Page 10 - 2011 Lake St. Clair Guide Magazine

Take a Ride on the Sni! Fireworks Along the Water
After last year’s hot hot summer,
we found it’s nice just going for a ride New Baltimore Belle Maer &
sometimes to cool off. If you haven’t June 23 MacRay Harbor
done some backwater exploring, try
“the Sni.” Belle River Algonac July 4

On the chart, it is referred to as the "On the Lake" July 2 Port Huron
Chenal a’Bout Rond (Channel of the Ontario June 25
Round End); but locals know it as the July 1 St. Clair
“Sni Bora.”
July 4, 2011
The water is very deep and wide for
a nice ride, however, still keep an eye Mount Clemens Detroit-Windsor
on your depth finder, it gets shallow July 1 June 27
really quick along the banks of the
marshes. We also see a lot of water toward the Middle Channel markers..but, don’t cut to the Middle
skiers and tubers since the Sni is nor- Channel too soon, there’s another sandbar jetting out! If you stay
mally calm from being protected by on plane you should be in water at least 3’ deep all the way to the
land on both sides. So if a windy day, markers. Once you do it a couple of times, you'll be comfortable
it's also a good place for a ride. and will have new water to boat!

There are two deep water routes to If you're not that courageous, when you get to the end (you'll see
enter the Sni... and one very shallow the backside of Strawberry Island), just turn around and head back.
one. The deepest is entering at the It's worth the scenery and peacefulness. There's enough to see to
intersection of the North Channel. At enjoy the ride from both directions. See page 22 for another good
this intersection is the North Chan- aerial photo of the Sni.
nel Yacht Club. (See page 6 for aerial
view.) Or, on the shallower side, you
can enter between the two telephone
poles in the New Baltimore Highway.

Leaving and entering the Sni from
the south is tricky. You cannot head
straight out from the channel into the
lake, or you’ll be in a foot of water. If
you stay to your left and wind around
close to the marshland until you get
into Goose Bay, you’ll stay in water
over 3 feet. At that point you can head

Entering Lake St. Clair from the Sni A nice way to enter the Sni
Again, If you have some guts, under a 2' draft, and an is through the "Baltimore
outdrive you can lift, keep tight along the marsh after Highway." There's a no
leaving the Sni, staying in deep water. If you don't curl wake zone, however, very
around to your left, but shoot straight out, you'll be on
a sandbar. (Don't try entering the Sni from here until calm and nice scenery.

you've practiced coming out a couple times.)

Once you're in the middle of Goose Bay,
just curl around to the right toward the Middle Channel

"markers." Your goal is to get in this deep channel!

Don't cut too close to the entrance of the Get on plane while in
Middle Channel...you'll be able to see this deep channel...
watch out for all the
another sand bar. "Brown brown run aground!"
swans!!

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