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Dreams really do come true
We did it! It’s a dream come true! We jumped off the boat! We were 3 miles offshore in 65 feet of clear blue water, the surface temperature was 72℉, and we jumped in – with our life jackets on, of course. Lake Michigan was calm enough to float in – it was a perfect day!
Plus I got some great pictures of SV Zeke E Boy floating in Lake Michigan too!
Floating in Paradise
Even before we bought a sailboat, Kyle & I have been floating on Lake Michigan every summer for over a decade! We’re using different equipment but the outcomes are the same – pure bliss, instant peace.
Relaxation Station
When my parents first bought the lake house near Michigan City, our contribution was a blow up raft called the Relaxation Station. If we took really good care of it, it would last a season or two. We ended up buying several of these – especially when the kids came along. (It doesn’t look like this is available for purchase on Amazon, but you may be able to find it at sporting goods stores.)
Row Boat
Eventually, we bought an orange Intex Explorer Inflatable Boat. This is a toy rowboat; it does not come with oars but it’s awesome to float in especially if you’re tied up to a 10 lb. cast iron steel mushroom anchor. You don’t have to worry about floating away – or hurting your feet. We lost the anchor once when our rope broke so we’re careful to not take the rafts out in too many waves and we double knot the anchor. The raft only has room for a single adult or it may hold ~2 – 3 kids.
Floating Chairs
A few years ago, we saw someone floating in a vintage styrofoam floating pool chair, and my dad decided to buy these inflatable water chairs.
Initially, we thought they were cheap and wouldn’t work well, but surprisingly, they are great – especially on really hot days where you need to be in the water to stay cool. I ♥️ floating in them.
SUP & Platform Raft
Last summer, we made 2 large purchases for floating (Actually, we bought them but my mom paid us back because they are kept at her house for the grandkids). The first was a Wavestorm 10’6” stand-up paddleboard that converts also to a kayak from Costco. (I believe that these are no longer in stock, but this item on Amazon looks to be very similar – maybe a foot shorter.) And the second was a SOLSTICE 10’x 8’ inflatable platform raft, which is currently ~$150 less than what we paid for it a year ago!
Both of these are still in great shape 1 year later, but we take extra care to keep them clean during the summer and stored safely in the off-season. We do not leave them in the water overnight, and we rarely leave them on the beach so the sun exposure is low. We are hoping that these products last a long time for many floating days on the lake!
Tell me what you think
Do you have any other floating devices that you use? How do you enjoy a day on the water? Please share your thoughts in our comments below. I’d love to hear more ideas from you.
– Kara from Zeke Life
Live like Zeke
You’re such a good boy!
#WagYourTail Wednesday
What’s “Wag Your Tail” Wednesday? It’s when I highlight things I love so much that if I was Zeke, I’d have a helicopter tail! Almost as good as meeting a chipmunk for the 1st time!
