Strange lake advice

[KBHumphrey]

Hmmm, that title doesn't properly convey what I'm asking. I don't need strange advice, I need advice on strange lakes. Hmm, that doesn't really work either...

Anyway, hi all. New owner of a 20' Wellcraft late last fall. We have a half dozen decent sized lakes around us that will probably be our home lakes. One of them (~700 acres) has a reputation for being really rocky and shallow in parts and "everyone" talks about how they lost a prop here or there on the lake.

My question is about how you determine to your own satisfaction whether a lake lives up to a rep like that. Do you ask other boaters? Use a depth finder and take some slow introductory cruises? Other means? Looking for some good experience and recommendations since it's the closest one to us.

Thanks
Ken

 

[CougarBait]

Re: Strange lake advice

Where there is smoke there is fire. In boating, where there is a "lost" prop, there is probably a rock, a log, sandbar or other unseen danger. My advice: First, learn as much from the other boaters about their "home lake"...ie...shallow spots, holes, rocks, logs/submerged trees (may want to avoid entirely or prove useful for fishing?). Second, get the lay of the lake with a topographical map detailing those problem areas. Lastly, take test runs at slow speed with your own depth finder until you are comfortable with your anticpated course and venture further as you are confident. For what its worth, thats my rule of thumb when it come to new water. Good luck and welcome to the water.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Strange lake advice

In this case if "everyone" talks about it it's probably true. At 700 acres it's not a large lake, which increases the likelihood or multiple encounters with prop grabbing rocks. Maps are always nice, but a lake that small is unlikely to have any. Depth finders are useful, but they don't usually reveal obstructions until it's too late, so definitely use one as it will at least alert you when you're running shallow, which is when the rocks are most likely to ruin your day, but honestly about all you can do is take to heart local knowledge of the trouble spots and make your own mental maps while cruising.

 

[wbc1957]

Re: Strange lake advice

Or you can buy a jet boat...

 

[ziggy]

Re: Strange lake advice

Other means?

my main means is a gps with lake maps installed.
i don't go to many unfamiliar lakes these days. but once in a while i do. guess the last one was lewis and clark in the NE corner of nebr. the gps has lake contour depth marks. like a chart. when i'm in the deep sections of the lake. i feel i'm good. but if i venture off to shallow areas i become real careful. problem with this is as the lake levels go up and down, the charts stay the same.
a for instance. i went there and felt the lake was down maybe 7' from what the charts were marked. i determined this by just looking at the shore line and decideing where the lake had been, and where it was. looked 7' low to me. so i went into an area that was charted at 11'. so minus the 7 i guessed it was 4' deep. well, i was wrong. it was 2' deep. good part was that i was at idle when i found this out + it was sand bottom, not rocks. but i did run aground.
another time i was on the same lake, wasn't paying attention to where i was at. next thing i know, i see a tree in the middle of the lake. look at my chart and see i'm in shallow water. i slowed and didn't run aground that time. felt i was likely lucky that time for i'm sure it was shallow.

a depth finder would help my method too. as it could help ya determine the difference between the charted depth and what it really is. add or subtract for the proper depth. i don't have a depth finder.

best i can do for ya. maybe others will have some better ideas.

 

[KBHumphrey]

Re: Strange lake advice

Thanks all for the responses. You've essentially confirmed my approach, which is to pick up a depth finder and take some exploratory cruises to make sure I'm familiar with the landscape. Unfortunately, with us being first time boat owners, EVERY lake is strange to us right now!

But I can't wait to get 'er out there....

 

[ziggy]

Re: Strange lake advice

which is to pick up a depth finder

keep in mind that the depth finder likely reads what's under the transducer that's mounted to the stern of your boat. so whatever reading your taking, you've already gone past and over it (if an obstruction is there)..

 

[robert graham]

Re: Strange lake advice

A rock can destroy a $350 prop, but it can also destroy a $2500 lower unit...if the lake is that shallow, maybe find a nice deep lake somewhere nearby where you ca relax and enjoy yourself!

 

[Eyeman]

Re: Strange lake advice

I'm with ziggy. I always have a hydrographic paper lake map that I briefly study before venturing onto new waters. I recently purchase a reasonably price gps and installed the LakeMaster preprogrammed data card. I will never venture onto new water without it and a good depth sounder/flasher or fish finder. Paper map, depth finder and gps (with plotter) - I have never been as confident to entry new water. I now navigate the lakes like a local.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Strange lake advice

a 20' wellcraft is right big for a small lake and shallow water. This may sound counter-intuitive, but you will be better off learning on a big lake.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Strange lake advice

You've essentially confirmed my approach, which is to pick up a depth finder and take some exploratory cruises to make sure I'm familiar with the landscape

Might as well make that a combo GPS Chartplotter/FF so that when you encounter (or worse yet ... hit) a submerged rock, tree, or shallow area, you can push the "event" button on your machine and mark it on your chart.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Strange lake advice

a 20' wellcraft is right big for a small lake and shallow water. This may sound counter-intuitive, but you will be better off learning on a big lake.

Agreed. My kind of fun is finding a place where I am not worried about what is below me. I ran aground once in our old boat. That was fun. took a prop and prop shaft out in the old boat. The insurance company wasn't to thrilled about that.

My buddy likes to go explore. His boat is a 1967 evinrude. If he takes out a prop, it's cheap to fix. If he takes out a lower leg, he has another one at home.

He'll go place I won't. Too each his own. Be prepared to pay the price if you venture into shallow areas.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Strange lake advice

I do one better. I boat over sand and mud, where shallow water is typically an inconvenience that lasts at most no longer than the next tide. I was flying over the coast of Massachusetts Sunday looking at the rocks and shaking my head.

 

[Shabah 182]

Re: Strange lake advice

I would not bother taking a 20 foot boat out on a 700 acre shallow, rocky lake....waste of time to me. It will feel like you are going around in cirles in a lake that small. My advice is to find a big deep lake with amenities and more areas to explore. Those little lakes are boring and dangerous with their rocks and shallow areas. That is my 2 cents.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Strange lake advice

What lakes?

Lots of iboats members in SE Wisconsin.

You should be able to get a map of almost any lake in the area.

You would probably enjoy the day better if you ventured out to some larger lakes, but that is gonna mean an hour+ drive.

Of course there is always the big pond.

Let us know what lakes you are talking about.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Strange lake advice

You can be on a 700 acre lake or on The Great Lakes.
If you don't where the rocks are you are DONE

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Strange lake advice

If you have a stainless steel prop, switch to aluminum for shallow, rocky, stumpy waters. The aluminum prop is rather inexpensive to repair/replace; so is a SS prop, compared to the cost of repair/replacement of your lower unit. Hit something with an aluminum prop, and chances are, you'll only damage the prop. Hit something with a SS prop, you may damage the prop or the shaft, bearings, ect, maybe destroy the whole lower unit. With the SS prop, you may hit something, and have no damage to the prop at all... only to find a bent shaft and wrecked bearings. Take it slow in unfamiliar waters for various reasons. Talk to local boaters anywhere you go. Most boaters like talking to other boaters and sharing helpful knowledge. Have a blast!!!

 

[bekosh]

Re: Strange lake advice

Here is a link to the state DNR lake maps site. It's a good place to start when you want to familiarize yourself with a new lake.
http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/maps/DNR/
I'll also goto Google Maps to find out what type of bars, restaurants, marinas etc are on the water.

I'm in agreement with the other guys too. 700 acres is a mighty small lake. I just moved up from a 21ft Wellcraft and the smallest lake I ever had it on was nearly 1000 acres (Big Cedar Lake, West Bend) and that got pretty boring, pretty quick. Nice lake but pretty shallow at one end and only 1 place to stop for food and 1 sand bar area to hang out at. Mostly we goto Lake Winnebago or Lake Michigan especially now that we have an even bigger boat.

 

[444]

Re: Strange lake advice

I just watch and see where the other boats go and I don't go very close at all to the edge. I usually stay in the middle 1/2 of the lake. However when on plane my boat runs very shallow in the water so it's not a big issue like with you guys and the larger boats.

 

[etracer68]

Re: Strange lake advice

I agree on the alum prop, and 444 on the watch where other boats go, and what other boaters say. I was on Big Green lake (deepest lake in Wisc.) and was on the west end (deepest end 235' dp) and found rocks. Fishfinder said 10' at idel, and 100 yards away from bouy saying rock danger. Lifted the back of a 21 ' boat up. When in shallow water you can have someone one the bow watching too. Have fun, and be safe.