PDA

View Full Version : havasu to laughlin on the river



cj92345
07-09-2008, 08:27 AM
the wife and i are going to be in havasu 7/21 and we have never been north
of the i40 bridge...question is can we go all the way to laughlin we have a 26
ft day cruiser with a outdrive...is the water deep enough? and are there
boat slips at any of the casino's that are public to dock at for a couple hours?
thanks in advance..chris

stix818
07-09-2008, 08:34 AM
Water is good up to Needles after that you have to pay attention to the river. Typically the water level is good after 2 or 3 but it all depends whether they are letting water out. I would just make sure to pay attention when going north of Needles. Slips I don't believe they have any. You can park at the AVI and anchor but not sure of the other ones. I don't go up that way much.

OliverM5
07-09-2008, 09:00 AM
I wouldn't risk it unless you have a jetboat. Lots of boulders and stuff in the path. Also, gas will be a killer driving all that way upstream and back.

Havasu1986
07-09-2008, 09:12 AM
I wouldn't risk it unless you have a jetboat. Lots of boulders and stuff in the path. Also, gas will be a killer driving all that way upstream and back.
X2.. I will NEVER go past the Needles bridge going No. I hit twice last year. Sucks cuz my buddy has a house on the river 5 miles past and wants me to come up.

atomickitn
07-09-2008, 11:30 AM
you can call the damm and ask how many gens are running... if 3 or more then run it... I have been all the way to the park and harrahs... in my ride.. you will have to pay close attention to the water....

cj92345
07-09-2008, 12:56 PM
thanks for the heads up...last thing i need is a nerve racking trip in my
heavy a$$ old boat:messedup:

stix818
07-09-2008, 01:10 PM
It can be, good ride though!! Like atomickitn said call the dam and see how many units are running.

roostwear
07-09-2008, 04:14 PM
I wouldn't try it without at least 4 units open for an hour.

TCHB
07-09-2008, 08:13 PM
I have done it and would not do it again. Needles is far enough for me.

d-jet-boat-may
07-09-2008, 09:11 PM
I tried going from Laughlin to Havasu about a year ago. I turned around about 3mi down river from the Avi. There were spots that literally looked less then a foot deep in the middle of the river. You got to look for the big ripples in the water thats where it gets shallow. It got really stressfull.

NdaWind
07-10-2008, 06:06 AM
Standard rule of thumb has always been the river is highest around noon and then starts going back early evening. But 2 weeks ago we were at Park Maobi beach, go there a 9am and when we left at 3 we hadn't even noticed both our boats were way way up on the sand. Water had went down so far it took 8 men to get our boats off the beach. One of the hotels up there has a courtesy area (beach) but it is slim pickings. I won't go past needles bridge and to tell the truth ain't much to look at past Moabi.

atomickitn
07-10-2008, 07:21 AM
yes there are spots that look like they are only 3ft deep.. but in reality the entire river on average is only about 12ft deep... I was up past the AVI casino this year in early march April... we had oh about 10 people on my deck... and we drove up to the power lines no worries... like I said... pay close attention to the water.... its not really a bad ride.. but like some have said... there is not much past that point.... if your just looking to visit a casino stop at the AVI.. they have a great beach and places to park your boat.... the big casinos do not ...... take your time and enjoy the ride...make sure you stop in topock for breakfast and bloody Mary's... they also have fuel..

stix818
07-10-2008, 09:27 AM
Standard rule of thumb has always been the river is highest around noon and then starts going back early evening. But 2 weeks ago we were at Park Maobi beach, go there a 9am and when we left at 3 we hadn't even noticed both our boats were way way up on the sand. Water had went down so far it took 8 men to get our boats off the beach. One of the hotels up there has a courtesy area (beach) but it is slim pickings. I won't go past needles bridge and to tell the truth ain't much to look at past Moabi.
It will typically stay high until 10 o'clock or so. South of the Avi the water really doesn't start to rise until after 1 o'clock. Depends if the farmers need water!!!
NdaWind, I thinks it's funny when people bring their boat up and it's 20' from the river in the morning. A long wait for water!!

NdaWind
07-11-2008, 06:09 AM
NdaWind, I thinks it's funny when people bring their boat up and it's 20' from the river in the morning. A long wait for water!!
I have seen that a few times myself. Was totally surprised when it went down from morning to afternoon usually thats when it goes up and the boat has to be pulled more up on shore. Should have thought something was up when I didn't have to pull it up all day.

roostwear
07-11-2008, 11:39 AM
Don't guess.... there are a LOT of different factors for the flow. Realize there is also a lag time for the river to rise after they add units.
Davis Dam Report
928-754-3666

stix818
07-11-2008, 11:48 AM
I have seen that a few times myself. Was totally surprised when it went down from morning to afternoon usually thats when it goes up and the boat has to be pulled more up on shore. Should have thought something was up when I didn't have to pull it up all day.
Ya you never know!! Usually it's at it's peak around sunset (Typical south of the AVI) and starts falling back around midnight or a little later. Weekends can be completely different!! Never know really then. Sometimes they don't release squat!! Makes for a stink whole on the river!!
Don't guess.... there are a LOT of different factors for the flow. Realize there is also a lag time for the river to rise after they add units.
Davis Dam Report
928-754-3666
Depending where your at it's a couple hours!!! Really only two factors, 1. irrigation, if the farmers don't need water then they say FU and 2. electricity, that's typically why the water is higher than chit during the week!!! Of course flooding also but rare.

roostwear
07-11-2008, 01:49 PM
At my place it takes an hour to see a real difference in flow. Yes, it can take hours further downriver

stix818
07-11-2008, 02:40 PM
At my place it takes an hour to see a real difference in flow. Yes, it can take hours further downriver
You up in Bullhead? Water rises pretty fast up there!!

Ziggy
07-11-2008, 07:44 PM
I white knuckled the ride a few times in my jet, with the outdrive I wouldn't venture much beyond the Avi.
Follow someone else who seems to be in the know if you do go....

roostwear
07-12-2008, 06:56 AM
You up in Bullhead? Water rises pretty fast up there!!
Not really. Like I said, from the time they bring another unit online until the water level rises significantly is about an hour.

78 propduster
07-13-2008, 06:39 AM
Don't try it on Sundays, very low water levels. Done this trip many times, learned the river in a jet boat as a kid so I know the rock bars. read the water, any differences in the surface are indicators. colors are good indicators too. Polarized sunglasses help in seeing this You could take the London jet tour boat on a morning run and memorize the rock bars.
Great advise about following another boat!

jackpunx
07-13-2008, 07:02 AM
a few years back we took a couple of big cats to the classic boat beach bash in Avi... it was pretty hairball to say the least... most of that day is on the Pegged movie...
we went up in the afternoon and came back at dusk.. (in 2 36' cats) I have never gone that fast for that long.. it was a trip.. it was between 90-130 the whole way... I was watching the water ....It felt like such a gamble.. we called ahead and they said it would be ok at that time..
I would love to do it in my smaller boat sometime soon... but I wouldnt go past AVI

HDF WATERDOG
07-13-2008, 11:36 AM
Truly sounds like a great ride. I've tryed it twice now with not pretty results. Both times I was a sweating nervous wreck just because I knew what might happen. Skip the costs of the new props, just wasn't fun being at my wits end the whole way up. Stay in Havi and the Gorge and enjoy yourself.

AZLAW
07-13-2008, 04:37 PM
I drive from Laughlin to the Avi every year, in a jet boat. There is no point going all the way to Laughlin, no slips and a bunch of inexpericenced jetski renters from south of the border. The avi has a great beach to put your boat for a few. Also there are some good sandy beaches on both sides of the river before you get to the white pipe line thing that goes over the river.

Ziggy
07-13-2008, 09:57 PM
I drive from Laughlin to the Avi every year, in a jet boat. There is no point going all the way to Laughlin, no slips and a bunch of inexpericenced jetski renters from south of the border. The avi has a great beach to put your boat for a few. Also there are some good sandy beaches on both sides of the river before you get to the white pipe line thing that goes over the river.
I think thats called Big Bend.........:idea: :confused:

roostwear
07-14-2008, 05:15 PM
Actually, it's River Bend. Big Bend is a mile or so further upriver around the (river) bend. The gas line area IS my playground, and not too infested with PWC's. Big Bend is badly overrun with them.....:eek:

hkunz
07-14-2008, 06:32 PM
Back when we didn't know what we were doing, we used to run the jet from Havasu all the way to Laughlin, with gas stops in Topock, Needles, and Avi. Had to be careful coming back on the last fillup, as the last gas is at Avi. Any time of day, no one looking out over the bow, we just flew it up at 45 - 50 MPH (any faster and we'd run out of gas). Not a care in the world.
Then we bought a prop boat, a Donzi with THREE FEET of draft. We watched a v-drive hit the rocks in front of us, and stopped there, about five miles up from Needles bridge, just past where the train car is on the Cali side. The Donzi lasted eight months - what a loser boat, it started falling apart around us....
Then we went and got sonar for the Cheetah as soon as we got it, and now we could "see" the bottom. We've been up to the train car with my DIL hanging on the bow watching the bottom (and us watching hers LOL).
The Advantage is the same way, sonar, and as far as the train car. There are some very nice houses up there, right on the river, and some private marinas on the CA side. I suggest doing it at least once, but bring a big enough crew to watch the bottom.