Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

[DayCruiser]

What a difference a year makes. Last year Lake Hartwell reached 24' below full pool. Leading to many grounded docks and 100s of miles of muddy lake beds. The same with Lake Lanier. Stayed this way all last winter. 2 to 3 years of very low water levels.
Heavy rains in the spring and flooding rains in the fall of this year along with the Corp of Engineers doing a better job of managing the lakes. Now we have Lake Hartwell rising 2 feet above full pool next week and beyond! We are above full pool now Tropical storm Ida dumped 4 to 10" of rain last week in the region.
Today is suppose to be 15 degrees above normal temperature, Upper 70s! Yesterday it was 76! Usually we have a dry fall. UP is down and down is up
The problem is I took my boat out and winterized it. Looking to get a pontoon for all year around use when I can afford it. I am so tempted to buy one now seeing all those boats out on the water enjoying a full beautiful lake

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

Same thing here! I was thinking this morning why did i wrap the boat and winterize already?
77 here today.It would have been a great day for the last cruise of the year.
We had 5 inches of rain from that storm.

I guess i will get the motorcycle out and ride instead.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

Taken are last cruise next weekend,well hopefully not but if it is it is. Where we boat south of Atlanta we have not have to worry about water levels

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

Glad to hear you guys have water.

Now, not to insult you, but you are CRAZY for having winterized already! If I still owned a boat, with as "not cold" as it's been in Illinois for over a month, I'd still have my boat in the water here! Nevermind if I lived in Georgia!

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

I just don't like leaving the boat(I/O) sitting for a month like when we had a early cold spell. After the cold spell I went and started it up to get it out and the motor shook violently until it warmed up. I guess the belts were tight and rigid from the frosty weather. Anyway you have to empty the water out of the block and manifold each time because you don't know when it will freeze. Also the battery suffers from the cold weather and lack of charging. I would rather just get it out and put in the gas treatment etc and be done with it. No more worries until spring. Now if I had a out board.......

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

How cold did it actually get?

Draining blocks and manifolds is easy, in my opinion. It would totally be worth it to keep using the boat.

And heat is actually what kills batteries. You just don't know it until they get cold. A battery getting cold is no big deal. It happens in cars all the time!

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

Got down to 35. Battery probably getting weak anyway, with it being in the 3 year. Probably will get a new one in the Spring. I would hate to have to buy one just to get it to the boat ramp.
Anyway I feel bad enough for not having it in the water LOL . Lots of boats out there now

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

Got down to 35...

Uummm, can you explain why draining manifolds, blocks, and general winterization was necessary then? I am confused.


Get back out there and go boating!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

i will start decorating the pontoon this week, we have a Christmas Boat Parade Nov 28.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

It's Global Wetting.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

Uummm, can you explain why draining manifolds, blocks, and general winterization was necessary then? I am confused.


Get back out there and go boating!

Well if I had a crystal ball LOL. The weather forecast was for freezing temps. Oh well, 78 degrees this past weekend.... Looks like the end though with chilly weather setting in for next weekend and beyond. Maybe next year I will have that pontoon

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

I de-winterized so I could spend last Sunday cruising around Lake Murray here in SC. It was a sunny 79F day. Probably logged a good 12-15 miles going from one end to the other and exploring some fingers and coves. Had lunch at a dockside restaurant, one of the few still open.

I'm just going to just drain the block and manifold after each use from this point on so I can take advantage of the occasional warm, sunny day over the winter.

Never been to Lake Hartwell, but I understand it is a nice lake. I plan on visiting next spring or summer. My boat wants to visit it's birthplace...lol.

Hey Daycruiser, can you recommend a boat launch area?

 

[Les Robb]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

Anyone know the difference between Ga. Power and Corp of Eng managed lakes? Ga Power lakes have water in them.

We finally have water in all the lakes on the Ga & SC borders. Due to the drought and the corp dropping the levels for the last 5 years or so we were in desperate shape. Due to the wettest period on record for years we finally filled our lakes, and waterfront property really means water.

Now the corp is going to drop the level 4' for maintenance this spring. They are killing the boating, fishing and general recreation of this area, and really don't seem to care in the least.

Sad

 

[Les Robb]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

If your interested Beaufort, there is a great state park on the SC side of Lake Russel just above Calhoun Falls. It is also a very clean (clear) lake like Hartwell and wife son and I enjoyed a nice vacation in a pop up camper a number of years ago. Friend owned the boat.

Luck and enjoy either one.

PS: Right after a really heavy rain, all in the chain will get a little red (Ga Clay) looking. Lower one is the worst.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

I de-winterized so I could spend last Sunday cruising around Lake Murray here in SC. It was a sunny 79F day. Probably logged a good 12-15 miles going from one end to the other and exploring some fingers and coves. Had lunch at a dockside restaurant, one of the few still open.

I'm just going to just drain the block and manifold after each use from this point on so I can take advantage of the occasional warm, sunny day over the winter.

Never been to Lake Hartwell, but I understand it is a nice lake. I plan on visiting next spring or summer. My boat wants to visit it's birthplace...lol.

Hey Daycruiser, can you recommend a boat launch area?

I-85 South to Exit 19 South toward Anderson. Appx 1 mile down the road. Take a right beside Hardee's(just before Hardee's) and beside a gas station. .25 mile down the road is a nice 2 lane boat ramp. Can't miss it

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: Southeast Lakes Drying up? NOT!!

Thanks for the info DayCruiser and Les Robb, I'll make a note for next year. Happy boating!