The Great Lakes region
This region of 5 exceptional lakes is the 2nd largest market for the sale and purchase of boats.
Of course, it’s also a great vacation destination and, of course, one of the gateways to THE GREAT LOOP (near Chicago).
Florida is North America’s number 1 market in terms of sales and destination, and number 2 is this Great Lakes region.
Let’s start with the major cities bordering the Great Lakes. There’s Toronto (Lake Ontario), about 2 days’ sailing from Montreal, Buffalo (Lake Erie), Cleveland (Lake Erie), Detroit (Lake Erie), Milwaukee (Lake Michigan) and finally Chicago (Lake Michigan).
In general, it takes 11 days to sail from Toronto to Chicago, in relaxed mode of course, to take your time and enjoy all the attractions along the way.
Toronto
And let’s not forget the easy access to the Great Georgian Bay (Ontario) via the great Lake Huron.
Scuba diving enthusiasts will be well catered for in the Great Lakes region. There are many shipwrecks worth visiting. Here’s a link to give you a taste.
And here’s the famous, easily accessible wreck.
The locks
From Great Lake Ontario, there’s only one lock to pass to get to Great Lake Erie: the WELLAND Canal Lock. After that, there are no other locks to get to Chicago.
So, once on Great Lake Erie, the most important cities are Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit. Then the famous Lake St. Clair, which takes you to Great Lake Huron for easy access to the famous Georgian Bay (Ontario).
Still on Great Lake Huron, you climb up to reach the connection (without locks) with the very popular Great Lake Michigan (towards Chicago).
But you can also access Great Lake Superior via a lock at Sault Sainte-Marie. The cities of Thunder Bay and Duluth are on this great lake, but on the western side.
We come back to Lake Michigan for a large navigation zone, which of course gives access to Chicago and the city of Milwaukee.
Chicago is an extraordinary city, and it’s the gateway to or return from THE GREAT LOOP.
A HUGE BASIN (5 Great Lakes) IN FRESH WATER
So, back to the boat market, we’re still here in freshwater on these 5 great lakes. There are many, many boats for sale on these Great Lakes. It’s a huge market.
Of course, there’s the famous freshwater premium, which increases the resale value of boats compared to those in Florida, for example.
AN ESSENTIAL SECTOR
So, when it comes to choosing a boating destination or making a new acquisition, the Great Lakes are a very important player.
You can also start THE GREAT LOOP via Chicago to join the Mississippi River to reach the Gulf of Mexico via New Orleans.
The brokers at Ita Yachts Canada and its ProprioBateau division are here to help you make the right choice, so don’t hesitate. For a new or pre-owned boat, our advice and support will make all the difference. We’ve been doing business for over 20 years, on the Canadian, American and, of course, European markets. Almost half of our transactions are with the United States.
Michelle Mant, Eric Gaudette and Guy Bolduc
Some photos:
Chicago
Detroit
Milwaukee
Cleveland
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The article presented on this page is for information purposes only. This information is provided as editorial (i.e. opinion). The information presented in this article is presented in good faith and, while believed to be correct, is not guaranteed. Ita Yachts Canada does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the information and/or images displayed, as they do not suggest anything in relation to this article, indeed no association can be made with respect to the images and the article. All information in this article is subject to change without notice and is without warranty. It is the reader’s responsibility to verify the descriptions and statements contained in this article. The brokers at Ita Yachts Canada assume no responsibility for any conclusions the reader may draw. The purpose of this article is to promote boating in all its forms. It gives one point of view among many. Any reproduction of this article is prohibited.
