Hessel & Cedarville: Insider's Look

Diane Patrick is a Michigan Boating Industries Association member who operates a boat brokerage business in Cedarville, Land N Sea Marine Sales, where she sells boats on consignment. Patrick is also an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors, with an emphasis on waterfront and island properties.

She provided an insider’s insight into what makes the area so special, not the least of which is the chance to boat to work:

Tell us about the area:

I have a summer cottage on an island, which I love. It was built in the early 1900s as strictly a summer cottage and it is not liveable year round. Consequently I live in a year ‘round home, across the channel from the cottage. Typically I drive by car to work, but have a boathouse and dock “full of boats” so at a minute’s notice I can hop in the boat to show islands and waterfront property.
If I know I have waterfront home viewing appointments, I drive my boat to the local marina and walk a block to the office, so that the boat is convenient for my clients. I have the best of both worlds and love this type of work. Where else can you dress in topsiders and shorts and run around in a boat all day with wonderful people and still be “working” and earning a decent living? That’s the beauty of the Les Cheneaux Islands.

What’s the boating like in Cedarville and Hessel?

The boating here is phenomenal, as we have the advantage of protected waters and easy access to the “Big Lake” (Lake Huron of course). Within our protected waters, sheltered by the 36-plus islands, the sky is the limit to the type of boating you can do. For scooting around the Islands and visiting friends, a 13-15’ Boston Whaler works just fine. For visiting points and islands further out, a 20- to 22-foot boat is more desirable, depending on the weather conditions.

Within the protected islands, kayaking has become very popular. Many experienced kayakers can venture out further to explore the outer islands. Sailing is also a big attraction.

Cruising boats, both power and sail, are frequently found anchoring in several protected harbors. Many cruising vessels will make this a day or two stop-over if they are visiting Mackinac Island, as we are a short run from Mackinac, or traveling toward Detour, Drummond Island and the North Channel. Hessel has a public marina for tying up at a dock, and Cedarville has several private facilities that accommodate transient boaters.

How’s the fishing?

Fishing is a favorite pastime of both tourists and locals. The perch have come back and are now plentiful. Other favorites are pike, small mouth bass and herring in early summer. All of these are within the islands. Outside the channels in the Big Lake, fisherman are catching salmon and lake trout.

Michigan Boating 2010 » Hessel & Cedarville: Insider's Look