Finally a day on the water II

[easy does it]

It is 105 in St George today and we are launching in 1 week. I have been watching the video's on Lake Powell...so nice. Is anyone going to be on the lake during the next few weeks? The vessel name is Pura Vida Are their video's on how to solo launch? Exactly how to you land and secure yourself on the lake beaches? I see what looks like rodent barriers on the ropes...neccessay? what is best used for stakes and pounding them in..how long should they be? Do you really need to worry about hitting something if you are just careful or do you need someone on the bow? Could you throw down an anchor and go kayaking or would you need to beach the boat 1st? How many days with 2 onboard is a porta poti usable and what if it is full and you land (what is politically correct?)
Are all the dumpsites working? What is open for gas, ice and supplies on the lake? Sorry for all the questions but trial and error does not work well for me.

 

[JamesTXSD]

It is 105 in St George today and we are launching in 1 week. I have been watching the video's on Lake Powell...so nice. Is anyone going to be on the lake during the next few weeks? The vessel name is Pura Vida Are their video's on how to solo launch? Exactly how to you land and secure yourself on the lake beaches? Approach slowly and pull up the motor as you get close. Hope off the bow and put out an anchor and a couple lines from the stern to the beach. Alternaively, you can back to shore, but may have to wade to get in. Set an anchor off the bow. Do a search on an Anchor Buddy for another alternative.

I see what looks like rodent barriers on the ropes...neccessay? We always had a cat onboard when at Lake Powell. If you don't travel with a cat, I'd recommend a barrier.

what is best used for stakes and pounding them in..how long should they be? We have used wood stakes, metal twisty stakes, even found wood on the beach and pounded that in. Hammer-time.

Do you really need to worry about hitting something if you are just careful or do you need someone on the bow? There are rocks and stumps in some areas - we always worked as a team, with one on the bow (kneeling while holding onto the bow rail) and one at the helm. Single-handers have done it.

Could you throw down an anchor and go kayaking or would you need to beach the boat 1st? Depends on how good you are with anchoring technique. If you have beached the boat, it is easier to get the kayak up or down.

How many days with 2 onboard is a porta poti usable and what if it is full and you land (what is politically correct?) Depends on the individual and the size of the porta-potty. There are floating dump-stations in a couple places on the lake.


Are all the dumpsites working? What is open for gas, ice and supplies on the lake? No current info; sorry.

Sorry for all the questions but trial and error does not work well for me. If it wasn't for trial and error, my knowledge base would be much smaller.

Even with questions answered here, there is always a degree of trial and error with boat handling. Wind and weather is different every day.

You had asked about launching: if you are launching at Wahweap, that is a LONG ramp. There are finger docks on either side, where you can tie off, but it will go a lot faster if you can back the boat/trailer in and have your wife pull out the truck/trailer while you motor to the finger dock. Tie off so you aren't blocking anyone else launching/retrieving. Drive the trailer up to the parking and expect that 1/4 mile walk back to the water. There is a staging area at the top of the ramp so you can get your boat ready to launch without taking space at the ramp.

Not sure about other ramps at LP, always used Wahweap.

Be sure you know what is necessary for the zebra mussel inspection before you will be allowed to launch.

 

[thataway]

As Jim says, State Line and Wahweap are both very long shallow ramps. If solo launching, then I would back way down, and have a line to the back of the truck or the winch post to bump the boat off the trailer, Then pull it over to one of the floating docks on each side. It is a long walk back up to the parking area. We prefer State Line. Teach the wife to back the truck down, and you handle the boat. We think that" Ear-Tech" radio/earphones/mic, duplex are marriage savers!

We use stern anchors, but stakes will work or hurried deadman. We are not bow to the beach people. We like to be able to step off the boat easily form the swim step.

Don't "throw any anchor". You lower it gently, Let out about 3:1 scope and back down on it gently. Then more scope as necessary. Figure in the 3' high bow in plus the water depth. We always put out a bow anchor and then back to the beach. It is a little of a trick, getting to know when to pull up the motor and let the boat drift back....

You could anchor the boat and go kayaking--beaching is not necessary. Be sure the anchor is set. Storms on Powell can be fierce. We have seen over 50 knots. Inflatalbes flying like Kites.

Porti potty--should be a week. I would think that all of the portipotty stations should be open. We always find a dump station easily. Normally fuel ice and minimal supplies at dangling rope and Bull Frog. Bad quality ice, does not last well. Fill fuel at Big Water or State line or Page, before launch.