Windsor to Davis dam. What unit is safe?

[ChrisV]

As title stated.

Planning to do a group run of small outboards 16-22ft. What units is safe for this? Is there fuel stations along the way besides Topoc?

Thanks

 

[JFMFG]

As title stated.

Planning to do a group run of small outboards 16-22ft. What units is safe for this? Is there fuel stations along the way besides Topoc?

Thanks

Dude I wanna do this in my boat but am scared. @Bullhead bully is the go to for sure

 

[fishing fool]

Jack Smith in Needles and Avi have fuel.

 

[hallett21]

Ideally 4+ but it’s doable at 3 if you know the lines. There’s a thread here with it mapped out, let me see if I can find it.

There are definitely rock bars that will ruin your day/weekend but a large part of everyone’s fear (in my opinion) comes from how clear the water is. You can see the bottom even in 10ft of water and it freaks people out.

 

[mash on it]

I've been as far south as the Avi, with 2 units, jet drive .I've been to Needles and pirates in 3 units, in a Ski Malibu direct drive.

Knowing the channel north of Rotary Park BHC, is highly advised, with anything 3 units and under.

No sand bars, just rock bars.

4 units should be fine in "almost" any boat.
.

4 units at Needles bridge doesn't guarantee 4 units at the Avi or along casino row.

Availability of fuel at the Avi can go either way, phone ahead.

Dan'l

 

[FlyByWire]

The thought of dodging all the rental jet skis (if you go on a weekend) give me the Willy’s.

 

[SJP]

I would prerun with someone that is very familiar. I have done this by myself in my DW and a bunch of times with @Bullhead bully leading the way. There are markers / visual waypoints along the way that help in addition to just reading the water.

 

[SJP]

The thought of dodging all the rental jet skis (if you go on a weekend) give me the Willy’s.

Yes - this should be done early in the morning before they come out.

 

[ChrisV]

I would prerun with someone that is very familiar. I have done this by myself in my DW and a bunch of times with @Bullhead bully leading the way. There are markers / visual waypoints along the way that help in addition to just reading the water.

Just got off the phone with @Doc and I might try this ride myself with the jet ski first.

 

[Backlash]

On plane with motors trimmed up sky-high, you should be fine.

 

[Bullhead bully]

As title stated.

Planning to do a group run of small outboards 16-22ft. What units is safe for this? Is there fuel stations along the way besides Topoc?

Thanks

I did the run last Thursday. There was four units flowing with a 9 AM until 1 PM lol where it dropped down to two units.

We timed it to where we got right about to Harrahs 11am when we got into the shallows up to the dam. Again, as long as you know the line you’re good.

I’ve ran it on one unit and had no issues. But I’ve also been running that stretch for over 30 years.

One unit gets me really nervous.

So to answer your question, yes this is the best time of year to do the run if you know the line. Most water flowing in the spring.

 

[JFMFG]

Just got off the phone with @Doc and I might try this ride myself with the jet ski first.

I’ll ride bitch on your ski don’t be mad if I squeeze a little tighter than your wife tho.

 

[ChrisV]

Thank you

I did the run last Thursday. There was four units flowing with a 9 AM until 1 PM lol where it dropped down to two units.

We timed it to where we got right about to Harrahs 11am when we got into the shallows up to the dam. Again, as long as you know the line you’re good.

I’ve ran it on one unit and had no issues. But I’ve also been running that stretch for over 30 years.

One unit gets me really nervous.

So to answer your question, yes this is the best time of year to do the run if you know the line. Most water flowing in the spring.

 

[ChrisV]

I’ll ride bitch on your ski don’t be mad if I squeeze a little tighter than your wife tho.

LMFAO

 

[Doc]

The thought of dodging all the rental jet skis (if you go on a weekend) give me the Willy’s.

I remember the first time I rode with Bully he hands me a air horn and he had one also in his hand. I go what are these for? He said for all the Jet skier's that don't pay attention. Anytime we got near one we just blasted the horns no matter what .

 

[JFMFG]

I remember the first time I rode with Bully he hands me an air horn and he had one also in his hand. I go what are these for? He said for all the Jet skier's that don't pay attention. Anytime we got near one we just blasted the horns no matter what .

That’s funny

 

[fishing fool]

Remember... 2 units at the dam increase to 4 units will take time to get down river.

 

[CammdSS]

Pretty sure Avi fuel docks are closed or were a few weeks ago

 

[glamis0812]

I did the run last Thursday. There was four units flowing with a 9 AM until 1 PM lol where it dropped down to two units.

We timed it to where we got right about to Harrahs 11am when we got into the shallows up to the dam. Again, as long as you know the line you’re good.

I’ve ran it on one unit and had no issues. But I’ve also been running that stretch for over 30 years.

One unit gets me really nervous.

So to answer your question, yes this is the best time of year to do the run if you know the line. Most water flowing in the spring.

It was a fun ride

 

[Desert Whaler]

'Jeuvos Latòn' !!!

 

[NeedlesRat]

Jack smith does not have fuel. Needles Marina does, and so does Pirates. Topock is very hit or miss.

 

[Bullhead bully]

Jack smith does not have fuel. Needles Marina does, and so does Pirates. Topock is very hit or miss.

I pulled into Needles Marina yesterday and Fuel was shut down. Not sure if it’s permanent or just yesterday.

 

[OldSchoolBoats]

Have always wanted to do this run. Been to Avi when I had the Shockwave but never to Laughlin.

 

[Bigbore500r]

As title stated.

Planning to do a group run of small outboards 16-22ft. What units is safe for this? Is there fuel stations along the way besides Topoc?

Thanks

Needles Marina has fuel SOMETIMES - best to call them to verify if your planning them as a stop.

 

[Joker]

I used to run from Community Park in Bullhead to Havasu all the time without even looking at units in our 25' Nordic but I had a good view of the changes of colors in the water from sitting that high. No way I'd feel comfortable doing it alone in the 22 because of how low we sit.

 

[Badchoices03]

Back in the early 2000's I had a Calabria direct drive ski boat....one year we were staying in Laughlin and boating at Mohave...one morning it was super windy on Mohave and we were just over it and the idea came up of launching the boat in Laughlin and boating down to Topock...we pulled the boat out of the water in Mohave around noon and launched it in Laughlin and ended up not only going to Topock but all the way to the sandbar...then came back just as it was getting dark....I had no idea the lay of the river, I had a somewhat idea of how to read the water but had never boated in that part of the river before....surprisingly enough, we made it there and back without one prop ding...

 

[gqchris]

I’ll ride bitch on your ski don’t be mad if I squeeze a little tighter than your wife tho.

Nuts to Butts?

 

[gqchris]

@ChrisV just buy @Cole Trickle s Jet Boat and run it with that! Would be a blast!

[WTS] - 2006 SeaDoo Speedster 215 (Supercharged)

Clean little hot rod perfect for a Parker booze cruise. Previous owner did a ton of upgrades and I imagine the boat is now 260+ hp with the super charger and Intercooler upgrade. Big JL/Fusion Stereo 4 6.5’s 2 8”Tower speakers 10” sub Jl 5 channel amp Fusion HU and external remote Dual Optima...

www.riverdavesplace.com

 

[JFMFG]

@ChrisV just buy @Cole Trickle s Jet Boat and run it with that! Would be a blast!

[WTS] - 2006 SeaDoo Speedster 215 (Supercharged)

Clean little hot rod perfect for a Parker booze cruise. Previous owner did a ton of upgrades and I imagine the boat is now 260+ hp with the super charger and Intercooler upgrade. Big JL/Fusion Stereo 4 6.5’s 2 8”Tower speakers 10” sub Jl 5 channel amp Fusion HU and external remote Dual Optima...

www.riverdavesplace.com

@ChrisV half’s?

 

[Tank]

I've always said if you want to do this run and have never done it, follow the jet boat tour for your first time. Those captains run that thing twice a day at least and know the route well. I followed them down from Bullhead to Needles marina on a seadoo once. I want to say there's three rock bars between the big elbow turn at bullhead running down river. Two are right at and above rotary park / launch ramp that you have to zig zag and then there's one between AVI and Bullhead. The jet boat zigs and zags and you can see the line very nicely.

 

[ChrisV]

@ChrisV just buy @Cole Trickle s Jet Boat and run it with that! Would be a blast!

[WTS] - 2006 SeaDoo Speedster 215 (Supercharged)

Clean little hot rod perfect for a Parker booze cruise. Previous owner did a ton of upgrades and I imagine the boat is now 260+ hp with the super charger and Intercooler upgrade. Big JL/Fusion Stereo 4 6.5’s 2 8”Tower speakers 10” sub Jl 5 channel amp Fusion HU and external remote Dual Optima...

www.riverdavesplace.com

no more boats for me haha. After spending a grip on maintence on the two boats and my stupid ass rc boat took a shit I’m done.

But I just want to enjoy the 22. The lower river run is two months away so figured I’ll sneak something else in.

 

[JFMFG]

I've always said if you want to do this run and have never done it, follow the jet boat tour for your first time. Those captains know run that thing twice a day at least and know the route well. I followed them down from Bullhead to Needles marina on a seadoo once. I want to say there's three between the big elbow turn at bullhead running down river. Two are right at and above rotary park / launch ramp that you have to zig zag and then there's one between AVI and Bullhead. The jet boat zigs and zags and you can see the line very nicely.

But what happens if you don’t have the tour boat one way and you zag instead of zig when you should have zigged instead of zagged

 

[Tank]

But what happens if you don’t have the tour boat one way and you zag instead of zig when you should have zigged instead of zagged

Then you fucked! lol

If you are able to follow it up and mark them on the GPS and get a good visual reference, you should be good to solo on the way back.

I'll run our boat up to the needles bridge all day....Past that??? Uhhhhh, no thanks.

 

[mbrown2]

These days with the way they are releasing water at Parker with many days being half a ball there are many spots you don't go off plane on those days. I would love to do the ride all the way to laughlin... Think our Stoker 20 would do it no problem....off plan doing 35-45 we are not drafting much... We used to boat a lot between Laughlin and Gas Line (south Bullhead)... great times...but never ran south of Sunshine marina to Needles...

 

[Justsomeguy]

I’ll ride bitch on your ski don’t be mad if I squeeze a little tighter than your wife tho.

He's gay. He will like it.

 

[NeedlesRat]

These days with the way they are releasing water at Parker with many days being half a ball there are many spots you don't go off plane on those days. I would love to do the ride all the way to laughlin... Think our Stoker 20 would do it no problem....off plan doing 35-45 we are not drafting much... We used to boat a lot between Laughlin and Gas Line (south Bullhead)... great times...but never ran south of Sunshine marina to Needles...

We used to run our stoker from Needles to Avi. Jacked the motor all the way up and trimmed and never had an issue. The biggest part like it was said before, is the psychological part when looking down and it looks like its 6" but its like 8-10' but the clarity and the rocks make you nervous.

 

[Justsomeguy]

I did it once in a pontoon as the sun went down. Thought i had pics. My wife must have them.

 

[Flynryan]

This is 1 unit in the morning Bullhead City

 

[Justsomeguy]

The fluctuations are wild.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Looks like the minimum flows are being doubled to 2 units starting Thursday. That's good news.
Hopefully they hold it at a 2-unit minimum for weekend and next week.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

View attachment 1496515 View attachment 1496516
The fluctuations are wild.

So what's that structure across the river? I've never been able to figure that out. Failed hotel? Can't be a casino, its too far south?

 

[Bigbore500r]

So what's that structure across the river? I've never been able to figure that out. Failed hotel? Can't be a casino, its too far south?

That was supposed to be a 400 acre hotel property. The project was abandoned at the stage you see it in now,. Been there for a long time, needs to be demo'd but who's gonna pay . . .

 

[mash on it]

View attachment 1496515 View attachment 1496516
The fluctuations are wild.

I'm thinking the top pic is 3 or 4 units? And the other pic is a half a unit?

Dan'l

I've always heard it referred to as the skeleton casino.

 

[Justsomeguy]

I'm thinking the top pic is 3 or 4 units? And the other pic is a half a unit?

Dan'l

I've always heard it referred to as the skeleton casino.

That probably fairly accurate. One is also early morning. Vs later in the day.

That was supposed to be a 400 acre hotel property. The project was abandoned at the stage you see it in now,. Been there for a long time, needs to be demo'd but who's gonna pay . . .

Correct. There's a video series on it I've seen. Golf course and everything. Sounds like the plan was pretty amazing. Just never got there.

 

[D19]

That was supposed to be a 400 acre hotel property. The project was abandoned at the stage you see it in now,. Been there for a long time, needs to be demo'd but who's gonna pay . . .

It was supposed to be called Emerald River Resort. The golf course was open for a short time around it in the early 90s. The property changed hands a few times. I wish they would tear it down.

Tribal was smart. After the failed attempt at this development, they broke ground on the Avi and kind of copied the idea.

 

[mbrown2]

We used to run our stoker from Needles to Avi. Jacked the motor all the way up and trimmed and never had an issue. The biggest part like it was said before, is the psychological part when looking down and it looks like its 6" but its like 8-10' but the clarity and the rocks make you nervous.

Parker has a number of those spots up near the dam on those 1/2 and 1 turbine days... The quagga's have only made the water more clear which increases the pucker factor!