Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

[WaterDR]

One of the nice things about tooning on a river, is that you can go for a long distance. Took about an 18 mile cruise yesterday in each direction from Hudson WI on the St. Croix River all the way down to the Mississippi. Weather was perfect and the trip was great!

 

[junkman41]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

that sounds like a good time, what a great way to spend the day

 

[Dragboatdad]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

We do our boating on the Colorado river near Needles Ca. We like to head down river towards Lake Havasu. There is some beautiful scenery in an area called Topoc Gorge Arizona.
Rivers are nice because you can just float and , because of the current , your scenery is constantly changing.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

Sounds like fun. I want to take my pontoon on the local river here. There are so many cool areas, including a wildlife area that is only accessible by boat. Any advice for river boating?

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

From my experience, the only differences between Rivers and lakes is the issue of current and perhaps the size of the some of the other boats. On a large river as with larger lake, you will find bigger, faster boats. it is common up here to see 45 footers, very fast speed boats, and 100 foot yatchs and cruise boats. The really big ones pose no issues as they move very slow.

It is good to be aware of depth to avoid problems (just like a lake) but also know where other bigger boats can't go.

You may want a different anchor too.

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

Drag,

Scenery look familiar?? Stop at Needles Bridge on the way to Topac from Laughlin. About a 40 mile round trip.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

Those Seadoos look really nice!

 

[Dragboatdad]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

Sounds like fun. I want to take my pontoon on the local river here. There are so many cool areas, including a wildlife area that is only accessible by boat. Any advice for river boating?

I second the importance of a good anchor.

 

[Dragboatdad]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

Drag,

Scenery look familiar?? Stop at Needles Bridge on the way to Topac from Laughlin. About a 40 mile round trip.

Yep, that's my neck of the woods. Your Seadoos would make that a really fun run. Topoc is just an awesome place. I like to get on the water early and head down there. During the week the water is like a mirror and might see some big horn sheep or wild pigs and burros.

 

[smoedog]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

I would love to make a trip like that but we have to many lock and dams on the arkansas. Don't even know how you would go about using the lock or how much it would cost lol

 

[lncoop]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

I would love to make a trip like that but we have to many lock and dams on the arkansas. Don't even know how you would go about using the lock or how much it would cost lol

To my knowledge it doesn't cost anything, at least not directly. In reality we all pay for the privilege once a year. Read this smoe.
http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/navigation/lock.html

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

We do the "DAMN DAM RUN" every year. Up river about 8 miles to Davis Dam, makes (Lake Mohave.) Touch it and head down stream. It's about 45 miles of river to Lake Havasu. Gas up at London Bridge and head 23 miles down Lake Havasu to Parker Dam. Touch it, hang a U and head back. All in all it is about 145 miles. Keep coolers in the 'Doo's with food and drink and kill a day doing it. Not sure how much fun it would be in the 'toon, at about 22 mph, could take a while. The GTI-SE's we have now can run 50 all day long...........when the water is flat!!

 

[Dragboatdad]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

We do the "DAMN DAM RUN" every year. Up river about 8 miles to Davis Dam, makes (Lake Mohave.) Touch it and head down stream. It's about 45 miles of river to Lake Havasu. Gas up at London Bridge and head 23 miles down Lake Havasu to Parker Dam. Touch it, hang a U and head back. All in all it is about 145 miles. Keep coolers in the 'Doo's with food and drink and kill a day doing it. Not sure how much fun it would be in the 'toon, at about 22 mph, could take a while. The GTI-SE's we have now can run 50 all day long...........when the water is flat!!

Wow, that's a long ride. That sounds like fun. I'll bet you have a sore butt after that!

 

[OK Toon]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

I would love to make a trip like that but we have to many lock and dams on the arkansas. Don't even know how you would go about using the lock or how much it would cost lol

We did it several years ago with another couple that had a pontoon. It was actually a large group of boats (about 25) that put in around Sallisaw, OK and traveled to Ft. Smith, AR -- I think we went through 2 or 3 locks. It was a lot of fun -- lots of water balloon fights break out while you are sitting in the locks waiting to go "up" or "down". We spent the night in Ft. Smith and then started the return trip the next day. The worst experience in the locks is when you are being let "down". The slime and growth on the lock walls really stinks in the summer time when you are trapped in the lock and not much air is moving. Once they open the gate, you head out slowly (no wake zone).

But yes, on a pontoon, it can make the trip a little longer. Our group would go a few miles then beach and swim for awhile. There was one guy that was in touch with the Lock Master to let us know of any coming barges -- barges take priority in the locks, so you may have to wait a couple of hours to allow barges through if you get there at the same time.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

We did it several years ago with another couple that had a pontoon. It was actually a large group of boats (about 25) that put in around Sallisaw, OK and traveled to Ft. Smith, AR -- I think we went through 2 or 3 locks. It was a lot of fun -- lots of water balloon fights break out while you are sitting in the locks waiting to go "up" or "down". We spent the night in Ft. Smith and then started the return trip the next day. The worst experience in the locks is when you are being let "down". The slime and growth on the lock walls really stinks in the summer time when you are trapped in the lock and not much air is moving. Once they open the gate, you head out slowly (no wake zone).

But yes, on a pontoon, it can make the trip a little longer. Our group would go a few miles then beach and swim for awhile. There was one guy that was in touch with the Lock Master to let us know of any coming barges -- barges take priority in the locks, so you may have to wait a couple of hours to allow barges through if you get there at the same time.

Cool. My uncle used to have a Party Hut that he would float from Oklahoma City (I think) all the way down to Pine Bluff. He always wanted me to join him, but at that stage of my life I didn't have paid time off, so I never felt I could afford it. Wish I had found a way.

 

[Water logged]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

I used to lock thru on the Mississippi btwn Winona MN and La Cross, WI back in the 60. It worked out great except for barg traffic. Of course back then there were no drinking restriction when boating so lock time was bar open time. I know, seems kinda foolish now.


Glenn

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

I was still wetting myself in the 60's.....

 

[Water logged]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

I was still wetting myself in the 60's.....

And I'm back at it!!

Glenn

 

[lncoop]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

And I'm back at it!!

Glenn

LOL. When it happens just jump in the water and no one will be the wiser.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Took a nice, long trip in the pontoon.

It's been raining every afternoon for weeks in the Mid South, after 3 months of record drought and high temperatures.

After a 20 hour initial service, we're going to trailer our new 24' Bennington to Chattanooga for a 200 mile one way trip through the Grand Canyon of Tennessee.

The Hampton Inn and Best Western in Guntersville both have boat docks.

Living on the Tennessee River is great, as it's the premier inland cruising river in the U.S.--650 miles of navigable water. It's easy traveling, with great dams/locks, marinas and state parks along the way.