09/24 - 10/02 - Lake Powell 2010

OK.... Sue and I have put it on our schedule.... and I think I can talk Fishtales...oops..Sea Hawk (Roger) into it.....

I would like to know how many folks are taking Kayaks ? we normally don't take our inflatable... but kayaks might be fun...

Joel
SEA3PO
 
We took our kayaks and our dinghy last year but after the third day we took the dinghy back to the truck. We put pole holders on the kayaks so they worked well for fishing and they were perfect for getting to the back of canyons and narrow slots. The excersize is a bonus.
 
Ken...one of the disadvantages to launching at Bullfrog or Hall's Crossing on the north end is there is very little in the way of services up there. I have never launched up there so I'm not too familiar with what the nearest provision spot would be. However...on the south end..Wahweap...full services are available...including full size grocery stores and a Walmart. Pat or El & Bill might be able to tell you where the best provision spot on the north end might be.
 
Juniper Creek may be the place....now that Roman is gone :)

Thanks Chris, On the last trip we stocked up in Kanab and then hit Waweep. Might try Pats Bullfrog trail this time..weather permitting, we're heading there earlier than most.
 
Ken

If your headed to Bullfrog, Price would be the best place to provision. They have everything Walmart, Smiths, Gas. There is also gas and a small grocery in Hanksville. Bullfrog has gas and real small stores on the water. The old grocery store there is high and dry.
 
Price is right ??

You Dog ! I bet you could not wait to post that !
I am going to Laugh if it turns out to be a berg...
Joel
SEA3PO
 
One of the advantages of a Bullfrog launch is that you are a lot closer to the upper river. The San Juan Arm entrance is at mile 59 and the Escalante Arm is up in the 70's IIRC, if you are new to the lake the lower river is a thrill. But after a few visits we found that we liked it a lot more upriver: less people, steeper canyons, fewer giant bays for the waves to build up in the afternoons, and the chance to run for miles and miles without seeing another soul.
 
Bossa Nova is planning to attend, with kayak. A C-Dory and a kayak is a great combination on the lake. C-Dory to get where you're going and kayak to fish, explore, go back in the narrow spots, etc.

-Jeff
 
We provisioned at Price, but did not like the road at all. We went home a different route, and will be taking that route to Bullfrog this year. Patty was the navigator, I was just the driver, so she will have to explain how we went. I will see if we can post the route.

Don't know where we will provision, but there are lots of places. The store in the side of the mountain in Hanksville is cool but not a place to provision. We didn't go into Hanksville to see if there is a real supermarket there but if there is, it won't be large. I would get gas, ice, Stan Jones map and ice cream in Hanksville, but that is probably it. Oh yeah, and jerky at the little stand next door.

We will be getting two Pelican Pursuit 100 kayaks like Russ and Toni have and leaving the Alaska Series home this year. They got a deal on them from Boaters World at the Boat Show a couple of years ago, but of course Boater's World is gone now. The best deal seems to be Wally World, online purchase is $299. We looked at other brands that cost more but this still looks like the one. Site-to-store free shipping. A kayak is just the ticket for exploring up to the end of those narrow little canyons!

ound_in_Kayak_in_Slot_at_Fifty_Mile_Canyon_9_22_09.jpg

 
Make sure your engine is "propped" right for the elevation at Lake Powell. If not, you might be in for a surprise and not a pleasant one. Our 150 Honda was propped for sea level and the maximum speed I could attain was 8 mph. I was advised to go to a lower pitched prop. and my speed increased to near normal and fuel consumption was greatly improved. We have a 25' C Dory and enjoyed our experience on Lake Powell thanks to Chris and numerous others.
Happy Travels,
Ken aka: Wood Duck
 
For all you CD25 owners going to Powell, here is what Ken used. I am planning to pick up a 15 x 13 and see how it works for us...

Hi Pat,
The prop I installed on our Honda 150 is a 15" by 13" aluminum prop and it worked very well as I told you. I don't believe it has a 13 1/2" pitch...13" is correct. We did achieve approx. 25 mph. and the motor ran well. I suggest if you do purchase a prop that you should demand in writing that you may return the new prop if it does not work to your expectations. I am not meticulous about figuring/recording mpg. I understand that boat fuel consumption is terrible, but I believe we averaged around 3 mpg.

Take care,
Ken aka, wood duck
 
Interesting about the props on the 25. I asked Brent (Discovery) to jog my memory and he confirmed that we both successfully ran the same props that we run everywhere else, on my last trip to Powell.

Warren
 
Yes, the performance of twin engines seems to be less affected by the altitude than single engines. Enjoy your Lake Powell experience.
Ken
 
For whatever reason...the 25's are really hurt by the altitude at Powell. The 22's don't seem to suffer much...I loose about 200 rpm top end. It seems the 25's need to go down at least 2 prop sizes to maintain performance.
 
Chris":38n73gf2 said:
For whatever reason...the 25's are really hurt by the altitude at Powell. The 22's don't seem to suffer much...I loose about 200 rpm top end. It seems the 25's need to go down at least 2 prop sizes to maintain performance.
Click to expand...

Chris, I must be the exception to that rule. Our boat, would only turn about 5200 rpm WOT, with a top speed of around 18 mph. But then we were loaded a LOT heavier than you. I did get a 13 pitch aluminum prop to take down this year. We usually have a 15 pitch stainless on the boat for sea level, sometimes when lightly loaded we use a 17.

I think I am going to leave the kicker at home this year.
 
Frequent Sea is running a 3-blade 14X13 prop on a Honda 130. It's doing okay, we usually putt along at displacement speed anyway.

However, it only gets a bit over 5000 rpm wide open at maybe 17mph, so I'm dropping down to 14X11 this spring. When Dr. Bob said it was "fully equipped" he wasn't kidding. It's pretty heavy, loaded down with everything but the kitchen sink... no, wait, that's there, too!

The 130 Honda is just barely adequate for the boat at this elevation, but I love it. It just sips gas the way we use it on the slow, leisurely cruise. Powell is too cool to rush it unless you really have to make time and it will get up on plane and get you there if you need to, so all is good!

I'll let you'all know how it does in another month or so.

We're going to be in the middle of new home construction in September but am looking forward to seeing you'all on the lake. If not this year, next year for sure!
 
You guys with all yer props tear me up.... heck...only time I replace mine are when I sand em smooth... ....knock the dents out n keep going...

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Like Chris, I got along fine with my standard sea level 13.5x15 prop, losing some top end speed, but no problem.

Chris is a special case in a way because he runs a super tidy boat and he doesn't load it up with toys and junk like many of us.

I like my toys, but Chris' Rana Verde would be a worthy goal to emulate. I could certainly take less food than I usually do. I bring so much home....

-Jeff
 
I think if you look at the power to weight ratios of the two boats with just the hull weight as an example the 22 with 100hp would be about 19.25 lbs per hp and the 25 with a 135 would be 26.66 lbs per hp. You would have to have almost 200 hp on the 25 to get the same power to weight ratio. Probably the best you hope for is to prop the boat for WOT and it is what it is. Or buy a 200 hp motor. My 22 with the 115 hp uses the same prop from sea level to about 4000 feet at 6000 feet the boat runs fine but you could drop it a pitch size. At Yellowstone I could Definitely drop one or two pitch sizes. I know I carry to much junk around with me, but you do have to have toys thats part of the fun.
 
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