Sailing on Powell in an 11'?

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BreteThomas

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As I've posted, I ran the lake top-to-bottom in my 11' Zodiac (15hp) over three days. Why not up the ante and attach a sail instead?

I'd appreciate your thoughts on this type of an adventure. I plan to have the outboard mounted but would prefer to sail the whole lake.

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I'd imagine heading South to North this would be a fun adventure, but heading back North to South against the prevailing winds would require hundreds of tacks back and forth in the river channel and could take a VERY long time.

But with that said, it does sound like a pretty awesome adventure to undertake!
 
I'd imagine heading South to North this would be a fun adventure, but heading back North to South against the prevailing winds would require hundreds of tacks back and forth in the river channel and could take a VERY long time.

But with that said, it does sound like a pretty awesome adventure to undertake!
I've noticed the winds seem to come from Wahweap. I can motor back that direction.
 
My sailing experience on the lake in a 19 foot sailboat the points upwind pretty decently is that I wouldn't do it. even with prevailing south winds on the lake there are so many burbles around canyons etc that you will take forever if you commit to sail only. So plan on spending 90% of your time on the "iron jenny" Powell is not a sailboat lake except for someone who has unlimited time and patience. If you have those, then you are in for a great adventure.
 
My sailing experience on the lake in a 19 foot sailboat the points upwind pretty decently is that I wouldn't do it. even with prevailing south winds on the lake there are so many burbles around canyons etc that you will take forever if you commit to sail only. So plan on spending 90% of your time on the "iron jenny" Powell is not a sailboat lake except for someone who has unlimited time and patience. If you have those, then you are in for a great adventure.
I suspect that would also be true of the Utah end of flaming gorge? The canyons disrupt the wind too much?
 
Have you sailed those much? How high can you point? I think attempting to sail those up the lake would be more frustrating than enjoyable... Sail when you can, but expect to motor quite a bit...
 
Go for it.
I just sold my 11' Zodiac with 50hp a couple of winters ago and bought a Catalina 25 from the Zodiac money. I learned to sail on Lake Powell in 1977 when my dad rented a 16' Hobie for use kids for the entire week. Hobie Cats were available for rental in Bullfrog then,.
Powell has horrible winds for sailing, but it can be done. I'd sail from South to North, in the spring or monsoon season for the winds. June is dead calm and hot. We are pulling our sailboat out of Ridgway SP soon and will take it down to Powell for the winter.

Your sunfish type sail on the Zodiac should be much lower...it will be more stable and a lower sail is faster. I also have two Sunfish right now and I really like them, you can control the sail very easily and sail in heavy (30+) winds where a Hobie Cat cannot.

I seem to remember winds are also around Good Hope Bay, probably because its so close to the Henry Mountains.

Erik
 
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