Be Careful at Mongold Launch Ramp at Detroit Lake, Oregon

[Harvey]

At Detroit Lake Thursday for our annual 26X shakedown sail I discovered that Mongold launch ramp may present problems for sail boaters.

Trees have grown larger along the set up area beside the launch access road and there is no longer tree-free space to raise a mast. That leaves only the parking area for set up.

Some of the trees that grow beside the launch set up area road have branches that extend from the woods on the right almost across the road. Even though I towed the boat with the left trailer wheel a couple inches from the left curb, my raised mast struck the ends of some of the branches and I found some pine needles in the boat. The only other way to get to the launch ramp from the parking area is to drive against the traffic pattern in the parking lot.

Detroit Lake is a beautiful reservoir about 45 miles east of Salem, Oregon. It is usually is full by Memorial day and is maintained at or near full pool until Labor day. Flood control and other commitments require that the lake level be lowered through the fall and winter, according to a park service employee. The Mongold launch ramp is a well-maintained, easy-to -use place with four lanes.

There are two other launch ramps BLM campgrounds on the other side of the lake, but they are smaller and less convenient.

Weekends can be very busy on this lake, but weekdays are peaceful with only rare waits to launch or retrieve.

I have written to Oregon Parks administration about the tree situation and requested trimming.

[The Mutt]

I setup on the water, I got sick of dodging power lines and over grown tree branches at some of the maintained ramps we go to here in Australia, at one ramp we almost had the trailer's tires in the water on the ramp to raise the mast, Local Council in their wisdom strung an overhead power line to the jetty diagonally across one side of the ramp, the other side of the ramp had a huge gum tree overhanging it, when I contacted the Local Council I was informed that particular boat ramp is for fishing boats NOT sail boats.

By launching then setting up on the jetty of at anchor works best for us. eg. I don't get as pi$$ off as I use to.

Fair Winds
Glenn

[sailboatmike]

Our local council was rebuilding our ramp. it took them 2 goes, I was Commodore of the yacht club so had a bit of pull, the first time they laid the ramp to shallow so you couldnt get a trailer sailor off its trailer, they gave me the same thing, its for fishing boats, but I jumped around enough and they pulled it up and started again, this time they were going to put lights on arms over the ramps, another set of phone calls and they abandoned that idea for lights on top of poles. that change was made a couple of hours before the lights were going to be installed.

Poor planning cost them over $500,000, a great way to waste the tax payers money.

On the east side of Port Phillip bay there are plenty of boat ramps but it can be upto 20km between ramps that sail boats can get into, on the western side they have 4 marinas within about 10km one can run for if it blows up, on the east side, which is the nasty side with prevailing south westerlies good luck finding somewhere to run too for cover with a sail boat

[kadet]

I contacted the Local Council I was informed that particular boat ramp is for fishing boats NOT sail boats.

Then perhaps your boat registration fee should only go to councils that maintain trailer sailer boat ramps

[sail4fun]

At least here any boat with a motor is registered as a motor boat. Those fees go to maintain ramps and other access points. Either provide access for all "motor boats" or rebate the registration fees!

[sailboatmike]

I contacted the Local Council I was informed that particular boat ramp is for fishing boats NOT sail boats.

Then perhaps your boat registration fee should only go to councils that maintain trailer sailer boat ramps

The state government take ours and build said 4 marinas within a few kilometers on the other side of the bay that is protected from the prevailing winds and has a much lower population than the unprotected side, of course that makes perfect sense to someone that doesnt have a boat

[Don T]

Hello,
I haven't been to Detroit Lake in 15 years and as I recall back then we ended up with a small branch hanging from the upper shrouds. I can only imagine how much further / bigger the trees have gotten since then.

[Bilgemaster]

Did anyone else first read this topic as "Mongoloid Launch Ramp" and expect to be treated to some fresh sparkly new "boat launch idiot fail" videos? Or, at least some perhaps nautically-themed Devo retrospective?



But in the meantime, let's all ponder all the possible links of cause and effect that led to this lonely boater without a PFD...

[Catigale]

I did, and I was halfway to moving it to the Destinations Forum before I realised it...