Lake MEad

[tigeone]

Well just got back from a weekend at Mead.This was our first trip out there and we stayed at the Hacienda just past the Hoover Dam.We went out the the Lake Mead Marina and launched the boat.Got through the marina and out to the tire booms and the swells were huge!!!! We were still in the no wake zone and hit the first one at about 5mph and got some spray over the windshield.We hit the second one and got a ton of water over the front of the boat,my wife freaked!! I only have one season of boating experience as a driver.I had 4 other people in the boat and it looked real rough for about a 100 yards out into the lake,IT`s the large basin area and I did not want to chance it,We went back,Saturday did not look much better so we abandoned boating for the weekend,I was bummed,so we spent our weekend in Vegas.I talked to a guy that said Temple Bar was better,But it is quite a distance from where we were and we had a late start so no go..Anyone have any experience out there with some tips for Mead?

[talltigeguy]

You were smart to go back if the swells made you uncomfortable. Thinking that it is not as bad as you think will get you in trouble.

[TeamAllen]

We go to Lake Mead multiple times a year. It does get dangerously windy as you described. Usually the mornings are calm. We usually spend the day at a location toward the dam called The Wall. It is protected from the wind and you can still ride while it is blowing elsewhere. When you return back to the marina you are traveling with the waves. It is a much safer and dryer ride.

Temple Bar is a good alternative, but as you wrote it is about an hours drive. It could be windy there as well.

You were wise to turn around. When I encounter waves like those. I bring the bow up by setting my TAPS at wakeboard. Keep the boat speed up around 15 MPH an don't stop.

Previous Lake Mead thread

[CP3]

lake mead is VERY tempermental to winds! You did the right thing. some times when I lived there We would have to wait almost a week to get out on decent water.

Never chance it. we went out one morning and by the end of the day we were in 6 AND 7 FOOTERS. Worse than an ocean.

[xpjim1]

Have not been to Mead in years. Back in the old days when the lake was up we always launched out of Echo Bay and headed towards Overton. There were some large coves that were sheltered which are just beaches now.

Even then, back in 1998 we put a Tige 6 foot underwater with the swells. We stopped to help a guy pulling his kids on a tube with a seadoo. As soon as we slowed took two major waves and the boat was under.

Better to be safe!!!

[CP3]

The only spot that is really left is box car cove. because the wall is crap with all of the boat traffic and the one next to it is the same.

[tigeone]

Thanks everyone! I was glad I turned back.It didn`t look as bad out a little furthur but getting there is a whole different story!! I think to be safe out there when windy would be to have a larger boat.I still had a good time,Maybe try it again next year..

[yearroundboarder]

Lake Mead

Made a few trips to Mead last summer in our old 18' Reinell; encountered the same large swells out of the Main Marina and Calville Bay. I would imagine that our new '06 22VE would handle the chop a bit better but haven't taken it to Mead yet.

In general, Temple Bar is o.k. once you launch and head down the canyon. Temple Bar is probably our favorite Mead pick; limited boat traffic and the kid sleeps all the way back to Henderson. My advice when boating Mead; it's always a good idea to check weather in the AM out of Temple Bar and make sure you're out with another boat.

[Wake Havasu]

I would never try to put a boat smaller than 28 feet on Mead.

[tigeone]

28 FT?!

28 ft? I saw smaller boats on the ramp loading in,I don`t know how they did out there.I think if I could have gotten out there away from that entry (BTW,the exit from the marina is at the lowest farthest edge and the wind was blowing right into it)I would have been ok.I read a review on the new RZ2 Tige` and they said they couldn`t get water over the bow..Only a little on the vents.My 20v seems to take on water very easy...I really don`t like it

[moved2ski]

my lake

I live 12 miles from that ramp and I feel your pain. Our moto is "you don't know unless you go". We have left the house with a poor forcast and obvous wind to find the lake great 30 min latter. We also have left the house with no wind 30 min latter put her back on the trailer like you. Conditions change very fast at Mead. I try to go at dawn on week days and find the best water about 8:am. Durring the day you allways get boat chop in the basens. Best to get to a cove in time for the morning breeze to die, about 1-2 hours after sun up. Late afternoons are often windless but the chop form a day of boat trafic will leave rollers for hours. Don't let this weekend scare you, but also have and alternet plan if you get blown out.

[wlfnvegas]

If the forecat calls for 15 - 20 MPH winds, we stay home. If it calls for 10 - 15 MPH, we make a decision based on how long it's been since we've been out. Anything under 10, we're there. Even at 10 MPH, if the gusts start to rattle the EZ-UP, we pack it in. Mornings and evenings are usually the best.