SoCal Jet Boats
Discussion => Topock / Laughlin => Topic started by: steves86ta on March 18, 2013, 11:35:58 AM
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Hi Guys,
Im planning my first river trip in quite a few years. Ill be taking a few friends out there for my buddies bachelor party. We used to stay at park moabi and get a peninsula but i see there is no park moabi anymore its now priates cove? We also dont really wanna drag the RV's out there this time either. What im looking for is either a house or cabin i can rent for about a week in September (4-8th). Im looking for something walking distance to the river that i can beach the boat at. Since the boat only holds 6 people chances are we all wont be going out at the same time.
Do you guys know of any places that i could look at? The cabins at pirates cove seem pretty nice i just dont know what the place is like since like i said its been quite a few years.
Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks!
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Those cabins are ridiculosy priced to rent :screwy: :screwy:
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Those cabins are ridiculosy priced to rent :screwy: :screwy:
Yeah its approx 200/night, however if we do a cabin all of us will go in on it so it wont be bad. The other option is to stay somewhere like the Avi but then thats 300 a room for all 4 nights..
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apparently i was wrong lol last time i checked it was a special or something. Right now its close to 400 a night... Wowzers
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Check out vrbo.com , vacation rentals by owner
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apparently i was wrong lol last time i checked it was a special or something. Right now its close to 400 a night... Wowzers
That's more like it, 200 WOULD be easier to swallow not 4 something :screwy:
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Try Needles Marina/rv park- they did have cabins for rent, Dont know how much though
Daniel
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I'm gonna vote for staying at the Aquarius. Just a short stagger from losers lounge at the Riverside and Tarzan's at Golden Nuggs.
You can launch for free at the Riverside as long as the truck and trailer gets parked back at the Aquarius and you pick up the truck parker at the dock. (I've done it but its a pain in the dick when you don't have a seasoned boat person with you). I prefer to pay the $15 and launch at Big Bend just south of casino drive. Usually not big crowd and a relaxed launch atmosphere for me since I do the launching and parking and she drags the beach equipment onto a good spot on the sandy beach.
In Laughlin dining can be a gamble sometimes, but outback steakhouse is outback steakhouse, Joe's crabshack is on the water there at the nugget and there's Saltgrass, which I haven't been to but it looks good.
Fuel is a lot cheaper across the water in bullhead, if you gas up on that side you can launch at lazy Harry's for free. (haven't launched there so I don't know what the ramp or parking is like.)
For a bachelor party, you can't go wrong on Laughlin, there's no strip clubs to steal you blind and its a solid, affordable and good time.
If you stay at the Pioneer and get a ground floor room, you can anchor out. Don't know if you're supposed to, but I always see a few boats posted up there..
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Oh, and join the player's club at any casino you stumble into. Sometimes there's a discount for buffet or a $20 free slot play if you wanna get stupid and play slots. If you do gamble, play the talbes and always put your player's card down. Walk up to the craps table and tell the guy you've never played before. You'll make $50 in ten minutes and drink two free beers then say thanks and disappear.
Player's clubs have been the only reason I go there because I've always gone when I get free rooms. I've got a mailer on my desk for two free night's anytime this spring at Tropicana express.. I've never lost a dime there gambling but because I'm in their system I get their mail offers.
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Pirates cove is always fun! Good music, great drinks, dancing, girls... every thing you need for a bachelor party! The cabins may be expensive but I'm sure it would be worth it!! And you can park your boat in front of the cabin, even better! :)
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Pirates cove is always fun! Good music, great drinks, dancing, girls... every thing you need for a bachelor party! The cabins may be expensive but I'm sure it would be worth it!! And you can park your boat in front of the cabin, even better! :)
I always do a boat ride from Laughlin to pirates at least one of the days we go. Let the stereo crank and cruise while everyone else drinks.. kinda sucks if you're the sober pilot, but if it's your friends bachelor party its worth it.
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I'm gonna vote for staying at the Aquarius. Just a short stagger from losers lounge at the Riverside and Tarzan's at Golden Nuggs.
You can launch for free at the Riverside as long as the truck and trailer gets parked back at the Aquarius and you pick up the truck parker at the dock. (I've done it but its a pain in the dick when you don't have a seasoned boat person with you). I prefer to pay the $15 and launch at Big Bend just south of casino drive. Usually not big crowd and a relaxed launch atmosphere for me since I do the launching and parking and she drags the beach equipment onto a good spot on the sandy beach.
In Laughlin dining can be a gamble sometimes, but outback steakhouse is outback steakhouse, Joe's crabshack is on the water there at the nugget and there's Saltgrass, which I haven't been to but it looks good.
Fuel is a lot cheaper across the water in bullhead, if you gas up on that side you can launch at lazy Harry's for free. (haven't launched there so I don't know what the ramp or parking is like.)
For a bachelor party, you can't go wrong on Laughlin, there's no strip clubs to steal you blind and its a solid, affordable and good time.
If you stay at the Pioneer and get a ground floor room, you can anchor out. Don't know if you're supposed to, but I always see a few boats posted up there..
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Thanks a lot for the info, i will check out Aquarius or even the riverside. The Avi does not seem like a popular choice around here is there any reason why?
And yeah we are a pretty laid back group, my buddy who is getting married is in the Air Force and this is pretty much his entire leave time, so we figured a river trip is required. Being that he's the one that we used to go to the river with back in the day.
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I always do a boat ride from Laughlin to pirates at least one of the days we go. Let the stereo crank and cruise while everyone else drinks.. kinda sucks if you're the sober pilot, but if it's your friends bachelor party its worth it.
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Yeah i would really like to do this trip atleast one day, it would be nice to head that way and even hit topock for lunch. How far is the trip from laughlin? and is it pretty easy? Any areas i need to look out for? Boat holds 40 gallons so would i need to plan on filling up at pirates cove? If i remember correctly its just south on the river? Or i guess you could say if you are coming out of the Riverside turn right?
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It's a good maybe 30 mile boat ride, you won't want to go any further south. I hold 40 gallons as well and can make it there and back keeping the boat planed with just a couple wide open bursts and still be able to fart around near big bend, maybe do a dam run and float by the casinos and still have enough gas to nudge onto the trailer.
If in doubt, throw 10 gallons in at Pirates.
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It's a good maybe 30 mile boat ride, you won't want to go any further south. I hold 40 gallons as well and can make it there and back keeping the boat planed with just a couple wide open bursts and still be able to fart around near big bend, maybe do a dam run and float by the casinos and still have enough gas to nudge onto the trailer.
If in doubt, throw 10 gallons in at Pirates.
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Thanks for getting back to me, is it a pretty straight forward trip? Im thinking about buying a depth gauge to be safe, ive read a little bit and for the most part i understand to try to stay on the Arizona side of the river?
sorry for all of the newbie questions just dont want to many surprises
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Just pay attention and stay on the pedal through light colored water. Depth gauge isn't necessary.
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Nothing at Topock tho, they tore it out and are in the process of building a resort there :beer:
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And like BigJ said, watch the water, depth guage if you are looking at it will get ya in trouble. Youll be on a rock or sand bar before you see it on a screen :screwy:
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do you guys think it would behoove of me to follow the london bridge tour boats?
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You could, but you will be fine, just keep an eye on the water. Don't leave too early when the water is low. And really there is only one small stretch you have to look out for. If you are cruising you will be fine :thumbup:
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Used to go to Park Moabi since the late 70's. Haven't gone the past 3 or 4 years. The place that I know of is still doing the same peninsula camping as before. Stopped going cause of the bigass boats that are cruising by at 100 mph. couldn't float no more. Didn't want to get run over. Lot of water leo's there now too. Too many fatal accidents around there. Do a river "safety" check (dui) at the Topock bridge quite often too.
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thanks for all the info guys i really appreciate it. I figure cruising at about 30-40 with the drive trimmed up should be fine. The boat does not have much draft anyways. i figure if i have 4-5 feet of water im good.
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You ain't gonna have 4' of water all the way there, but it's doable. There's one nasty spot with a thin trough toward the az side that's south of the Avi. If it's real early in the morning and no water I just aim, stick my foot in the carburetor, close my eyes tight and pray.
Having an outdrive is a disadvantage if you launch at Big Bend. It will give you some perspective on shallow spots around there that you can see from the beach, but it's surrounded by shallow water early. Even in my 21' jet, I launch and stick close to the rocks on the right hand side and get into the deep lagoon in front of the beach area. I've opted to shut engine off and walk the boat when I'm on the water at 6 a.m.
If it's shallow, idle the boat warm there in the deep water get a running start and plane that shit out heading up river. Big boats run that river up and down all afternoon long, but I'm usually on the water early and of early.
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You ain't gonna have 4' of water all the way there, but it's doable. There's one nasty spot with a thin trough toward the az side that's south of the Avi. If it's real early in the morning and no water I just aim, stick my foot in the carburetor, close my eyes tight and pray.
Having an outdrive is a disadvantage if you launch at Big Bend. It will give you some perspective on shallow spots around there that you can see from the beach, but it's surrounded by shallow water early. Even in my 21' jet, I launch and stick close to the rocks on the right hand side and get into the deep lagoon in front of the beach area. I've opted to shut engine off and walk the boat when I'm on the water at 6 a.m.
If it's shallow, idle the boat warm there in the deep water get a running start and plane that shit out heading up river. Big boats run that river up and down all afternoon long, but I'm usually on the water early and of early.
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Lol thats not intimidating at all... I guess ill just have to play it by ear, i mean shit its 6 months away. But from what im understanding, as long as i leave around 9 or 10 am it should be up and somewhat decent. Ive been in a boat that hit a sandbar once on havasu about 10 years ago... I really dont want to go through that again. (i wasnt driving). So intimidating... sure but it doesnt sound impossible and as long as the weather and water are clear it shouldnt be ab big deal. or atleast im hoping... haha
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Lol thats not intimidating at all... I guess ill just have to play it by ear, i mean shit its 6 months away. But from what im understanding, as long as i leave around 9 or 10 am it should be up and somewhat decent. Ive been in a boat that hit a sandbar once on havasu about 10 years ago... I really dont want to go through that again. (i wasnt driving). So intimidating... sure but it doesnt sound impossible and as long as the weather and water are clear it shouldnt be ab big deal. or atleast im hoping... haha
You be aight. Don't drink and drive, there's binoculars in the bushes.
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You be aight. Don't drink and drive, there's binoculars in the bushes.
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yeah i wont drink and drive. ill enjoy a beer or two when we are relaxing but otherwise, let everyone else have the fun
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It's a good maybe 30 mile boat ride, you won't want to go any further south. I hold 40 gallons as well and can make it there and back keeping the boat planed with just a couple wide open bursts and still be able to fart around near big bend, maybe do a dam run and float by the casinos and still have enough gas to nudge onto the trailer.
If in doubt, throw 10 gallons in at Pirates.
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Needles bridge is right at 30 milws from the Riverside casino
Topock and Pirates are another ~10 miles farther.
They expanded the parking lot at the Riverside/Fishermans park, has a lot more truck/trailer parking, some across the street too.
Four units of water is plenty for any drive, five units, like a lake...
Have Launched at two units, and trailered there was only one unit...skinny ass water...heavy ass boat
Daniel
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You just put into perspective how horrible my fuel mileage is. Say I get 90 miles to just under 40 gallons.. slightly better than 2 mpg and driving like a grandmother..
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2 is just cruisin'
1.5 with a heavy foot
'lil boat would go to Needles bridge and back on 11 gallons :thumbup:
Daniel
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what do you mean by units? is that feet?
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what do you mean by units? is that feet?
Hard to explain-Look at this
http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/DavisParkerSchedules.pdf (http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/DavisParkerSchedules.pdf)
"(one) Unit operating at near full capacity Approximate Flow: 4600 cfs, cfs - cubic feet per second" or ~34,500 gallons per second
Daniel
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Or look here- under "Davis Dam Releases"
http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/hourly.html (http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/hourly.html)
Today was GOOD water- 13K at 6a.m., 18K at 8 a.m., been on the water at 7500 (~1.5 units) :thumbdown:
<<< That pic, October of '12, Big Bend, 4 units flowin', sittin in 8" of water
Daniel
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Or look here- under "Davis Dam Releases"
http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/hourly.html (http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/hourly.html)
Today was GOOD water- 13K at 6a.m., 18K at 8 a.m., been on the water at 7500 (~1.5 units) :thumbdown:
<<< That pic, October of '12, Big Bend, 4 units flowin', sittin in 8" of water
Daniel
Daniel,
Thanks for the info. i appreciate all the "newbie patience" haha. Ill just have to play it by ear and wait and see. maybe ill do a solo run on Wednesday when no body is there yet (just to know what to expect).
Wow 8" of water i think my drive would be halfway burried.
thanks
Steve