My Laughlin Trip Report

[gqchris]

So i decided to take the plunge this weekend and drag the 18' Southwind down to Laughlin for a weekend of fun. Took us 4 1/2 hours to make it down there, it was my first time boating in the area. We stayed at Harrahs and the room rates were decent at $69 a night. They make the boat owners park on the top of the parking garage, and it is a little hike with the gear if you do it daily to load the boat. I suggest pulling around and loading every morning at the front doors.
No problems with things missing off the boat at night. I did load everything in the cab and covered the boat nightly .
First day we went to Camp Davis. Water was way to low to launch at 9am, had to wait till around 10:30, then it was a go. Got a few good runs in without the water lice everywhere. I know from being on the forums to expect the worse, but at 12 noon, it was something I have never seen in my life. There must have been 2,000 JetSkis on this stretch of water! I saw 4 other boats the whole day!!! Obviously I was at the wrong place and got one more run in before loading her up at 2pm. Here is where the fun starts!!!
I let my girl drive the boat for the last run, and she did a great job. We are puling back on to shore about 15 feet off the beach, and i kill the engine to float over to the anchor buoy. Out of nowhere, this J@CKASS on a POS seadoo comes within 3 feet of the boat and does that stupid @ss side splash trick! A wall of water came over me and my chic, and filled the boat up to the starter!!!!! I jump out of the seat and throw my shades off, yelling up a storm. Try to start the boat to chase this "tampon" down, no luck! Ok, this is just the icing on the cake!! I jump out and get the boat hooked up and am thankful i put the 1000GPM bilge pump in. I cant imagine this guy would do this on purpose, I am 6'4, 260 lbs. He was like 140 soaking wet! But sometimes I am wrong. There were around 60 peeps on shore that witnessed this and could not believe what happened. At this point, I was done with Camp Davis and Laughlin rental skis!!!!!!!! The near misses from these teenagers on these things is something everyone must witness once in their life! I really wish they would enact a boating license of some sort to curb this down. I am sure someone had gotten hurt over the weekend.
Next day, I talked to some fellow jet boaters at the hotel and we decided to try Big Bend. Got out there at 9am again to get a good spot, and it was WAY LOW to launch. Waited till 10:45 and the sandbars were still showing. Alot better crowd, more hot boats, but the skis kicked up again and the water was popcorn for the day. There was some wind also not helping the cause. Got some runs in and all and all was a great day!!
The heat WAS HOT AS ALL HECK! Hard to launch and load etc when it is so hot. All in all, I like laughlin for the casinos and amenities, but I doubt I will return there to boat!!
Chris
"Camp Davis looking out at boat"
http://www.sybianrodeo.com/images/campdavis.jpg
"Shots of River in Morning from Room, Water WAY LOW!'
http://www.sybianrodeo.com/images/hotel1.jpg
http://www.sybianrodeo.com/images/hotel2.jpg
PS: Will post better pics once i get em!!

[Cs19]

the hot ticket is to stay at the casinos, then tow down river all the way through bullhead down to either Avi or even lower.There is good water down there, hardly any idiots on rentals.
Both areas you were at are total nightmares, I wouldnt even consider launching at either one.

[gqchris]

Yea CS, I will try that next time. I guess I should have asked around a little more on here before heading out, I was sacred about AVI when reading about the low water levels at CBBB, and also since I dont knwo the river at all in that area! :hammerhea

[roostwear]

You did go in around lake lice hell, but Avi's no better. Launch at Rotary on the AZ side, and you have a good 10 mile stretch of river with little hassle. The water's been low for a month and a half I can remember.... just means you sleep in and launch late. After Labor Day, life is good again.....

[Cs19]

I find that the the area between AVI and Needles bridge is nice, rentals are not bad down there. I run a low freeboard,lightweight boat, i never have problems down there. Its hell in front of the AVI though.I always just launch and head down river.

[cyclone]

laughline sucks. if it weren't for CBBB i would never go there with my boat. the water traffic is just nuts. way too rough for my liking.

[Squirtin Thunder]

Next time any of you guys come up give me a shout. The River Lice are bad at times to just about 2 miles south of the Avi. Roost and I have seen them 7 wide 5 deep. It is quite unnerving when they take up the whole river. But I let Roost take care of them. He does a fine job of squirting them away !!!

[roostwear]

laughline sucks. if it weren't for CBBB i would never go there with my boat. the water traffic is just nuts. way too rough for my liking.
Pansy ass! You've been hanging with the Blythe fags too much. You just have to perfect your "trimming" skills is all!

[Cs19]

NEEDLES =cool
LAUGHLIN=sucks
Circle beach on the Indian res. is a rad place, I cant imagine why anyone wouldnt like it on the off weekends.

[roostwear]

Are you gonna buy a v drive now and be cool?