Great day turned Upseting

[tazz3069]

Went to the lake today. It was great. My wife, sister in law, brother in law and their kids all learned to wake board. My son, who know how to wake board, learned to single ski. It was a beautiful day, until we had to go home. Let me set the scene. Lake Mead is about 100 ft below normal water level. The end of the launch ramps are now above water. So what they did was add gravel and rock to fill in the gap between the water and the end of the ramp. We went to one marine (Echo Bay) trucks were digging their tires in the gravel and getting stuck. So 45 min later, we went to another marina 30 min away. Same situation with the rock and gravel. My trailer was in the water and here I come. Perfect aproach. Boat went on the trailer perfect. I gave it a little gas to push my way up and kick up a rock which hit my prop and bent the %*&%# out of it. Third trip out 12.7 hours on the motor and I have a bent prop. I need to replace it and quick. I would like to know if someone can help me choose a prop for the boat. I would love to get one that can give me a better hole shot without hindering my top speed. Any suggestions.
Mark

[bobwells]

100' below normal, wow! aint no lakes in this part of the country that deep. I thought 30-40 ft. was a deep lake. Ours is probally coming close to 2' down and makes me a bit nervous as to what may be just below the surface now. it's a man made lake with a lot of structure.
I'm sorry to hear about your bumber end to a great day, but heck still was a good day with kids learning to ride, my daughter (just turned 10) been wk. brd'n since April and learned to deep water start on slalom this wk. end. smile was worth a fortune when she finally popped up! Priceless!
As for the prop I've been dealing with ski-dim.com they have a great staff that will be glad to help you with the prop decision, seem to be fast shippers also. You can also send prop to a prop shop and they can fix & tune to your request. always remember tho you cant have it all... more low end torque will take away top end mph, but you can get a happy medium. Hope you get all back going quickly, God-Speed ! bob

[JoeTechie]

Taz,

Sorry about the mishap - SUCKS!

1) I think you meant 10' low ( or 100")

2) All the more reason I never drive up the trailer - for the extra 3 minutes to get out and winch it 3 feet, I NEVER worry about scrapped siderails, scrapped gelcoat, or dinged props or rudders or trailers.

3) to get more holeshot you must give up top speed - sorry - physics at work here - can't get something for nothing. The most common replacement is the 14x14 from the stock 13x17. It has more torque, but lower top end.


Hope this helps,

-Joe

[BensonWdby]

Are we talking 100 vertical feet, or 100 feet more of exposed beach at the landings? It the lake were down 100 feet they would have to put switch backs in at the landing to get to the water...

[tazz3069]

The Lake I am talking about is Lake Mead in Las Vegas, Nevada. Our water comes from the Colorado River. Since it has not really snow in the Rockies, we suffer. Yes, it has been snowing in Colorado. Unfortunatly, it is snowing on the wrong side of the mountain. We also supply water to California. Why, I do not know. They get enough water as it is. Since, we are using more water than we are receiveing, the water is low. Last year, we were 80' below levael. This year, because there was no rain, we are at aroung 100' below level. Lake Mead is still deep. in some parts. When you see pictures of it, you can see the ring of were the water was.
I agree with the pulling the boat in insted of driving it on. My mistake. I just wanted to get out of the water. It was getting dark and late. Plus there was at least a 3 hr wait at the ramp that I had launched at. The line of truck was at least 150 yards long. The ramp at this time can only fit two vehicles at a time. The ramp are being rebuilt on account of the water level. My mistake and it will never happen again. Now about the prop. I need the hole shot to get my arss out of the water. My son, on the other hand does not need it. Will it be better to stay with the same pitch prop? Also, just a note, when I am being pulled, there are 3 adults and 3 kids in the boat at the same time.
I also looked at the prop and the size that I have is 13.7x17.5 should I keep the same size?

[Pike]

Tazz,

I was talking to a few friends about planning a trip to Mead around July 13,14,15. From what I am seeing in your post, is it not a good idea if I have never been there?

I am getting tired of my local lake that has no river in or out of it and all the "green water" I mean its water and it close but I want to wakeboard on a real lake.


Is there rain expected?? Oh and by the way....dont be so greedy with your water!! Us here in california give you guys in vegas all our money...at least you can give us some water!!

[tazz3069]

That is true about the money. Just a note for you Californians who gamble in Vegas. If you want to win money here, go to the older Casinos. All the new ones need your money to crack that nut. The older Casinos are already paid off. Food for thought. Lake Mead is still good in some parts. Launching sucks but the water is great. I keep an eye on my depth finder. in the center, it is well past 200 ft. Even along some of shore line it is 115 ft. The upper basin is great. If you launch at carville bay and drive south. Water is like glass. Echo Bay is were I launched and it was bad. In the morning, it was terrible. The line was long but it went fast. Getting out was another story. No people are getting there heavy boats out in the loose gravel. You will have a great time. Oh! if you still decide to come to Lake Mead, please bring your patience. I have heard that on a good (hot) weekend, it can take up to 8 hours to get out of the Lake.
Mark

[zabooda]

I've gone to Dworshak Reservior in Idaho where the level drops 200 feet during the winter and right now it is filling up at a rate of a foot a day. The reservior is full pool from a week before the 4th of July to a week after then the water is dumped for salmon migration. The reservior is a staightface 700 feet tall dam (height is equal to the Hoover Dam). The main launch goes down to close to the 200 foot level so you can boat all season. The ramp just keeps going down at the same angle all the way down with the docks stopping at about the 75 foot drop. Good place for the 4th of July, full pool, warm water, lousy fishing and everyone thinks the water level is down. You might find a few people out but really quiet.

http://www.dworshak.org/

[NH Moomba]

In NH, it is illegal to power load your boat onto the trailer. Evidently it wqshes away stuff and reshapes the ramp into a berm that cause these sorts of problems.

[Pike]

That is true about the money. Just a note for you Californians who gamble in Vegas. If you want to win money here, go to the older Casinos. All the new ones need your money to crack that nut. The older Casinos are already paid off. Food for thought. Lake Mead is still good in some parts. Launching sucks but the water is great. I keep an eye on my depth finder. in the center, it is well past 200 ft. Even along some of shore line it is 115 ft. The upper basin is great. If you launch at carville bay and drive south. Water is like glass. Echo Bay is were I launched and it was bad. In the morning, it was terrible. The line was long but it went fast. Getting out was another story. No people are getting there heavy boats out in the loose gravel. You will have a great time. Oh! if you still decide to come to Lake Mead, please bring your patience. I have heard that on a good (hot) weekend, it can take up to 8 hours to get out of the Lake.
Mark

8 hours?!?!? Well in that case...no thank you! By a (hot weekend) you mean a holiday?? We are planning on coming up on a non-holiday wkend.
How far is "the strip" to Mead? Would you recommend staying in a hotel around the lake? Thanks again