Lake Powell Pics from this week

[Original Wing Nut]

We were camped down Seven Mile Canyon. We are looking into buying a house boat for many fun years to come. I owned one back in the early 90's for 6 years with my dad and two brothers. You would think with four owners you could depend on things being taken care of, NOT! Well it was good for all when we sold it, I think it's time to get one for myself. My dad has passed away and one brother is to big a slob and the other is not that into water sports. So now it's just finding the right deal. When we owned our own boat we went down a couple times a month. We got to know the north end of the lake very well as we had a slip at Halls Crossing. It's been nice to have other options in the summer, all we used to do was Powell, now we have taken about ten years to do all the other local stuff, ie Yellowstone, Zions, Arches, Bryce Canyon and many others. It's now time to devote more time to Powell again. I am seeing the most options down at Antelope Marina, I love that end of the lake as well, we usually have our annual boys trip out of Page. I think Powell is the Greatest Place on Earth.

[Moki]

Nice farmer's tan

Thanks Zad, It took me all summer to work on that.

[jacques2727]

Awesome lake! From the google earth site, it looks like this lake is insanely busy. Is it always like this, and is the lake big enough to absorb all of this traffic. After all of the raving and pics I've seen of this place, I also may have to see it for myself one day. Only problem is it's a pretty long haul. Does it freeze over in the winter? Typically how late in the season can you get in the water without freezing your nuts off?

Again, nice pics, you sold me.

[Moki]

We were camped down Seven Mile Canyon. We are looking into buying a house boat for many fun years to come. I owned one back in the early 90's for 6 years with my dad and two brothers. You would think with four owners you could depend on things being taken care of, NOT! Well it was good for all when we sold it, I think it's time to get one for myself. My dad has passed away and one brother is to big a slob and the other is not that into water sports. So now it's just finding the right deal. When we owned our own boat we went down a couple times a month. We got to know the north end of the lake very well as we had a slip at Halls Crossing. It's been nice to have other options in the summer, all we used to do was Powell, now we have taken about ten years to do all the other local stuff, ie Yellowstone, Zions, Arches, Bryce Canyon and many others. It's now time to devote more time to Powell again. I am seeing the most options down at Antelope Marina, I love that end of the lake as well, we usually have our annual boys trip out of Page. I think Powell is the Greatest Place on Earth.

I am looking to get into a boat as well. The boat we were on is our friends and they have 8 partners. I wouldn't mind getting in on that boat. It would only be 2 weeks, but the boat is well take care of and very functional. It has two bathroom, two fridges and a large deep freezer. The upstairs has nice gradual staircase with the carpeting all above. It is nothing like the new boats with jacuzzis and flat screen tv's, but I'm not down there to hang out on the houseboat. I could be 1/3 owner on another boat, but it is pretty old and smaller. I think the ideal for me would be around 4 owners. It is very tough to get a slip at Bullfrog, I heard the waiting list is around 10 years and Aramark does a lot of crap like ask for 10% anytime a boat is sold. Antelope Point is a beautiful marina, that's where we launch when we go to Wahweap.

I don't know if I would be able to use it enough to own the boat all by myself-- although I would like to! When I retire, I could see myself owning my own boat and spending a lot of time down there. Sep and Oct are definitely the best months to go: Great weather and no crowds. The hard part is taking the kids out of school....maybe home schooling.

[dogbert]

Given how much money you would spend, would it not be more economical to rent for those times you use it? How much do those babies go for anyway?

[LovinPowell]

We've rented at Powell for 25 years, and when we look back at the cost, we should have bought, but who knew that we would be doing it for 25 consecutive years. We just got back from 4 days at Powell as well, on a friends houseboat. OWN and Moki, if you are looking into the south end of the lake, keep me posted. I know that Tall is also interested. I've looked at a place that sells them called laketime. I think their website is laketime.com. I'll post pics of my trip later this week.

[talltigeguy]

We were camped down Seven Mile Canyon. We are looking into buying a house boat for many fun years to come. I owned one back in the early 90's for 6 years with my dad and two brothers. You would think with four owners you could depend on things being taken care of, NOT! Well it was good for all when we sold it, I think it's time to get one for myself. My dad has passed away and one brother is to big a slob and the other is not that into water sports. So now it's just finding the right deal. When we owned our own boat we went down a couple times a month. We got to know the north end of the lake very well as we had a slip at Halls Crossing. It's been nice to have other options in the summer, all we used to do was Powell, now we have taken about ten years to do all the other local stuff, ie Yellowstone, Zions, Arches, Bryce Canyon and many others. It's now time to devote more time to Powell again. I am seeing the most options down at Antelope Marina, I love that end of the lake as well, we usually have our annual boys trip out of Page. I think Powell is the Greatest Place on Earth.

I have only been to the Bullfrog once. I am much more impressed with the south end of the lake.

Interesting thought, LP, Could we have a houseboat called 'tigetime'. If I do a houseboat, it would be through Laketime, unless the perfect opportunity occurred elsewhere.

LP, can I make a houseboat another business expense?

[talltigeguy]

Awesome lake! From the google earth site, it looks like this lake is insanely busy. Is it always like this, and is the lake big enough to absorb all of this traffic. After all of the raving and pics I've seen of this place, I also may have to see it for myself one day. Only problem is it's a pretty long haul. Does it freeze over in the winter? Typically how late in the season can you get in the water without freezing your nuts off?

Again, nice pics, you sold me.

No it never freezes, but water temp does get to the lower 40's in the winter. It can be chilly in the spring, but water will still be high 60's on average until Halloween, depending on the weather. Unfortunately, I have kids that think that any water below 80 degrees is too cold.

[LovinPowell]

LP, can I make a houseboat another business expense?

It might be possible to take certain expenses as deductions, I have a client with a house on the river below Parker and he is able to do some stuff with it.

What sold you on Laketime?

I need to hook you up with the friends that took us out last week, very nice houseboat, some partners want to sell out, kind of pricey, but it doesn't hurt to look at the opportunity.

[Paublo]

We got into our houseboat thru Laketime and I would never deal with them again (and I won't post specifics). Aramark and the NPS have changed the rules regarding houseboat ownership. This year it effected all boats on the water and next year it will be applied to all in-and-out houseboats like Laketime's current set-up.

If you use it, owning or shared-ownership is the way to go. The other owners and maintenance/management can make all the difference in the world. Just research very well before jumping in.

[LovinPowell]

We got into our houseboat thru Laketime and I would never deal with them again (and I won't post specifics). Aramark and the NPS have changed the rules regarding houseboat ownership. This year it effected all boats on the water and next year it will be applied to all in-and-out houseboats like Laketime's current set-up.

If you use it, owning or shared-ownership is the way to go. The other owners and maintenance/management can make all the difference in the world. Just research very well before jumping in.

So would you go into specifics on a PM? How did Aramark change the rules? Where can we read up about it?

[Moki]

Awesome lake! From the google earth site, it looks like this lake is insanely busy. Is it always like this, and is the lake big enough to absorb all of this traffic. After all of the raving and pics I've seen of this place, I also may have to see it for myself one day. Only problem is it's a pretty long haul. Does it freeze over in the winter? Typically how late in the season can you get in the water without freezing your nuts off?

Again, nice pics, you sold me.

Typically, middle to the end of October is when the water and air temps are still nice.

Given how much money you would spend, would it not be more economical to rent for those times you use it? How much do those babies go for anyway?

The range is between $4,000 - $12,000 a week based on how big and how nice the boat is and then you still have to pay for gas (around $4 a gallon)

We've rented at Powell for 25 years, and when we look back at the cost, we should have bought, but who knew that we would be doing it for 25 consecutive years. We just got back from 4 days at Powell as well, on a friends houseboat. OWN and Moki, if you are looking into the south end of the lake, keep me posted. I know that Tall is also interested. I've looked at a place that sells them called laketime. I think their website is laketime.com. I'll post pics of my trip later this week.

Yes, I am interested. I like both sides of the lake. Antelope point is my preference if it is south lake.

We got into our houseboat thru Laketime and I would never deal with them again (and I won't post specifics). Aramark and the NPS have changed the rules regarding houseboat ownership. This year it effected all boats on the water and next year it will be applied to all in-and-out houseboats like Laketime's current set-up.

If you use it, owning or shared-ownership is the way to go. The other owners and maintenance/management can make all the difference in the world. Just research very well before jumping in.

I agree, having the right partners and agreement is key.

[dogbert]

The range is between $4,000 - $12,000 a week based on how big and how nice the boat is and then you still have to pay for gas (around $4 a gallon)

No, I meant if you bought one outright.

[LovinPowell]

No, I meant if you bought one outright.

The one that I spent last week on has four owners, each put in about 100k, so about 400k total. They each get one week a month. It is a very nice boat, I would say in the mid to high end as far as luxury goes. But I haven't been on too many that aren't in the rental fleet. I'm sure that there are a small percentage of boats that are extremely expensive, but that would be the exception rather than the rule.

I know of another guy who put in 75k for his share with about 5 or 6 others.

Check out this one: http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...executiveboat&

There are plenty of selections out there, you could get one for as cheep as around 20k, but the old saying "you get what you pay for" is most applicable in the houseboat market.

[talltigeguy]

Moki,

I know that everyone is hot on Antelope right now because of the Pain in the BUTT channel. If we can get a 20 foot rise out of the lake this spring, Wahweap will actually then become both easier and closer to launch out of because the castle rock cut off will open up. It is about another 15-20 minutes to Antelope from St. George. That is two extra wakeboarding runs! (one for the trip out, and one for the trip in). Just food for thought.

There are certainly other things to like about Antelope, but location may only be a temporary benefit.

It feels like this summer has been the rainiest in years for the intermountain west, so I hope that bodes well for winter.