calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

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kemer1

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

I usually find these kinda things wrong in my yard,Let me tell you! tools go a flying!
So where was the water coming in from?If you had the outdrive redone, dont let it sit long in the full up trim position while in storage.

Believe it or not the water was coming in from the speedo tube. Guess it had a small hole or crack and was putting water into the bilge while under way. Yeah I know not to store the thing with the out drive up, dries up all the bellows and gets a lot of water in very quickly. I'm just shocked that someone would buy a VM custom boat trailer and turn it into a hunk of steel by sheer lack of maintenance.
 

QC

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

I'm just shocked that someone would buy a VM custom boat trailer and turn it into a hunk of steel by sheer lack of maintenance.
Very common. Just get over it, fix it, and one day you will know all that is right, and wrong, as it will be all about you. That's a good thing. You'll get there.
 

kemer1

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Very common. Just get over it, fix it, and one day you will know all that is right, and wrong, as it will be all about you. That's a good thing. You'll get there.

Yeah that's a good point, however with all I've put into it thus far, plus who knows how much redoing the suspension is going to cost, then to get it painted I'll have about as much into it as it would cost to buy a new Karavan trailer...if not more. Not sure if its worth it. Then again restoring a custom trailer is probably cooler then some plain old dealer basic trailer. So we'll see what the dealer says on Monday when they inspect it.
 

QC

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

I don't want to tell you all the ship I went through when I asked "Is it all worth it?" Worst jinx ever!!!
 

Skiya

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Parasail Lake Mead - YouTube

That was Off the point at Sandy Cove. It was a beautiful day till my trailer got totaled. That was end of April, it's taking this long to talk about it. I know there is a "traumatic stress syndrome" out there somewhere that I had.

 

MRS

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

I to know the trailer troubles of boat ownership, this happened this last may on the way to Havasu two miles from the Havasu turnoff. Thank heaven for AAA club towed to Mother in laws house fixed enough to get to launch ramp and still had a great weekend. Got home now got to change axle springs and fenders could have been worse. The u-bolt snapped that holds axle to the springs wild ride to the side of the road.
 

jjacobs007

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

scary pictures! I towed my 1979 ranger bass boat for two yrs with the 1 7/8 ball,then when i sold it the new owner hooked it up to his 2in and drove off. oops!! i felt silly.Went to lake every weekend for 2 yrs straight with that boat. God is always with us.
 

fishrdan

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

It was a beautiful day till my trailer got totaled. That was end of April, it's taking this long to talk about it. I know there is a "traumatic stress syndrome" out there somewhere that I had.



:eek:

Did someone T-bone the trailer?
 

kemer1

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Well here's my latest update, they looked at the trailer yesterday and it looks like I'm only going to need a new rear spring bracket welded on and then they're going to replace all the mounting hardware so all the suspension can move freely. So all in all it's not going to be as expensive as I feared. The strange thing is that it appears that due to the custom nature of this trailer standard width trailer wheels just won't fit. Which is why my tires were rubbing, which is why it put huge stress on that weld, which is why my suspension hanger broke at the weld. So while everyone else is running 14 x 6 and 14 x 7 wheels I'm going to have to run nothing wider then a 5 inch wheel with no more then 2.5 inches of backspacing. And even then I might need 1/2 inch spacers to give myself some breathing room. But I'll let the guys at Trailer Tech work their formulas and come up with something. So there you have it fellas. Looks like the trailer might be done in time for the weekend festivities, the wheels might not be here in time to make this a roller. Oh well, at least we're getting all these misteries figured out.
 

Woody62

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Ok, Lake Mead Boaters...

Planning first trip to Mead and need some help with options and a lot of questions.

Two adults spending 1 day (8am to 5pm) in mid August on Lake Mead and coming in from Vegas. Will be renting a boat from either Vegas Bay Marina- 21' Bayliner which must be kept in Boulder Basin or 21' Ebbtide from Callville which has no lake restriction but a further car drive in the morning. Each should hold about 30 gal of fuel, but not sure how far that will get me.

I think I prefer the Bayliner boat from Vegas better (it appears 2 can lay flat), but given that it's only 1 day and lake restricted to Boulder (to end of the narrows) does that matter? What am I missing by staying in Boulder Bay but would have been reachable from Callville in the Virgin Bay? I know I want to stop by Hoover Dam for some pics so I will be at the far West end for sure.

Where should I make sure to go and is there enough to see and stop at in Boulder? I hear a lot about Temple Bar in Virgin Basin but that's a 1 1/2 hour run at WOT just to get there! 3 hours of run time for at 7-8 hr rental?? Also, anyone know if these boats hold enough fuel to make it a day and what are the best spots to pull into and get out or the "must see nooks" I hear Sandy Beach and Swallow Bay?

Oh Ya, if all the cruising is worth it, what's the price of gas at the Boulder marina(s)- I'm sure it's going to hurt!

Apparently these boats don't have depth/gps units either- is there a strong cell signal (AT&T or Verizon) on the lake so I can use my phones GPS to see where I am on the lake?

Thanks a ton.....
 

QC

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

I think you will be fine out of Vegas Marina. There is a ton to explore out of either Callville or Vegas within the Boulder Basin. I am guessing they are restricting you to the West side of the Narrows. I think you should try and see the Narrows and I think a peek into Wishing Well is a must see. I also like Castle Rock or simply Castle Cove for a view as well. You will have enough fuel for the day. Figure 3 MPG and leave some reserve and you should be fine. One word of caution. If the wind comes up, the trip from the East end to Vegas Marina will be exciting to say the least. One thing nice about Callville is that you can stay out of the nasty water if it blows and not be too far from the Marina. Crossing the Basin can be harrowing. Hug the south shore if you have to cross in the wind. With that said, crossing the Dam entrance at he end of the day can result in a serious pucker factor. No south shore to hug there ;)

Reread this thread Woody: http://forums.iboats.com/boating-activities-rendezvous-destinations/las-vegas-lake-mead-476084.html
 

Woody62

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

QC,

Ya, I keep hearing about " if it's blowing" on the board. Must be an experience. Have also heard that the wishing well is a must see but was not sure if that was allowed from Las Vegas Harbor or if I then should then rent from Calville? Will find and add castle to the list of spots.

I had seen that thread, but it was from 2011, I'll retread for info and spots.

Any idea on cell service o
 

QC

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Any idea on cell service o
Spotty, but there is reasonable coverage in Boulder Basin.

Ask them specifically about boundary for "Basin". I am guessing the Narrows.
 

Woody62

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

QC,

I'll check out the regulations on the Narrows with Vegas Marina, not sure why they would restrict the area and Carville would not also. Distance issues would result in more fuel sales so is there a liability concern?

Good to know I'll get some coverage.

Woody
 

QC

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

is there a liability concern?
The Virgin Basin outside of the Narrows, is huge. If weather is an issue you can be cutoff from getting back into the Boulder Basin and back. I am sure they have had to go out and find more than one stranded or lost boater before they started that policy. Calville is that much closer, so maybe they are less concerned.
 

jjacobs007

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

WOODY! WHATS YOUR PLANS AFTER YOU RETURN THE BOAT? ARE YOU GOING TO STAY AT LAKE, OR DRIVE HOME ALL TIRED.THERE is more to see and do i think around calville.LAKE MEAD MARINA is nice too and they have a lodge near too. theres good coverage for cell phones in boulder area,depending on your carrier. but not if you get into echo.Doing lake mead in a day is like doing disney in a half day, it just isnt enough time to see it all,just start small, and enjoy it by the minute.Dont try to rush through it,the wildlife is very blended and takes a good eye.
 

jjacobs007

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

400,000 members wow!!!!! I remeber the first time i found iboats and they offered me three different choices for parts prices,cool i thought,then i saw forums and joined right away! Because of iboats i have fixed my boat many times over and even helped others.the mods are great and the info here is never ending.i have ideas that would take iboats to the next century.
 

h2odick

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

We'll be leaving tomorrow after the wife gets outta work (would have left Wednesday night had she not had to work on Friday), can't wait! Hopefully no one runs into my boat on this holiday weekend! :)
 

kemer1

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Alright boys and girls, the boat is finished and is sitting in front of the house. We will be making the festivities after all. We're going to be heading out both Friday and Saturday. Gonna be anchored at sandy if we can find the space. Hopefully I'll see some of you out there. If you see us feel free to come by and say hello.
 

Woody62

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Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Ahhh,

More good points to consider. Winds can make the narrows uncross able- really that bad? How do those 21' rentals work/handle given the issues with waves when blowing?

Looks like we'll enjoy ourselves in Boulder just fine. If it's calm we will see about getting to the wishing well and sounds like a morning run to see the dam is a better plan.

What else is there to do in and around calville? I only heard about the Hacienda photo wall at LVBH. I was planning
on a long hot ride back to Vegas that night, but...?

Thanks for all the tips everyone.
Woody
 
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