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By Gary Yantis, Manager

February, 2010

THANK YOU!     I know you come here for fun and relaxation. But I want to let you know we greatly appreciate you visiting us, and your support of our local businesses is tremendously appreciated. The stronger we can maintain our businesses through your patronage, the better we can serve you when you need marine service, boat parts, lumber, groceries or simply a meal or lodging. Last year we lost our Bashas’ grocery store. That was a shock to locals and visitors alike. We still have Safeway and a Wal-Mart. However we have recently gained Page Lumber & Supply and a Sears store to better serve you. Shop Page and keep us strong so we can have what you need at the right time.

As we roll around into a new year, it is a quiet time for Lake Powell and Page – on the surface at least. Even though boaters and tourists still have their thoughts on other things, we are recovering from the 2009 season and gearing up for 2010. Overall, 2009 was reasonably good for us. As we look forward to 2010, we hope it is a good year for you. Enjoy Lake Powell!

The new fuel dock for Bullfrog Marina is now under construction, with completion expected in late April. This new one will replace the outdated fuel facility that was designed primarily for no larger than the 50 foot Boatel pontoon houseboats. Although the older houseboats  are still popular on Lake Powell, the larger houseboats, up to 22 feet wide by 75 foot long are now commonplace.  The new fuel dock will more easily accommodate the larger boats. It is built on nearly the same plan as the new Wahweap fuel dock, for boats ranging in size from the PWCs to the largest on the lake. The move uplake to Bullfrog and then the installation of the fuel dock is anticipated in May.

Recycling at Lake Powell is finally moving forward – gone will be the screen covered can trailers now on the launch ramp. Sixteen trailers, 8’ X 24’ with graphics on the sides will be dispersed at the marinas and launch ramps.
The trailers will have divided compartments to deposit cardboard and other material. When full, they will be transported to ARAMARK’s facility to be sorted and combined with other collected material to be hauled away to recycling centers in Utah, Arizona and California. A smaller trailer will be available to deposit recyclable material at Dangling Rope, as it will need to be transported by boat to Wahweap. The recycling trailers are a cooperative project between ARAMARK and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

The Driftwood Lounge just off the Rainbow Room at Wahweap, will open with a new look following the remodeling this winter. Visit them for their variety of pub meals and fully stocked bar.

The new on-water boat rental office platform is complete at Stateline, with the building now under construction. This should be operational by this spring. ARAMARK is hoping to replace some older slips at Wahweap. Reconfiguring F Dock to increase their larger slips, while decreasing the number of 20 ft. slips is on their tentative plans, if funding becomes available. They would also like to add some additional 75 foot slips.

To get mechanical service at either of the up-lake marinas, call that marina’s service department. If you are at Halls Crossing, they will send a mechanic over from Bullfrog to get you going again.

Although the Antelope Point public launch ramp is closed until spring of 2010 as part of the National Park Service’s Quagga mussel prevention plan, you can still launch your boat close by. The Antelope Point Marina is offering a $5.00 valet boat launch from their private launch ramp. They will launch your boat and park your vehicle in their secure dry storage lot. When you are ready to be pulled out just call them on the marine band radio and they will meet you at their ramp to retrieve your boat. It’s fast, safe, easy, and only costs $5.00. Contact them at 928-645-5900, ext. 5038. Antelope Point Marina hopes to build some indoor boat parking this year.

Increase your dining pleasure while on the lake. Pull your boat up to “The Point” (Antelope Point Marina) for delightful experience in their Ja’di’Tooh restaurant located on the water. Their special events will spice up your lake experience. The Point is located only seven miles from Page by land.

Three of the eight on-lake floating pump-outs/restrooms were brought in for repairs over the winter. They will be back on the job by spring, helping to keep Lake Powell waters clean. The manual pumps on these units can sometimes need a little help to begin pumping. Do you remember the old pictures of the water well with the antique hand pump to pull water from below? Many times there was a sign nailed up or hanging from the pump. It would read “Prime the Pump”. This is no different. – This pump needs primed. Before you attach the large suction hose to your boat, run some water into it from the small hose located at the porta-potty dump. It is located on another outside wall of the building.  Pump it a few times then run more water into it before hooking onto your discharge fitting. Begin pumping – you should be good. This sure beats an unscheduled trip back into the marina after you suddenly discover that “nobody can use the pot”.

A recent billing from the Wahweap Marina outraged one of our members. It appears that the cable attaching his houseboat to the buoy had broken, freeing his boat to roam around the buoy field. Wahweap had retrieved it and secured it to the buoy with a new cable. The cost of the recovery and new cable stunned him, especially since he was convinced that the cable was not his responsibility to maintain. The ARAMARK moorage contract assigns responsibility for maintaining all connecting lines and hardware to the customer. If it fails – unfortunately the cost of replacement and any other retrieval and labor expenses will be upon the boat owner. The owner is also deemed responsible for any damage that the wayward boat may cause. If you are moored on a buoy you should periodically examine and replace any damaged cable or connectors that are badly worn. Tighten your clevises snugly and check them often. A good trick is to secure the pin by wiring through the hole in the head of the pin to the body of the clevis to prevent it from unscrewing. Most slip renters are aware when their vessel is moored in a slip, the mooring lines are their responsibility.

As I think of safety items, here is another one for next spring. Although I do not recommend transporting your gas to your boat when on a slip or buoy, it is a common practice. It is not illegal, but there are some risks that you should guard against. Use only approved gasoline containers, and to prevent a possible explosion do not fill them in the bed of your pickup or trailer. Place them on the concrete to provide a ground circuit which will prevent static electricity build-up while filling the can. That little spark will light up your world, but may end your vacation. Oh, and if you carry the gas cans, full or empty in the trunk of your car, the fumes are likely to infiltrate the passenger compartment. – Not good. If you leave them there while your car is parked at the marina during the hot days you have just learned how to make a bomb. We want you to get “High on Lake Powell”, but we don’t mean on gas fumes or being blown into the air by your personal homemade bomb. There are also many safety concerns when handling gasoline on a boat – we will get into that another time, along toward the summer.

As we move toward spring, remember our storage yard. Storing your boat in Page just makes sense.  With gasoline prices as high as they are now. Stop the cost and hassle of towing it to and from home. 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 listed on the inside front cover of this newsletter.

Keep your thoughts on the sunny beaches and clear water of Lake Powell, the Jewel of the Desert.