sail/camping Lake Mead

[switters]

Its snowing out so I'm planning a trip for the coming year. I would like to sail from the west side of Lake Mead to South Cove on the east with a possible run up to Overton Beach. I had originally started to plan for Lake Powell but the wind conditions looked too crappy year round.

The boat is a 16' sailing/rowing skiff (GIS). Two old men in their early 40s escaping wives and work and girlfreinds, plenty of camping experience, BWCAW experience, no sailing/camp experience. Limited sailing experience. I spent my first honeymoon camped at Boulder Bay for five days. Thats the only part I'm familiar with.

1. Has anyone here made this trip or parts of it? What should I know?

2. Is spring or fall better?

3. Is there a season for PWC? What is the bag limit? Best shotgun ammunition for PWC? (did I mention grumpy old men)

4. Recommended resorts, restaurants, camping spots etc?

Thanks, I would be glad to promise beers or trade in experiences if anyone can help me out.

[dredbob]

If you have access to back issues of the magazine Messing About In Boats, you might look for articles by Jim Thayer. He lives in Grand Mesa, CO (I think thats right) and has documented many small boat camping get togethers across the west, including, I'm pretty sure, Lake Mead. In the current issue there's an article about a trip to Starvation park, where ever that is.

Bob

[Thorne]

Highbase 00Buck for the PWC, gas-powered Browning on an oarlock-mounted swivel for accuracy.

http://www.nps.gov/lame/launchramp.htm

[Ron Carter]

Lake Mead article in one of the national paddling magazines in the last year. Talked of how the exceptionally low water was making launching difficult and uncovering palces that hadn't been seen since the dam was built. Either "Paddler" or "Canoe and Kayak".

[switters]

Thanks, I was able to score a few articles. Thorne, I'll keep the browning/oarlock idea in mind, as as soon as I read that I could picture one and thought "Oh yea".

[Thorne]

One of the highpoints of last year's TSCA rowing events was getting to tow a very dead PWC up out of the weed-choked water at a ramp -- and I took it for a spin at the end of a rope across the gravel lot. It had a humongous shotgun hole in the starboard side...

Yee-f'in-Ha!

;0 )

[StevenBauer]

Switters, google up Grand Mesa Boatworks and it's owner Jim Thayer. After reading the articles you find give him a call and I bet he'll be a great help.


Steven