09/15 - Lake Powell September Cruise

I am interested in renting a 25' C-Dory or Tomcat in the Puget Sound/Anacortes/San Juan Islands area for a couple of days (at first) before buying or chartering more. I live in southern Washington state and have a long maritime history, including twenty years service as a Naval and Coast Guard officer, living on a boat for 11 years, owning several sail and power boats, etc. I am interested when the weather gets a little nicer soon this year.

M.G. Barrier
 
mouselet":39ue9jmb said:
I am interested in renting a 25' C-Dory or Tomcat in the Puget Sound/Anacortes/San Juan Islands area for a couple of days (at first) before buying or chartering more.
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This request has come up before on the site and unfortunately there does not seem to be anyone offering charters up here. Actually, the only C-Dory charters that I know of are from Wefing's in Florida.

I would be more than happy to take you out for a trip on my Tom Cat so you can get an idea of what it is like -- we can stay out as long as necessary.

There are a lot of C-25 owners in the area and I am willing to bet one of them would be happy to make a similar offer.

Warren
 
Doryman":ki7wg0u3 said:
mouselet":ki7wg0u3 said:
I am interested in renting a 25' C-Dory or Tomcat in the Puget Sound/Anacortes/San Juan Islands area for a couple of days (at first) before buying or chartering more.
Click to expand...

This request has come up before on the site and unfortunately there does not seem to be anyone offering charters up here. Actually, the only C-Dory charters that I know of are from Wefing's in Florida.

Warren
Click to expand...

I think Warren is correct. Come to Florida an see Marc at Wefing's. There is some fantastic crusing here in the NWfla panhandle. Well worth the trip.

Roger
 
Hi,

I've never been to Horseshoe Bend. I see a Great Bend of the San Juan River on a mapping program I have. Is that it. I looked at a couple Powell maps and charts but haven't found "Horseshoe Bend" yet. Is it about 30 miles up the San Juan River from the main lake channel? Is it about 6 miles up? Somewhere else? Anyone got Lat/Lon for it?

Thanks.

Great news about the Castle Rock Cut being near to usable again, eh? I'm looking forward to that. Late June perhaps, they're saying. Hopefully it won't dry up by September when we get there.

Jeff
 
Sheesh! I did some more Googling, using different terms and I discovered that Horseshoe bend is just south of the dam and Page, AZ by about five miles.

http://www.gcollier.com/Horseshoe_Bend_ ... River.html shows a nice picture.

It's probably rare to find a photograph. I'll bet it's only been shot a hundred zillion times or so. Looks like it would be pretty easy do drive down there from town for a look see. A little hiking involved I guess.

Jeff
 
We have talked about trying Lake Powell on several occasions and it would be great to be with folks that already know the lake. My concern is that our Ranger R21-EC and her little 30 hp diesel might not be able to keep up with the group. Just looking for a little insight from those with more experience in such matters. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
 
Hi Steve,

When we ran with the group last May, the cruise speed seemed to settle in somewhere in the mid-teens. The TomCats could easily run much faster and would occasionally run on ahead. Maybe with fuel prices, you could talk everyone into running slower, but you can always discuss where to meet each night and chug along to that cove at your pace.

Powell is one of those places that is so big, a faster cruise speed allows you to see more of it in a short time. When we went back by ourselves later last year, we spent plenty of time at displacement speed poking into canyons. Whatever speed you run, Lake Powell is a great place. :thup
 
Steve - no matter what everyone else does, you will be able to keep up with us! With current gas prices, and 2.5 mpg at speed or 7 mpg at 6.5 knots, we'll be going at 6.5 knots! See you at Lake Powell!


Texas Steve":2tk6re45 said:
We have talked about trying Lake Powell on several occasions and it would be great to be with folks that already know the lake. My concern is that our Ranger R21-EC and her little 30 hp diesel might not be able to keep up with the group. Just looking for a little insight from those with more experience in such matters. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
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Steve...Jim and Pat are right on. I think we all will be rather conservative on the speed. Come to think of it...you have a tug...right? I'll bring my tow line!

You may not be the only Ranger in the group...Marilyn & Denny may join us on their Ranger...could be others.

See you there!
 
We had trouble getting on plane last September at Powell because of the higher elevation, full fuel, water, ice, beer, and even a little food, so displacement speed worked well for us, Bob Austin had a similar experience. Last week in the San Juan Islands/Friday Harbor CBGT we poked along most times at 2000 RPM's and only used 43 gallons of fuel in ten days and covered close to 200 miles. I think you see alot and enjoy it more at displacement speed as well. Enjoy your time at Powell, it is truly one of nature's masterpieces.
 
Previous post: "one of nature's masterpieces"......

Funny. It's a man made lake.

Just kidding around. I knew what you meant. It's a beautiful place and I'm looking forward to it again this year. I've been looking at some of my pictures and trying to imagine what it will look like with 20 ft more water, or whatever it turns out to be.

Has anyone gone to water-data.com and entered a guess for the date and time that the Castle Rock cut connects by water again? The entry deadline is June 1 or 3610 ft I think, which is coming very soon. It's going up a foot per day at the moment. The water should make the connection in just a few days.

About a month from now they'll be driving houseboats through there, just like the good 'ol days.

Jeff
 
Yes, Jeff -- a man-made lake. My first geologic job was one of the best -- to map the geology of Glen Canyon just before the government closed the floodgates on the dam -- I wasn't able to go back to Lake Powell for more than 25 years afterwards. Finally, decided that the Sistine Chapel buried under water to within ten feet of the roof must still contain some vestige of the beauty that once was, so returned alone to cruise the lake in a little 18' aluminum runabout in a January when there would be few others on the lake so perhaps there would be a residual feeling of the lonely loveliness that once was. There was, but Lake Powell is not a thousandth of what the Glen Canyon contained. It is painful to remember that 'progress' takes a toll -- today there are fewer of us around who still recall the consummate beauty of what once was, to remind others what was lost.

It is still a marvelous place, like nowhere else on earth -- and in my geology work I've seen a lot of this planet -- now I return to the Lake whenever I can to enjoy the beauty of that unique and wondrous place.
 
Hey El and Bill,

Thanks for the bit of history (again), very very interesting. You wouldn't happen to have any old 'before' photos of Glen Canyon? I take it you're going to pass on this year's gathering, haven't seen your hat in the ring...

Not sure yet, but THIS may be the year we actually go for the very first time, never been to Powell. Still checking calendars, vacation time, crew availability, money jar (gas), etc.
 
Chris, Jim, and Pat:

Thanks for the input. I think we're going to seriously consider making the trip. Should be an easy two day pull from Dallas area.
 
This should be a great year there. More water than the last several years and the Castle Rock cut will take 12 lumpy and not-so-scenic miles off the trip for those of us starting at Wahweap.

I entered the contest to guess the date for Castle Rock cut to get wet and I don't know what I'll do if I happen to win. Line up some friends for a week-long houseboat trip, I guess. Kinda silly when I already have the C-Dory.

Jeff
 
Well I did it, signed up tonight. I plan to be in "learning mode" the entire trip, never been there, but I can see by the 'expert' members already signed, it'll be a great trip for sure. Looking forward.

I plan on leaving home at o-dark-thirty Thursday morning the 18th and arriving at Wahweap marina ~600 miles later -- if that's where everybody's launching at??
 
Steve,
We never consider slow speed to be a problem at Powell. There are such marvelous sights to see and side canyons to explore. The house boats are all relitatively slow. If you have to take an extra day to get somewhere , it is a plus--another adventrue. You don't have to stay with the "group". Last year we were with the group for 3 nights....and found another 3 C Dories in our wanderings looking for other C Dories...not a big formal thing to be at the gathering, except for several nights--usually in Oak Creek Canyon. That is a great place to base out of for more explorations.
 
I don't know how many other people were watching the water level reports, but the Castle Rock Cut touched water from both sides about 6 am on the 6th. It's rising almost a foot per day lately, so in about a week I think they'll be running boats through there.

Good news for us.

I like the lake a lot and it's a pretty place, but I looked at the slideshow on a Glenn Canyon preserevation website and it was really something back before the dam.

It's kind of a loss to have that go away, but we get flood control, hydroelectric power (I think so but I'm not real sure) and a great recreation lake in the trade. Of course, with people continuing to make babies like they're going out of style, we'll probably get the dry canyon back in the future anyway..... :sad

Jeff
 
I'm thinking I might do most of the full two week period from the 15th on. I wonder what dates the group anticipates hanging around Oak Canyon this year. Sounds like the 18th or so is the Wahweap meet. I might be up the lake by then.

Or I could drive trough Arizona on the way and stop for a train ride at Verde Canyon I guess. That might delay me enough to start out with the group.

Jeff
 
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