Castle Rock Cut Filling - 2023

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doc said:
Thanks for the input. We'll see if we can get through safely Sat or Sun w/ 70' HB, and then back next Thurs. Probably go thru 1st w/ the bass boat to see how iffy it might be. Expect it might not be a relaxing ride. If anyone has more info to share, please let me know.
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Just went thru two hours ago. No problem, except the crazy wakeboard boat going fast and throwing a big wake. 😡
 
JFRCalifornia said:
...and on both the 4th and 12th the lake was at about 3584.5+/-. Assuming 3583 is the safe minimum for most boats (smaller ones anyway), current inflow/outflow projections suggest the lake will drop below that mark sometime on July 24 or 25.
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look like with every day drop the cut will be gone by next week.
 
Just heard from Marina Bum, who just ran the gauntlet through the Cut this morning in a houseboat and made it back to Wahweap unscathed. He said he was flip-flopping about whether or not to go around, but figured he had one more rabbit's foot to pull out of the hat... my guess is that he's going to be among the last big boats through...

I will guess he chimes in at some point about that experience...
 
JFRCalifornia said:
Just heard from Marina Bum, who just ran the gauntlet through the Cut this morning in a houseboat and made it back to Wahweap unscathed. He said he was flip-flopping about whether or not to go around, but figured he had one more rabbit's foot to pull out of the hat... my guess is that he's going to be among the last big boats through...

I will guess he chimes in at some point about that experience...
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Thanks for the shout out JFR, Yeah, I was up between Face and the entrance to Last Chance in a small shallow cove right off the channel for two nights and the water dropped so fast that it was unsettling, It gave me pause to run back through the cut again so I reached out to JFR for some of his awesome data and it wasn't reassuring, The lake elevation was a foot lower now than the first time I went through the cut on July 2nd. Based on that I'd decided to go around through Antelope but once I saw Castle Rock right there at the turn into Warm Creek and knowing Wahweap was right across the bay I couldn't resist trying just one more time through.

There was a senior couple in the cut in an old runabout surveying the depth using a wooden oar as a depth gauge coming head on. It seemed to be 3 to 4 feet deep at most based on how far their oar was going before it hit bottom. I ran in the middle as much as possible and made it through but I'm done for the season. It's just hard to pass it up when you know Wahweap is so close. I kinda feel like what I imagine a heroin junkie must feel, trying to get off the stuff but going back for one more fix. (The stuff I'm trying to get off if is the tasty up lake short cut) It was nice while it lasted but any lower and I think you're just begging for trouble. I'm sure I got lucky but like Yogi Berra Said "Id rather be lucky than good."BBA321A1-53CD-47F6-9788-906E0D1ECAF1.jpegView attachment 24137E7C37E0E-B319-4D2E-B165-05327DAAEE32.jpeg
 
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I was flip flopping myself yesterday because I was down one engine (brand new engine that went down). I didn’t want to take a chance with poor tracking. In the end, Maytag was great and the waves were almost non-existent until a tour boat driving too close snuck up from behind me and rocked us. I also enjoyed having Antelope pump my gas and pump out at the same time. It was worth the extra money and time according to my wife.
 
lakepowellnut said:
I was flip flopping myself yesterday because I was down one engine (brand new engine that went down). I didn’t want to take a chance with poor tracking. In the end, Maytag was great and the waves were almost non-existent until a tour boat driving too close snuck up from behind me and rocked us. I also enjoyed having Antelope pump my gas and pump out at the same time. It was worth the extra money and time according to my wife.
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I hear you in the one motor thing. Sadly, I'd beat up my port prop on the West side of Gregory Butte. Be careful of the known high sand bar there, it was way out and invisible mid morning. I was trying to avoid strafing an Adonia in the middle of the channel. I couldn't tell if they were moving or not; turns out they were adjusting the tow line of their cigarette boat. But between their boat length, their extra long tow line and runabout they were blocking a lot of the choke point heading towards Face so I came a little to close to Gregory Butte. No more Mr Nice Guy! Anyway It would still spin mostly in balance and provide thrust but I ran home on one motor until I hit the cut, I turned it on and ran it through there because I wanted the control. I would not run through there either on one motor!
 
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Marina Bum said:
I hear you in the one motor thing. Sadly, I'd beat up my port prop on the West side of Gregory Butte. Be careful of the known high sand bar there, it was way out and invisible mid morning. I was trying to avoid strafing an Adonia in the middle of the channel. I couldn't tell if the were moving or not; turns out they were adjusting the tow line of their cigarette boat. But between their boat length, their extra long tow line and runabout they were blocking a lot of the choke point heading towards Face. So I can a little to close to Gregory Butte. No more Mr Nice Guy! Anyway It would still spin mostly in balance and provide thrust but I ran home on one motor until I hit the cut, I ran it through there because I wanted the control. I would not do it either in one motor!
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My brother-in-law hit the same sand bar 2 weeks ago under similar circumstances!
 
I looked at the water data base and it appears that the lake level has only dropped in the vicinity of 6 to 8 inches from when I last ran through it in my flat bottomed houseboat last Thursday. I did not trim my drives but I was cautious to run in the middle especially at the choke point. I think it's still doable but not for very much longer, you might be the last guy to do it. Most folks it would appear don't have the stomach for it anymore, not much houseboat traffic through there now.

I think it's easier to imagine risking the boat if you are the sole owner. If the pilot were to do more than ding a prop, if the drives or the hull were to sustain damage in a group owned boat and it's down or out for repairs and others miss their trips I think that pilots name would be Mud among the group. If I were that guy I'd feel terrible about it. As for me I'm done running it this season and I'm on to praying for heavy snow this winter but I'm very interested to hear how it goes for you, please keep us posted.
 
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