Conference vicki::boats

    Ya dudes, think of something pleasant, like, 90 degrees, sunny, crusin
    on your favorite body of water. Ya dream this stuff cause I just looked
    at the thermometer and at it's -28 degrees and that don't include the
    wind!! 
    
    Mark

    Well, at -28 your boat sure isn't corroding very fast.  You might say
    its in the deep freeze.
    
    Jeff

    Spring 1 will arrive by March 15.
    
    Spring 2 will arrive by May 15.
    
    Only five weeks to Spring 1!
    
    
    Spring 1 is when the ice is off the Concord River.
    
    Spring 2 is when the White Oaks put their leaves out. It ends when the
    mosquitos arrive around the first week in June (Spring 3).
    
     

    I rebuilt my outboard in Dec and just finally got to start breaking it
    in last Wed. By the way don't believe the media we have plenty of
    water and more lakes than I can remember spilling over the spillways.
    IT'S GOING TO BE A GLORIOUS SUMMER!!!!! By the way for the virgin run
    on the new motor, the sun was shinning the temp was 74 and the lake was 
    smooth. One other minor detail, I'm in So Cal.

    Yeah, well, a few more real storms like we get weekly around here (and
    like you had recently over there), and you're going to be running your
    rebuilt motor in the ocean! 
    <grins>
    

    Took my boat out of its slip yesterday for the first time this year.
    I hit the jackpot on crabs with 14 keepers in three hours. Weather was
    in low 50s and sunny. I was in the San Juan Islands north of Seattle.

    
     I just went up into the hills above San Jose to look at a lake that
    has been empty since 1986 and it is nearly full. The parks dept. says
    it will be open this summer!!!!!! We have also made June reservations
    for Lake Shasta , Shasta is about 100 vertical feet higher than it was
    at this time last year. Looks like a good boating year in Cal.
    
    Ron
    (Might take the boat for a small putt this weekend , it;s been in the
    mid to upper 60's)

    I heard somewhere (I am in New England) on the news during a news
    broadcast when Calif was getting drenching rains a month or so ago,
    that it 'would have to rain like that for two years to restore the
    water supply in your area".  Anything to that incredible estimate?
    
    I may have to put up with a relatively short boating season... April 
    through Oct. but when I need a lake I can usually FIND one that has
    water in it,  or doesn't have a brush fire raging around it and  is
    'about to slide into the Pacific in a earthquake, or is not so crowded
    that one needs reservations six months ahead to boat for a few hours,
    and then its literally elbow to elbow.  OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH.  I know, I
    know I am kidding you a bit.  
    
    The above is the impression I get from the news on what it is like out
    there.  Is it, like that?
    
    I'll go back to my snow shovel and pining for Spring to come.
    
    Smile,  Laugh in fact.
    
    Jeff
    
    

    
    Dream, ah yes dream!
    
    	  That shining, reconditioned prop stares at me from
    the table in the kitchen. It's younger brother sits on
    the kitchen counter. But, there is no boat around to place
    the bright object on... It's still in the shop.... And as I
    said to the guy working on it... "As long as it's done by March!"...
    
    Yup, March! That's only THIRTEEN Days away!
    
    Rick

    
    
    	SO WHAT if the current New England WX is a WHITEOUT!
    
    

Yep, despite the white-out outside, spring is in sight. My boat gets
hauled out of the backyard in about 2 or 3 weeks before the ground thaws.
Otherwise the options are to wait til May or do some major landscaping
reconstruction work to repair foot-deep trenches (Spring is MUD season
in Cow Hampshire!).  Once the boat's in the driveway, life is worth 
living again.   8^)

My boat is 39 years old this year, and although it was just restored 
last summer, I still have plenty of things I'd like to improve or upgrade.
Just this morning I ordered the parts to convert the ignition to pointless
electronic ignition.  Just a little thing, but it felt gooooooood.  8^)

Rick
P.S. Ken Chace and I are planning on going to the Bayside Boat Show a
     week from Saturday, on Feb 27th.  Anyone else heading in that day?

<    I heard somewhere (I am in New England) on the news during a news
<    broadcast when Calif was getting drenching rains a month or so ago,
<    that it 'would have to rain like that for two years to restore the
<    water supply in your area".  Anything to that incredible estimate?

    THe problem here is that the bulk of the water storage is in Sierra
    snow pack.  The rainfall in LA and the bay area recently fill the
    local reservoirs, but do little for the drought because once the soil
    is saturated, the "excess" just runs off into the Pacific.  The snow
    pack that feeds the bay area water system is about 130% of normal for
    this time of year.  So although we already have had 100% of the normal
    rain fall near the coast, those numbers don't reflect the water
    situation (makes good press but doesn't mean much).  It would be the
    same as if Boston got flooded, but the Quabbin Res. was still at 30%
    capacity.  You don't drink water from the Charles, or the Mystic Rivers
    so it doesn't help you much.

    The New Melones Reservior for instance was DOWN 750' from full.  This is
    a big reservoir (about 1200' deep at the deepest point).  It holds a lot
    of water.  I've heard it's up about 100' from this time last year, but
    it's still 650' below full (I think the paper is saying on 25% full).
    Some of this is artificially controlled by letting the down stream holding
    reserviors fill first, but you get the idea.

<    water in it,  or doesn't have a brush fire raging around it and  is
<    'about to slide into the Pacific in a earthquake, or is not so crowded
<    that one needs reservations six months ahead to boat for a few hours,
<    and then its literally elbow to elbow.  OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH.  I know, I
<    know I am kidding you a bit.  
    
     It's not as bad as it might seem, but it isn't all that good either.
     Let's say it's different.  Here to go boating is something you plan for.
     It's an all day outing.  One big impression I've gotten regarding the
     differences is that I have not been on a lake that has private cottages
     around it.  The lakes tend to be public owned, the only ramps are public
     ramps.  At Winnepesaukie, or Lake Chargogagogmanchauagagogchabunagungamaug
     (Webster) the shoreline is one house and dock after another.  This is
     great if you happen to be one of the fortunate ones, but is not so great
     if you are looking for a place to launch your boat...  All the boating
     opportunities are like Quabbin (without trees)...

    Sounds as if you have been in New England.... Boston etc.  You talk
    like you know this area.
    
    Yeah, the lakes are privately bought up for the most part as you said.
    Where was it? Denver I think, there is one lake where the locals can
    boat.... IF you can get a reservation to launch into the incredibly
    crowded 'puddle;.  Thats NOT my idea of fun.  I see on TV the shots
    of lakes out West... brown treeless hills surrounding a lake simply
    festering with boats.  Even in the crowed lakes here you can usually
    find a spot to get out of the way.... maybe you can't set foot ashore
    because of the private property but you can tuck the boat in somewhere.
    
    If the lakes here fail there is the ocean... limitless room and no
    one to bug you if you get out a bit.  But of course the Pacific is
    available on your end of things.
    
    Today its snowing.... hard, in Southern N.H. but in the morning I can
    hear birds (coming back up from the South I guess) so Spring feels just
    around the corner.  Its time to start thinking about getting back to
    work on the boat.
    
    My impression of Calif... is either crowds... mudslides if its
    wet, huge fires if its dry, and earthquakes to keep you entertained if
    your not dying of thirst or sliding into the ocean.
    
    Anyway, have fun.
    
    Smile
    
    Jeff

<    Sounds as if you have been in New England.... Boston etc.  You talk
<    like you know this area.

    Moved from the Worcester, Ma area about 2.5 years ago.  Lived there most
    of my previous 40 years.  I'm more familiar with your water, than the
    Calif. water.
    
<    of lakes out West... brown treeless hills surrounding a lake simply
<    festering with boats.  Even in the crowed lakes here you can usually
<    find a spot to get out of the way.... maybe you can't set foot ashore
<    because of the private property but you can tuck the boat in somewhere.

    I have not had to fight the crowds very much.  This time of year there
    are only fishermen out, too cold for most others.  In the summer when the 
    skiers come out, I head to the lakes where there is either a speed limit 
    to weed out the skiers and others who (for no apparent reason) need to go 
    fast.  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against skiers, there's just a 
    lot of them in the summer.  At New Melones, the access ramp and brush is 
    such that where I want to fish there isn't much other boat traffic.  In many
    respects I like the system out here better.  I seldom get out on the water
    that I don't see deer grazing on the surrounding hills.  The ramp fees are
    a little steep by Mass. standards, but it's not outrageous.
    
<    If the lakes here fail there is the ocean... limitless room and no
<    one to bug you if you get out a bit.  But of course the Pacific is
<    available on your end of things.

    Neither the Pacific nor the the Eastern water (atlantic, Naragansett Bay,
    Buzzards Bay etc) are any place for my bass boat...  Just not enough
    freeboard.
    
<    My impression of Calif... is either crowds... mudslides if its
<    wet, huge fires if its dry, and earthquakes to keep you entertained if
<    your not dying of thirst or sliding into the ocean.

    Don't believe everything you read in the papers...  If I want snow I can
    drive to it, I don't have to shovel it or drive home in it.  A standard 
    piece of equipment in an eastern tacklebox is insect repellent. I doubt 
    I've seen 5 mosquitoes in the 2.5 years I've been here, not many flies 
    either.  No matter where you live there are pros and cons.  You pays your
    money and you takes your choice...

Al

    
    	I've witnessed the crowds on California lakes during visits there.
    	I've also seen crowds here in New England (try Weirs beach in July)
    	and I've seen the 'puddles' in Colorado that somebody described.
    	I think that the main thing the crowds prove is the popularity of
    	boating; people are willing to put up with high launch fees, short
    	boating seasons, crowded lakes, etc. etc. simply because boating is
    	so darned much fun. Doesn't matter, east coast or west - people are
    	people and enjoy pretty much the same things.
    
    	What I've seen of California, mostly northern part, I love it.
    	Especially the laid-back lifestyle. 'Course, I'm not a native
    	New Englander either...never could get used to this 'too many rats
    	in a cage' attitude out here.
    	
    	Anyway...I can't wait for ice-out, which will occur on April 26
    	at 7:26 PM.
    
    	John

I ordered the hitch for the new buggy this week. It was a positive step towards
welcoming in Spring. It should arrive around middle of next week. Just in time 
to install it over the weekend.  Shouldn't take long to re-comission the  boat.
Just as long as the shower works I'd be up for a March ski.

I won't bother to clean out the cooler until we're done using it as a foot-bathe
though!  :^)

~jeff

    
    Re KOLFAX::WHITMAN where you at Im in Santa Clara.
    
    There are a lot of nice reservoirs in the Sierra foothills in Northern
    Cal. The ones I goto the most are Don Pedro and Lake Mclure. New
    Melones is a great place when the levels are up , the main reason it is
    so low is Lake Tullock below it. The Modesto Irrigation District has an
    agreement with devlopers that have built expensive home around it.
    Shasta is a wonderful lake and it is so large that you can really get
    away from people. Well its raining now and they are expecting another
    4 feet of snow in the Sierra's over the next couple of days. The
    outlook is getting better!!!!

    Re: 1039.12
    I think you have one too many "a's" in Lake Char___ (Webster Lake) but
    great job anyways!!
    Wayne (who learned how to ski on Lake Char___ but never learned how to
    spell it)
    

<                           -< Picky! Picky! Picky! >-

<    I think you have one too many "a's" in Lake Char___ (Webster Lake) but
<    great job anyways!!

   Very observant!!!, I'm impressed.

   My fat fingers put an extra "a" after the "u"..   Sorry!!!

Al    

    
    
    think ill just cruise down the river do some water skiing this weekend
    
    there should be at least another 10 boats where i launch from (getting 
    
    crowded). 
    
    the waters a bit warm you guys ought to come over.
    
    31 degrees celcius the other day so im not worried about ice damage.
    
    the other reg
    
    just down the yellow brick road
    
    

    
    
    	actualy whilst your all thinking bout spring were staring to think 
    
    about autumn. the race season is ending in 2 months.
    
    no more 30 degree celcius ( 90+ f ) temps.
    
    we officialy stop for 2 months in may. most of us keep
    
    going social skiing though.
    
    the other reg
    

    I heard this morning on the radio, that it's s'pozed to reach
    mid-50's by the end of the week here in MA/Southern NH!
    
    Could this be the light at the end of the tunnel!?
    
    Rick

    
    	Well, it felt quite nice to walk from the truck to the building
    this morning WITHOUT my coat. Of course I don't exactly get here at
    7:00 am either... :-)
    
    	Checked out both the Lowell and Chelmsford Merrimack river
    ramps yesterday.
    
    	Chelmsford could be described as "difficult" at best. It appears
    to have been plowed from the pavement to the ramp at some time during
    the w!nter. The snow/ice that remains is at least 6-8 inches of packed
    stuff. I had to use 4wd to get in and out. Towing a trailer would
    be tough. Launching would be more difficult as the ramp itself has
    it's full winter coat on.
    
    	The Lowell ramp (down river, beside the pavillion) was clear
    for about the first 15-20 feet from the water. The white stuff tapered
    up from there to about an 18 inch snowbank at the top of the ramp. The
    parking lot and the rest of the area is plowed & dry.
    
    	Gee, all the 4x4s owned by boats noters and none that I can think
    of that sports a plow! Guess we all know where our priorities are
    when it comes to four wheel drive! :-)
    
    	What's the magic number, Jeff? 45?
    
    Rick

    The number is 50. 50 is the number that shall be counted. Thou shall not 
    count any number 'cept 50, 'less one is counting towards 50 and not 
    stopping at any number other than 50. Thou shall stop at 50, and ski.
    
    Should one not reach 50, having already counted 45, then 45 shall be
    the number that is counted, and the skiing will begin. Should one not
    reach 45, having already counted 40, then one shall stay in his truck
    and head back north, and wait for the count of 50.
    
    Thou shall pray for sun and 50 degrees on Sunday.
    
    ~jeff
     

    re. a few back.... light at the end of the tunnel.
    
    Rick, I am afraid that is sunlight relecting off snow that your seeing.
    
    But you can keep HOPING its the light of a nice blue lake.
    
    Jeff

    Rick I have a plow :-)  :-)
    
    and its for sale.....
    
    Bruce

    
     Well I picked up a friends boat out by Lake Don Pedro on Sat. We
    dropped it in for a little putt, the lake is filling quickly. It's
    gonna be a good year here in Cal. (about time)

Anyone know the status of ice-out up at Winnipesaukee?  Is there 
*any* open water?

I haven't been up there to check on it, but am still guessing it'll 
be April 30 or May 1.

rick

    
    I was up last Saturday, except for a few holes here and there
    there really was no open water.
                                  
    

    I was up sat also, there were a couple small boats trolling a little
    open water around the center harbor launch.  lake looked slushy. a
    buddy of mine was trolling out of wolfeboro a fair amount of open
    water there i guess.  won't be long now...
    
    lower part of winnisquam had alot of open water, lots of boats trolling
    
    -donmac

    It's posted by DonMac over in the fishing conference that Lake
    Winnie ice-out was offical yesterday afternoon.
    
    Yippee!
    
    Unfortunately, I'm busy all weekend and can't take advantage of
    it. Sigh...
    
    Rick

    Tomorrow,Tomorrow, The sun will come out tomorrow!!!!
    
    Spit shined,oiled,lubed and roaring..UPPER CHEASAPEAKE BAY!!!
    
    1ST Run of the year

    
    Moved by moderator
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              <<< VICKI::SIE$DATA1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]BOATS.NOTE;1 >>>
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Note 1053.0                     Ice out on Winni?                     No replies
YEOLD::IMTPC1::CUMMINGS "Is it live or Recall?"       9 lines  26-APR-1993 16:11
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Has anyone been out on Lake Winni yet?  I heard something on the news
last week (wed?) where they said the ice was out, but I'm not sure if
that was the official ice out or not.

I'm planning on bringing the "Yacht Simulator" up to Alton this weekend,
but probably won't get out for the first time until May 15th, a full 3
weeks later than last year. :-(

Gregg

    I haven't been out yet, but yesterday, the Mount Washington made her
    "shakedown cruise". I'll probably be another 3 weeks. Sigh.
    
    Bill
    

    
    
    I was in Wolfeboro Saturday, and saw several boats being put
    in at the town dock.  It was a bit windy and choppy, but that
    didn't seem to hamper the spirit.  
    
    	Marcia

Well I brought the boat up to Alton yesterday intending to leave
it at the marina to be recommissioned and then head up to the house to
do some chores.  A funny thing happened, the weather was beautiful,
there was barely a ripple on the lake, and the mechanic said the
magic words, "I can have the boat ready to go in an hour".
Needless to say, I didn't get any chores done.  

The wife and I took the maiden voyage over to Wolfboro for lunch and 
found most of the public dock space (out front) out of commission.  
Seems they had some winter damage that they haven't fixed yet.

What a great start to the boating season!  :-)

Gregg