Pirates cove to Laughlin

[RIVERBORN]

I know it’s been talked about before.So either send me in the right direction or let me know, how is it from pirates cove up to Laughlin. Be in a 29 wizard.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Your all good till about 1/4 mile past the Needles bridge (95). After the bridge, you need to read the water if the water is low. There are rock bars, sand bars, and further up there is a pipe line

 

[traquer]

That's the wrong boat for that journey, especially if you have to ask.

 

[RIVERBORN]

Gotcha. Doesn’t sound worth the trip.

 

[RIVERBORN]

Yea I figured it wasn’t the best boat for sure. But we have another couple asking about taking the trip. I said ehhhh..... they have a pontoon.

 

[fmo24]

As said past the bridge gets gnarly if you are not familiar with area. We went up in a 27 advantage. Bottom is sketchy not to far up past bridge. Ended up floating with drive up over a couple of rock piles

 

[Tank]

I run the Cig up to the Needles bridge no problem. THere's one sand bar up river from Pirates you have to stay on the AZ side for but other than that, open. Once you get past the needles bridge it looks SKETCHY AS SHIT!! Been up that way on a sea doo and I'm like, no way in hell would I bring an in/out boat up here. People do it but they know the river up there well. Not me.

 

[Reaper1]

Way Sketchy! Stay away.

 

[Tooned Up]

I’ve done it multiple times years ago with multiple boats without issue.

Years ago = more balls and less wisdom

It’s up to you to decide what you have more of.

 

[RIVERBORN]

Well. All I needed to know. Grew up in bullhead on a day cruiser. But that was late 80s. I’m sure my dad knew the river, I do not. And def a different boat then a day cruiser. Appreciate the advice.

 

[SoCalZero]

You will need all the wizardry that boat has to offer to dodge all the damn jet skis if you make it to the casinos.

Might wanna check this before if you do decide to go.

https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/DavisParkerSchedules.pdf

 

[hallett21]

It’s awful [emoji6]

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[185EZ]

^^^ Current is strong up there
4000 rpm and you're not moving lol

 

[Demoman]

I run the toon up to the dam a few times a year. The water needs to be way up for me to feel comfortable making that run. Typically only a spring time adventure

 

[Bigbore500r]

I run the Cig up to the Needles bridge no problem. THere's one sand bar up river from Pirates you have to stay on the AZ side for but other than that, open. Once you get past the needles bridge it looks SKETCHY AS SHIT!! Been up that way on a sea doo and I'm like, no way in hell would I bring an in/out boat up here. People do it but they know the river up there well. Not me.

But then you watch these fockers run down from Willow valley, and it makes you feel like a bitch!

 

[rivermobster]

^^^ Current is strong up there
4000 rpm and you're not moving lol

You also don't see anyone IN the water up there. It's freezing balls! Lol

 

[Bigbore500r]

You also don't see anyone IN the water up there. It's freezing balls! Lol

Shrinkage eh?

 

[rivermobster]

Shrinkage eh?

I never went that far in...

 

[RogerThat99]

I rode from Havasu to Laughlin and back with Bullhead Bully and War Canoe in his 28 Nordic. BB said that there was plenty of water that day, but there was still a lot of maneuvering the river. BB knows the path by heart. Sometimes we were running tight against one shore, sometimes crossing the river at a 45* angle, and other times at a 90* angle. He was explaining the whole thing to me in the headsets. It was a bad ass trip.

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[AZLineman]

Somewhere around 91/92 I had a 24’ liberator offshore with a SCJ460/cobra od and my buddy and I left the channel and made it to the Davis dam in 2hr43min. I forget where we got fuel somewhere north of needles quite a ways but the fuel consumption was crazy running hard against that current. 2 tanks up, one back. I had just put a new ballistic prop on it for that trip for those of you who remember those and it worked great on that boat and I never so much as put a scratch on it that whole run up and back. Quite a few years later I took my 24 outlaw that was set up for the Pacific offshore series and I ran it up to Avi. No issues and both 24’s were deep ass hulls but there are def obstacles and you need a coup sets of focused eyes if running hard. That would be an expensive trip right now with fuel prices

 

[78Southwind]

Anyone still have the video of Bling Bling (something like that) in his Nortech doing 140+ MPH under the AVI bridge during the Classic Boat Beach Bash?

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[Paradox]

I once did Laughlin to Havasu Springs and back with a couple of friends in a rental Yamaha jet boat. At one point (North of the Avi) it was clear we’d be in serious trouble if we came off plane. The water had to have been less than 2 feet deep.

 

[dspracing]

I did this run twice before I knew anything about water levels and release schedules. Its pretty easy as long as you pay attention to where you are going. Watch the water and the other boats, its no big deal.

 

[RCDave]

Its all a matter of experience. I've run this section of river for years. Never hit anything... Many years running a 25' Shockwave Tremor. Mostly out of Willow Valley.

 

[nowski]

We spent many summers boating between Big Bend and Needles in our Ski Centurion. IMO best water on the river for skiing or boarding approx 3 - 4 miles north of AVI, and yes it can be shallow in many areas. Good sunglasses, reading the river and favor the Arizona shoreline...

 

[RCDave]

We spent many summers boating between Big Bend and Needles in our Ski Centurion. IMO best water on the river for skiing or boarding approx 3 - 4 miles north of AVI, and yes it can be shallow in many areas. Good sunglasses, reading the river and favor the Arizona shoreline...

I remember, in my peak waterskiing days, ripping up the water in that section. It was before the Avi was constructed. Just incredible back then

 

[nowski]

I remember, in my peak waterskiing days, ripping up the water in that section. It was before the Avi was constructed. Just incredible back then

We started boating in that area in the mid 80's, best kept secret before AVI and the lake lice infestation...

BTW if you saw anyone surfing or parasailing the river back in the 80's or 90's that was our mob...

 

[RCDave]

We started boating in that area in the mid 80's, best kept secret before AVI and the lake lice infestation...

I bet we crossed tracks back then.

 

[nowski]

I bet we crossed tracks back then.

Lots of great memories and stories from Big Bend to Topock that only the adventurous would believe...

 

[Desert Whaler]

I'd love to follow someone through that area . . . I know, 'takes the fun out of it'.
Heard there are some big-ass Striped Bass on some of those rock/gravel bars.
My boat runs super skinny, but fuck me, I smacked a rock just idling once down near Yuma, bent the prop to shit, and the prop shaft, fucking nightmare.
I guess it's good that it's sketchy up there. . . keeps the crowds down.

 

[02HoWaRd26]

When do you wanna go I’ll take you. As long as the river is a 4/2 or better you’re fine. (4 at Davis and 2 at Parker)

 

[hallett21]

I'd love to follow someone through that area . . . I know, 'takes the fun out of it'.
Heard there are some big-ass Striped Bass on some of those rock/gravel bars.
My boat runs super skinny, but fuck me, I smacked a rock just idling once down near Yuma, bent the prop to shit, and the prop shaft, fucking nightmare.
I guess it's good that it's sketchy up there. . . keeps the crowds down.

Rule #1 don’t let off the throttle unless your damn sure you’re in deep water lol


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[Desert Whaler]

Rule #1 don’t let off the throttle unless your damn sure you’re in deep water lol


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Fuck me, that's exactly what happened . . . it was years ago, I was trying to be polite and came off plane in a narrow stretch of the river so as to not buzz right by some people. And I hit the ONLY f-ing rock for MILES around that place . . . I couldn't find it now if you paid me. It's somewhere around Picacho. I was so pissed, the chick I was with was like 'Jeez Calm Down'.

 

[Desert Whaler]

When do you wanna go I’ll take you. As long as the river is a 4/2 or better you’re fine. (4 at Davis and 2 at Parker)

Rad . . . I'd definitely like to take you up on that some time, & would spring for your gas.

 

[RiverDave]

I rode from Havasu to Laughlin and back with Bullhead Bully and War Canoe in his 28 Nordic. BB said that there was plenty of water that day, but there was still a lot of maneuvering the river. BB knows the path by heart. Sometimes we were running tight against one shore, sometimes crossing the river at a 45* angle, and other times at a 90* angle. He was explaining the whole thing to me in the headsets. It was a bad ass trip.

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One of my favorite things I have done was that trip with @Bullhead bully

 

[Marios Metalworks]

I bailed no too far past the bridge last year. Not sure if it was the strange looks from the bass or the finger pointing from those hanging out on shore that got to me

Had never gone north from pirates before. Going to make another attempt this year!

 

[Bullhead bully]

We made the run up to Bullhead today. It was awesome! Plenty of water.

 

[H20 Toie]

we dig laugh to haves in a bar ker bot one ice

made it 14min before tearing ooff the drive

 

[Mike K]

We’re you in a “Skatter?”

 

[D19]

Great run, do it on a weekday at sunset

 

[Ultra912]

Its all a matter of experience. I've run this section of river for years. Never hit anything... Many years running a 25' Shockwave Tremor. Mostly out of Willow Valley.

I used to run my 19 foot with a Black Max up to Laughlin many times in the 90's but I never run my Tremor past the Needles Bridge. Just the view of those rocks at the bend now scares the shit outta me. Took my Ultra Shadow up so my wife could show me a house her and her girlfriends rent in the spring. Got to the location, shut it down and drifted onto a rock bar with the drive not trimmed for the trailer. Destroyed my prop.

 

[regor]

Great run, do it on a weekday at sunset

The sunset run from Pirates to Laughlin is my favorite, even on weekends. Light to no traffic, great water and cool temps.

 

[regor]

Rad . . . I'd definitely like to take you up on that some time, & would spring for your gas.

I’ll take you, you take me checkerboard hunting.

 

[D19]

The sunset run from Pirates to Laughlin is my favorite, even on weekends. Light to no traffic, great water and cool temps.

Ya it’s the best. One of my favorites. My buddy has place on river in bullhead, we usually end up over there in the evenings. Looking forward to launching my stand up from his house and running up to the damn at sunset next week. It’s cool seeing all the casino light reflection on the river

 

[Water Romper]

I used to run my 19 foot with a Black Max up to Laughlin many times in the 90's but I never run my Tremor past the Needles Bridge. Just the view of those rocks at the bend now scares the shit outta me. Took my Ultra Shadow up so my wife could show me a house her and her girlfriends rent in the spring. Got to the location, shut it down and drifted onto a rock bar with the drive not trimmed for the trailer. Destroyed my prop.

Yup, Ran my Carrera w/ 150 BM, MANY times from Laughlin to Havi and back- Head to the channel, pop over to Copper for the "floor show" head back to the bridge, eat lunch, (made sure to top off the tank) and just open er' up past the sand bar, this would be about 4 in the afternoon so I would follow a larger boat and shadow his "line" then stop for a "freshment" at Needles bar (Topoc) top off again, thank god when I see Avi (almost home) cruse past the casinos and exit the river at Davis- pull the boat and head back to the Flamingo- (not Aquarius) did I mention it was many moons ago. One of the best parts of the trek is launching early, power past the casinos to Avi and shut er' off and float...for hours, damn river was SOoooo peaceful.. good times.

 

[Desert Whaler]

I’ll take you, you take me checkerboard hunting.

Let’s make it happen.

 

[AZmike]

I'm going to run it after the 4th during the week but I'm in 21' eliminator Monaco.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I've done this in my Commander jet, really easy with it. First time I did it was in Pops' Bayliner...half the speed, and way more adrenaline! Scared the hell out of me! Didn't hit anything, but had to come real close.
Always remember the look on my Moms face, seeing the casinos from the river!

 

[hallett21]

Yup, Ran my Carrera w/ 150 BM, MANY times from Laughlin to Havi and back- Head to the channel, pop over to Copper for the "floor show" head back to the bridge, eat lunch, (made sure to top off the tank) and just open er' up past the sand bar, this would be about 4 in the afternoon so I would follow a larger boat and shadow his "line" then stop for a "freshment" at Needles bar (Topoc) top off again, thank god when I see Avi (almost home) cruse past the casinos and exit the river at Davis- pull the boat and head back to the Flamingo- (not Aquarius) did I mention it was many moons ago. One of the best parts of the trek is launching early, power past the casinos to Avi and shut er' off and float...for hours, damn river was SOoooo peaceful.. good times.

That’s a long day!


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[hallett21]

Still no way to access casinos by water is there? Other than AVI?


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