colorado river/new boat worries

garbear3 · Newbie Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Posts: 9 City: Rialto

so I'm thinking of taking the plunge. I currently have a 17 foot seaswirl outboard boat with a monster tower, and things are pretty good. But I know how much better they can be, so I went on a test drive of the much discussed Epic 23v this weekend and it rocked. So I want to get it, but... the draft. In fact, I'm worried about the draft for any major wakeboat. My normal riding spot is at the colorado river just down form laughlin, and if youve ever ridden there, you know it's not exactly the deepest water in the world. add to it the logs and random crap in the water, it's never a pretty situation. and with the water level being regulated by the hoover dam, the level can and does change drastically throughout the day, much less the season. so heres my question. I know I've seen other wakeboats on the water in the same area, and I'm just hoping one of the owners or people that have ridden in that area see this and answer. How many problems do you run into with a 24" draft on the river where my best estimate is about a 3 foot depth? Like I said, I've see other people do it, but have they hit things? It's a hard leap to go from my outboard where I can lift the motor and float out of any trouble to spending near 60000 on a boat where the prop is just begging to be hit just 2 feet under the water. Thanks for the help! Shocked

jhilly8982 · Addict Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 782 City: Northville

yeah you might want to talk with some other wakeboat owners, but to run a wakeboat on such a shallow river (as you've said) would be pointless because the weight of your boat could not displace enough water to produce a good wake. Again i would talk with other wakeboat owner about which place to run. a prop runs 500 and 125 to fix so get as much info as possible

jdmcivicman · Soul Rider Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 362 City: las vegas

well i can't really answer your question, but when i get a boat i'm not gonna go in water less then 10 ft.
just in case, you never know when that 10ft will jump up to 4ft

call me chicken but i get scared when the water is less then 15ft.
and that is with a rental boat, not MY $60,000 boat

QNev · Posted: Mar 11, 2007 10:29 pm Post subject:

Do they put depth markers around your river?

ghettolake415 · Posted: Mar 12, 2007 5:27 am Post subject:

u won't even have a wake in 3 feet of water... just like jhilly8982 said...

Stephan · Guest

If you drive your outboard there then you should be able to drive a inboard. Just because the rudder & prop are down always doesn't mean they run deeper than your current boat. I know the river can get that shallow but I'm pretty sure you just need to avoid the shallow spots. I frequent the Parker Strip & there are just sections you can't go over, stick to the deeper channels & you will be fine. You fill the factory ballast on an Epic & you will drop down another 6-8 inches guaranteed.

garbear3 · Newbie Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Posts: 9 City: Rialto

wviveen · Addict Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 705 City: Loosdrecht

Is there not another place nearby where you could go ? Or is that not an option.
If you are already concerned about it now, I would not feel comfortable during the season.

It would be a shame damaging such a nice/new boat.

HHI Dave · Posted: Mar 12, 2007 11:03 pm Post subject:

Around here, we learn quickly where the shallow parts are. If you can navigate an area at dead low tide, then any other time is a piece of cake. Smile

jdmcivicman · Soul Rider Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 362 City: las vegas

are you from rialto, ca?
why not go somewhere closer?

WakeBoarder44 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 1107

I'm with wviveen, If you are already concerned about it now, you would not feel comfortable during the season.

I would do a search for another spot in the neighborhood...

I don't want to see a pic of your 60.000$ boat stranded... Neutral

wviveen · Addict Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 705 City: Loosdrecht

You said you went on a testdrive with the Epic. Where was that ? Was that not nearby ?

garbear3 · Newbie Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Posts: 9 City: Rialto

yeah, I could go somewhere else, but thats the thing, Ive got a kick ass place at the river to stay at where its like a block from a private launch and I'm in and out with no wait and theres really no one else on the water. I do go other places, but the river is my main one and it's what I'm concerned about the most. I've seen other wakeboats in the same area, and really I never thought twice about it except to ogle them, now I wish I had stopped and asked them how they fare on the river. and wviveen, yeah, I went on a test drive of the epic and it was awesome. we went to lake elsinore which is not too far from where the nearest dealer to here is at a place called mb boats. I'm just hoping I don't have to give up my dream so quickly just because of some stinkin shallow water, giving up the river isn't really an option. It's the place as much as the actual wakeboarding that keeps me going every season, ya know? Wink

wviveen · Addict Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 705 City: Loosdrecht

I can understand your problem.. When you live so closeby with the facilities you mention that sounds like a great place.

For the wake to fully come to its potential you will need some less shallow water also. It will definately have an impact on the size of the wake.

If you can live with the fact that you will possibly ding your prop a couple of times, than there is no problem. But I would find it hard driving around whole summer and being worried about damaging my boat (especially a brand new EPIC).

Some time ago there was a threat about stuff floating around in the delta and pictures of boats that ran over those things. I will see if I can find that one..

wviveen · Addict Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 705 City: Loosdrecht

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=48111&highlight=submerged

Here are some examples that really scared me Puppy Eyes

WakeBoarder44 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 1107

^^

ouch...

Hangtime · Outlaw Joined: 14 Aug 2003 Posts: 160 City: Concord

wviveen, thanks for the reminder of how vulnerable our props are. I'm always very careful; but now, I'll be even more careful.

garbear3 · Newbie Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Posts: 9 City: Rialto

yep, that's exactly my problem. I guess I'll just have to be careful, cuz I don't think I can give up the Epic. So if youre on the colorado river and see an Epic stuck on a log, do me a favor and give me a tow huh?

Stephan · Guest

Yeah, when we ride at Parker we ride with full ballast. Usually around 2,200 pounds of water ballast. We have never had a problem. Obviously there are times when the water is really low (ie early AM) but you just have to stay in deep areas and stick to it no matter who is coming your way. There are simply sections that I have to be all the way to the left/right/down the middle. Like I said earlier, if you take your current boat there, then you can take your new boat. They both draft very similarly. The river is not a problem, heck there are a ton of people that ride near Blythe & trust me, its MUCH worse down there.

buckthis · Posted: Mar 17, 2007 6:33 am Post subject:

garbear, you answered your own question, don't take a new boat in the river.
whats the new boat got that one a few years older doesn't have? knowing you will be on the river you would probably be more comfortable on the river with a used boat
and the wake is crap in shallow water
a jet boat works pretty well in shallow water

garbear3 · Newbie Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Posts: 9 City: Rialto

so I got the epic, and so far, no problems. I'll continue to cross my fingers to maintain a similar result. I'll post pics of the boat, cuz I'm telling you, this boat is definitely worth a little risk. I mean, heck, what is insurance for huh Confused

. And as for the getting a crap wake in shallow water, you're probably right, it is probably crap compared to being in deep water, but compared to my 18' outboard boat, this wake might as well be as tall as Shaq, and as solid as a wall