Re: Lake Champlain - NY/VT
I've done a lot of boating on Champlain. From a 33 foot Sea Ray cabin cruiser, A 17 foot Brig inflatible with 115 Honda, 70 mph jet skis and a canoe with a 5 hp honda on it. I only have a 14' 9" boat now but it's brand new and very reliable.
I even invested in an enclosure for this boat because on Champlain when the wind kicks up and you have to head in a direction that causes the waves to hit you sideways or even at a 45 degree angle you and your Family are sure to get soaked the whole way back to your launch area.
We've endured waves that started out as 1 foot swells and quickly turned into 4-5 foot seas all too many times and it's always on the way back after we've crossed to Burlington. I'd be launching on the VT side when you want to hit the public docks at Burlington.
I wouldn't put you or your family at risk wandering off too far from the various launch areas on Champlain. If you a planning to use that 24 year old motor I think you're taking a real chance on Champlain anyway.
It can turn into ocean like conditions in heart beat and you won't see it coming because the East and West sides of Champlain are surrounded by high mountains.
Champlain has many free NYS state launches from Whitehall (Southern part) and up through the Northern parts. One nice area with a free launch is Willsboro Bay. Nice part of this bay is that it's huge and if Champlain is kicking up you can stay in the bay. Not a far ride to the Four Brothers Islands as you come out of Willsboro Bay they are just South. Cool place. Great place to get out of the rough waters and winds. It's a bird sanctuary. Ton's of birds on each Island.
Peru is another nice launch area because right in front of it is Valcor Island which is also huge. If it's windy, all you have to do is circle until you get to one of it's many bays until you find one out of the wind.
We pick a different launch area with each outing using the State locations on different days so we can explore different areas of the lake without getting stuck on the wrong side of the lake when the inevitable storm or high winds kick up. The problem with Champlain as well as the Hudson River is they both run North to South which is the way the wind blows on most days.
Port Douglas has a NYS launch. Is directly across from Burlington (10 miles) and the bay is sheltered by Schuyler Island in the middle which gives this bay a safe haven when the waters rough. It's just North of Willsboro Bay.
Tips:
Buy a copy of "Cruising Guide to the Hudson River, Lake Champlain & the St Lawrence River". This wire bound book will be a great read for you over the winter to familiarize yourself with Champlain. Keep it on board at all times too. Shows gas docks, ports and bays for safe havens. Phone numbers of marina's and restaurants too. Has a history of EACH port too. Sells for $34.95 but Amazon.com sells it with free shipping for $25. Latest reprint is 2006.
Before you venture onto Champlain invest in an on board VHF radio (about $100 plus an antenna). Not a portable one because they only go 2 miles and that's useless on Champlain.
Invest in a combo GPS/Depth finder. Be sure to set a way point EACH time you leave a launch. If it mists or fogs over you will get lost very quickly and a compass will not help you from running aground and a map is tough to read in the wind, dark or rain and drive at the same time on a small boat.
Always keep a spare plastic 2-3 gal gas can onboard. One emergency call to have an emergency boat bring you gas might cost you $75-100. This spare gas can could pay for your radio by never having to make a call for gas. Or getting to a gas dock near empty and it's closed or out of gas.
With the age of your motor I'd invest in a used later model 9.9 kicker. You can use it for trolling too, but it could be a lifesaver if your motor conks out.
Take a boating course with your Spouse or other over the winter.
We trailer around to many lakes and rivers but none are even close to how beautiful Champlain is but you need to have great respect for it when boating on it.
Good luck.
