For me, summer is WETSU Season!! There are so many great things about summer –and I can’t wait to write about all of them. But let’s start with water toys for the lake.
There is truly nothing better than a day on the lake in northern Michigan. From the moment I wake up and take a cup of coffee down to sit on the chairs by the shore; to taking my paddleboard out on the calm, still morning water; to heading out on the pontoon boat and everything in between. We have a range of toys at the ready, for all levels to launch on the water at any moment. Let’s get into it.
Stand-Up Paddleboarding
There is a unique tranquility to standing up and gliding across the lake on a paddleboard. It allows you to get exercise and essentially, walk on water.
My personal favorite practice is to go out before there is any boat traffic, usually between 8:00-9:00am. I will paddle for about an hour and when I get to a calm spot in the middle of the lake I’ll just sit down on the board. I take in the silence. Notice the birds. Maybe hear a loon. If I’m really lucky, I’ll see a loon. I just sit.
At the lake we have two paddleboards. A standard foam paddleboard that my sister purchased at Costco. It’s great and served us well. And, a new addition.
My Paddleboard
My sister is the Assistant Director of an amazing non-profit organization, the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan. A few years ago, she made me aware of a raffle they were holding. At the last minute I purchased the remaining two tickets. And, I WON.
I don’t believe I’ve ever won anything in my life. Certainly nothing this special. It is an all wood, hollow core work of art by Little Bay Boards, in Petoskey, MI. It’s different than any paddleboard I’d used before and I didn’t know what to expect.
What I found was an experience even better than the joy I already knew of paddleboarding. I can actually feel the water beneath my feet. There is something organic about the experience. I am truly ONE with the water.
It is my morning meditation out on the water—and I treasure it. Every day on the water with this board is a true gift.
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BOTE Kayak
We’re only able to get “Up North” a few long weekends a summer; this means my dad is up at the lake by himself most weeks. The pontoon boat is his domain, but in the last few years, he’s been less and less likely to take it out by himself. So, when he said he wanted a kayak to just “tool around” the lake close to home, we were struck by fear.
His response, “I’m a grown man!” True, he’s a 91-year-old grown man who we don’t need getting stuck in a kayak. Or, worse, capsizing in a kayak.
So, let’s add to our water toys for the lake! The search was on for a sturdy vessel that would allow him to sit high, have a real seat and be firm enough to get in and out of on his own. Some research led us to BOTE.
BOTE makes inflatable watercraft, including paddleboards, kayaks, and now floating “hangout” docs, etc. Really cool, innovative things. We landed on the Lono Aero Inflatable Kayak for him. It allowed him to sit in a real seat and be able to swing his legs over and get in and out easily.
We did not get all the bells and whistles, but you can outfit it with a pedal mechanism (turning it into a pedal boat), a cooler, fishing accessories, etc.
It has turned out to the perfect thing for him. You can check out this and other BOTE products here.
Inflatable Floats — Affordable, Accessible Water Toys
A true WETSU moment for me is simply floating on the lake. My dad will walk on the dock and shout out “Are you WETSUing?” Yes, I am!
I always have several floats blown up (an electric air pump is a must have!) and ready for anyone to grab and go out on the lake. Some days are lazier than others and we end up creating a flotilla and staying close to home.
I have experimented with many different floats over the years. And will generally stock up when I see an end-of-season sale. At the beginning of the summer, it’s always a high-anxiety moment when I dust last year’s floats off and see which have been chewed by mice and which survived. Not to worry, I have a stock of new ones ready to go. For the most part, I’m able to get at least two seasons out of a float.
These have proven to be particularly fun and durable:
- Intex inflatable lounge chair
- Inflatable animals. These are especially fun for the kids. That said, they are big enough for adults and very comfortable.
- Inflatable twin air mattress also makes a great float. It’s very comfortable and stable and readily available . With a fabric top and plastic bottom, it’s pretty comfortable in the heat of the day.
- Finally, as we get closer to summer, Target usually has a great selection of inflatables, including this big circular float similar to the photo below.
Pedal Boat
My parents have had this pedal boat for as long as I can remember. I’m not sure what brand it is, but it’s your standard-issue, hard plastic pedal boat. I’ve never really enjoyed it, but the kids love it. They can take it out alone, go close to the shore and catch frogs and who-knows-what-else.
It’s an easy, relatively stable, vessel that allows the kids to go off on an adventure. We are safe in the knowledge that they won’t go very far – and they’re not going to be tipped over.
It’s a good one to have on hand – this one is similar to ours, although our canopy is long gone.
Pontoon Boat — An Oldie but a Goodie
Last, but not least, is our old pontoon boat. It’s a 25 foot Sweetwater and it’s seen better days. The carpet is torn in places and has the occasional spot of moss, and the leather seats are worn and split in spots. But man, have we had some special times on it.
As water toys for the lake go, this is really the hub of our lake life. During the day people might be going in different directions — some are shopping, some are floating, etc. At some point we all come back together and go out on the boat.
We’ll pack lunches and take it to one of three islands in our lake, throw anchor and swim from there. We will boat across the lake to get pizza, then anchor and eat as the sun sets. And sometimes, we just take long, slow boat rides around the lake, looking at all the houses. Even when it was parked at the dock, many times we’ll find ourselves having pre-dinner wine and cheese sitting on the boat.
We’ve wanted my dad to get a new boat for many years – and we’ve done our share of “teasing” about how beat up it is. My dad’s response is always the same, “I love this boat! It’s old like me.”
I have to admit, as much as I would love a bit more luxury, I love it too.
Let’s Do It All Again Tomorrow
At the end of a luxuriously long summer day, it’s time to put the toys away. And the best part is knowing you can get up tomorrow and do it all again. That’s WETSUing!
WETSU! WETSU!
XO JT
