Going to Lake powell in August, first....

[FRENCHIE]

trip!! anyone got any updates on boating there for this summer? I.E. water levels, gas prices, etc?:)

[hd&boatrider]

try Bajamike...He has been there a few times. Nodigg is going this year and started a thread that went into great detail. Find it and it will have lots of info for you.
Here it is: http://www.***boat.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=37899

[77charger]

I have been going every year since 87 all the times the first week in ug excepy one time.The water is getting lower every year and this year will prob be lower than last year(aint a good thing)There were some scary shallow spots in the main channel.
We usually camp at lone rock and last year we couldnt go across the castle rock area(wawheap) so we had to go around antelope island which made for a longer RoUgH rIdE.
Gas prices on the water can get pricey and the only avail is 87 octane(if you need more you might be in some trouble)for me it was fine

[77charger]

heres a link with good info.You would want water level at 3620 minimum IMO
http://www.wayneswords.com/index.html

[DEEZ NUTTS]

Dont be afraid of the water level, lots left. I will go for the first time this year early May and give a full report.
Powellscooter, how is she looking? You been out yet?

[Boozer]

Just curious but how rough does the water get out there? Is it tame enough for a 19' boat? I figure its worth the drive if the boat will be able to handle the water.

[DEEZ NUTTS]

Boozer, it gets damn rough. Your 19' will get slapped around like a ho cheatin her pimp. However, we started out with 18' and an open bow loaded down like the Clampets with 6 people and thier stuff. Just part of the experience. Had some touchy runs up lake but never kept us from going back. Never pass up the opportunity to go to Lake Powell!!

[burtandnancy]

Powell is down 117 feet as of today, by May it'll be down around 120'. Good luck...

[77charger]

Originally posted by Boozer
Just curious but how rough does the water get out there? Is it tame enough for a 19' boat? I figure its worth the drive if the boat will be able to handle the water. Going thru the main channel around antelope island it will get rocked after that it aint that bad.Last summer i was in my 21 trying to outrun an incoming storm water got a little wind chopped i opened up smoothed out the ride(always tried to tell my wife in certain chop it goes smoother) made it back ok about 1 mile from our camp it started raining as we pulled to shore it started comin down hard. then the wind really kicked up glad we made it back instead of having to take shelter in cove

[phebus]

Summer Love who post's here on the board has a nice Powell link. Here it is: http://www.oursummerlove.com/

[burtandnancy]

a 19 footer on a lake like Powell or Mead may be ok on any given day, but if you get caught by one of those quick storms, it won't be fun. Problem with Powell when the water is low is finding a shelter or beach where you can pull into. The walls are sheer and the coves few. As a guy who has been there in many different size boats, bigger is better. If you were my kid, I'd say consider another lake for the next few years, or get a bigger boat. But if you were my kid, you wouldn't listen anyway. Remember a 19 footer is prone to swamping from the rear, so be careful...

[BajaMike]

I've been to Lake Powell three of the last 4 years and it's always been great. The water was about 100 feet low last year but in many places it's still 200 to 300 feet deep. Also, with the water lower, there are a lot more sandy beaches to beach the house boat on.
There are some nice coves with sandy beaches on the north side of Padre Bay (only about 15 to 20 miles up the lake).
Padre Bay:
http://www.mikesnetworking.net/sitebuilder/images/New_Boat_5-648x484.jpg
We would always take all the mattresses up on the roof of the houseboat and sleep up there, watching the stars and counting the shooting stars (except the sun wakes you early):
http://www.mikesnetworking.net/sitebuilder/images/Morning_Lake_Powell-672x502.jpg
My favorite place is the cove at the back of Oak Canyon (at about mile 56 and about 10 miles above the Dangling Rope marina):
http://www.mikesnetworking.net/sitebuilder/images/oak_canyon-692x518.jpg
We would usually find a good spot and stay for a few days and then go up the lake:
http://www.mikesnetworking.net/sitebuilder/images/towing_toys-626x467.jpg
I don't know of a better place to enjoy your boat and the smooth, clear water.......
http://www.mikesnetworking.net/sitebuilder/images/new_boat1-685x512.jpg
http://www.mikesnetworking.net/sitebuilder/images/floating-661x494.jpg
We had one windy night (with sand blowing) and were glad we had a houseboat with air conditioning, and one night with lightning and thunder, but most of the time the weather was perfect, with great sunsets.......
http://www.mikesnetworking.net/sitebuilder/images/sunset_lake_powell-655x489.jpg
And moon rises......
http://www.mikesnetworking.net/sitebuilder/images/moon_rise_lake_powell-657x490.jpg
The weather is probably better in June and July, but I went last year in August and it was fine.
They were talking about banning personal watercraft and/or 2 strokes, so you should check with the park service.
:)

[Reaper1]

Drew Down and I are going in August on a new 75' Houseboat with about 18 peeps. Outkast - " I can't wait, I can't wait"

[Wild Horses]

Boozer
where you are from Denver I would say you would want to go out of Bull Frog or Halls Crossing. You would miss having to go through the narrows down by Wahweap, also the boat traffic from Dangling Rope Marina up is a lot less which means better water.
Without a doubt go. Its the best I've been to and I've been on LOTO, Havasu, Mead, Tahoe, Table Rock, Mohave just to name a few.:cool:
Clint

[BajaMike]

One thing I haven't seen anyone mention, because of the altitude, I had to buy a lower pitched prop to pull up a skier/wakeboarder.
I use a 4 blade 21" stainless prop at Havasu, and I had to buy a 19", 3 blade aluminum at the Marina at Powell to get the performance I'm used to. I think they charged $150, and you can get them elsewhere for about $80.
There were 3 other people in the marina store buying props when I was there, for the same reason. I have a 20' Baja with a MerCruiser 5.0L MPI, 260 hp/Alpha I.
:(

[FRENCHIE]

hey great pics baja mike...looks like a blast, i might have to try that sleepin on the roof thing!:D

[FRENCHIE]

or wherever i can pass out at!:o :p

[burtandnancy]

great pictures. But don't tell anyone else...

[Debbolas]

Lake Powell is a trip.
If you camp at Lone Rock, you need to pack food and drink for 10 days. Dry camp on the lake... It takes two days to get there. SOMETHING always happens (storms, fights, trailers come off hitches, husbands freak out, etc....)
In August there are lots of monsoons . June isn't quite warm enough yet.
You need a different pitch prop or your boat just won't go.
The lake is so big, you can leave lone rock under sunny skies, cruise over to Navaho Canyon, (dodgeing the cruise boat HUGE wakes), ((and the Russians on jet skis)) on the return trip you might just run into a WALL OF WATER.
"Honey what is that?"
Oh, that is a huge wall of rain coming toward us.
Hunker down on a RARE beach (lots more beaches now) and ride out the storm with a few other boats.
The canyon above you turns into waterfalls and thunder and lightning crack right over your head. Moms cry and we pass out candy and sing songs, so the kids don't get scared....
laughing all the way back to camp in our ponchos (that I just happen to have) Never more scared in my life....
The rocks are unbelievble! Like someone put a lake in the middle of the grand canyon. It is such a beautifall lake. The first time we went, we docked about 20 ft from rainbow bridge, now I hear you have to hike a mile.
The low water level will be a drag, I bet sand hill is HUGE! All those little canyons we use to push our 19ft searay down with an oar, must be gone. The water soooo clear you can watch your sunglasses fall all the way to the bottom.....
We are going in July and I am concerned about the sand at Lone Rock, bet it will be all muddy and gross......
We made do with a 19 ft boat, but after having a 26ft, I can see the difference. Waves that us to push us around, we just sail over.
Lake Powell is a pillgramig (sp) a right of passage, it will make you a better person.....
:D :D :D :D :wink:

[burtandnancy]

Debbolas, HELLO ! someone did put a lake in the middle of the Grand Canyon. Its called Lake Powell, with Lake Mead at the other end...

[Debbolas]

Originally posted by burtandnancy
Debbolas, HELLO ! someone did put a lake in the middle of the Grand Canyon. Its called Lake Powell, with Lake Mead at the other end...
oh,
that makes sense then.....
:D