated, in front of the houses just down-stream from the Baltimore Highway. 

So, I would assume that I could run from the n-channel to just past the Baltimore Hy.  I think that is where I get confused, because of the no-wake buoy that is for the n-channel.

[motocross269]

My mistake...The hotspots map showed alot of the no-wakes on the Grand River last weekend I was hoping that maybe it showed some for the LSC channels also.

[motocross269]

Here is some stuff on the no-wakes around the SNI..It probably isn't quite as accurate as you are looking for, but it may have some helpful infohttp://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mrbis/watercraftcontrols/st_clair_river.htm

[smbassman]

Ron, do you have the  hotspots map for LSC??? I think it shows the No-wakes on there.

The Hot Spot Map does not show it, and I don't think I have ever seen a map that did.

You can run from the N. Channel to the no wake bouy down by where it curves to the south, near Strawberry Island.  From there to where it dumps into goose bay is no wake.

Looking at my map, see where you are talking about, as revtro stated, there are houses just up-stream from Strawberry, which should be no-wake.  I think there should also be no wake, as revtro stated, in front of the houses just down-stream from the Baltimore Highway. 

So, I would assume that I could run from the n-channel to just past the Baltimore Hy.  I think that is where I get confused, because of the no-wake buoy that is for the n-channel.

I don't remember any bouys just after the baltimore channel.  There are houses and there are bouys in the baltimore channel, but I have never seen any one drop off plane in that area, just the line of houses Northeast of Strawberry Is.  There was a map on the LakeStClair.net site that showed the no wake areas for all the channels and the area I am talking about was the only "no wake" on the Sni.

[djkimmel]

This is not a guarantee of any kind - we should all understand all rules and regulations for the areas we boat and fish in. Rules, regs and enforcement are always subject to change.

According to my review of the regulations and discussion with sheriff deputies in that area, the first no wake buoy inside the Sni (Chenal A Bout Rond) from the North Channel end is actually just marking the 200 foot area because of the houses and marina. All vessels under 26 feet must be more than 200 feet from any dock or shore to go over a no wake speed, so over 400 feet wide.

I feel it minimizes risk to copy the behavior of the sheriff patrol and I don't know if I have ever seen them run through there. Conceivably, you may be able to run past the middle closer to the wildside through there, but additional nonrunning boat traffic might make the unwise. Next chance I get, I plan on getting an update on that stretch from the sheriff with the lower water levels in consideration. I have always gone no wake out of habit and because I often see the sheriff boats no-waking it in there. I don't go by what other people are doing. Few people know much in the way of actual regs.

The other marked no wake stretch down near the mouth of the Sni is no way between the two buoys since that stretch is mostly less than 400 feet wide between dock, walls and shorelines. I do see people run it, but the majority go no wake. I was told by deputies it is not wide enough to allow faster than a no wake speed.

Those are the only two areas I know of marked in the actual Sni. The rest is just the typical 200 feet from shore/docks/piers for boats under 26 feet and 600 feet from shore/docks/piers for boats over 26 feet. If you can run safely and stay 200 hundred feet or more out, you should be okay.

[WayneC]

Dan's got it right...

There is a color coded map that is put out by the Anchor Bay Yachting Association in cooperation with the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department Marine Divisions, which clearly shows the no-wake areas.  It's handy to have on board in case you come up with one of those situations that Dan mentioned.

The no-wake buoys from the North Channel going into the Sni pertain to only boats that are 26 feet in length or more.  As long as we follow all other rules, we are free to run in this area.  The buoys at the end of the Sni are mandatory for everyone.

If you are a Combat Fishing subscriber you can find two of these maps attached to the Combat Fishing Extended Notes off of my website.

There was no contact info off of the map if you wanted to get one, but you could probably contact the Anchor Bay Yachting Association.  As I remember, the Sherrif's office at Harley Ensign had them on their counter top with other free literature.

Another questionable spot is that stretch in the Middle Channel off of the North Channel where the docks begin.  There are no-wake signs posted everywhere and people on shore waving at you to slow down.  This also pertains to only boats 26 feet in length or more.

Have fun and stay safe out there!

[Revtro]

So boats under 26' can run the Sni?  That's good news!  Unlike the middle channel where it says that on the signs, the bouys in the Sni don't...they only say no-wake.  So it's confusing if you don't know the rules. 

[smbassman]

www.lakestclair.net/captcorner/no_wake_map.jpg

Try this!

[Revtro]

Thanks.  That map shows it perfectly.

[djkimmel]

Nice job on the 'homework' smbassman! Thanks Wayne. I have a copy of that map somewhere. I'll have to see if I can get permission from the club to add it to my resources section (that needs a lot of additions yet, I know .

As always, these things are subject to change, so occasional checks for changes are a requirement for everyone.