greyhackle
Escalante-Class Member
You've got all the nice stuff Kevin 
2021 Weldcraft Angler XT
- Thread starter Deep V
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KYKevin
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
It's what ever work's at the time, some time's it's a Hotel room some time it's roughing itYou've got all the nice stuff Kevin
but for me the bottom line is it's about catching fish 
then my boat go's from Ghetto house boat to fish cleaning station 
and back to house boat at night.I could live in Dworwood's boat for month's at a time.
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greyhackle
Escalante-Class Member
I hear you Kevin. I could live in it too. I've tented it. campered it and just started the motel thing the last 3 years. I'm also in the whatever it takes category.
Deep V
Member
I here ya and you are correct. I should probably change that. So here is the deal. My fiancé was previously married for 20 years or so. Every year they had a time share and would go out to Powell for a week always on the same dates in July. There boat was 75' long with 2 master suites and from what I here was quite amazing. I don't like super hot weather and I thought it would be cool to go whenever we wanted and for much longer trips. I cant afford a luxury house boat nor would I want one. These things are fairly light and we even towed it with her Jeep Cherokee. I would probably never do that again though. lol. I paid a pretty penny for this boat but in her eyes its a Ghetto house boat. Believe me, I here ya loud and clear on this deal. Hopefully she will agree with us soon enough that we are " Styling in our tiny house boat"!
Where in Colorado - Lots of us live there too
Sounds like a great boat for Powell. - What kind of fishing / fish do you like to fish for. What time of year.
I have personally been in waves that were 7 to 8' in Good Hope Bay. 3 to 4' are common. Nothing handles these well. You just have to learn were the best places to hide are from where you are fishing. This will take a little time and experience. There are areas on the lake that are 3 to 5 miles from a save haven.
Do you recommend sleeping on the boat or setting up on a beach?
I would diffidently camp out of the boat. This will help save you gas and time. Say you find the fish biting really well some evening 10 miles from your tent, you have a 10 mile run back to your tent , and then another 10 mile run back up the next morning. Plus you don't have to worry about your stuff left on the bank or tent blowing away.
How many anchors should I have?
I have an anchor - rarely use it. You have plenty of rope and anchors.
How do I safely secure the boat on shore while camping?
I have a house boat, but I still on occasion run up in just the fishing boat for an overnight trip. I normally pick a protected cove and drive the boat well onto the sand. I take a rope and tie off to a rock or bush and tie it off tight. If I was you I would have some stakes made like I have for my house boat just smaller. If you can weld, take a 3' piece of 1/2" cold roll steel and weld a cap on it to drive in with a hammer. Make something that looks like a huge nail. These are easy to drive in the loose rocks and sand and are easy to tie off of and easy to retreive. The dog chain stakes will work for you 98% of the time. The other 2% will be sleepless nights unless you are very well secured. I have never seen a bad storm at Powell that lasted much over an hour.
I have a complete cover with windows that zip out. I also plan on hitting Lake Mojave next week until it warms up enough for Powell. I really like the Aluminum hulls because they are so tough and can beach easily on sand or rocks without worries of scratching the bottom up. It also has a lifetime warranty on the hull to the original owner. I don't have any lake boating experience just rafting down rivers.
There are lots of places that you can beach this boat onto sand or soft Talus rock/soil on the North end of the lake - The Lower end of the lake has Plenty as well, just not as many and may be harder to find.
One of the first things you need to learn about your boat if how far can you go on the gas the you can carry. My fishing boat holds 50 gallons, and I get 3 to 4.5 MPG depending on the load in it and how fast I go. I take an extra 30 to 40 gallons to fish with for a 7 to 10 day trip. I have never used it all, but I had it if I needed it. I just pore it back in to the houseboat on the way back. I usually put 250 to 300 miles on the fishing boat in a normal trip. That is after I pulled it behind the house boat to were I want to go and fish.
I would recommend getting a good trolling motor with spot lock.
I would also highly recommend getting a lake map chip for your fish finder that works off of the GPS system. Not only tells you were you are but tells you how deep the water is and where the shallow spots are so you don't run into something that could ruin your boat or worse be life threating.
You also need to get some sort of communication for emergencies, like a satellite phone or one of those signaling GPS devices. If you fish during the late fall to early spring you will often find yourself completely alone for days at a time.
Good luck - tight lines and be safe!
Deep V
Member
I live in Idaho Springs. Born and raised in Littleton.
Deep V
Member
How do you carry that much gas?
My boat holds 42 gallons and weights about 2200lbs fully loaded with gear and 2 people.
Now you have me rethinking this extra gas deal. How far are the marinas apart from each other? I think my range will be somewhere between 100 and 200 miles. lol...
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Deep V
Member
Heck yes bro. Looks good for 1 person.This is a Ghetto house boat
When I'm by myself it works great.
KYKevin
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
Dont worry about going place's in a boat like you bought, I go any where I get a notion in my 16 ft. And 40 gallon's is 8 can's, and you can haul that easy. So have fun in that new boat, and good luck with getting your woman use to a small boat, after she's been on a 75 ft
Squirrel
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
Another Clear Creek County guy, I live in Brook Forest Estates. Sq
2) 15 gallon containers and 2 to 4 - 5 gallon containers. Just depends on where you want to go to fish. I like the top of Good Hope Bay in the fall. MM (mile marker) 129 which is about 36 miles up from Bullfrog or Halls Crossing Marinas. Say your boat gets 4 MPG, your going to burn 18 gallons - almost half your gas getting there and back. If you carry 2) 5 gallon cans you could fish till you run out then you have your insurance to get back. Like I mentioned before it's a learning curve on where you can go and how long you can stay there and fish.
Wahweap marina and Antelope point are down by the dam. Dangling rope is at about MM 42 - Bullfrog and Halls crossing are at MM 93 - Hite when the water is high enough to use for a launch is about MM 141 best as I can remember. So it's a long way between sources for fuel.
I have a 21' Lund with a 250 Verado. If I run it at 32 MPH I get a little better than 4 MPG. If I run it at 45 to 50 MPH it's around 3 MPG.
I live in Paonia - about 70 miles east of Grand Junction.
Ron Flewellen
Active Member
I been on that lake taking waves over the bow! Thank goodness we were smart enough to put the bow cover on sop most of the water rolled off on our way back to the ramp.
Lots of people catch all the fish they want and never leave Bull frog bay. If you are the adventurous type I know that once you have seen some of it you will want to see the rest. I've been going since the early 90's and have not seen it all yet, but one of these days good lord will I will.
Dorado
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
I have a 17 foot crestliner with a 90 horse outboard and 6 up kicker. We pretty much always go up to GHB and camp, 4-5 days. My boat only has a 16 gallon tank, it is around 1/2 full when we get up there. I bring 4, 5 gallon cans of gas and immediately top it off, and keep an eye on the tank. I usually have leftover gas in cans when we get back to bullfrog. Obviously, how much gas you use is going to be determined by how much running around you do, trolling with th kicker doesn’t use much. And as previously stated you need an iPilot!!!!
TR.
Escalante-Class Member
FACTIt's what ever work's at the time, some time's it's a Hotel room some time it's roughing it
I could live in Dworwood's boat for month's at a time.
TR.
Escalante-Class Member
All great advice. I beached camp out of a slightly smaller boat with up to 4 people for 2 weeks at a time, you will be fine. One thing I would add is that no matter how protected you are the wind can be downright insane. Make sure your stern cleats are really well set and at good angles, they are so important, especially to your electronics. Going sideways on the beach in a blow at 2 am sucks. I personally like to sleep on the boat because I am lazy and don’t like dealing with tents that can blow down and be very hot in the summer. Lakeside is always a little cooler. I carry a bivy so that if the unexpected rain storm hits while sleeping I can crawl in. Know your boat weight limit on the placard and be prepared to Account for your weight to a ranger. Also, know where all of your required equipment is when fully packed for that day you get stopped because you look overweight and have to produce it all for a safety check. The rangers are ambitious. With your rafting background you will be fine however If you are like me you will find yourself not really applying for river permits at all after a few years and getting to really know the lake.
TR
TR
TR.
Escalante-Class Member
Breck.
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