Lake Powell advice

[Dave S]

We have never been to Lake Powell and I want to go there this summer. I have been looking at some websites and came across this resort

http://www.lakepowell.com/

Is this place any good, to expensive?

I would most likely plan on towing my boat with our truck there and staying in a room somewhere, cabin or renting an RV and staying in that. I belive tent camping would be out of the question. I see they rent Centurions for the cost of about $600 a day but that in itself seems way to expensive and towing our boat there would be cheaper(more than I want to spend). We have also contemplated renting a houseboat. Overall I am looking for a less costly vacation but want to get on the water in Lake Powell. We would plan on taking a full week off of work to go.

I really don't even know where to start, any help would be good. Another thought would be to go boatless, rent a centurion just for a day and than do other tourist things in the area, ie Grand Canyon.

The lake looks huge! Should I plan on having GPS for navigation so I do not get lost on the water?

[skippabcool]

I went to Powell as a kid and had a blast. I have been wanting to take my family. I do know that there is work involved if you get a houseboat. I have family and friends that go down and stay in Page, AZ then spend the day out on the lake. One reason they like that is because you don't need a big crew for the house boat (there are some that do it with a small crew) nor as much planning - food gas for the toys and boat, etc... That would also give you some flexibility to go do other things. Either way Powell will be fun.

[dreddy]

Powell is the most awesome lake on the planet in my opinion. I spend my winters waiting for the next opportunity to spend time down there. Over the last few years we have made about 3 4-5 day trips in the summer.

The site you linked to is Aramark which has the contract for all operations of concessions on the lake. They rent the boats and houseboats, operate the marinas and campgrounds. There is a small motel they operate at Wahweap marina. I've never stayed there but it is convenient. If you have your own boat, it may be just as easy to get a hotel in Page, about 5 miles away. There is a nice Courtyard Marriott that is nice but many others of varying quality.

My opinion is that you definitely want to experience staying on the lake somehow. There is nothing like waking up surrounded by red-rock cliffs and warm, glassy water. We always camp in a few favorite spots but you need the right gear to be comfortable camping in that environment. Heat, rain, wind are all issues at some point during almost every trip we've made. If a houseboat is in the budget, that is probably the only way to go. I've always wanted to spend the gas money on surfing and boarding instead of a floating tent.

You also need to be pretty sure of your boat's condition and capabilities. As you said, it is a big lake and you can get a long way from any kind of help so it is necessary to have some cautious judgement. I could tell you a few scary stories, but I still can't wait to go back.

I could go on and on. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

[whitlock87]

We went there and it was nice, but not worth the 12 our ride from our location unless you are staying on a house boat.
Make sure you get a map of the lake and bring a GPS. The lake is very well market, but it all looks the same so you can get lost very fast.

[Dave S]

I am a safety person. Any more suggestions to be safe would be great. I am an experienced boater-been boating about 25 years or more and will have experienced boaters in my crew, but PLEASE tell me everything I need to be cautious. I was planning on buying a Navigational GPS for the water (and street), I have a spare prop and all neccasary safety equipment for the boat. I have flares but they are hand held, should I have a flare gun? How is cell phone reception? Non-exisitent? To call for help if needed?

[gwhite94]

DaveS Powell is by far one of the best places in the west to boat imo. My family has been going there since the early 70's. Most hotel accomidations in Page are nice along with the Lodge at Wahweap. You do have some cell coverage in the area down by wahweap marina up to Padre Bay much further up the lake you lose it. A spare prop, basic tool kit, spare gas and a marine VHF radio are a must. There are 5 Marina's that sell fuel. Wahweap, Dangling Rope, Bullfrog and Halls the last 2 are at the most eastern part of the lake. Like was stated in other post's be prepared for any type of weather. Wind can come up quickly with 3-4 ft seas really quickly. If you would like more info PM me.

George

[TeamAllen]

Here are a couple of links I looked up.
http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...ht=lake+powell
http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...ht=lake+powell

My short list would be like others.
Map
GPS
VHF radio
Spare prop and change kit

[talltigeguy]

I think in order for a houseboat to be worthwhile, since you have not done it before is to pool 2 or 3 couples or families together to make it more economical. The boats are large enough to get away from one another if you get sick of them.

The scenery that you see above the lake is what is under the water. Those 300+ feet cliffs....means that you can go from 300 feet of water to smashing your boat in an instant. Fortunately, the water is pretty clear, so you should see it coming. The worst ones are people just not watching or in low light situations.

Going to bed and waking up on the lake is my favorite part of it, so I would not come from that far away without staying on the lake somehow.

One huge bonus is that it is too hot for mosquitos.

[Timmy!]

Lake Powell is amazing! There are 2 companies that do houseboat rentals, the website you listed and then there is the Indian reservation company that does them out of Antelope point. We found that the best deal was that they have a 50% off sale if you book before February and pay in full. We pooled our money together with 2 other families and got a houseboat for $2,600 for 5 days, <$900 per family out of Wahweap.

If you rent a houseboat, they also give you a discount for the hotel there as well and it is a beautiful hotel! One could just stay in that hotel and drive their boat every morning and see some sites but you won't get to see as much as you would in a houseboat.

The houseboats are equipped with VHF radios, my Verizon phones both had gps signal that we used to navigate the lake and out in the main channel we had phone reception, even 50 miles from Wahweap. The cove that we parked the houseboat in did not have cell coverage at water level but we hiked up a hill and had it. We could text from the water level though.

The Super 8 in Page, AZ is decent and they offer rooms with 3 king beds if you want to double families up for the night before your houseboat leaves and I think that was only $89 or something. The day we got off of the water we stayed in the hotel on the lake and we really enjoyed it, very nice place.

[Dave S]

How fast do these houseboats go? Last time we rented a house boat it all of 3 mph. You say we can see more in a house boat. I would think if my Tige is running 45+ I can cover much more and see more then I ever could in a house boat going 3 mph? However, I have seen house boats that plane out and even towing a tuber once. That is why I am asking.

[Timmy!]

They go 6-10 mph BUT here's the thing, you drive it out into the middle somewhere and park it and then take your Tige from there. There is just too much to see, it takes several trips to even get the main attractions in let alone going down the hundreds of coves/fingers.

[TeamAllen]

I have been to LP both ways. Hoteling it in Page and houseboating. They each have plusses and minuses.

I don't see the time driving the houseboat being an issue. If you drove the Tigé for 40 miles up river at 40mph it would obviously take you 1 hour. In a house boat doing 10mph it would take you 4 hours. In the Tigé you would drive another hour back to base, making it 2 hours for one day. Then drive another hour the next morning to get back to where you left off and do it again day after day. Your drive time for a week would add up quickly, and that is based on good water conditions allowing you to drive that fast? While the houseboat is limbering along you can check out the side canyons in the Tigé and easily keep up with the houseboat.

It really comes down to cost. If you can't split the cost with someone houseboats are expensive! The least expensive is staying in the hotel, by far. You will have a great time! If you can rent a slip for your Tigé it will save you a few hours a day launching and retrieving.