LOTO vs Desert Storm

[Tank]

Okay, a couple of old videos prepared for sponsors. They were in mpeg2 format, so the only way I could get them on here was to shoot video of my monitor.

Footage was from the October 2000 run. The lake was not crowded, and any performance boat was welcome. This was before mandatory PFD and no passenger rules were put in place.

Hey look, there's C-YA and Ms. CYA handing out cards!

I think the boat out front was an Awesome (?), Roger B the motorcycle guy from AZ. Then there was Sorceror, an East coast cat (MTI?) that was loud - it rattled the windows at the Nautical. A "new" Outerlimits was also there, "Wild Thing," owned by another motorcycle guy from Chicago(?) Teague/"Woodie" was there as well as a couple of canopied 40' Advantage's.

Obi "Art" Kanobi, lol

Clearly this was before things got crazy...



View attachment 1044586

Great video! Thanks for posting that. We were there. Sorcerer is a 40’ skater with stupid big home made power like 1800-2k a side. I remember checking it out at the docks at the main marina. Never heard anything sound quite like it and yeah, it rattled the windows on everything!! Some
Boy boats running even in 2000. That was the real start up of things to come.

 

[RiverDave]

There’s a lot of interesting suggestions in the thread.. I will just say most have been considered but there’s always a reason why they wouldn’t or couldn’t do it..

for example someone mentioned taking the fleet to pirates and rent it out. You can’t technically have an event that traverses the refuge.

moving the shoot out to the springs.. I’m not sure how many have actually launched a boat out of their or trailered in there but the reality of it is most the bug boats wouldn’t fit…. And it would only take a couple to fill up the entire parking lot. Good luck turning them around.

more to the point near the pump station and north there is a constant crazy cross breeze right there that would make it extremely dangerous for a shoot out. Even on calm nights the wind is ripping through there..


That’s not to say there aren’t ways of doing things different or even better.. I am just saying some of the more obvious ideas aren’t done for reasons..

 

[hallett21]

There’s a lot of interesting suggestions in the thread.. I will just say most have been considered but there’s always a reason why they wouldn’t or couldn’t do it..

for example someone mentioned taking the fleet to pirates and rent it out. You can’t technically have an event that traverses the refuge.

moving the shoot out to the springs.. I’m not sure how many have actually launched a boat out of their or trailered in there but the reality of it is most the bug boats wouldn’t fit…. And it would only take a couple to fill up the entire parking lot. Good luck turning them around.

more to the point near the pump station and north there is a constant crazy cross breeze right there that would make it extremely dangerous for a shoot out. Even on calm nights the wind is ripping through there..


That’s not to say there aren’t ways of doing things different or even better.. I am just saying some of the more obvious ideas aren’t done for reasons..

If you did the springs the big boys are launching and cruising over lol. No way they are launching efficiently at the springs.

And what?! You can’t cross the refuge for an event? But 4th of July is all good for 10,000 of us to head up?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[golakers]

my point of my photo is that there is a massive amount of properties “on the water”. With that brings a massive amount of boats. The size of LOTO and amount of property on the lake brings a huge crowd. You don’t even need to go to shootout to see million dollar boats all day long. All of the bars and restaurants have live coverage of the shootout at the pools and inside.

 

[Bowtiepower00]

I love boat racing- offshore, shootouts, poker runs, you name it. I feel there are multiple factors at play here, that have contributed to the slowdown in participation. I don’t have the means to participate, but I have been watching from the sidelines for years.

You can’t compare the enthusiasm in a place like havasu- where you can run year round- to a place like LOTO- where you have 3-4 good months of weather. People in the Midwest LET LOOSE during the summer.

The biggest issue in my eyes is safety. The boats have become too fast, and borderline unsafe to run wide open under most (busy) conditions. There were a couple of years when guys were dying several times a summer during poker runs and shootouts. The Nashville Cats incident, then the Smith power incident and Fiore incident were the death blows to the scene, IMO. Everyone wants to go fast and have fun. Nobody wants to see people killed in accidents. The powerboat community is a very small group of people and the incidents hit way too close to home.

I really enjoy the shootouts, and I really enjoy watching all of the boats, even the small ones. It takes a lot of work to get a 25’ Vee to 100 on a shootout course, and I appreciate the effort. I even enjoy watching the toons. Anyone willing to put in the time, money, and effort, I’m cool with it.

Let’s be honest- nobody is going to beat Spirit of Qatar at 244, so it’s a battle of the piston boats for now. I enjoy watching American Ethenol and the Predator boats run, 180, 200, whatever the number- I commend the effort.

I think DS might stand a better chance if they rescheduled earlier in the year- Maybe March, IDK. The weather in AZ would allow decent weather earlier in the year before the poker run/ shootout schedule gets busy. Just speculation on my part.

 

[C-2]

Second clip (partial)

2005 - much different than year 2000 for sure.

Check out Marv in his Gyro-Copter...

 

[C-2]

I think DS might stand a better chance if they rescheduled earlier in the year- Maybe March, IDK. The weather in AZ would allow decent weather earlier in the year before the poker run/ shootout schedule gets busy. Just speculation on my part.

Maybe.

The run was scheduled on the last weekend in April because back in the day, the Nautical was booked the remainder of the season with boat regattas.

That said, as you see in the first video in year 2000, until DS rolled into town, the weekend of April 28 was just another sleepy weekend with a few bass fisherman and sail boats on the lake. And DS made a name for itself without the help of the City. Despite a marketing study by NAU that demonstrated DS weekend was the most lucrative weekend for the City - they didn't get onboard until 2005. DS fills the City with people spending ungodly amounts of cash, in contrast to holiday weekends where kids live on Old Schaefer beer and Del Taco, and fit 10 to a room.

DS jump-started the summer season by a full month, and the City should give Jim and Jimmy a key to the city.

By year 2005, spectator traffic on the lake was crazy busy, so the poker run itself was moved to Friday. but that didn't work, either.

The USCG cannot close the lake for the event. It was pondered by them for a brief period, but they concluded it wouldn't be fair to the fishing tournaments, PWC races, sailing events etc.

Havasu will never be the same as LOTO. I heard developing shoreline anything on Havi makes dealing with the Calif Coastal Commission look like a walk in the park. You have the Army Corps, Mohave County, San Berdo County, States of AZ and CA and the Indians, decades-long Federal concessionaire contracts, Federal and State wildlife areas...aye aye aye.

Anyhow, I'm no longer part of the run and should keep my trap shut. Enjoy!

 

[Bowtiepower00]

Maybe.

The run was scheduled on the last weekend in April because back in the day, the Nautical was booked the remainder of the season with boat regattas.

That said, as you see in the first video in year 2000, until DS rolled into town, the weekend of April 28 was just another sleepy weekend with a few bass fisherman and sail boats on the lake. And DS made a name for itself without the help of the City. Despite a marketing study by NAU that demonstrated DS weekend was the most lucrative weekend for the City - they didn't get onboard until 2005. DS fills the City with people spending ungodly amounts of cash, in contrast to holiday weekends where kids live on Old Schaefer beer and Del Taco, and fit 10 to a room.

DS jump-started the summer season by a full month, and the City should give Jim and Jimmy a key to the city.

By year 2005, spectator traffic on the lake was crazy busy, so the poker run itself was moved to Friday. but that didn't work, either.

The USCG cannot close the lake for the event. It was pondered by them for a brief period, but they concluded it wouldn't be fair to the fishing tournaments, PWC races, sailing events etc.

Havasu will never be the same as LOTO. I heard developing shoreline anything on Havi makes dealing with the Calif Coastal Commission look like a walk in the park. You have the Army Corps, Mohave County, San Berdo County, States of AZ and CA and the Indians, decades-long Federal concessionaire contracts, Federal and State wildlife areas...aye aye aye.

Anyhow, I'm no longer part of the run and should keep my trap shut. Enjoy!

I haven’t been to DS, other than a yearly online spectator, so my opinion is nada. But moving it to a earlier date with less lake traffic could only be a win for the guys wanting to run hard in the PR and shootout, IMO, and lessen the effect of the big guns deciding to hold out for other events later in the year.

This is my opinion, and could likely be completely wrong.

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

Correct me if I’m wrong but “poker runs” were always an unsanctioned race for lack of better term. The moment the insurance companies caught on its not the same.

Lunch runs or bar hoping runs would be more fun. Leave at 10 am from X big boys out front [emoji6][emoji41].

But even if you didn’t do that. 9am breakfast run to the springs, 12pm lunch run to @Tank ‘s private pirates event, 5pm dinner/cocktail hour at London Bridge Hotel.

Spectators get to see the whole fleet move at 3 different times. Could be cool.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Any time you have a organized event with a shared schedule the permit process becomes a requirement as does the need for insurance in order to get the permits. I organized an annual breakfast run before e eliminator regattas. Lots of fun, then one day I got a call from the coast guard about permits because I had posted the schedule, times, starting point, etc. I called it a day at that point.

 

[Duramax]

Maybe.

The run was scheduled on the last weekend in April because back in the day, the Nautical was booked the remainder of the season with boat regattas.

That said, as you see in the first video in year 2000, until DS rolled into town, the weekend of April 28 was just another sleepy weekend with a few bass fisherman and sail boats on the lake. And DS made a name for itself without the help of the City. Despite a marketing study by NAU that demonstrated DS weekend was the most lucrative weekend for the City - they didn't get onboard until 2005. DS fills the City with people spending ungodly amounts of cash, in contrast to holiday weekends where kids live on Old Schaefer beer and Del Taco, and fit 10 to a room.

DS jump-started the summer season by a full month, and the City should give Jim and Jimmy a key to the city.

By year 2005, spectator traffic on the lake was crazy busy, so the poker run itself was moved to Friday. but that didn't work, either.

The USCG cannot close the lake for the event. It was pondered by them for a brief period, but they concluded it wouldn't be fair to the fishing tournaments, PWC races, sailing events etc.

Havasu will never be the same as LOTO. I heard developing shoreline anything on Havi makes dealing with the Calif Coastal Commission look like a walk in the park. You have the Army Corps, Mohave County, San Berdo County, States of AZ and CA and the Indians, decades-long Federal concessionaire contracts, Federal and State wildlife areas...aye aye aye.

Anyhow, I'm no longer part of the run and should keep my trap shut. Enjoy!

Great info! I remember when the Jet Ski World Finals was the weekend everybody, even non lake people, knew about. Then DS took over. Great seeing all the old boats.

 

[gqchris]

Love everyone suggestions.

I agree with so many said above. The actual Card Stop thing is not needed and pain in ass.

Does anyone notice that as we get older, we stray away from big events now? The whole "River Whips" event type stuff is not my cup of tea. Its pretty lame in my book. Thats how I feel DS has become.

We need to bring some underground, OPC6 type stuff back. Where only close friends know each other and you gotta know the secret handshake to get in. Thats how I met everyone here from small, personal gatherings. Keeps the assholes and clowns away as well!

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

Love everyone suggestions.

I agree with so many said above. The actual Card Stop thing is not needed and pain in ass.

Does anyone notice that as we get older, we stray away from big events now? The whole "River Whips" event type stuff is not my cup of tea. Its pretty lame in my book. Thats how I feel DS has become.

We need to bring some underground, OPC6 type stuff back. Where only close friends know each other and you gotta know the secret handshake to get in. Thats how I met everyone here from small, personal gatherings. Keeps the assholes and clowns away as well!

Yup, as I get older my preference is to do things for fun is with as few people as possible to have a good time. Call me an old fuck, dont care, done with crowds and fucksticks that I have no idea who they are, well other than Sturgis, thats different

 

[Tank]

Yup, as I get older my preference is to do things for fun is with as few people as possible to have a good time. Call me an old fuck, dont care, done with crowds and fucksticks that I have no idea who they are, well other than Sturgis, thats different

I commented on this topic on another thread but I was blown away at how busy / crowded / cluster fucked the lake was during DS was this year. I told the wife, if it's like this next year, I'm done. However, It was still in the middle of COVID craze and no school sports, no school, work at home, Govt. assistance checks doled out, etc. So, I'm hoping it wont be "as crazy" as it was last year. We were there for SCFW the weekend before as well and that weekend was actually decent. Still crowded but not stupid crowded. I've never seen the lake more crowded in 25 years of boating that as it was Friday and Saturday of DS. It was unsafely crowded.

 

[DWC]

I’ve only been to a handful of Desert Storm events. Still get pumped up the weeks heading into the event. Here are my ramblings:
- Street Fair: Highlight of the trip IMO. Love the hardware. The food/drink area needs to be just food/drink. The lines are just stupid. There have to be businesses that would set up stock tanks full of beer and a grill to make some cash. I could care less if the manufacturers are together. Would like to see more specs on boats when you’re checking them out. Would also like to see more of the boats registered in DS. (Not just the big boys)
- Cruising for Kids/Charity overall: Needs to be and should be a bigger portion. Cruising should be Friday when everyone gets out there and not Wednesday when everyone is working. You could do a knock down Poker Run as part of it. The HS football golf tournaments have more money raised in auctions, silent auctions and local deals with a small fraction of the cash in town for DS.
- Poker Run: I enjoy the run and the card stops. It’s fun to see the different boats on the water. Love a good 100mph fly by. They can’t shut the lake down all day but why not from 8am to 10am and let the big dogs eat?
- Shootout: Flexibility in the schedule is needed to account for crappy weather. Better communication with the boats running and the crowds should be a no brainer in 2021. It’s non existent. Group the boats by class so everyone knows what’s coming up. A broadcast, podcast or even Twitter feed should be pretty damn easy.

 

[RiverDave]

If you did the springs the big boys are launching and cruising over lol. No way they are launching efficiently at the springs.

And what?! You can’t cross the refuge for an event? But 4th of July is all good for 10,000 of us to head up?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Basically yes.. You can't even film or take pics in the refuge for a commercial purpose without a permit.

There is a ton of things that go into putting on a full scale (legit) event.


Something nobody is really talking about is all these smaller "non legit" events that have been happening lately. Seems like everyone with a Facebook group is now putting on "regattas". What they really entail isn't much.. No real entry fee's, just kind of a show up and run to Pirates where they have designated parking and some banners hung.

Nobody has given these things any real thought of what is going to happen at some point. First "meeting here" and "ending here" the coast guard is gonna get involved with that at some point. No permits, no insurance, no travel plan, no safety boats, no driver meeting.. and the kicker running through the refuge. Those are just off the top of my head.

At some point some kid gets hurt on a propeller or an outdrive, and the people putting these events on are going to have a real world look at life from the deposition stand... and if you are being deposed you better make god damn sure your ducks are in a row, because that fun little "meet up" is gonna cost you everything and then some.

There are some ways around that by just saying "we are all meeting here" but even then it's better to do it right than the way these things are being done. We have sponsored a few of them, but I even wonder about that because in most cases they sue the sponsors as well.

RD

 

[Bpracing1127]

Basically yes.. You can't even film or take pics in the refuge for a commercial purpose without a permit.

There is a ton of things that go into putting on a full scale (legit) event.


Something nobody is really talking about is all these smaller "non legit" events that have been happening lately. Seems like everyone with a Facebook group is now putting on "regattas". What they really entail isn't much.. No real entry fee's, just kind of a show up and run to Pirates where they have designated parking and some banners hung.

Nobody has given these things any real thought of what is going to happen at some point. First "meeting here" and "ending here" the coast guard is gonna get involved with that at some point. No permits, no insurance, no travel plan, no safety boats, no driver meeting.. and the kicker running through the refuge. Those are just off the top of my head.

At some point some kid gets hurt on a propeller or an outdrive, and the people putting these events on are going to have a real world look at life from the deposition stand... and if you are being deposed you better make god damn sure your ducks are in a row, because that fun little "meet up" is gonna cost you everything and then some.

There are some ways around that by just saying "we are all meeting here" but even then it's better to do it right than the way these things are being done. We have sponsored a few of them, but I even wonder about that because in most cases they sue the sponsors as well.

RD

Dude, when did you become such a Karen. You used to not give a fuck. Now look at ya

 

[hallett21]

Dude, when did you become such a Karen. You used to not give a fuck. Now look at ya

Making money tends to make you want to protect it lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RiverDave]

Dude, when did you become such a Karen. You used to not give a fuck. Now look at ya

I have never (ever) put on an on the water event that wasn’t 100% legit.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I have never (ever) put on an on the water event that wasn’t 100% legit.

Does this include or not include having several single women on your boat?

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Dude, when did you become such a Karen. You used to not give a fuck. Now look at ya

Welcome to LDP - Liability Dave's Place.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I commented on this topic on another thread but I was blown away at how busy / crowded / cluster fucked the lake was during DS was this year. I told the wife, if it's like this next year, I'm done. However, It was still in the middle of COVID craze and no school sports, no school, work at home, Govt. assistance checks doled out, etc. So, I'm hoping it wont be "as crazy" as it was last year. We were there for SCFW the weekend before as well and that weekend was actually decent. Still crowded but not stupid crowded. I've never seen the lake more crowded in 25 years of boating that as it was Friday and Saturday of DS. It was unsafely crowded.

No Tank, this is unsafely crowded.

I don't mean this disrespectfully, but if people think Havasu is less safe now than it was 25 years ago, they are high, or it is because they were the problem 25 years ago.

 

[hallett21]

No Tank, this is unsafely crowded.

Bring back the OG sandbar!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Bring back the OG sandbar!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm surprised no one has mowed down those reeds yet.

 

[mbrown2]

Dude, when did you become such a Karen. You used to not give a fuck. Now look at ya

Exactly....one of the founding members of OP6C is King Karen now! .... RKP's....

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

I commented on this topic on another thread but I was blown away at how busy / crowded / cluster fucked the lake was during DS was this year. I told the wife, if it's like this next year, I'm done. However, It was still in the middle of COVID craze and no school sports, no school, work at home, Govt. assistance checks doled out, etc. So, I'm hoping it wont be "as crazy" as it was last year. We were there for SCFW the weekend before as well and that weekend was actually decent. Still crowded but not stupid crowded. I've never seen the lake more crowded in 25 years of boating that as it was Friday and Saturday of DS. It was unsafely crowded.

its considerably better, I think we should be good for the start of boating season after this weekend, mid week has dropped off a ton. Last year sucked year round.

 

[mbrown2]

I have never (ever) put on an on the water event that wasn’t 100% legit.

Did OP6C have permits, drivers meeting w/Coast Guard or Insurance? I just remember Jello Shots, Coolers as trophy's and plaques!..... oh and good times!

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

its considerably better, I think we should be good for the start of boating season after this weekend, mid week has dropped off a ton. Last year sucked year round.

Agreed. Last weekend was awesome, it was like a pre covid, pre holiday weekend. Got to 3 dunes at 10AM on Sat and there were 4 boats and I saved half the beach for 2 hours. Sunday was very light.


Will be interesting to see what happens this weekend. Heading out Friday afternoon.

 

[hallett21]

I'm surprised no one has mowed down those reeds yet.

Every time I start my 4th beer the wheels start turning lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

Basically yes.. You can't even film or take pics in the refuge for a commercial purpose without a permit.

There is a ton of things that go into putting on a full scale (legit) event.


Something nobody is really talking about is all these smaller "non legit" events that have been happening lately. Seems like everyone with a Facebook group is now putting on "regattas". What they really entail isn't much.. No real entry fee's, just kind of a show up and run to Pirates where they have designated parking and some banners hung.

Nobody has given these things any real thought of what is going to happen at some point. First "meeting here" and "ending here" the coast guard is gonna get involved with that at some point. No permits, no insurance, no travel plan, no safety boats, no driver meeting.. and the kicker running through the refuge. Those are just off the top of my head.

At some point some kid gets hurt on a propeller or an outdrive, and the people putting these events on are going to have a real world look at life from the deposition stand... and if you are being deposed you better make god damn sure your ducks are in a row, because that fun little "meet up" is gonna cost you everything and then some.

There are some ways around that by just saying "we are all meeting here" but even then it's better to do it right than the way these things are being done. We have sponsored a few of them, but I even wonder about that because in most cases they sue the sponsors as well.

RD

That was my scenario organizing the Friday breakfast run for Eliminator, it grew and grew each year, the liability on me and my company started making me nervous since it was becoming an event. Coast Guard got word of it, contacted me and I was done at that point.

 

[RiverDave]

Did OP6C have permits, drivers meeting w/Coast Guard or Insurance? I just remember Jello Shots, Coolers as trophy's and plaques!..... oh and good times!

The first OP6C was a party that was hosted on the back patio of my house.. LOL.

Other than that they were put on by various people moving forward. I had involvement in one of the last ones that was in Lake Havasu. That was the one where Billy Burger was en route and the Coast Guard stopped them and said flat "you aren't going there." I just got there and a CG boat pulled up and said "We are looking for RiverDave, do you know who he is?" I responded with "Actually I do! You just missed him he was here earlier, but just got into a conquest deckboat and headed that way".

On Monday I got a phone call from the CG and the guy said "We know..." I said you know what? Needless to say it was a pretty short & stern conversation on their part, and they basically told me that shit ends today.

It was after that conversation that I stopped any on the water stuff. I was only one of the guys that was putting on that "meet up". (Note way different than start at point A and end at point B). . I did do some other stuff like "Weekend De Drinkin" which was solely hosted at the Nautical. .

RD

 

[RiverDave]

Did OP6C have permits, drivers meeting w/Coast Guard or Insurance? I just remember Jello Shots, Coolers as trophy's and plaques!..... oh and good times!

See above.. but to the point those were meet ups.. Not driving meeting at spot A, and heading to spot B like most of these things are doing.. There was no parades through the channel etc.

If we were gonna make the argument, I'd make it for the Trump Parades myself and others put on during Memorial Day and Laborday of last year. In both of those scenarios I did in fact talk to the CG and local Law Enforcement. It wasn't permitted or insured, and I'm not gonna publicly say there was a blessing.. but it's hard to argue in that circumstance why I'd need a permit here, when it was happening all over the country without permits.. and there was conversations had behind the scenes to insure the safety and integrity of the event.

Since we are talking about behind the scenes talks and things that you wouldn't think of being discussed actually being discussed.. the possibility of some whacko leftist coming into the channel with a fire arm during the Trump Parade.. Or BLM showing up for whatever reason / Antifa etc.. Those things were discussed. It was one of the main reasons why the Labor Day one went around the island instead of through the channel.

There's always reasons as to why people do things a certain way, and it isn't as simple as "Well just do this."

RD

 

[Tank]

No Tank, this is unsafely crowded.

I don't mean this disrespectfully, but if people think Havasu is less safe now than it was 25 years ago, they are high, or it is because they were the problem 25 years ago.

I'm in that bottom pic of the sandbar. And the last time Copper Canyon was like that was like 98 / 99 before they put the bouys up and I was there as well.

The pics look stupid crowded, however the difference was, those pics show pretty much 65% of the boats on the lake / river at that time. Poeple all went to copper canyon or all went to the sandbar. The rest of the lake and river were virtually empty. Even (gasp) the channel! LOL

The overall boating on the lake was way safer. You could leave those areas and find deserted lake anytime. But you are right, not the safest places to be to boat at those times. But during DS on Friday and Sat. you couldn't find a non crowded spot on the lake / river from the springs to pirates. We ran it both days and it was like the fuckin' 405 on a sunday afternoon holiday weekend the whole way.

I do miss the sandbar though. I will say. LOL

 

[DWC]

Agreed. Last weekend was awesome, it was like a pre covid, pre holiday weekend. Got to 3 dunes at 10AM on Sat and there were 4 boats and I saved half the beach for 2 hours. Sunday was very light.


Will be interesting to see what happens this weekend. Heading out Friday afternoon.

You did a fine job sir. Appreciate the help.
The lake was as quiet as I’ve seen in a long time. Most parking at Windsor on a weekend I’ve seen in a long time.

 

[Tank]

The first OP6C was a party that was hosted on the back patio of my house.. LOL.

Other than that they were put on by various people moving forward. I had involvement in one of the last ones that was in Lake Havasu. That was the one where Billy Burger was en route and the Coast Guard stopped them and said flat "you aren't going there." I just got there and a CG boat pulled up and said "We are looking for RiverDave, do you know who he is?" I responded with "Actually I do! You just missed him he was here earlier, but just got into a conquest deckboat and headed that way".

On Monday I got a phone call from the CG and the guy said "We know..." I said you know what? Needless to say it was a pretty short & stern conversation on their part, and they basically told me that shit ends today.

It was after that conversation that I stopped any on the water stuff. I was only one of the guys that was putting on that "meet up". (Note way different than start at point A and end at point B). . I did do some other stuff like "Weekend De Drinkin" which was solely hosted at the Nautical. .

RD

Then there was this one time a houseboat anchored in the shootout course..........

 

[RiverDave]

Then there was this one time a houseboat anchored in the shootout course..........

As we were told too by one of the patrol boats.. "Hey Dave we got this big spot saved for you up the course!" I was like... "You sure this is a good idea?" We were about half way up the course when that big spot started getting smaller, and ultimately vanished in about 2 minutes.. Then turning that god damn thing around etc..

Someone told the cops that we hit a bunch of boats and kept driving.. When the cops told me that I started laughing and asked "Well if we hit them where are they at? Don't you think they'd follow us off the course to at least exchange information?"

That whole deal was shitty and embarrassing.. Although I will say it's nice to have the record on the largest LEO tie up in Lake Havasu history.. virtually every single LEO boat and CG boat was tied up to the house boat when we got back to Thompson Bay.. .

They were all real nice guys about it and totally understood the mixup and what happened.

RD

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I'm in that bottom pic of the sandbar. And the last time Copper Canyon was like that was like 98 / 99 before they put the bouys up and I was there as well.

The pics look stupid crowded, however the difference was, those pics show pretty much 65% of the boats on the lake / river at that time. Poeple all went to copper canyon or all went to the sandbar. The rest of the lake and river were virtually empty. Even (gasp) the channel! LOL

The overall boating on the lake was way safer. You could leave those areas and find deserted lake anytime. But you are right, not the safest places to be to boat at those times. But during DS on Friday and Sat. you couldn't find a non crowded spot on the lake / river from the springs to pirates. We ran it both days and it was like the fuckin' 405 on a sunday afternoon holiday weekend the whole way.

I do miss the sandbar though. I will say. LOL

Unfortunately I was not there this DS weekend, but I get it. I would agree that finding open boating was a little easier back then, but there was still a lot of traffic to and from those popular spots.

I'd argue you can still find quiet places even today if you think out of the box and know where to look. If you and your friends are willing to throw an anchor out In 3 foot deep water, There are probably a dozen nooks and coves I can think of to float and hang out all day long that are empty even on holidays.

But yea if you want to sleep in and wander to your favorite spot in the channel at 11AM on a Saturday, its not happening anymore.

 

[Tank]

As we were told too by one of the patrol boats.. "Hey Dave we got this big spot saved for you up the course!" I was like... "You sure this is a good idea?" We were about half way up the course when that big spot started getting smaller, and ultimately vanished in about 2 minutes.. Then turning that god damn thing around etc..

Someone told the cops that we hit a bunch of boats and kept driving.. When the cops told me that I started laughing and asked "Well if we hit them where are they at? Don't you think they'd follow us off the course to at least exchange information?"

That whole deal was shitty and embarrassing.. Although I will say it's nice to have the record on the largest LEO tie up in Lake Havasu history.. virtually every single LEO boat and CG boat was tied up to the house boat when we got back to Thompson Bay.. .

They were all real nice guys about it and totally understood the mixup and what happened.

RD

Yeah, that was operation overkill at it's finest on the LE part. Great shot of them all tied up though. You ever get that blown up for the garage?

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

You did a fine job sir. Appreciate the help.
The lake was as quiet as I’ve seen in a long time. Most parking at Windsor on a weekend I’ve seen in a long time.
View attachment 1044832

No problem. It was a awesome day all around. And thank you a Steph again for the day care services.

 

[Tank]

Unfortunately I was not there this DS weekend, but I get it. I would agree that finding open boating was a little easier back then. I'd argue you can still find quiet places even today if you think out of the box and know where to look. If you and your friends are willing to throw an anchor out In 3 foot deep water, There are probably a dozen nooks and coves I can think of to float and hang out all day long that are empty even on holidays.

But yea if you want to sleep in and wander to your favorite spot in the channel at 11AM on a Saturday, its not happening anymore.

You are right. There's ALWAYS somewhere to find that you can be solo. Shit, after the poker run boats had made it to the first stop, we actually did just what you said and threw an anchor in the bay just north of whipple bay, across and down from Steamboat. Sat and watched the boats go back and forth. Helicopters etc. Saw a DCB running with a helicopter n/b haulin' ass! and came a cunt hair from stuffing. Hit a roller went bow up because he was trimmed out, came down tripped and stuffed slightly, motor hitting rev limiter and all. We were all like, "OH SHIT!!!" It was CLOSE.

 

[RiverDave]

Yeah, that was operation overkill at it's finest on the LE part. Great shot of them all tied up though. You ever get that blown up for the garage?

LOL... No but I probably should now that you mention it.

RD

 

[mbrown2]

I just got there and a CG boat pulled up and said "We are looking for RiverDave, do you know who he is?" I responded with "Actually I do! You just missed him he was here earlier, but just got into a conquest deckboat and headed that way".

On Monday I got a phone call from the CG and the guy said "We know..." I said you know what? Needless to say it was a pretty short & stern conversation on their part, and they basically told me that shit ends today.

Never heard that story before....hilarious!

 

[RiverDave]

Never heard that story before....hilarious!

I was surprised that they were able to attain my cell phone # at the time.

A few years back in Miami I was hanging out with some partier types in Miami. One of them was taking a water taxi back across Biscayne Bay.. He saw some friends on an MTI center console and being the drunk guy he is... he jumped over board and swam to the MTI. LOL.

The next morning the Coast Guard called him on his cell phone to discuss the incident.. Again I dunno how they got the number? But somehow they tracked his ass down the next morning. LOL. The amazing thing is my buddy actually called them back! I woulda let that one sit until I got back to AZ if it was me..

RD

 

[H20 Toie]

I was surprised that they were able to attain my cell phone # at the time.

A few years back in Miami I was hanging out with some partier types in Miami. One of them was taking a water taxi back across Biscayne Bay.. He saw some friends on an MTI center console and being the drunk guy he is... he jumped over board and swam to the MTI. LOL.

The next morning the Coast Guard called him on his cell phone to discuss the incident.. Again I dunno how they got the number? But somehow they tracked his ass down the next morning. LOL. The amazing thing is my buddy actually called them back! I woulda let that one sit until I got back to AZ if it was me..

RD

yeah i would like to go on the record saying that i was no where around on that trip

 

[454Rocket]

I have never (ever) put on an on the water event that wasn’t 100% legit.

Weekend De Drinkin' was legit... I'm sure the insurance company was briefed on the pickup bed ice chest and 24/7 coolers on the beach [emoji16] That's what we all miss!

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk