A good day on the water.

[Gofirstclass]

We got back to WA yesterday but I wanted to share some of the pics of a boat trip we took last Sunday to Lake Pleasant, AZ. The lake is about 27 miles from our condo and it's a short 30 minute tow to the lake. It doesn't involve a Sea Ray, but it was still a lot of fun.

The lake was created when they dammed the Aqua Fria River. It's about 5 miles N-S and about 2 miles across in most areas. The NE corner of the lake is an eagle nesting area and is closed to boating from IIRC mid-December to the end of June. We explored that area last October when we first went to AZ and there are some very pretty canyons up that way.

It was a near perfect day--temps in the mid 80's, no wind, a very few thin clouds and not a lot of boats on the water.

Here's what the lake looks like...

Here are some pics, not in any certain order, of what the scenery looks like...

This guy gave us a fly-by as we went up the lake.

We found a narrow draw that looked interesting so we poked out way up into it.
[img:left]http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/...easant 2 21 16/DSCN2728_zps2gcnqeq1.jpg[/img]

This was about as far as we could go--the boat was touching both sides.

As narrow as it was, we still had 10' of water beneath the boat.

There are a lot of areas where people drive to the lake and pitch a tent for the weekend, so some fishing, play in the water and just have fun. Well, as much fun as you can have if you don't own a boat. Poor souls.

We pulled ashore at one point to get out and explore. Here's a shot of GW and Sunny Beach. Sunny Beach is a 1981 13'Sport model Boston Whaler with a 40hp Evinrude 2-stroke on the back. With two of us and a full tank (12 gals) of gas she cruises real nice at about 22-24mph. Perfect for a small lake like this one. She's easy to launch an recover, tucks nicely into the garage and is just a lot of fun to run around in.

After spending a few hours exploring that remote area of the lake we cruised back down to the SE corner where the marina is. There's a great floating restaurant there where we split an order of nachos and had a cold adult beverage. Then we hopped back in the boat and went back to the launch ramp.

A good day on the water was had by all.

 

[IanBat]

Nice Pics



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[JVM225]

Sure! Rub it in..............
j/k great photos

 

[HUMPH]

At Oakland airport on my way to SoCal where it's 82 and sunny. It's only been in the low to mid-70's here so I need more heat!

 

[Carpedmman]

Looks like a nice way to spend the afternoon Mike! Appreciate you sharing the photos!!

I have missed being on the water as Carpe Diem IV has been out with a ECM problem that Cummings NW created when they wiped the hours off doing a sofware upgrade. Hope to be back in a week or so.

Here's to a great Spring, Summer, Fall on the water!

 

[2000SR380]

Woo Hoo!
Now we are talking! Never mind all this political drivel, and gun control crudola! What awesome pictures, and a thread about boating!
Winner winner chicken dinner.

 

[Quint4]

You live and boat in some beautiful country.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Quint, we live in Washington state but are snowbirds in AZ a few months a year. Beautiful and great boating in both areas. Thanks.

 

[villain style]

Thats cool. Great pics..

 

[Bryank]

Is that a different Whaler than you had before? I thought you had a newer 130 SS...

 

[Gofirstclass]

Is that a different Whaler than you had before? I thought you had a newer 130 SS...

Bingo, you nailed it. In 2014 we bought a 2010 130SS. We liked it so much that we missed it when we went to AZ for the winter. I found this one, a 1981 in Kingman, AZ.

I called the owner and was asking him about the boat and he said it was a '71. That's also what the ad said. He told me he'd completely redone the boat with new cushions, new wood, new wiring, net gelcoat and had painted the trailer. He said he'd spent about 3 years doing it. We agreed on a price, I drove from Phoenix to Kingman to look at it, we sea trialed it on Lake Mead, I paid him and we towed it home. When I went to register it I found it is a 1981, not a 1971.

Here are a few shots of the boat.

We take her out several times during the months we spend down south. So far we've only been to Lake Pleasant but Powell, Mead, Bartlett and Sagauro are on our bucket list.

 

[wyrman]

Add Canyon lake to your list also.
http://www.arizona-leisure.com/canyon-lake.html

 

[Bryank]

Very nice! Looks to be in great shape! I haven't pulled the trigger on a 150 yet but am seriously shopping right now. I'm also looking at a Robalo R160... Just want something for the kids to kick around in and to tow a tuber every now and then. I think the Robalo may be a bit better on Lake Erie.

 

[Fly'n Family]

Family and I are heading out there for a week starting 3/27. We're investigating moving back to Arizona from Colorado. Love Colorado, just getting tired of winters, shoveling snow, short boating seasons. Working overseas allows us to live "where ever". We thought about moving back to Az prior to buying our Co home in early 09'.....but at that point the thought of the endless summer heat in the valley nullified that move. Will be taking a close look at the Anthem area. Seems to hit the mark on the important stuff. Good schools, well out of the valley (10 deg's cooler on average), reasonable home costs, and a hop skip and a jump from Pleasant.

GFC....if you happen to see a super clean 370 out there, and are thinking "nice boat, but who would be dumb enough to have all black canvas in the desert huh - that'll be us.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Fly, if I do see one of those I'll wave ya down to say hello and buy you a cold one. We're often on Lake Pleasant but next time we head down there we're going to expand our boating horizons to other lakes and other areas.

 

[Arizona Mike]

Don't miss Roosevelt Lake. I keep our 270 Sundancer in the marina there. It is by far the largest lake in AZ. the scenery is great the lake is 23 miles long and 2 to 3 miles wide with lots and lots of places to anchor. If there is a down side it are not a lot of places to stay if you can't overnight on your boat or have some sort of RV. There a lots of developed RV spaces or you can set up on shore.

One of these days I'll figure out posting pictures.

TML

 

[Gofirstclass]

I'd love to see 'em, thanks.

Our Whaler would be tough to overnight on. Same with our tow vehicle. If we overnighted we'd have to stay somewhere in a motel.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Just thought I'd give y'all an update on this. Health issues dictated that we not do any more boating so about a year or so ago we brought Little Beach up to Washington. I've gotten it cleaned up and we're selling it.

I hate to see my life-long love of boating come to an end, or at least the part about being able to own/enjoy a boat but that's OK. I'm still on the green side of the grass and loving every day.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Just thought I'd give y'all an update on this. Health issues dictated that we not do any more boating so about a year or so ago we brought Little Beach up to Washington. I've gotten it cleaned up and we're selling it.

I hate to see my life-long love of boating come to an end, or at least the part about being able to own/enjoy a boat but that's OK. I'm still on the green side of the grass and loving every day.

An update on this old thread. We sold the '81 Whaler about 2 months ago and got about $2,500 more than what we paid for her. Two guys from Vancouver, WA bought her. They're both nationally ranked sailboat racers and wanted a small power boat just to go out and play around in. Looking at the condition of their tow rig ( Mercedes Sprinter) I'd say the Whaler will be well cared for.

 

[Creekwood]

Sorry you are out of personal boating. If you guys are ever in the Toronto area and want to scratch the itch we can give you a tour of Southern Georgian bay on our tiny 330 and a good meal too.