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View Full Version : Princess Cove launching,WORTH IT???



4day!!
07-22-2004, 10:32 AM
Few questions about Princess Cove Launching.. 03 Tahoe, 2WD, small V8, 20" wheels..25' eliminator.
1. How will this set up handle the ramp and dirt road?
2. Steep?
3. Keep cover on boat while on dirt road?
4. Courtesy dock?
5. Parking?
Not sure if i want to deal with the rage at Kat's on weekend or try out princess cove to launch. Telephone makes me nervous with the 2wd. Or should i just go to cottonwood and cruise the boat back down. Also do you think that my boat would be safe in the lot at cottonwood overnight instead of trailer it back and forth from laughlin for 4 days. It is by no means a towing machine. How long is that grade coming out of laughlin to cottonwood?

mirvin
07-22-2004, 10:40 AM
You may be suffering from "Too much BLING";)
mirvin:D

4day!!
07-22-2004, 10:41 AM
Originally posted by mirvin
You may be suffering from "Too much BLING";)
mirvin:D
Yeah i know. Got the damn car before the boat. Next year its the deisel or V10.

Desert Rat
07-22-2004, 10:42 AM
Pretty good grade from Searchlight to Cottonwood. Don't know about leaving it over night.I have launched my 21' Caliber1 at Telephone cove on the AZ side with my lowered Suburban a few times with no problems. If you do use Telephone stay to the left side of the ramp ( when looking straight down at the ramp ) It has a tendency to get a hole on the right side.

mirvin
07-22-2004, 10:43 AM
Originally posted by 4day!!
Yeah i know. Got the damn car before the boat. Next year its the deisel or V10.
HA! I'm in the same boat, pardon the pun. Friggen lowered Silverado. My kidneys are sore;)
mirvin

4day!!
07-22-2004, 11:01 AM
anyone, anyone..bueller, bueller???

BarryMac
07-22-2004, 11:08 AM
I launched my old boat there once, I had a 2wd Extended cab pickup and didn't have a problem put in or takin out, as I remember the road down to the cove was good so I didn't cover my boat goin in...
Ohhh yeah, I had one little problem, that was the first and last time I forgot to put the plug in the boat...
gjb

Spotondl
07-22-2004, 11:59 AM
The road to princess is pretty scalloped. Nice easy drive but the whoops will shake your fenders off and your boat WILL get dirty.... No real courtesy dock just the launch. Ramp is pretty long and steep but in very good condition... And the bathrooms.... Happy times..... LOL:D :confused: :pigfly:

HOOTER SLED-
07-22-2004, 12:20 PM
I have a 99 Suburban w/ 31" tires 2WD and a 21' Open Bow. Launched out of Telephone, no probs. I usually stay away from the sides(that's where the holes seem to be). I also watch a few people launch while I'm getting my boat ready to see where the problem spots are. Princess is narrower, but doesn't seem to be as tore up as Telephone. Of course, parking is alot smaller at Princess. The dirt road isn't horrible, you're gonna wipe it down regardless. I'll just usually drive up to the main parking lot or back to the casino is better, because then you can start having some beers while you wipe it down. :D I use one of those water guns and suck the water out of my ice chest to squirt it down first. It doesn't get too dusty from the dirt road. Just don't drive too fast. It's beats waiting in the long ass line at Katherines to get off.

XtrmWakeborder
07-22-2004, 12:22 PM
Telephone cove is the sweet spot to launch...i launch my 19' with my lowered blazer 2wd no problem, plus theres alot of parking

phebus
07-22-2004, 01:03 PM
I can't believe with all the congestion at Katherine's, they haven't paved the road to Princess. Especially since they are now charging for launching.

4day!!
07-22-2004, 01:16 PM
i see alot you guys are launching 21' boats. i have a 25' and am concerned with trying to get it back out. Is the ramp over at princess really, really steep? I mean like tire spinning steep? I would rather wipe the dust off my boat than get stuck in the water. And is the raod really in that bad of condition? Flats common?

Bryan Rose
07-22-2004, 02:11 PM
Originally posted by 4day!!
i see alot you guys are launching 21' boats. i have a 25' and am concerned with trying to get it back out. Is the ramp over at princess really, really steep? I mean like tire spinning steep? I would rather wipe the dust off my boat than get stuck in the water. And is the raod really in that bad of condition? Flats common?
Dude ,
Not to be a smart ass but if you can afford a 25' Daytona..... Get something to pull it with .... this scenario is like having a hot girl ready to go, and, ah ,but wait ,uh , I don't have any condoms........
Get the right equipment, and have a good time doing it and not having to worry about .....
just my 2 cents. Too much Bling........................

CHEETER-JOE
07-22-2004, 02:20 PM
I launch my 24' from telephone all the time, but this weekend I am going to try princess. But I do have a deisel and 4x4, power and hook-up is no prob there. I will let you know after this weekend if is worth it or not to go to princess.

simple
07-22-2004, 02:25 PM
Save your trek to Princess Cove. Telephone Cove launch ramp is fine because it is very packed down. Someone on an earlier thread was right when he said stay to the left side (South) when launching because it is steeper. Also, keep your cover on to keep out the dirt. All of us launching at Princess or Telephone Coves suffer dust settling on the wet trailer & Hull.
Lastly, keep your Tahoe in 2nd gear when pulling out of the water. This prevents any wheel spin.
Save your money & replce your rear end gears on your Tahoe with 4:10s. It runs less that a grand & improves the towing capabilities alot.
Katherine Landing needs to open up the beach on the North side of the slips for launching.

K9Blitz
07-22-2004, 04:02 PM
I used to launch there with the old boat to avoid the bs at Kathrine's.
The local tire shops get a lot of business from folks making the trek there.
The biggest pain is the dirt/dust. It gets everywhere. It's very fine so it covers your car, trailer, boat and every nook and crack you could think of.
If your willing to clean afterwards and risk the flats, then it's worth it.

HOOTER SLED-
07-22-2004, 06:18 PM
Originally posted by 4day!!
i see alot you guys are launching 21' boats. i have a 25' and am concerned with trying to get it back out. Is the ramp over at princess really, really steep? I mean like tire spinning steep? I would rather wipe the dust off my boat than get stuck in the water. And is the raod really in that bad of condition? Flats common?
If I had your boat, I'd still launch there. If I remember correctly, It's paved most of the way. The small dirt road to the parking lot isn't really bumpy or anything. Just roll like 20-25 MPH. I would think flats aren't happening all the time. I've never seen anyone dealing with a flat. Oh for crying out loud, just get a slip at Katherines dammit!! :D :D

RiverForUs
07-23-2004, 12:02 AM
Originally posted by Desert Rat
If you do use Telephone stay to the left side of the ramp ( when looking straight down at the ramp ) It has a tendency to get a hole on the right side.
In my 10 years of experience launching at Telephone, the holes are usually found in the middle of the ramp. If it's known, someone will usually put the A-framed trash bag holder in front so nobody will back down into the holes (at least until some focker moves it to launch and then the next guy gets stuck!)
I will always use the left side of the ramp when looking down the road towards the water. If it's being used, stay to the far right and you should be fine. Like someone said, just watch a few others as you're taking off your tie-downs and puttin in the plug and you'll know where to go.
As for Princess, I wouldn't drive there unless Telephone was full/closed because we got out too late. Only happened once over the years. Don't tow over the 5-mile dirt road with the cover on unless you want the cover to rub the dirt into the gel. Ramp is fine, shouldn't have a problem with wheel spin. Contrary to what was said, I believe there is a little courtesy dock. Plenty of parking.
I wouldn't launch at Cottonwood all 4 days and cruise back down since the wind will pick up and make crossing the basin a biatch. Plus, the wasted fuel and time can be put to better use.
When are you heading out? We're planning to be out there July 30- Aug 8 and again Aug 20-23.
Good luck!:D