Lake Michigan is the only one of our Great Lakes which is entirely located in the United States. The other four are shared with Canada and the US.
With pontooning being such a popular past-times for Americans, it’s no wonder so many people want to know whether they can take a pontoon boat into this huge lake.
The simple answer is, yes, pontoon boats can go in Lake Michigan, Chicago, and there are no state rules to say that you can’t.
But, given that Lake Michigan is the second largest Great Lake in the country, it does come with its own unique challenges that any pontooner should be aware of before embarking on a trip.
If you know what the weather forecast is before you set off, and keep an eye on the weather too, then you should be ok, just don’t venture too far out into the lake though.
In this short guide I am going to address some of the challenges and points you should be aware of before you set-off.
Waves & Wind on Lake Michigan, Chicago
Lake Michigan can get very strong winds and high waves. And the conditions can change in an instant… before you know it, you could be in a very scary situation that you aren’t used to be able to handle.
Because of that, many pontooners would not even consider taking their boat out there due to the risks involved.
If it’s a calm day, you should be fine, but I would recommend that you stay close to the outlets and inlets, so you can safe quickly if the weather goes bad.
Also make sure that you have safety equipment on board (here’s a safety equipment checklist) including portable floatation devices, GPS, and VHF radio in case you get into trouble.
Before you set off, always check the NOAA weather reports and pay particular attention to the wind forecasts.
I’ve seen large pontoon boats of 20 foot and upwards on Lake Michigan in 25 miles per hour wins with 2-foot-high waves, and they have been fine, but for me, I don’t like that level of discomfort.
I certainly wouldn’t be pushing the boat in those types of conditions, as your pontoon will be bouncing around like never before.
My concern would be that if you get hit by a three to five-foot wave, and you’re too far out in the lake, you could get into problems.
When wind gets up to between 15 to 25 knots, it’s what’s called small craft advisory. This is a warning issued by the National Weather Service and is issued when the winds are forecast to pick up to a level which isn’t ideal for smaller crafts, and I include pontoons in that for my own personal safety reasons.
Why?
Because I’ve taken my pontoon boat into 30 mile per hour winds on lakes before, and that kicked up 3-foot-high waves. That was too much for me and my passengers, and not something I would ever wish to repeat.
To enjoy your pontoon boat on Lake Michigan, here’s my checklist of what to do:
- Don’t go out on a windy day
- Only boat on calm water days
- If the waves are higher than 1 foot high, I wouldn’t go out
- Stay close to the shore
- Carry essential safety equipment (which is for every pontoon trip in truth)
Video of a Pontoon Boat on Lake Michigan
In this video, you can see a 24-foot pontoon boat out on Lake Michigan. As you can see, it’s handling the large lake pretty good, but it’s rougher water than most pontooners might be used to when compared to smaller lakes.
How to Handle a Pontoon on Lake Michigan
Previously on Pontoonopedia, I have put some advice together which gives some tips on how to handle a pontoon boat in rough water, such as the type you might encounter on Lake Michigan.
To read those tips, I recommend you take a look at my pontoon boat rough water guide.
Where to Launch From?
Where you launch your pontoon from can make a difference. For example, if you come out of St. Joseph harbour, then waves tend to be twice as high as the ones you’re going find once you get outside… so that will give you an indication of what to expect.Â
From the Wisconsin side, you might be better off trying a larger inland lake like Winnebago instead. The weather and waves are a lot calmer, and almost perfect for pontoon boating.
Things to Do on Lake Michigan in Your Pontoon
One of the best things that Lake Michigan has to offer are the beaches. It’s often called the third coast, after the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean beaches, with off white sand that is just perfect for beaching a pontoon boat.
With water that is normally very clear and cool, with water temperatures averaging between 55 and 80 °F (13 and 27 °C) even in late summer months, it’s a great place to have fun.
There are also bars and restaurants at strategic places along the massive shoreline, so you could find plenty of places to eat and entertain, as well as the opportunities for fishing.
If you love your water sports, and have a pontoon boat with enough horsepower, then wakeboarding, pulling tubes, and water skiing is a great idea. Just stick close to the shore.
Salt Water Concerns
There’s a common misconception that Lake Michigan is salt water. As you might know, salt water isn’t great for pontoon boats, and boating in saline water requires different tube treatments.
Thankfully, the lake is fresh water so you won’t need to treat your pontoon tubes any different than if you were in any other United States’ lake.
Conclusion
Yes, you can take a pontoon boat onto Lake Michigan, but with the strong winds and high waves that often occur, you need to be extra safe and extra cautious.
As long as you respect the weather, keep close to shore, and don’t take risks, you should be fine and have a great day.
