Floating Islands in the Caribbean... I N
By Alan Jones
For those who live in the Midwest and have dreamed of swimming and diving in the vodkaclear waters of the Caribbean, look no farther than your own backyard.
26 | walstrom.com
M I C H I G A N !
GRAND TRAVERSE BAY
Although Dave Kaplan had never owned a boat before, his wife Trina’s family had a Sea Ray Sundancer 370 they used to explore some of Lake Michigan’s greatest cruising destinations like Mackinac Island and Torch Lake. But living in Traverse City, they knew they had to have a boat of their own to cruise on scenic Grand Traverse Bay. “We were so used to Sea Ray’s quality we didn’t even look at different brands before buying our 230 SPX at Walstrom Marine,” said Dave. “It’s the perfect size boat for this area. We spend most of our time cruising in the Western Arm of Traverse Bay and usually only go as far as the tip of the peninsula, which bisects Grand Traverse Bay so it stays pretty calm, unlike the main body of Lake Michigan. “My wife and son, Tanner work together with me in our insurance office,” said Dave,
“and after a hard day of work, we often head across the street, hop on the boat and immediately start relaxing. One of our favorite destinations is Power Island. The water surrounding it is really clear and we enjoy snorkeling there. In late June, it’s fun to look at the big smallmouth bass protecting their beds. Another anchorage we like to go to is Bower’s Harbor Cove where conditions are usually calm, making it a great place to spend the afternoon swimming and tubing. Our favorite waterfront restaurant is Harrington’s By The Bay.” “Because we like to spend a lot of time in the water,” said Dave, “the padded swim platform and submersible swim step are our Sea Ray’s favorite features. When the sun’s out, having lots of shade from the expansive Bimini top keeps us very comfortable when we’re spending the entire day on the water.”
