The upper Great Lakes basin is suffering a decrease in water levels, but immediate action is unnecessary, according to Canadian and U.S. experts. The causes of the drop include climate change, shifting weather patterns and earlier dredging and erosion in the St. Clair River. The bi-national, independent International Upper Great Lakes Study (IUGLS) Board states in a report that, between 1963 and 2006, the decrease in the levels – or "heads" – between Lake Huron and Lake Erie is an average of approximately 23 centimeters.
For many years, global warning has been an issue of debate. However, as more studies are conducted, the evidence is proving that it is a reality. The Earth’s climate has changed in the past and will continue to do so in the future. A problem arises when warming trends we are facing are accelerating and caused by human, rather than by natural occurrences.
The recreational boater is no doubt familiar with Michigan’s “sunset” coast and with most of the harbor towns that dot its shoreline. What many boaters miss by venturing too far north or south is a nearly perfect balance of charming history and culture, and dynamic urban living right in the middle of Michigan’s western coastline. The best-kept secret of Michigan’s west coast is exactly what you will discover when you enter any port of call in Muskegon County—the Muskegon Channel in the south and the White Lake Channel in the north.
It’s the little things that set one company apart from the rest. Doral strives to ensure that all cruisers and sport boats stand the test of time and that Doral owners appreciate the “little extra touches” that are integrated into their boats to meet and exceed their expectations. Step aboard, and discern the high quality that can only be achieved through Doral’s commitment to superior engineering and construction techniques.
Recreational boaters cruising the eastern shore of Lake Michigan are sometimes tempted to skip the 30-mile “detour” down Grand Traverse Bay to Traverse City.
But those who venture into this sheltered deepwater fiord are well rewarded for their initiative, because Grand Traverse is the gateway to one of the country’s prettiest and most sophisticated regions—a place rich in scenic vistas, lush orchards and vineyards, superb wines, innovative cuisines and excellent shopping.
You may not know from a simple or even a lingering glance, but the sleepy town of Oconto, Wisconsin, has produced one of the largest manufacturers of high-quality yachts worldwide. Oconto has less than 5,000 residents, and is certainly different from better-known, more sophisticated locales, including the Riviera or the Bahamas. However, it is an environment that allowed the dream of building boats to grow within one man, and to catch on within his family.
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As soon as people around the Great Lakes begin putting their boats away for the winter, ice fishermen start going through their gear and preparing for the upcoming season. The wait for “safe ice” begins. Every year, both new and experienced ice anglers wait with anticipation for the day when the ice will be thick enough to venture out upon.
Purchasing a boat can be one of the best decisions that an individual makes. In many cases, however, outside financing is necessary. Potential borrowers should consider whether to apply for loans through banks, dealerships or service companies. They would also benefit from examining their credit reports, debt-to-income ratios, the amounts they would be willing to spend on boat payments and the lengths of time they would be willing to devote to paying back their loans.
Hampton, Virginia is the oldest continuously settled European community in the United States. The city was established in 1610, just three years after Captain John Smith and his crew landed at what is now Virginia Beach in Chesapeake Bay. As the settlements grew, colonists expanded into the surrounding region, and Hampton was founded.
The Vicem Series of motor yachts features the best examples of classic design afloat. Vicem’s plant and design team in Istanbul, Turkey merges the finest materials in the boating world with state-of-the-art composite construction techniques. Vicem has the flexibility to work closely with its customers in each stage of the building process, resulting in personalized, tailor-made boats.
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