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For long-time boaters, a tradition that spans generations

A pleasure boat leaves the pier at the Riviera in Lake Geneva for a day under the sun on Geneva Lake. File photo by Terry Mayer.

GENEVA LAKE -- There is no shortage of boating opportunities in Walworth County. The question is: What do you want to do once you’re on the water and which body of water is best suited to that end?

If you have boat and a trailer, your options are pretty extensive. You could head straight for the county’s largest lake, Geneva Lake, which is also the state’s second largest inland lake, covering 5,062 acres and boasting waters as deep as 135 feet.

Amy Hazekamp of Williams Bay has been boating a long as she can remember, and boats exclusively on Geneva Lake.

“My grandfather had a cottage here and we’ve always had a boat,” she says. “But the weekends are crazy so I like boating on the weekdays best.”

Plenty of folks are just fine with the second largest lake in the county: Delavan Lake, which spans 2,072 acres and has a maximum depth of 56 feet.

Dave and Jill Aufmuth of Lake Geneva, along with their three sons, head to Delavan Lake often during the summer.

“The thing we like the best, well, it’s two things, the kids love to tube we and like to anchor and just lie in the sun while the kids swim. That’s what we do most of the time,” says Dave Aufmuth, an auto industry executive. “It’s just relaxing, calming. The kids tie the tube off to the back of the boat and Jill and I just like to relax, sitting up on the bow of the boat, listening to music and relaxing.”

Tom Johnson, a co-owner of Reeds Marine in Delavan, understands well the appeal of Delavan Lake for boaters like the Aufmuths.

“Overall, Delavan Lake, for somebody going out for the day, can be an ideal lake,” he said. “It’s a very good size lake to spend the day on without getting bored.”

Being number two, adds Johnson, can give you an edge that No. 1 can’t ever get. A central public launch, with ample parking, and less traffic than Geneva Lake, makes Delavan less stressful for some boaters.

“It’s one of the easiest to access, in terms of getting on the lake,” says Johnson.

The Aufmuth family once lived in Arizona. Returning to the heartland, they say, has made them enjoy their time on the water even more.

“I guess because our summers are somewhat brief, we really do try to maximize them and be outside as much as possible,” says Dave Aufmuth. “The boats and the jet skies really do allow us to do that.”

J.P. and Cathy Beierle of Elkhorn also try to boat as much as they can during the summer. Only for this couple, and their three college daughters, Lauderdale Lakes is the place to be. The picturesque chain of three lakes – Middle, Green and Mill – says Cathy Beierlie, is the perfect way to leave stress behind.

“It’s just very relaxing,” she says, “and it’s where a lot of our friends are.”

When the Beierles and their daughters are in the mood for water skiing, they opt for Middle Lake. If quiet time is the aim, they might anchor in either Green or Middle.

Read the full story in the e-edition of Weekender HERE.