Lake boating, US style

[MapisM]

I bet that most folks here in the asylum aren't great fans of pontoon boats, right?
Well, obviously there's plenty of folks in the US whose view is different.
I spent the last few days in Arizona, and among other places I saw a marina in Lake Powell.
The couple of pics below show what sort of pontoons the marina is full of.
Talk about party boats...

Otoh, I suppose they are the most appropriate tool to deal with the sort of lake which you can see in this Google Maps aerial view...
Just to put the size in perspective, if you click on "Wahweap" at the bottom left of the webpage, you can see the marina where the pics below were taken.

Btw, the place is interesting also in other respects - see last pic.
If it reminds you of a PC desktop, it's because that's where the pic Microsoft used was taken.
Even more impressive in flesh, highly recommended. :encouragement:

 

[scubaman]

Hi P, can’t say I’m much of a pontoon boat fan, but it’s hugely interesting to see these places.

That’s a pretty massive boat slip (or two) they have in Wahweap.

I guess anchoring over night is the thing?

Amazing pic, btw, please keep them coming. Did you get the mavic air?

 

[sarabande]

Goodness, MapisM, a door into another world !

Intriguing to note that every boat lies between two marina pontoon fingers, and that it seems to be normal to wear two USA ensigns at the same time - one on each quarter.

I bet the electrical power infrastructure to each main main pontoon is massive: aircon, lighting, and so on.

 

[MapisM]

I bet the electrical power infrastructure to each main main pontoon is massive: aircon, lighting, and so on.

Yeah, I guess so.
This side of the Pond, having just about everything in huge quantities is pretty much the rule, so it's easy to guess that marina infrastructures are no exception.
That said, I would expect the typical usage of these boats to be not so much while docked. Well, I would use them differently, anyway.
Just look at the Google Maps link I posted previously: aside from the SW tip, which is very close to the only town in that area (Page), the rest of the lake formed by Colorado river going upstream (i.e. in ENE direction) is entirely in the wilderness. And with endless secluded bays everywhere.
So, I would imagine that by reaching that area with one of these floating palaces and dropping the hook, you can really enjoy a home on the water surrounded by a beautiful landscape, staying there for as long as the beer and the BBQ sausages last. :encouragement:
I must investigate that further for a possible next trip. We are now using home exchange for our trips, but maybe we could arrange a boat exchange too...

 

[MapisM]

Hi P, can’t say I’m much of a pontoon boat fan, but it’s hugely interesting to see these places.
That’s a pretty massive boat slip (or two) they have in Wahweap.
I guess anchoring over night is the thing?
Amazing pic, btw, please keep them coming. Did you get the mavic air?

Yeah, that boat slip is massive. I suppose it's so long to deal with the differences in water level, which can be relevant.
As I understand, at the moment it's about 20 feet lower than the last max level, in July 2017.
But it's also the widest I've ever seen - around 50m, if not more.
And yes, I also think that overnighting at anchor is the main purpose of those huge caravans, as I said in my reply to sarabande.

Ref. pics, I've yet to organize the several hundreds I made so far, but I must admit that I somewhat lost the wish to make proper trip reports after the previous ones were lost due to the Photobucket ransom...
Anyway, since you ask, I'm attaching below a few shots of warm and sunny landscapes, for you folks who are still dealing with a cold winter!

And no, I didn't buy the Mavic Air. Not yet, anyway.
Actually, the opportunity to buy one with a "fly more" combo at $999 is somewhat attractive, but I'm still unsure it's worth the expense, considering my seldom usage... By chance, if I will decide to NOT buy the thing, would you like me to grab one (or possibly a Mavic Pro, or anything else you fancy) and send it to you upon my return?

Below a few other pics...

These are also taken in the same spot as the last one above, just to give a better perspective of how the place looks like when walking inside it.
But for more artistic images, just search "Antelope Canyon" on Google Image - plenty of much better pics all over the web!

This is Phoenix area at dusk - followed by a desert spot inside one of the city parks.

This was taken in a souvenir shop in Old Scottsdale.
I've yet to understand why they seem very keen on painted skulls around here, but they do make for nice pics!

Below a few other peculiar spots in northern Arizona - respectively called...

...Horseshoe...

...Mexican Hat...

and the rather well known Monument Valley

And last but not least, an ocean pic is de rigueur on a boating forum, 'innit?
Torrey Pines, near La Jolla, a few miles N of San Diego...

 

[scubaman]

That Canyon looks amazing! Those are very nice pics, if you don't mind me saying! That place really does look the complete opposite to what I'm seeing looking out the window ATM... .

Thank you for the very generous offer regarding imaging gadgets. There is a lens I've been considering, but it only comes out in June so I'll just have to wait. The US prices are attempting, it has to be said.

A Mavic would get you fantastic shot of those beautiful places for sure. And also later on the upcoming delivery trip of course .

In fact, I already have a Mavic Pro which just came back from a warranty repair. The remote controller was faulty and they replaced that for a new one. I already had a change to test fly it in Lapland and had a bit of a moment with it.

I was flying it from the top of the mountain and decided to take it below the launching point (still with a direct line of sight, but several hundred meters away) when the battery on the Iphone died due to cold weather. I pressed the 'fly home' button and was worried that it would fly into trees on the way back, but it was fine rising to + 30 meters first and then flying back to base. It is a very nice package and gives very nice results (I made a quick vid of this to my youtube channel, btw).

 

[PCUK]

Interesting that the bigger pontoon boats have the look of the old Mississippi river boats.

 

[Illetas]

Fascinating- but how do they get those boats to such a remote location?

 

[MapisM]

A Mavic would get you fantastic shot of those beautiful places for sure.

In theory, yes, K. But around here, you can find "no drones area" signs just about everywhere.
Btw, this is also making me not so keen on purchasing one of these things.
I mean, having a lot of drones restrictions also in EU is probably just a matter of when, not of if...

 

[MapisM]

Fascinating- but how do they get those boats to such a remote location?

LOL, obviously you have never seen which sort of stuff is commonly loaded on trucks in the US.
These guys move around their whole houses!
That said, for all I know, there could as well be someone in Page who builds those boats.
It doesn't take a high profile naval architect to design those caravans, I reckon...

 

[BartW]

interesting stuff MapisM,
thanks for posting !

 

[oceanfroggie]

Some Fab photos. Yes our cousins across the pond do big and boxey well. Just large floating RVs. The lake isn't that large and obviously not exposed to any significant weather (i.e. wind).

 

[MapisM]

The lake isn't that large and obviously not exposed to any significant weather (i.e. wind).

Yup, judging by the satellite image I also think that it's well sheltered - and with a short fetch almost everywhere.
So, significant waves are probably rare, I guess.
You might be surprise by its real size, though: of course it's just a puddle if compared to the Great Lakes, but out of curiosity, I already looked for its surface in comparison to the larger IT lake (Garda), and even if I would have never expected that, Powell is almost double!
Now, for those more familiar with UK lakes, I just checked also Lough Neagh, and its surface is just about the same as Garda...

 

[oceanfroggie]

Yup, judging by the satellite image I also think that it's well sheltered - and with a short fetch almost everywhere.
So, significant waves are probably rare, I guess.
You might be surprise by its real size, though: of course it's just a puddle if compared to the Great Lakes, but out of curiosity, I already looked for its surface in comparison to the larger IT lake (Garda), and even if I would have never expected that, Powell is almost double!
Now, for those more familiar with UK lakes, I just checked also Lough Neagh, and its surface is just about the same as Garda...

Yes because of its long 'string' shape the surface area quite large but as you said the main bulk of it is quite small compared to Neagh which is more an inland sea with the weather to go with it. Interesting though. Thanks for posting.

 

[iapetus]

In theory, yes, K. But around here, you can find "no drones area" signs just about everywhere.
Btw, this is also making me not so keen on purchasing one of these things.
I mean, having a lot of drones restrictions also in EU is probably just a matter of when, not of if...

"When" is now: see https://www.dji.com/fr/flysafe/geo-map for a more or less up-to-date map of no fly zones, worldwide. There are already lots of restricted zones here (SoF), mainly around airports of course, but also military grounds or protected wildlife areas.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Maybe I missed it but is Lake Powell a natural or manmade lake and if its the latter, is it for water supply, hydro electric power or both? How did you enjoy Phoenix? Full of retired people I understand so I guess you would have fitted right in

Thanks for the photos. Any photos of Nordhavns?

 

[MapisM]

Actually there's also plenty of young people around here.
Btw, very keen on hiking, running, and also other more extreme sports.
Not sure to fit so perfectly, in this respect...

The lake is manmade, with a dam right along the road which connects the marina to the town.
And as I understand, it's for both hydroelectricity and water reserve.

No Nordies on Lake Powell I'm afraid, and neither (rather obviously) anywhere else in AZ...
But you can feast your eyes on this 64 spotted in CA.
Next stop of our trip will be Panama, if I'll come across any other down there I'll post an update!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

But you can feast your eyes on this 64 spotted in CA.

That looks like a nice one!

 

[AndieMac]

Interesting post P, we call these houseboats. How is the trip going? You mentioned Central America next, I'm keen to hear of your experiences, and of course as many boat photos as you can

 

[MapisM]

So far so good C, many thanks.
What about your summer down under? I hope you are enjoying also some pleasure boating, on top of the professional activity.
Yup, our next (and last) stay will be in Panama - we'll fly there tomorrow morning, in fact.
I'm not sure if I'll be able to spot a lot of boat action though, 'cause the place where we'll stay is very nice on paper, and right in front of the Pacific, but a bit in the middle of nowhere...
Anyway, stay tuned! :encouragement: