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We want to do our first overnight in Chicago. Can anyone recommend a family friendly, easy to trailer into marina? Coworkers tell me Monroe but I don't want to be on a mooring for our first overnight stay. The Admiral wants to sail the lakefront but I'm a little nervous about it for some reason???? She says just rip off the band-aid and go for it but with 3 kids under 9 I'm a little apprehensive.

I can't speak to the "family friendly" marina, but sailing the lakefront is not problem - just watch for traffic.

ualpow wrote:We want to do our first overnight in Chicago. Can anyone recommend a family friendly, easy to trailer into marina? Coworkers tell me Monroe but I don't want to be on a mooring for our first overnight stay. The Admiral wants to sail the lakefront but I'm a little nervous about it for some reason???? She says just rip off the band-aid and go for it but with 3 kids under 9 I'm a little apprehensive.

The Chicago marinas are just too crowded for me, especially on the weekends. If you are nervous about Chicago, Milwaukee is a good stepping stone. Drive the extra 2 hours up to Milwaukee, they have a beautiful harbor and launch ramp. If you have a dinghy you can cruise up the river (or raise a few bridges to get through without one). Check it on the camera that you can control, it give you a good feel for the area. http://www.lakefrontcam.com/

We did rent a sailboat once out of Belmont Harbor before we bought our X. There were a LOT of boats around. Belmont harbor would not be a good location to go in my opinion. http://www.chicagoharbors.info/ has info on all the harbors in Chicago. There are other guys that launch out of Chicago that should have better information.

Have you considered Hammond Marina in Indiana? Newly remodeled with new docks installed last year. Trolled thru the harbor last week, lots of empty slips, 2 and 1 moored there. You also have the refuge of Calumet Harbor if the lake gets rough. Their phone # is 219 659 7678.

Yeah, I would consider either the Hammond marina or the East Chicago marina (they are very close to each other).

After doing Chicago, sail over to Michigan City, especially if you have kids, they have a beach, zoo, handy restaurants, etc.

rick retiree wrote:Have you considered Hammond Marina in Indiana? Newly remodeled with new docks installed last year. Trolled thru the harbor last week, lots of empty slips, 2 and 1 moored there. You also have the refuge of Calumet Harbor if the lake gets rough. Their phone # is 219 659 7678.

Well we didn't do overnight but tried out North point marine in Winthrop. So far I's our fav other than the 1.5 hr drive. I rigged in and hour which included rewinding the furler drum TWICE! Had to put more windings on the drum so it would furl all the way. Did it backwards 2 times. At least I was in the lot not on the water! Note to self....Northpoint has a median between the ramps Great sailing day with constant winds from the south east. Admiral thought someone was hailing us with a light but it turned out to be a big power boat with a 5000.00 anchor reflecting the sun. So far I'm liking this place as our slip of choice for next year. First time using pumpout, crapper cherry now broke. (wait that didn't sound/read like I wanted it to!)

I rigged in and hour which included rewinding the furler drum TWICE!

It takes a long time to do this until you figure out that you can disconnect the genny sheets and just spin the line in. Don't ask.

Catigale, I figured that out after unwinding the line the first time. I have to get some shackles and quick pins on my main sheet, boomkicker and genoa sheet.

John, You could have spent the night on my boat in the slip.
Crazy Summer, I haven't seen my boat since Father's day and still don't have my mast stepped.
I bet the marina spiders own the boat.
Tom