Two boats sink in wind storm

[KXCORKY]

I'm kinda OCD about not having clutter in the boat. "If it's not being actively used, stow it!" After your comment, I'm not feeling too bad about that. I'm especially wary of stray ropes... water and ropes can kill people. You learn this pretty quick in whitewater kayaking and rafting.

^^^^ That, right there is very true with rafting. We are always just cycling through people surfing.. always in use.

[IDBoating]

We are always just cycling through people surfing.. always in use.

Yeah, but with even 30-60 seconds of notice ("See that storm coming over there?!?") you can pick up the surfer and toss the rope in a compartment.

OTOH, if you have crap strewn all over the boat, 60 seconds might not be enough time....

[KXCORKY]

Yeah, but with even 30-60 seconds of notice ("See that storm coming over there?!?") you can pick up the surfer and toss the rope in a compartment.

OTOH, if you have crap strewn all over the boat, 60 seconds might not be enough time....

You 100% correct. I just happened to be the one surfing when the wind hit. The storm (rain) had already passed with little to no wind so we started surfing again. Then about 15 or so min later while the sun was out the wind kicked up and the wave was gone. It was hard to even just get to the boat. Anyways. Your are right its takes just a few seconds.

[Jetdriver]

Canceled our trip to Powell this weekend. Was supposed to be a 5 day vaca, with kids just out of school. Wind forecast in mid 30s. There is an active alert for area up to 50mph. Not worth the stress to me. We will take the kids to St George Utah and ride UTVs instead.

Question for my learning, what wind amount makes you cancel a trip? I had to put a lot of thought into it over last week and concluded sustained 15 or peak over 25, pretty much takes the fun and turns it to stress. Thoughts ?

Been to Powell a couple times a year for the last 20 years and you'll find that you can always find smooth water there even in squall conditions. Just depends where on the lake you are. You'll find scary 4-5 foot swells with white caps in the big bays and then round the corner into a canyon and it's dead calm. Just depends where you are relative to where the wind is blowing from. You absolutely DO NOT want to be in the big bays of Antelope or bullfrog/halls crossing when the wind moves in.
Best thing you can do is set your taps to 6(highest mine goes) to keep the bow high, turn your bilge pump on, get vests on people, put the weight in the back of the boat and slowly motor into the wind. If you have a bow cover that helps for sure. If you can get your boat into a position where it's protected from the brunt of the wind by the shore that's ideal.
I definitely wouldn't try to trailer my boat in those conditions. In that video the water was not even scary yet, 100% operator error. The guy in the low pro jet boat wasn't even sweating it. Obviously his bow is closed off but if you noticed he was hardly taking any water over his bow anyhow. Be safe out there guys, never panic, and most importantly never, ever cancel your Powell vacation

[Jetjock15]

Thanks for the replies guys. I agree about not canceling big trips. I should of mentioned I live in Vegas only four hours away and we go every three day weekend. Not houseboat rental or canceled reservations. We tent camp and have a blast. I have a pretty low tolerance for the wind risk when our trips are as often

[UNSTUCK]

Been to Powell a couple times a year for the last 20 years and you'll find that you can always find smooth water there even in squall conditions. Just depends where on the lake you are. You'll find scary 4-5 foot swells with white caps in the big bays and then round the corner into a canyon and it's dead calm. Just depends where you are relative to where the wind is blowing from. You absolutely DO NOT want to be in the big bays of Antelope or bullfrog/halls crossing when the wind moves in.
Best thing you can do is set your taps to 6 to keep the bow high, turn your bilge pump on, get vests on people, put the weight in the back of the boat and slowly motor into the wind. If you have a bow cover that helps for sure. If you can get your boat into a position where it's protected from the brunt of the wind by the shore that's ideal.
I definitely wouldn't try to trailer my boat in those conditions. In that video the water was not even scary yet, 100% operator error. The guy in the low pro jet boat wasn't even sweating it. Obviously his bow is closed off but if you noticed he was hardly taking any water over his bow anyhow. Be safe out there guys, never panic, and most importantly never, ever cancel your Powell vacation

My very first Powell trip is in July. Excited, but nervous as well. We will be camping at bullfrog and imagine most of our time will be spent right there in the bay. I am going with another family that is very familiar with powell, so that will help, but I really want to be prepared. Do you recommend heading east or west out of bullfrog to find water that is normally safer?

[talltigeguy]

Thanks for the replies guys. I agree about not canceling big trips. I should of mentioned I live in Vegas only four hours away and we go every three day weekend. Not houseboat rental or canceled reservations. We tent camp and have a blast. I have a pretty low tolerance for the wind risk when our trips are as often

If camping, I would cancel too, especially if you have multiple opportunities to go. Being sandblasted for 2 days can make the other 3 not seem quite worth it. When on a well anchored houseboat (haha) you can hunker down, watch videos and just relax once everything is tied down.

[boonecragun]

My very first Powell trip is in July. Excited, but nervous as well. We will be camping at bullfrog and imagine most of our time will be spent right there in the bay. I am going with another family that is very familiar with powell, so that will help, but I really want to be prepared. Do you recommend heading east or west out of bullfrog to find water that is normally safer?

Get out of bullfrog and head up to halls creek bay. Lots of traffic in bullfrog bay.

[tigeidaho]

I've been at Lucky Peak with weather similar or worse. Young and dumb but we got stuck out in my first inboard '90 ski nautique. There are a few arms of that reservoir that bend back and forth and provide great protection from the wind. One of them happens to be right across that open section of water he was pounding back and forth through. We went and hid when we got caught. For the record this wasn't a freak storm or wind event. The weather forecast predicted it a couple days in advance. It was sustained winds of 50+ mph. The waves at Lucky peak (Malibu sunk) were 2 to 3 feet. The waves at Lowell (MC sunk) were 4 to 5 feet.

[KXCORKY]

I've been at Lucky Peak with weather similar or worse. Young and dumb but we got stuck out in my first inboard '90 ski nautique. There are a few arms of that reservoir that bend back and forth and provide great protection from the wind. One of them happens to be right across that open section of water he was pounding back and forth through. We went and hid when we got caught. For the record this wasn't a freak storm or wind event. The weather forecast predicted it a couple days in advance. It was sustained winds of 50+ mph. The waves at Lucky peak (Malibu sunk) were 2 to 3 feet. The waves at Lowell (MC sunk) were 4 to 5 feet.

tigeidaho, were are you checking your weather? I check every day and prior to going out heard nothing about it.

[freeheel4life]

Look what showed up today
YAAAAAY!!

[tigeidaho]

I saw the first report on ktvb weather app. My wife saw the warning on the news the night before. I also look at the Wunderground app but mostly when we travel. I always look at my IPhone weather app but it's not sooooo accurate

Also, kxcorky, I'm pretty sure I know who owned your boat before the partners that had it before you.

[Bakes5]

I live by the "Storm" app. I really like the forecasted wind graphs. Helps me plan out my days accordingly.

IMG_5971.jpg

[boonecragun]

Windfinder app has never let me down...

[KXCORKY]

I am going to download that Bakes. The iPhone app is never right.

tigeidaho I think its the same boat that is in your profile pic