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Family4Day
08-01-2004, 08:04 AM
Does anybody have some good information on Lake Tahoe? Taking a trip there in mid August and taking the boat. Beautiful lake with lots to see and I want to get the most of it. Trying to put all the important spots in the GPS ahead of time. Thanks in advance.
Todd

058
08-01-2004, 08:33 AM
The water is cold! And your boat won't run as good because the lake surface is at 6200' elev.

cc322
08-01-2004, 08:40 AM
Great golf course and fun casino's alot of good trout fishing as well. Never have taken my boat up thier but I hear the water is very cold, that is only if you go above your ankles:D

Dribble
08-01-2004, 08:46 AM
It is beautiful. The place to hang is called Skunk Harbor on the east shore about seven miles north of Cave Rock. Boat or hike in only. Also Emerald Bay has a great beach and the scenery is spectacular. In the afternoon a light breeze can turn the lake into an ocean. A 21' wakeboard boat went down last year from waves coming over the side, after the tow rope got caught in the prop shaft and the operators couldn't get it started. Two people died. The water's cold but swimable on warm days. Here are a couple of pics from last July 4.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/365DCP_0080-med.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/365DCP_0077-med.jpg
Your probably won't need the GPS because you can see from one side of the lake to the other. In the middle you are several miles from shore.
I don't go out there without a flare gun. Your can go for hours and not have a boat pass within a mile of you.
Have fun and stay safe.

Mohavekid
08-01-2004, 08:51 AM
The lake is BIG and cold.
Be carfeful of afternoon storms and wind. The lake can go from glass smooth to ocean type breakers in a very short period of time. It seems like at least one a year somebody let's their boat get sunk and the water is so cold it can kill you in a short period of time. The lake for the most part is not very busy, so there may not be help close by. Stay close to shore and you're safer. The lake is 22 miles long and about 15 miles wide
Sand Harbor on the Nevada side and Emerald Bay on the Cali side are two cool places to see. The Vikingsholm Castle tour at Emerald Bay is interesting. Enjoy the short hike to Eagle Falls for a fun and pretty little waterfall.

GlastronGuy
08-01-2004, 09:03 AM
Last time I was there, 3 or so weeks ago, the ramp on the South Shore at Lakeview Drive was closed.

Dr. Eagle
08-01-2004, 03:34 PM
Don't know what kind of boat you have, but if it is open bow, you probably should hug the shore, and it is usually best to hang on the West side, as the prevailing wind usually comes from the west. If you want to see the eastern side, do it early in the morning.
Go out early and plan on coming in early. The lake becomes pretty rough most afternoons from that westerly wind. Make sure you have your safety gear in order, and it wouldn't hurt to have a VHF radio or a handheld at least. The Coast Guard patrols the lake.
It really is a beautiful place... but it is an alpine lake so the water is damn cold. If it is warm outside (it gets into the upper 80s or sometimes the 90s) the water will feel good. Emerald bay is beautiful 10mph speed limit and beware of rocks at the entrance to the bay. It can get pretty shallow there. Stay between the markers.

SeaRayPat
08-01-2004, 05:02 PM
Originally posted by 058
And your boat won't run as good because the lake surface is at 6200' elev.
If your boat has fuel injection it will be fine!

blueman
08-01-2004, 09:13 PM
The water is cold but not unbearable..I swam in it five times today. The public ramp at Lakeview ave on the So. shore has been closed for the past four years due to low water..it is on a flat shelf.. Tahoe Keys Marina is the place to launch $30 round trip. Cave Rock launch is on the east shore..fine in the am, but can be as huge as the ocean in the afternoon..It was out from this ramp that the two people previously mentioned perished.
On the lake..do the east shore in the am..Zephyr Cove Resort is on the south east shore.Gas, food, beach, bar, hot chicks and volleyball..MTV summer beach house was filmed there this summer. The Cabo Wabo is having a Bikini contest there on Sat Aug 15..
There are no other services on the east shore...Sand Harbor is on the north east shore and is probably where the previously posted photos were taken..On the north shore in Carnilean Bay is Garwoods, a great lakeside restaurant with a great pier.. On the north west near Tahoe City is Sunnyside..lakefront restaurant bar..
The lake is about 70 miles arround the shoreline..if you are in a boat smaller than 26' I would not cross the center ..the wind comes suddenly and it gets HUGE ...Dont miss the Heavenly Gondola $18 per person and the view is worth every penny.

Dr. Eagle
08-01-2004, 09:14 PM
Originally posted by SeaRayPat
If your boat has fuel injection it will be fine!
Except for losing 15mph... give or take a little

HCS
08-01-2004, 09:25 PM
Don't sweat it. Just have alot of fuel and watch the weather.
The only allusion I had was that I would look across the lake
and think "Lets go over there" then 45 minutes later and a half
a tank of gas I would get there.:eek:

Dr. Eagle
08-02-2004, 06:01 AM
Originally posted by HARDCORE-SKI
Don't sweat it. Just have alot of fuel and watch the weather.
The only allusion I had was that I would look across the lake
and think "Lets go over there" then 45 minutes later and a half
a tank of gas I would get there.:eek:
I had less trouble with that with my Eliminator, other than the fuel thing. Going across the lake was pretty quick at 67mph... but it did get really rough in the afternoon.
Unfortunately the fuel gauge on the boat went to empty after the 1st half a tank. When I left the marina I had a full tank (100 gallons) , I went to the north shore, and did a tour around the west shore... when I got back to the Keys... my starboard engine quit. As I was moving into the channel, the port engine quit. I managed to bump the engine with the starter (it'd run for a second) and pop it in gear. That was just enough to get me to the guest dock so I could go buy a gallon of gas... that's the last time I've been to Tahoe with a boat. That was two years ago.

Family4Day
08-02-2004, 09:36 AM
Thanks to everyone for all the great info. In all the times we have taken vacations up there, I never have taken our boat. Our boat is a Lavey 21XCS(about 23') with an open bow/closed cuddy. We just want to get all the sights from the water instead of the road like all our other trips. Its the first trip up there with the kids, so all the saftey gear is in order. Our friends have a time share at the new Marriot on the south shore and we will be launching from the Tahoe Keys Marina. I think they said there was a beach on the south shore so after the morning outings with the boat we can enjoy the afternoon on the beach. Thanks again.
Todd

SSTahoe
08-04-2004, 06:00 AM
Sand Habor is now closed for the season due to the lake being to low. The key's are OK (lots of crap in the water) if you get back after dark the will not let you load your boat :confused: I am rebuilding one of my motors right now it should be done by then maybe I will see you out there. What does your boat look like. I have a 42' Sonic white with a red and black stripe down the side with checkers on the back sides (2 1000's HP. maybe we will give you a true Tahoe buzz :eek: )

Dr. Eagle
08-04-2004, 06:41 AM
Originally posted by SSTahoe
Sand Habor is now closed for the season due to the lake being to low. The key's are OK (lots of crap in the water) if you get back after dark the will not let you load your boat :confused: I am rebuilding one of my motors right now it should be done by then maybe I will see you out there. What does your boat look like. I have a 42' Sonic white with a red and black stripe down the side with checkers on the back sides (2 1000's HP. maybe we will give you a true Tahoe buzz :eek: )
Yeah, they have pipe gates at the launch ramp and lock them when they leave the marina at night.:confused:

SSTahoe
08-04-2004, 01:48 PM
Ya, not to good when you plan just a day trip and stay out to watch the sunset and they lock you out!! Then you have to navigate to a nother ramp at night. not to fun on tahoe when the wind is blowing and the waves are big and the lake is soooooo cold brrrrrrrrrrrr