SoCal Jet Boats
Discussion => Topock / Laughlin => Topic started by: 1LT_ARMY on May 19, 2016, 10:19:46 AM
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Got a house booked in bullhead on the river across from the casinos, we got a jet boat and 3 jet skis. We wanna ride to pirates cove, is it possible? Is it worth is? Can't launch the jet skis in needles cause were renting them from a jet ski spot in bullhead, i own the boat but would have to ride down river together
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Casino row is like the 405 freeway at 5:00pm. Rental skis thick as flies. Taxi boats don't care about you, they have the right of way (so they think) There is not enough beach @ pioneer to chill without swamping the boat.
Head south past the 5 mph/harrahs area, and they mean 5 MPH. Bullhead Comm Park has a bunch of rentals there, too. 1/4 mile down is a huge wash that intersects the river, stay to the Nevada side, Its not a sand bar, its a rock bar.
Further south, there is an island on the AZ side, (River Mile 270), decent sandy beaches, some are a bit of gravel.
Laughlin Bay Marina is on the NV side about a mile down, and Big Bend a mile or so from that. Heading down river, stay center, or left of center to Big bend.
Beyond Big Bend, Keep right of 'The Bush" in the middle of the river. River sweeps left, and Boy scout camp/Pipeline are on the right.
Boy Scout Camp has a few beaches, as well as the few islands on the AZ aide. Pipeline kinda sucks, swift current and hard rock beach, and too shallow to deal with the current.
Further south, the channel is right of center, the AZ (left) side is shallow at this point. Lazy Harry's is on the left, turn by the flags (AZ Veterans Memorial Park) Watch for the shallow entrance, decent beach to park the boat, grab a burger and a beer. :thumbup:
Rusty's marina is the next 'channel' further south, has a bait and beer shack. Iguana's (Mexican food) has a small dock maybe 2 skis and a boat's worth.
Beyond that, the channel is on/nearer the NV side. Rotary park, AZ side, home of BHC-PD boats...
This is usually far enough for me on a Wednesday afternoon cruise.
Watch/read the water levels http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/DavisParkerSchedules.pdf (http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/DavisParkerSchedules.pdf)
3 units minimum for me, been out in 2 :o , but 4 is better, 5 is like a lake :thumbup:
Good luck and stay safe on the river
Dan'l
« Last Edit: August 27, 2014, 09:15:40 AM by mash on it »
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There is more-
South of Rotary park, the channel is slightly right of center, until you get to an island about 2 mi past rotary, then the channel is on the AZ side.
Stay towards the az side for a while as there's a rock bar 1/2 mi down, just about center.
After that last Island, It's clear sailing to the AVI bridge, about 4.5 miles (There's fuel @ Avi)
South of the Avi Bridge, there are a few shallow spots on the NV side
In Willow Valley, there is a few spots in the middle that are shallow, and a bunch if weirs on each side.
About a 1/2 mi before the Needles bridge its shallow from the middle to the CA side.
South of the needles bridge, its pretty good all the way to Pirates Cove. (Fuel @ Needles Marina, Pirates Cove & Topock 66)
Watch the water levels
5 units Is huge water, 2 units- gets kinda skinny
Dan'l
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Just screen shot this for my crew, will spread the word...thank you so much for the details this helps a lot. I appreciate the time you took to write this
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That was really informative Dan'l , very cool. I also rented a house in Bullhead and only drove down to the Avi but it was still a fun cruise. The house we rented was about a 1/4 mile up from Lazy Harrys, and that shallow spot Dan'l mentioned is a pretty big area. I would definitely wait until the water comes up. Our dock was sitting on the sand until almost noon that day and you could see the water changing direction around that really shallow spot. Just look out for those low spot that Dan'l mentioned and have a safe fun trip. :thumbup:
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couple pics from that trip. You can see that shallow spot.
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That's a long putt on jet skis I think it like 25 to 30 miles or so from the Avi
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That's a long putt on jet skis I think it like 25 to 30 miles or so from the Avi
Yeah, Pirates is quite a ways down, would be a fun cruise though.
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That's a long putt on jet skis I think it like 25 to 30 miles or so from the Avi
Casinos are at River Mile 274.0
Avi is at RM 259.7
Pipeline RM 266.0
Pirates Cove RM 234.9
Dan'l
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Thats a long ride on a boat let alone a ski
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Thats a long ride on a boat let alone a ski
Davis Dam to Parker Dam, and back- about 170+ mi.
Makes a long day, especially with open headers.
Dan'l
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I've done the trip from pirates to the avi and back a few times... It's a pretty good run , only gets a little bothersome thru needles because of all the jet skis . Other then that it's not hard to follow the river and avoid the sand bars
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Did laughlin to copper canyon and back and I was done. Not to mention I was in a outboard you talk about stressful
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Davis Dam to Parker Dam, and back- about 170+ mi.
Makes a long day, especially with open headers.
Dan'l
we made an attempt to run down to pirates this past avi trip, it's a lot farther than I remembered, we got about 20 mins away and I turned and headed back, I will 150% agree with you on the open headers part, that's the first time in 3 seasons that I was actually tired of hearing it run LOL. Was a lot different years ago in my v6 chaparral hahaha.
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At Avi I drove down and launched out of Jack Smith and headed down to the gorge, Topock for lunch, etc. No worries at all that far south of the Avi. It's a 20 minute drive so from Avi to Jack Smith so boating all the way down would be a fairly long haul. Regardless that part of the river is absolutely beautiful and worth the trip.
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we made an attempt to run down to pirates this past avi trip, it's a lot farther than I remembered, we got about 20 mins away and I turned and headed back, I will 150% agree with you on the open headers part, that's the first time in 3 seasons that I was actually tired of hearing it run LOL. Was a lot different years ago in my v6 chaparral hahaha.
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The furthest I've gone in the day cruiser is ~85 miles or so, Riverside Casino to Topock 66 and back. Logs n snails, just sayin.
I'll trailer it to Havazoo if I'm going that far.
Even Katherine's to Cottonwood 45 miles round trip.
Dan'l
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We run for Havasu Springs to the London bridge and back at least once a weekend, if I recall that's about 50 miles around trip. It wasn't a straight shot though, we'd almost always have to stop at least once or twice to get in the water. Haha
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Ive done AVI to Pirates/Topock 66. Thats about as far as I will do. Seems like 45 min. A little stressful coming down, and thats pre "funny sodas". On the way back the water is noticeably up and less people on the water. Fill up at Pirates to relieve more stress.
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I've done Jack smith to PArker Dam a few times. Thats a LONG trip.
Never done it in the rogers. Its to damn loud and to damn thirsty.
21' Bahner mini day with an IO. Through transom exhaust still has a nice sound but comfortable
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I have done the riverside to topac and back a few times. I absolutely love it. Perfect water. We float down alot of the river between avi and needles. After that we drive and float. Then hit up pirates or topac 66 for a little lunch and drink then motor back. I don't know how long it takes but I'm at the river so it doesn't matter
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Beyond Big Bend, Keep right of 'The Bush" in the middle of the river.
Better be trimmed up and 4 units or more if you're sending him to the right of the bush. Deep water to the left..... jackasses on Seadoos/jetskis too.
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Better be trimmed up and 4 units or more if you're sending him to the right of the bush. Deep water to the left..... jackasses on Seadoos/jetskis too.
Sh!t- missed that... :thumbup:
How to fix it?
Dan'l
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How to fix it?
Ban PWC's. Oh, you mean the post. Just edit the original post.
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Ban PWC's. Oh, you mean the post. Just edit the original post.
Tried, No 'EDIT' button on that post anymore :banghead:
Dan'l
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Casino row is like the 405 freeway at 5:00pm. Rental skis thick as flies. Taxi boats don't care about you, they have the right of way (so they think) There is not enough beach @ pioneer to chill without swamping the boat.
Head south past the 5 mph/harrahs area, and they mean 5 MPH. Bullhead Comm Park has a bunch of rentals there, too. 1/4 mile down is a huge wash that intersects the river, stay to the Nevada side, Its not a sand bar, its a rock bar.
Further south, there is an island on the AZ side, (River Mile 270), decent sandy beaches, some are a bit of gravel.
Laughlin Bay Marina is on the NV side about a mile down, and Big Bend a mile or so from that. Heading down river, stay center, or left of center to Big bend.
Beyond Big Bend, Keep LEFT of 'The Bush" in the middle of the river. River sweeps left, and Boy scout camp/Pipeline are on the right.
Boy Scout Camp has a few beaches, as well as the few islands on the AZ aide. Pipeline kinda sucks, swift current and hard rock beach, and too shallow to deal with the current.
Further south, the channel is right of center, the AZ (left) side is shallow at this point. Lazy Harry's is on the left, turn by the flags (AZ Veterans Memorial Park) Watch for the shallow entrance, decent beach to park the boat, grab a burger and a beer. :thumbup:
Rusty's marina is the next 'channel' further south, has a bait and beer shack. Iguana's (Mexican food) has a small dock maybe 2 skis and a boat's worth.
Beyond that, the channel is on/nearer the NV side. Rotary park, AZ side, home of BHC-PD boats...
This is usually far enough for me on a Wednesday afternoon cruise.
Watch/read the water levels http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/DavisParkerSchedules.pdf (http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/DavisParkerSchedules.pdf)
3 units minimum for me, been out in 2 :o , but 4 is better, 5 is like a lake :thumbup:
Fixed it... :thumbup:
Dan'l
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We did it in our 19' Caribbean. Long trip with our 6 year old but fun!
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I have only done pirates to the avi a cpl times and I think the worst part is around needles with all the jet skis flying around.
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