Lake Mead Questions

[trdprotruck]

Hi All,

I am planning my first trip to Lake Mead with my in the beginning of May. This is my first time boating at lake Mead and I want to make sure it's a successful trip. Can anyone give me their experiences and opinions on the matter?

Specifically, I'd like to hear opions on:

• Which launches are the most Mac friendly?
• What are some good sheltered anchorages?
• Anchoring techniques? (I have a 22# delta, 16.5 Claw and a small knock off danforth that came with the boat.)
• Courtesy dock locations and availability.
• Destinations to sail to?
• Any dangers to be aware of?
• Good places for showers and emptying the head?
• Any issues with leaving the truck and trailer at the launch area for multiple nights?
• Is it ok to unhitch at the ramp parking and go to Vegas for a couple of hours?
• Also, I just wanted to confirm that there are no bans on 2 stroke outboards yet. RIght?

Thanks for your help.

-Randy

[Captain Kimo]

Hi All,

I am planning my first trip to Lake Mead with my in the beginning of May. This is my first time boating at lake Mead and I want to make sure it's a successful trip. Can anyone give me their experiences and opinions on the matter?

Specifically, I'd like to hear opions on:

• Which launches are the most Mac friendly? Las Vegas Bay Macgregor Association launches at Callville Bay. Deepest launch and less crowded.
• What are some good sheltered anchorages?Purchase a local chart of Lake Mead by "Fish n Map" about $8 at any of the marina stores. Coves listed with underline as best house boat coves are best coves for shelter
• Anchoring techniques? (I have a 22# delta, 16.5 Claw and a small knock off danforth that came with the boat.) We don't normally anchor, but beach the boats on a sandy protected cove and stake out the anchor up the sheltered slop to hold us on the shore. Winds frequently change directions by 180 degrees making anchoring out less than desirable. On the you will spin like a top and keep you up all night with an anchor watch.
• Courtesy dock locations and availability. All marinas have courtesy docks. Ask for a map of Lake Mead National Recreation Area when pay your toll fee to enter the area
• Destinations to sail to?We sail to all 5 basins of Lake Mead. 150 miles of navigable water with 550 miles of shoreline with many sheltered coves
• Any dangers to be aware of?Biggest concern is high winds on the lake. Listen to NOAA weather reports and head for nearest safe cove or marina
• Good places for showers and emptying the head?Most marina have showers. Several locations on the lake for emptying head in a floating barge outhouse. Ask local marina personal for current locations. Also pump out facility at fuel docks on the lake
• Any issues with leaving the truck and trailer at the launch area for multiple nights? Callville Bay Marina has a parking lot C for 7 day parking, however I have my boat down there for several months at a time, till park ranger tells me to move it . Parking area is between the launch ramp area and maintenance yard, so it is not an isolated area
• Is it ok to unhitch at the ramp parking and go to Vegas for a couple of hours?There is no parking with attached trailer at the ramp area. You would have to go to parking Lot C at Callville and unhitch and leave trailer to go to Vegas
• Also, I just wanted to confirm that there are no bans on 2 stroke outboards yet. RIght? Not yet, however it is coming by 2014. Received a recent notice for the Park service

Thanks for your help.

-Randy

There is more information on our web site http://www.las-vegas-bay-macgregor-assoc.webs.com. Captain Kimo

[pokerrick1]

Randy;

Just a few thoughts - - - and remember - - - all thoughts are just IMHO! First of all the water level is much higher than it has been and that's a good thing, making all operating launch ramps OK. If you (or anyone else with you) is a senior you can get a LIFETIME pass for $10 good for everyone in the car (truck) - - best deal in town. The entrances are closed late at night but you can still get in and return to your boat.

Your launch choices are really Las Vegas Boat Harbor and Callville - - - they have the most facilities. I prefer LVBH because it is 1/4 mile from the entrance to Lake Mead to the launch ramp. Callville is 16+ miles from the entrance to the launch ramp - - - and that distance, over a week, can be a PITA. Callville is a little easier to use but that 32+ mile round trip is a killer. To get to LVBH take I 15N to 215 E to 515/93/95 S to Boulder City (and follow signs to the lake).

There are courtesy docks at both places and cheap overnight docks that you pay for in cash in an envelope in the dock receptacle.

Destinations: Remember; you can fit the State of Rhode Island inside Lake Mead. Load up on gas every day! Callville will be one of your destinations (maps of the Lake readilly available). A GPS is very useful - - - it is difficult to remember and/or find entrances to some places from the Lake - - - they all look the same and the Lake is BIG! Remember to visit Hoover Dam, both on the boat and in your truck.

There are no issues leaving truck & trailer in the parking lots at the launch ramps (at Callville, be prepared for the walk of your life - - - another reason to use LVBH).


It is OK to unhitch and head to Las Vegas at night. It is APPROXIMATELY 32 miles from LVBH to the Strip (Caesar's). First try Sunset Station (Henderson, Sunset and Stephanie - 19 miles from LVBH and try Green Valley Ranch - - - very nice - also a Station Casino maybe 24 miles from LVBH - 215 to Green Vally exit turn left) - - - it is another 8 - 10 miles to the middle of the strip.

There is no ban on 2 strokes.

PM me and I'll give you my cell phone number and you can take me sailing

Rick

[Steve K]

Callville bay also has a campground $10 per night.
Many times, when I arrive late I'll pull in there and stay in the boat that night.
Conversely (and this is the best), sometimes when I arrive late, back at Callville, after a week of sailing the lake, I'll just get the boat back on the trailer and stay in the same campgrounds. It is designed to be able to drive through it with the mast up and many of the spaces are long enough to back into, boat, tow vehicle and all..... so no need to unhook the boat.

Then after a good nights sleep, I'll have a nice breakfast, de-rig the boat and get her freeway ready to drive her back to CA.

One warning...........
Do not sleep in your boat, motor home or any other vehicle in the parking lot anywhere, except the campground. The fine was $50, it may be higher now.

Also, pay very close attention to speed limit signs and other posted signage, while in the whole recreation area. The Rangers pop out of nowhere, sometimes and like to write tickets.

I've been meeting Kimo and a whole group of people up there, twice a year, for around 12 years now. I never get tired of sailing Lake Mead. Sailing under 1000 foot cliffs, waking up to a herd of 30 or 40 Big Horn Sheep, grazing on the shore, 10 feet from your boat, a 1000 little quiet coves to beach in every night, a billion stars in the sky every night. Even in the busy season, you might see a hundred boats in the marina and many others playing around in the bay, just outside....... get a few miles out from there and it seem like you're the only one on the lake, particularly on week days.

We used to go clear up into the east basin, right up to a sign that said you were entering the Grand Canyon. Due to lower water levels, the eastern most basin has become a mud hole with the river running through it. However, there are still many, many miles of Lake Mead to explore. Many people see the main basin (Boulder Basin) and think that is the lake and they think it's a big lake. This is only one of five basins. Most people never see the real size of the lake. Actually, the only real way to see it is to sail it.

Have a depth sounder of some kind (gps w/sounder or fish finder) or watch for very light colored patches of water. There are mountain peaks around, in the lake. You can be in 500 feet of water and suddenly be in three feet in a few places.

Best Breezes,
Steve K.
Mac 26D "Three Sheets"

[trdprotruck]

Thank you everyone for the great advice! This is great information I couldn't find anywhere else.

I have never beached the boat before which brings about some more questions.

I can only beach bow in since I have a stern transducer.
Should ballast be in or out when beaching?
Any issues with the sand wearing away at the bottom paint and gel coat?
To "stake out the anchor" do I use my regular anchor or do i need one of those special shore spikes?

Thanks again. Very good info above.

-Randy

[Captain Kimo]

Thank you everyone for the great advice! This is great information I couldn't find anywhere else.

I have never beached the boat before which brings about some more questions.

I can only beach bow in since I have a stern transducer. We all beach the boat bow in as you will need O/B to run the bow up on the beach. Need care to ensure enough water to keep rudders from hitting the bottom. Usually a high incline bank provides evidence of deep water at the shore line. Alternative is to come in with rudders up and use motor for steering which provides less control. Remember to take up CB before making approach to beach. You will need some kind of ladder to climb off the bow to the shore to set anchor/stakes.
Should ballast be in or out when beaching? Never dump ballast once underway. Not required to empty for beaching
Any issues with the sand wearing away at the bottom paint and gel coat? Yes, sand will wear away bottom paint and gel coat on the bottom by the bow. To minimize make sure bow is secure and does not work in the wave action on the beach
To "stake out the anchor" do I use my regular anchor or do i need one of those special shore spikes? For years LVBMA members have successfully used danforth anchors sunk in up the cove bank and perhaps flukes weighted with rocks. Currently most are now using special shore spikes with built in slide "hammer" which tends to be more secure. I find that using the trailer pad eye on the boat is a better angle securing point for reducing bow bounce from passing boat wake

Captain Kimo

Thanks again. Very good info above.

-Randy

[Steve K]

Randy,
Where wearing the gel-coat off from beaching goes, Kimo is talking over a period of years, not just in a single trip.
I you're looking to keep all scratches off the bow, then beaching may not be for you. However, It's not like it is going to destroy the gel-coat. It will dull it a bit. Just carefully choose a sandy place and stay away from a rocky bottom.
When I first got my 26X, I would not beach it, for fear of ruining the finish. after a year or so I started beaching her whenever I could (beats spinning around on an anchor any day). The same goes for my 26D also. I beach it all the time.
When I sold my X-boat, the entire hull shine like glass, including the bow. ( hey, kinda funny.... my X-boat is my X boat)

Getting off the beach:
Sometimes we hit the beach in an overzealous manner, thinking that we want to be sure and not start floating in the middle of the night. If the bow is afloat, any waves coming in will make the boat bounce up and down on the beach. It feels like it's beating the boat to pieces and keeps you awake all night (these boats are tougher than they look though, I've never had any damage from this).
Anyway, there you are with half the hull up on the beach, 'cause the beach was a lot softer than it looked, when you came in. (I've had her dry all the up to the dagger board a time or two)
Next morning, you can't get her off the darned beach and think you'll be stuck forever. Well, all you have to do is put the outboard in reverse, crank up the throttle and work the wheel, or tiller back and forth. Your boat will, eventually wallow itself back off the beach.

Best Breezes
Steve K.
Mac 26D "Three Sheets"

[Keel_Hauled]

Not to hijack the thread, but.... How does one determine where beaching is allowed ?

~K

[Steve K]

The rule is:
See a beach..... beach there.

SK

[Keel_Hauled]

The rule is:
See a beach..... beach there.

See a beach.... beach there... I'll bet the fine is a real beach, too

~K

[Steve K]

See a beach.... beach there... I'll bet the fine is a real beach, too

No fine.............
What? ..............you saying I would give bogus info????????????

[Keel_Hauled]

Nah, I just don't know any better. Never had a chance to beach my but maybe this year will be different

[Steve K]

Okay,

Sorry if I jumped the gun a little.

Yea, funny how you worry about stuff like this........ think you'll break your new boat........... then you see a whole group of $200,000 speeders, sittin' up on the sand.

Seriously, the way the Macs ride the anchor, beaching them is the very best way to get a good nights sleep in one.

Since you mentioned it........... I'll bet there are a lot of lakes, and other waters where you would get fined, big time, for beaching. I know that in Mission Bay, in San Diego CA. there are very specific areas where you can, at very specific times and if you break any rules down there, you get surrounded by the Coast Guard, Harbor Patrol, Homeland Security and who knows the CIA, FBI, NCIS, NSA, Postal Inspector, Border Patrol, US Customs and the Assistant Manager of Security from Sea World.

I still love sailing down there though.

Best Breezes,
Steve K.

[Catigale]

...at the risk of spreading bad information - Im told by the OCSC out of Berkeley that the CG fine for contacting one of the bridge structures on the Bay Bridge with a sailboat is 50,000 USD...

[Captain Kimo]

REVISED DATE OF LVBMA FOUNDERS' DAY CUP RACE TO SUNDAY APRIL 22 VICE APRIL21. WIND FORECAST ON APRIL22 FOR 14 MPH WINDS FROM SOUTH VERSES APRIL 21 6 MPH WINDS FROM THE SOUTH. MEAD MADNESS START AM MONDAY APRIL 23 TRANSIT TO MIDDLE POINT.

The BOTTOM LINE IS THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR LAKE MEAD AND "MEAD MADNESS" IS TEMPERATURES IN THE HIGH 70"S. Has to be some wind in that week of sailing and you will never meet a BIGGER BUNCH OF SAILING LIERS AND BRAGGERS THAN AT "MEAD MADNESS". So come on down to the warmer weather and share you "whopper" tale of sailing skills. Steve the K has been coming for some 12 years and finally decided it was the boat and not him that did not allow him to win the engraved SS Coleman Cup of the "LVBMA Founders' Day Race", so he now has a MacGregor 26D with a hull that looks like a missile in flight just sitting on the trailer .

Again "FOREVER" is already at Callville Bay Marina rigged in the lower parking lot ready to launch on April 20. Overnight at the BBQ beach just outside the marina tire jetty on the SW side of Callville Bay ($15 overnight at the courtesy dock with the kids and their "BOOM boxes" ). Captains' Meeting 0800 ON APRIL 21 at Courtesy Dock for race information for those not overnighting at the BBQ beach; 0930 Start of LVBMA Founders' Day Cup Fun Race at Navigation buoy CB-A. With most probable wind SSW, the course will be Port rounding of Battleship Rock and return. Open to all sailboats and skipper experience.

For more detailed information go to http://www.las-vegas-bay-macgregor-assoc.webs.com