PLEASE Help...Info on Staying at Harrah's

[H2on22]

Was wondering if anyone can tell me where to launch, get some gas and just hang out (coves, beaches etc.) while staying at Harrah's Laughlin?
First time boating in Laughlin so I need the info from the Hot Boat Crew. Any help is appreciated.
Taking my 26' Kachina and would like to avoid the 'low water' if there is any. Where should I launch from and how long is the ride to the Sandbar?
Wish I could be at OP6 (last one was great) but I'm meeting friends in Laughlin. I'm sure you guys will have fun. :D

[Havasu_Dreamin]

The ride down to the Sandbar from Laughlin is ~60 miles. And with an I/O I would not suggest it as there are some real low spots between Laughlin and Avi. Staying in Laughlin, go up to Lake Mohave and launch.

[jackpunx]

Is it low all the time?.. or just this time of year?..

[CA Stu]

jackpunx:
Is it low all the time?.. or just this time of year?.. I reckon it's low there all the time. I wouldn't risk it, even in my 23 foot I/O.
If you're staying at Laughlin with anything but a jet, unless you know that part of the river like the back of your hand, I think your best bet is to boat at Mojave. Katherine's Landing launch ramp is only a 15 minute drive away...
In related news, I was thinking about hitting Laughlin this weekend, but all my local buds are a bunch of babies that can't / won't go.
Good Luck
CA Stu <-- will gladly drive an I/O through there, just not mine :)
[ October 14, 2003, 04:09 PM: Message edited by: CA Stu ]

[Havasubum]

parking also sucks at harrahs

[sandblasted]

I just got back from the river...Hung out at Park Moabi....River was really low from needles all the way up to Laughlin...Take everyones advice and head for Lake Mojave this weekend...your prop will thank you..

[fourspeednup]

Good idea. I launch in Willow Valley (between needles and avi). There have been a bunch of low spots in that area. It's a looooong ride down to the sand bar from here, much less laughlin.

[H2on22]

Thanks guys. Sounds like I should go north to Mojave instead of south. Any ideas on where to hang out north of Katherine's? Should I launch at Katherine's and are there slips pretty safe/worth it?

[hd&boatrider]

H2on22:
Thanks guys. Sounds like I should go north to Mojave instead of south. Any ideas on where to hang out north of Katherine's? Should I launch at Katherine's and are there slips pretty safe/worth it? You can get a slip but it is 1st come 1st served. They have security there and I keep my boat in a slip a lot. Never had a problem. Try gasoline Ally about 3 miles up on the right. It will probably be kind of slow but during the summer that is where the adult fun is. There are many coves you can check out. If the wind is not blowing you can go up thru the basin and find even more beautiful places with less people. Stay off the river or you will eat that prop up. I went and launched at Moabi this past weekend...needles was not high enough. It was very low in places all the way to the sandbar. Much lower and I would not have even attempted it. Anyhow, have fun.

[Three Days Only]

We used to stay in laughlin all the time, we would drive down to needles to launch it is about 30min down river. From needles your only a short distance to Park Moabi, Sandbar, and Lake Havasu. Ive been hearing that the river is alittle low right now so I would diffently be careful. Launching in laughlin and going down is prop suicide, especially at the bend in the river around bullhead. I prefer Havasu over Mohave becasue there is more to do and see(restaurants, bars, & people). Parking at Harrahs does suck, but the crowd should be slowing down. They have a structure that you can park on, or there is parking accross the street by the gas station, there is security, but I have never seen them. Just cover your boat and pull anything that is important to you out!!! Have fun at the river, it is great this time of year.

[Edmond]

We stay at Harrahs all the time never had a problem, but we always park at the top across the street ($10 a day) with 24 hr security. Don't know if they have that available this time of year.

[79Hawaiian]

I suggest the parking across the street for $10 a day. They pick you up in an air conditioned van right at your car and drop you off a few feet from the front doors of the hotel. No need to treck across the hot blacktop carrying your ice chest.
Another pointer is to gas up on the Arizona side of the river, a lot cheaper. There is a Chevron, just head up to the end of the strip, turn right over the bridge, right again and it is there on your left. Shorter lines and cheaper gas.
If you plan on taking the trip up to the Hoover dam you may want to launch out of Cottonwood. It is a longer drive but no lines to launch or pickup. You are about 25 miles south of the dam from Cottonwood.

[HOOTER SLED-]

H20,
Make sure you head up to Loser's Lounge at the Riverside for the nightlife. Not too much going on at Harrah's for nightlife but all the peeps in the casino. If you happen to be up there by Thursday night, Loser's has a wet t-shirt contest. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. There is also Tarzans at the Golden Nugget. Decent bar/club. The microbrew at Colorado Belle is cool too. Live music and lotsa beer there. Gasoline Alley at Katherines is definetely the ticket during Summer. May be dead now. During the Summer, launching at Park Moabi and heading South to the Sandbar is the thing to do. Everyone is saying the water is pretty low right about now though. Have fun.
HOOTER

[SCUBA STEVE]

I am suprised no one mentioned the random "Safety" checks at katherines.
Thats the reason why I wont boat there. :(
The other reason is I gamble too much. :D :cool:

[HOOTER SLED-]

SCUBA STEVE:
I am suprised no one mentioned the random "Safety" checks at katherines.
Thats the reason why I wont boat there. :(
The other reason is I gamble too much. :D :cool: You know I've never seen them out there at Katherine's. Been going there for several years now too, on holiday weekends. Along with the lines there, another good reason why I started launching at Telephone Cove this year.
Scuba, why you worried, you got something to hide?? :D :D

[SCUBA STEVE]

I drove passed Katherines once and will never go back again, luckily I wasnt the one that got pulled over. :) I got stuck on the "ramp" at telephone cove last year, and will never go back.
So basically I am protesting Mojave. :D

[Three Days Only]

Im with scuba steve!!!!!! Katherines is a nightmare of a launch. It might be slow this time of year but during the summer it is worse then windsor.

[H2on22]

Thanks to everyone that replied. I'm sure we will have a great time and will post pics when we return. :D

[phuggit]

H2
There are some great coves north of the powerlines from Catherines Landing.
If you don't mind the 45 min. drive from the hotel, there's Cottonwood Cove. I think it's a muck better ramp and always less crowded. You can also make a run up to Hoover Dam.