Maiden cruise this year was a week ago for mothers Day.
The lake was almost full and given our snowpack this year and the cooler temperatures we've been having which slows the runoff, should stay good for a good bit of the summer.
Water was too cold to get any water sports done, but well worth while to get a start on a good sunburn.
We were watching a neighbors yellow lab who had never been on a boat, so were a little concerned about her behavior, but she did fairly well. Didn't understand the end of the swim platform meant the beginning of the lake, so she almost fell in a couple times while getting a drink of lake water.
While launching the water was smooth, but shortly after getting underway the winds picked up and whitecaps covered most of the lake by the time we left about 3 hours later.
Boat is now on it's 16th season and a bit more water coming through the prop shaft than has in the past. I guess that figuring out the packing around the propshaft is on my agenda this year.

Congrats on a successful 1st splash. We are still probably a couple of weeks away due to on going construction projects at the lake house. Spent the weekend removing existing deck. Need one more weekend to wrap up some other projects & clean out the barn & we should be all good.

We haven't launched yet. Too much rain occurring about every other day. And the San Bernardino mountains are not warming up, yet--35 degrees as I write this in Lake Arrowhead. Snow down to 7000 feet yesterday and last night.
Mammoth Mountain slopes will be open through July 4. And you guys might have thought SoCal has the perfect climate. Ha! Hopefully, things turn around soon.

We went out yesterday on the Whaler with two of our grandsons. We were only out for an hour or so because it was a bit on the chilly side. Both boys (5 and 8) got a chance to drive and both did well.

The boat started right up with about 2 seconds of cranking and ran well.

So where, Willard, Pineview or Powell? I'm assuming Willard as Powell isn't anywhere near 'about full' yet. And I'm also assuming driving a boat on Pineview is still like driving bumper cars on free beer night?

I'm REALLY hoping to get some boating time in this year, maybe even this weekend. Really antsy to get the SkipperLiner done, AND to get some use out of the Regal. A guy at the harbor thinks that because the harbor owner appropriated his dock-end spot for himself since he didn't use it last year, that I owe him MY dock-end spot space since I didn't use it last year and ain't using it yet so far this year. Nope, fraid not. Need to get the Regal- or the Party Crusier for that matter- tied up to the dock!

Got all my pressure washer accessory parts in hand; for one, this sandblast kit that should really speed up getting the bottom done:

[video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfA-IkaMRGE[/video]
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Mine isn't a Power Eagle, but it's identical to this one. Love how it digs thru the rust. The only places I'm going to down to bare metal is where there's rust, and fortunately there's a whole bunch of good bottom still that only needs abrading so the coal tar will stick. With luck a 3 day holiday weekend is all I'll need to be ready for coal tar!

Another accessory I got is an adapter to eliminate the wand, so it'll be like sandblasting with a 12" Smith & Wesson- yeah I'll need to be careful but I don't have a lot of space for a 32" wand under the boat. Should be interesting

To GET a 3-day holiday weekend I need to quit typing and work...

too many bugs at Willard and I'd end up stopping at Smith & Edwards and wasting all day there if we were to go near it.
So we went to Pineview. Not too many boats since it's so early in the season and the water was too cold and rough. Fees are up to $18 per day this year, or a yearly boat pass for $155.
The admiral made me promise to take her out more often this year, maybe as simple as dinner and drinks after work.
With Pier Pressure gone Lake Powell looks like a long shot to visit again this year, although my sister does have a Somerset there that we have an open invitation to join them.

My son sent me a photo of Lake Arrowhead with a 1 to 2 inches of snow on the ground. Normally things start warming up after Memorial Day. I sure hope so.

Dude-- If you're not doing much boating with the kids these days, you need THIS BOAT

(and even if you ARE boating with the kids, they'll love it! -and 600 ponies should pull a wakeboard I'd think!)

Pontoon boats have really come a long way.