Lake Mead

[sleddood]

Re: Lake Mead

I hope this isn't too far off topic, but I didn't want to start a new thread. I could use a little advice about Lake Mead. We will be staying in Las Vegas for a few days later this month and will be bringing the boat along. Can anyone give any advice on where to park/store the boat at night and the days we are not using it? I talked to a kid at Echo bay that recommended just leaving it in the parking lot. I didn't really like that idea, I'm a little paranoid that everything may not still be in the boat in the morning. Is there a storage facility that will rent space by the night or week that anyone knows of? Also, whats up with the quagga mussels? How big of a deal is it to go to another lake after your boat has been in Lake Mead? Will you be contaminated instantly just putting in the water, or would the boat have to sit for awhile for them to attach themselves? The mussels are the main reason I'm not considering renting a slip for a few days. Any suggestions on where to put in and where to go? We are mainly interested in nice water for skiing, but would like to see some sights too.
Thanks for the help.
Mike

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Lake Mead

I put in at Echo Bay religiously. I have left my boat in the hotel parking lot and drove home (back to las vegas) overnight before. they said you are allowed to keep it in the parking lot for up to 14 days . when i got back, boat and trailer were fine. i locked it up the best i could, but they do have a courtesy patrol and workers that are walking around since they live there n stuff.

I slip my boat the other times its not trailered out, but never have for more than two days. I dont know about going to another lake, because I never have after being in lake mead. I wash my boat every time i get home, and havent noticed anything different. Echo bay seems to me, to be very friendly and everyone kinda helps each other out when we have been up there. but, thats my opinion I guess.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Lake Mead

also, where are staying at sleddood? there are storage yards pretty close to the lake, but they might want to charge you a full month rent to give you use of a storage space.

 

[sleddood]

Re: Lake Mead

also, where are staying at sleddood? there are storage yards pretty close to the lake, but they might want to charge you a full month rent to give you use of a storage space.

We are staying on the strip, not sure where yet. Do you happen to know the names of any of the storage yards that are close (either to the lake or the strip)? I wouldn't mind exploring those possibilities a little. Oh, and thanks for the speedy reply and good info.
Mike

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Lake Mead

if you are going to calville or echo bay, theres 2 storage lots that i know of on lake mead blvd. If you are going down south thru henderson, I have no idea. I am sure there are some out there as well.

http://www.onlineselfstorage.com/customersite/rental.aspx?hidFacilityID=174883

That is the last storage, or last building period, for that matter as you leave north las vegas via E Lake Mead Blvd. I had some dry storage there years ago when i lived over that way. I see alot of people take boats back to the hotels with them also, but i could see that being a pain. The nice thing about echo bay, is when they say leave it in the parking lot, its the back of the hotel parking lot and is actually lit from what i remember.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Lake Mead

No problem at all, I think this thread was meant to be a "Lake Mead" catch all thread.

I agree with Red, I wouldn't have a problem un-hooking and leaving my boat up at Echo since it's far off the beaten path. Just lock the crap out of it, cover it up and park it where it's in a very conspicuous area. I think there is a storage yard up at Echo, so that could be an option. Actually, parking it up by the hotel should be OK as there are lights in the lot between the hotel parking lot and the maintenance building. That's where I load up if I'm doing it in the dark. I wouldn't do it at Callville or Heminway though, different group of people and I feel it would be less secure on the Boulder basin. You could check with the hotel you are staying at,,, but I don't know if I'd feel comfortable leaving a boat at a casino, would be a sitting duck. I see people leaving their boats parked at the Hacienda Casino (out by Mead) all the time, but I think they have their security beefed up and keyed in on making sure the boats are secure.

Quagga's? I've seen boat hulls completely covered by them, but they were slipped for a looooong time. There is info about cleaning your boat on the internet, but basically you want to wash, and then dry your boat for a few weeks after being at Mead and make sure all water is drained. If you have an I/O this could be cumbersome draining the block. Some lakes in CA go over you with a fine tooth comb if they know you have been to Mead/Mohave,,, and I have heard of them quarantining boats for a few weeks (not allowing them on the lake) if water was found in the boat, any water at all that could harbor mussles. I've even heard of washing stations up at Tahoe where you have to wash your boat with hot water to kill any potential mussels. I was in Utah a few weeks ago and they had a questioner that you needed to fill out if coming in from quagga areas, basically said you needed to have a dried boat (2 weeks) and no water in the boat.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Lake Mead

If you decide on a yard to store your boat, make sure to check their hours of operation, some of them are limited and can be a pain. No hitting the lake at 6am, more like getting access to the boat at 8am...

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Lake Mead

If you decide on a yard to store your boat, make sure to check their hours of operation, some of them are limited and can be a pain. No hitting the lake at 6am, more like getting access to the boat at 8am...

ahh yes, good point. and, if your not back by 6 pm your locked out or something like that. I have left mine at echo before like i said, i did just cover it and lock the tongue and spare tire up. then threw about 4 straps over the cover. came back about 24 hours later and she was untouched. Granted, I also have a 22 yr old boat and theres much nicer ones to be messed with i guess. But, like you said fisherdan, based on the crowd at calville or anywhere further south thats probably not a good idea. oh, i also went in and told Moe (the receptionist at the hotel) that i was leaving it there, and when i would be back for it.

 

[sleddood]

Re: Lake Mead

Are there ussually lots of boats in the parking lot at the hotel? I guess if there are a few boats around, mine wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb. The mussels probably won't be an issue, as this will probably be the last trip before it's drained and sits through a colorado winter with 40 below temps to kill the little bastages. We had originally planned to hit Mohave or Havasu on this trip as well, but it just doesn't look like there will be time, since I learned that the truck race is going to take up a day in the middle of the trip.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Lake Mead

Are there ussually lots of boats in the parking lot at the hotel?

Yes/No, seen it pretty packed and then only a few. I've seen $200,000 boats sitting there, all covered and locked, no vehicle attached, so I think you'll be safe.

 

[sleddood]

Re: Lake Mead

Thanks ;for the help guys, that takes a big load off my mind having the "what to do with the boat?" part of the plan figured out. Now I just have to figure out how to talk the wife into going to one of the more "exotic" shows one evening:redface:

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Lake Mead

mike;as the guys have already stated most above will try not to repeat.
transient slips run around $20 a night at the marinas if you do want to leave boat on lake

i left boat over night one night last fall at echo bay--no prob

we stayed at lake mead marina last winter and saw boats and trailers left in parking lot there different times for 1 to 5 days and never saw any one mess with them
one of the few things that all the states seem to agree on about quagga and zerba mussels, is 30 days dry and out of water and your safe
depending on temperature the quags cant survive with out water long and larvae even less. that's the reason for draining bilge and any thing that was in water, so as to dry out. hot days will kill as quick as cold. you wont get adults to attach to your boat in the short time your there. they take a little while to go from larvae to adult and need a fairly stable environment for this to happen. a boat setting not used for months or rocks, docks, dock lines ect. is more what they need to attach and grow to adults.
the problem with moving them is the larvae in the water in your bilge or any other place on your boat where water can puddle. then they can survive for a few days and infect the next lake you go to. that and boats that have adult colonies attached and moved. adults can stand being out of water longer and are harder to kill. any
the park service might ask you to decontaminate be for you leave. by law your suppose to. you can do this your self at a car wash with 140* water or hire your boat washed. also a clorox mixed with water is a good way to kill them. you can soak your lines anchors ect. in a bucket. i dumped a couple of cups in my bilge just for G.P. and its cheap. all my scupper drains and thrue hulls drain dry to. as stated you shouldnt be in water long enough for larvae to grow to adult but if they did a good inspection and you would see them them.
there is a list of car washes and boat yards that do this. sorry don't have list now.
when i came back to colorado this spring i was scheduled to have boat hauled and steamed for $150. broke drive at temple and had to leave from there. called park service(no reason to haul now, as boat on trailer)and explained. they told me about list, and where to get it. then just washed my self at a approved car wash.
if any problems check with park service. i called them 4 or so time when i was down there and found them very help full.

THIS IS BY NO MEANS ALL THE INFO ON mussels and all the laws, but quaga 101 thumb nail version. should get you pointed in right direction and keep you out of trouble

 

[QC]

Re: Lake Mead

I have left my boat overnight in lots of the Casino parking lots. Sometimes for 3 or 4 days with only one day on the lake. I've never had a problem. One thing I have done is to find security and flip them a 20 and ask them to keep an eye on it.

I also keep the boat in slips on Mead a lot. Both Lake Mead Marina and Callville. The slips are well lit and they also have security. Does not sound to me that Quaggas are a concern in your situation at all . . .

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Lake Mead

Does not sound to me that Quaggas are a concern in your situation at all . . .
__________________

depends on who you see down there QC

i know the local boats down there dont get to much play but i got a packets left on my yukon and talked to one morning at the marina parking lot by a park ranger. i'm sure it was my co plates. i had to turn in the inspection sheet to the nps and marina that boat had been decontaminated.
when i called and told them it,boat, was broke down. they told make sure i washed at listed car wash. so i did and signed off the inspection paper that went to them and the marina when we left.

how do you get along? i found there kind of lax checking boats leaving mead but i thought i read boats going in to cal. had to go threw a check station before you could go back in the state.
this quagy deal is getting old. some one needs to set some standards for checking and make them nation wide. didn't make wyo. this year but here in co., and in utah-powel and the gorge they all want to inspect but hardly any one realy understands what there looking for.

any way ya, boat shouldn't be a problem no longer than he'll be in the water there.

 

[QC]

Re: Lake Mead

Yeah, I haven't had the Park Service ever do anything at Mead, Mohave or Powell, so I missed that. I have had to go through the CA inspection stations. Drain plug needs to be out and best if everything is dry. Two trips ago they made me go in and get my anchor. I now keep a spare in the truck so I don't have to undo my tow cover etc. Really stupid, but they make everybody wait behind you and I hate making people wait. I also found a way around by accident, but it would not be worth it from Mead. If you go down through Searchlight and almost to Needles and take 40 back in to CA, you bypass the stations . . .

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Lake Mead

QC;
have you been to powell this summer?

if i ever get a drive back ON 4-play, jill wants to go down in the next couple of weeks.

shes kinda p.o.ed. we got the drive in may with a 1 year factory warranty and its still in the garage. i cant convince her we saved money buying before season got started.
i am getting the itch to see how the B III feels too

 

[QC]

Re: Lake Mead

No. Haven't been for two years. We just can't rationalize the 8+ hour drive very often. Let us know how the B3 goes . . .

 

[sleddood]

Re: Lake Mead

Update: I found indoor storage near the strip, which will just be alot handier. Had to rent it for a full month, but it works out to less than $20 a day for the time that I'll be using it.

I'm not sure I'm fully comprehending the mussel thing. If I go to Mohave, will I have trouble getting into Mead the next day? They are both infested waters, right? I've been searching trying to find the approved carwash list, but no luck. Does anyone have a link to that handy?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[QC]

Re: Lake Mead

I have had no issues getting into Mohave or Mead. No one has ever asked me anything at either spot although I have not Launched at Cottonwood recently. It is coming back into CA that there are inspections and on Powell we had to fill out a form if I recall. I would be very surprised if there was any problem between Mohave and Mead. Where are you going on Mohave? Where are you from?

 

[sleddood]

Re: Lake Mead

Where are you going on Mohave? Where are you from?

I live in Craig, Colorado. I have no idea where to go on Mohave, I haven't reseached it at all, and would be open to friendly suggestions.