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HELLO MEMBERS

By Gary Yantis, Manager

Hello from Lake Powell! – Winter has come and gone, and spring is bringing more wind and cooler temperatures than normal, but finally the day and nights are warming.   As the season has changed, the lake is becoming more inviting. The water elevation appears to have bottomed out for this spring on April 14, at 3618.62 feet above sea level.

As to the fishing, club members have reported very good catches of healthy fish. Indications are that this may be the best fishing for several years. The National Park Service (NPS) states they are seeing many more fishing tournaments throughout April of this year.

Those of you who visit Bullfrog over this Memorial Day weekend will see the new fuel dock in place, if everything works as planned. As I have been told by many sources, the current one has been in very bad shape for a long time, so the new one will be a pleasant surprise. The new Bullfrog fuel dock is patterned closely after the new one at Wahweap, which was a great upgrade for this marina. While we are talking about Bullfrog, Charles (Chuck) Fortin, Wahweap’s prior marina manager has transferred up-lake to manage both Bullfrog and Halls Crossing marinas. He tells me that as was his custom at Wahweap, you can catch him on the dock more than in the office.

I took the opportunity to visit with Chuck about some of the many comments and complaints from our up-lake boaters over the years.  Poor service and bad personnel attitudes have ranked high on the list of comments. Halls Crossing came through with a number of good calls, but still had problems. Club members at Bullfrog have reported being plagued with dock electrical supply problems, causing damage to some of their boats electrical and electronic equipment. Chuck reported that they have replaced a main transformer and other electrical equipment at Bullfrog and are working on Halls Crossing. If you suspect an electrical problem, Chuck is offering to check their power supplied at the slip and will even check your boat for you if needed, to locate the problem.  They will do this for free. If you have any concerns, Chuck wants you to contact him. He prefers email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , but you can also reach him by calling the central number, 435-684-7001. He states that David Sloma, ARAMARK’s VP, makes the rounds on that end of the lake on a frequent basis and is very active in upgrading the facilities and conditions at the two marinas. Other improvements at Bullfrog include renovating the family units, improvements to the campgrounds and improving the snack bar. Have more fun up-lake this year!

The marinas at the lower end of the lake are also gearing up for the season. Wahweap’s new on-water boat rental office building at the State Line rental dock is to be open by the end of April. It is a beauty!  New signage and landscaping will greet you as you drive into ARAMARK’s Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas. The grass and outdated watering system is in the process of being replaced with low water tolerant desert plants, and water saving drip system.  The Driftwood Lounge has been renovated, opening it up more to the adjacent Rainbow Room in the Lodge.  Indulge yourself and try their great meals on your next vacation to the lake. Don’t have a boat?  – Stay a few nights in their lodge, then to compliment your stay, dine in the Rainbow Room and enjoy your favorite beverage in the Driftwood Lounge. You may review their amenities on line at www.lakepowell.com.

The Point, Antelope Point Marina, is planning many great events for the boaters and their visitors this year. For a delightful dining experience right on the water, pull up to their Ja’di’Tooh restaurant, billed as the world’s largest floating restaurant.  You can rent a short term slip for the night, or extend your stay to a several days. Stay up to date on their special events and dining opportunities on the web, at www.antelopepointlakepowell.com.

We regularly experience several boat fires on the lake every season. Boats on the water are great, unfortunately the risk of fire on boats is higher than one might expect. To respond more quickly to boat fires, the National Park Service has a new fireboat ordered. Brent McGinn, NPS Chief Ranger, describes it as state of the art and very impressive. It is scheduled to be on the lake by the Memorial Day weekend, and will be berthed at the NPS boat dock adjacent to Wahweap marina.

Fire safety for boats brings to mind several items of concern – regardless of your boat type:

• Original fuel supply and fill hoses on the older boats; Examine condition, but replace when they get older, check connections.
• Improper refueling and venting during and after refueling- Close all hatches, windows and doors, turn off all electrical and electronic equipment and propane tanks. Be sure that the fuel is going into the proper fill point. Handle fill nozzle carefully to avoid spillage, and do not overfill. Fill your portable tanks on the dock not on the boat. After fueling a cruiser or yacht- Vent Your Bilge! The recommendation is to run the bilge blower for four minutes before starting your engines.
• Toy tanks on houseboats- I have noticed that many of the gas tanks are located on the roof of the houseboat, some just above the propane appliances; water heater or refrigerator, and sometimes not too far from a deck grill. Leakage or fumes from the tank or connections, and fumes while refueling PWC’s or a runabout can ignite, especially on a hot summer day. Check where your tank is located, change it if necessary.   A fire at sea will most certainly ruin your day.

Check your flares at least annually. BoatU.S. reports failures of some flares even though they have not reached their expiration date. Look to see if they appear in good shape and have not burst open or appear bulged. Don’t overlook your gun; make sure that is in working order.

Recycling is a reality this year on the lower end of the lake, with brightly colored trailers located at various locations in Page, and at the Wahweap marina, Stateline launch ramp and Dangling Rope marinas. I applaud our members and other boaters on the lake for removing trash from the lake, both your own and others. The water and beaches are much cleaner than in the past. But continue to be diligent about making a final pass on the beach around your anchoring or camping site before you shove off. Instruct your group to “police the beach”. It is very easy to unknowingly leave garbage and debris behind. Remember to deposit your recyclables in the trailers and trash in the trash cans.

The Trash Tracker houseboat is on the move at the lake much of the year. I had the pleasure of visiting with the Captain of the Trash Tracker just a few minutes ago. In fact he carried an application into the office for him and his wife to join us as Yacht Club members. Jerry and Claudia Barber will become members #2310. Claudia and Gismo (their long hair Chihuahua, with an attitude) will accompany Jerry on the trips this year. Jerry is a 100 ton licensed Captain that has been boating since he was sixteen years old. He runs a commercial fishing business in San Diego, California, out of Mission Bay and Oceanside, California. They are both retired California Highway Patrol officers and are friends of Frank and Vivian Firlein, also retired from CHP. The Firleins have their boat, Warrior Maiden berthed at Wahweap, and Vivian is a club board member and secretary.

The Trash Tracker program is a co-operative effort between the National Park Service and Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas to clean up the 1,960 miles of Lake Powell’s shoreline. They accept volunteers on the houseboat for the twenty four, five-day trips throughout the season. Trip #1 begins April 1^st and their last trip of the year ends on November 14^th. They travel from both Wahweap Marina and Bullfrog Marinas to cover the length of the lake. Get information on the internet by searching for “Trash Tracker Lake Powell” (easy route).

Due to some changes of articles in the last issue, some very important thanks to contributors for our events were omitted. Those additional supporters that made our events possible last year were: ARAMARK, (Mike Walsh), donated houseboat use and marina assistance – Ranch House Grille, food at cost – Custom Covers (Justin Jones), gift certificates – and Vicky Wainwright, gift baskets.

Gasoline prices are inching up again this year, so storing your boat in Page makes more sense than towing it from and to home. Save gas and also wear and tear on your vehicle and boat. We store houseboats, cruisers, PWCs and also RVs in the Yacht Club storage yard. It is lighted, secure and you can work on your boat with personal access 24 hours a day. Reserve your space by contacting the office at 928-645-3992, or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Boat safely and have a great time on the lake – The Jewel of the Desert, Lake Powell!