Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

[rmurray]

So, I roll into Castaic Lake yesterday with plans for a fun day on the water with the family. The boat hasn't seen water in about 1 month, and I spent several days working on it leading up to this trip (lowering the outdrive, installing a new battery, making sure the outdrive was dry). The Colorado River is battling a Quagga Muscle epidemic and So Cal is trying to keep the species out of the local lakes. Knowing this, I wanted to make sure the outdrive was dry before making the 1:15 minute drive. At any rate, I roll in to the inspection, lower the drive, and about 2 ounces of water trickles out. WTF? Where the hell did that come from? Apparently, while towing the boat, some water must have been trapped somewhere and found its way to the bootom of the outdrive. As a result, they would not let me launch due to fears of the muscles living in my outdrive from a July trip to the Colorado River. Since we were meeting friends there with a larger deck boat, it looks like we'd still be able to get out on the water. So I ask them if I can unhitch the boat and still meet our friends down by the dock. That would be ok, I'd just have to pay for parking. So I added nicely, "Any chance you can waive the $11 parking fee since we drove all the way out here and you won't let me launch my boat?" I can think of at least 5 ways of saying no without being an a-hole, but the manager at the time tells me "No! It's not my fault your boat failed inspection." I swear I wanted to drive my truck right through their little inspection station. I said "thanks" and drove around to the lot to unhitch the boat.

On a positive note, we had a great day out on the lake with friends, even without my boat. Its unfortunate that, due to the lack of customer service I see out of a lot of gov't employees lately, I will have a bad taste in my mouth the next time I plan to go there. This sense of entitlement just pisses me off. I really just had to get that off my chest since I've spent most of the day thinking how I could have responded with a better come-back. I'll definitely be more prepared next time. I'll be lowering the outdrive a couple of time before I even pull into the lake. I saw a few boats get turned away. What a way to ruin your weekend.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

I haven't had issues going to lakes with quagga restrictions/inspections, but they are pretty lax at most of those lakes up north here (UT). They just make you sign an form saying the boat hasn't been in the water in XX days, at least it was like that a year ago. Even with that, if I'm going to a quagga restricted lake I always drain the engine/drive as if winterizing it, make sure my anchor lines are bone dry along with all lockers and the bilge. I've heard of others being turned away so I go over the boat again, to make sure it's dry, before pulling into the lake. Just pray you don't drive through rain heading out to the lake....

 

[ronboonville]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Well, "thanks" was probably the best thing to say at that moment instead of the standard reply that pops into my mind first.

 

[laserbrn]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Castaic is my "home" lake sorta speak. The people that work there are miserable so don't let it get under your skin. You are going to go out and have fun on the lake with your friends, they are going to roast in the sun "inspecting" boats. You really don't have to say anything at all to the guy to know you're making out just fine in the situation.

You'll notice that there is a little dirt pull off area about 3/4 of the way up the hill. Most guys stop there with the boat point up the hill and lower the outdrive a few times to make sure that water isn't going to come out. If it doesn't come out when it's point like that, it shouldn't come out on level ground.

The good thing about it appears to be that about 1/2 the boaters seem to be on the water compared to previous years.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

yeah, sucks to have the day ruined by something stupid, but your rant is a little off base also... The rules state your boat has to be 100% dry. Zero tolerance. Not like they are hiding it. Your boat failed, so ok, you aren't going to be in the water there for the next 7 days. Like the previous poster mentioned, I'd be toweling out the bilge and drive right before getting to the inspection. An hour and a half on the road will ALWAYS dislodge water from somewhere, its a given.

And as far as waiving parking costs, are you taking a parking space? yes? So why wouldn't you have to pay? Just being blunt, but it seems to be a sense of entitlement or lack of responsibility might be an issue, and not by the government...

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Ok for everyone that has heard me whine about the Mussel inspection in Colorado, never mind its worse in California!!

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

yeah, sucks to have the day ruined by something stupid, but your rant is a little off base also... The rules state your boat has to be 100% dry. Zero tolerance. Not like they are hiding it. Your boat failed, so ok, you aren't going to be in the water there for the next 7 days. Like the previous poster mentioned, I'd be toweling out the bilge and drive right before getting to the inspection. An hour and a half on the road will ALWAYS dislodge water from somewhere, its a given.

And as far as waiving parking costs, are you taking a parking space? yes? So why wouldn't you have to pay? Just being blunt, but it seems to be a sense of entitlement or lack of responsibility might be an issue, and not by the government...

+1, agree

 

[John3]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Guess it just depends on who you get. I ALWAYS run the motor before leaving home. Too often the boat picks the start of a trip to have a problem & home's where I have the most complete set of tools & available parts to fix it.
We went to Powell mid April. No problem, at the inspection I explained "The last time the boat was in the water was a trip from Long Beach to Two Harbors, Catalina".
In July we went to Castaic (about 40 miles from home) for a day to check out some repairs I made. When I lowered the OD, water came out as usual. Again, I explained, it had been in salt water in the interim and it was well over 2 months since my last fresh water outing to Powell. He still had to get his boss' OK. When I left they put a tag on the Trailer's Bow Eye/Hook so I didn't need to stop the next time.
Bureaucrats!!!

 

[rmurray]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Wow, do work there too? I know the rules and how they apply. It wasn't the rules I was ranting about. It was the attitude of the guy working there. Did you even read my post? You sound about as empathetic as a rock.

 

[HeloMech]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Where is Castaic? I live up near Big Bear so I figured my "home" lake would be somewhere like Perris since it doesn't ice over during the winter.

The boat I just picked up actually came with a Perris seal to the bow hook.

 

[Water logged]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Castaic is off I5 at the southern end of the grapevine, about 5 miles North of Magic Mounain. For the non Californians that's about 35 miles North of Los Angeles.

Glenn

 

[QC]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Just don't go to Havasu, Parker or Mead. If you do, you'll never boat anywhere else Where near Big Bear are you?

 

[HeloMech]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Running Springs. So I would go to either Big Bear or Silverwood in the warmer months. Winter months I would drop down the hill to Perris I suspect.

 

[John3]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Wow, do work there too? I know the rules and how they apply. It wasn't the rules I was ranting about. It was the attitude of the guy working there. Did you even read my post? You sound about as empathetic as a rock.

Empathy, is that going to fix anything? You're dealing with a bunch of bureaucrats who have been told what they must do and are sitting at a gate, doing it a couple of hundred times a day. They have the power to keep you off the lake for 7 days! What can you do to affect them? All I said was "Try to provide reasonable answers to their questions".
There probably is a problem with those mussels, http://www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamussel
If so, they will eventually infect our lakes no matter how many boats are turned away. That will result in a drastic reduction of our already diminishing fresh water supply.
The only thing a bureaucratic gate keeper can do is enforce rules. It's a matter of Public Health! Government's job is not to restrict our freedom, but to kill off the infecting mussels without contaminating the water and/or to provide incentives for research institutions and private industry to fix the problem.

 

[Godfirst]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Isn't that what Calif is all about ?? not the state to live in unless you like regulation

 

[Godfirst]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Well as of yesterday the current goveneror passed a bill to save most parks, one positive step I guess for the state now just keep those envivnomentalist and bureaucrats from imposing so much regulation on hunting fishing boating etc; castaic lake is one example.

 

[QC]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Careful about the politics We don't do that here.

Signed,

Sympathetic Fellow Californian

 

[BassFishin42]

Re: Castaic Lake (so Cal) - some people (that work for our gov't) can be such a-holes

Gosh by golly that was a good read. Castaic was my 'home' lake for 15 years before I moved to Texas. Complaining about rules to keep invasive's out is, well, I'll keep my opine to myself on that one- but Castaic is by far one of the best So-Cal lakes to fish for LMB's!

next time- take a air blower to the engine compartment and open the drain to let out any standing water!