Any boat would probably have to be out of the water; leaving a boat afloat in the Great Lakes, untended through at least five winters after the Atomic War, sounds risky.
People might come back after the Atomic War, too; "It was always nice on the island, and it's hard for the starving hordes of raiders to drive there."
For a "Classic" era campaign, anywhere east of the big silo fields in the Midwest and Rockies is a risk for heavy fallout:
http://www.ki4u.com/webpal/d_resourc...es/aacont2.jpg
That map is just for one specific wind pattern.
Oh, and five years after the Atomic War, any vessel disabled by EMP will be sunk or repaired (or grounded, or tied up at a dock) ...
You could hide a bunch of dis-assembled Airscouts in a bolthole-sized bunker, or even in an armored 40' van trailer. Of course, they aren't much good for the "Rescue" part of SAR.
Is the Project expecting lower water levels in the Great Lakes?
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Michael B.