Cobaltchat.com

BobRae99 wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 11:11 am

Big Block Power wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 8:17 am

cmattj wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 6:47 am
I found this in a Google search..
Apparently it is amount of rainfall.

Really rain caused it. I think the year before was snow they got a bunch. Did it really rain that much last year?
What else can fill a lake?
I didn't look lately at Powell and meade. What fills those lakes? Now every time it gets real windy here they talk about flooding in Michigan and GreenBay. All the water gets pushed in one direction. Not the group either

The only other thing I could think of was some sort of outlet control, but I didn't know if there were any in place on any of the Great Lakes. I know Lake Winnipeg - I believe the 3rd largest fresh water lake in North America (by area) - has a hydro control outlet and the lake can fluctuate by more than 1' in some years.

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That's a great theory Br99 but there is no inlet or outlet control for lake Erie. About 92 percent of the water in Lake Erie comes from the upper lakes, through Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River, into Lake Erie. Lake Erie then flows into the Niagara River, into Lake Ontario.

The International Joint Commission can control outflow in the Great Lakes only from Superior and Ontario. But the impact is very small for Erie.

A famous book that many Lake Erie folks own is called Waters of Repose. It discusses the three main causes to Lake Erie level fluctuations.
1. Seasonal variations in rainfall
2. "Seiche" or bathtub effect (mainly in the Fall due to northeasterly winds)
3. Cyclical patterns

In the mid 1980's Lake Erie water levels were so high that most thought the sands of Long Point including the light house were doomed. By the early 1990's however water levels had fallen by almost 4 feet. We are currently in one of these "high" cyclical patterns. It's a record for sure but not unprecedented. Here is a water level history link for the Great Lakes from 1918-2020 if anyone is interested. It's put out by the US Army Corp of Engineers.

In the meantime, at least the risk of our duo-prop outdrive striking the bottom in Misery bay will be all but eliminated. At least that's my silver lining since it's a great area to wake board and tube.

Some more pics....

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Yes that's crazy A7 as long as your prop now doesn't strike a picnic table.

Big Block Power wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 12:13 pm Yes that's crazy A7 as long as your prop now doesn't strike a picnic table.

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Aint that the truth bbp. ....although a picnic table does a little less damage than rebar which we wrapped our prop around one year with the lake being so low.

Btw, in the picture above where security is driving, the edge of the lake wall is off to the right of those picnic tables (by those pylons & light gray telephone pole). In the late 2000's we could not tie up to the cleats on this wall since it was a 4 foot drop DOWN to the boat to load people! It was mainly used by large Ferry boats. Now you can kayak right over it and around picnic tables as an obstacle course!


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Big Block Power wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 12:13 pm Yes that's crazy A7 as long as your prop now doesn't strike a picnic table.

Too funny!

AsLan7 wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 12:43 pm

Big Block Power wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 12:13 pm Yes that's crazy A7 as long as your prop now doesn't strike a picnic table.

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Aint that the truth bbp. ....although a picnic table does a little less damage than rebar which we wrapped our prop around one year with the lake being so low.

Btw, in the picture above where security is driving, the edge of the lake wall is off to the right of those picnic tables (by those pylons & light gray telephone pole). In the late 2000's we could not tie up to the cleats on this wall since it was a 4 foot drop DOWN to the boat to load people! It was mainly used by large Ferry boats. Now you can kayak right over it and around picnic tables as an obstacle course!


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Were those props rebuildable or did you have to replace them? I hate being damage like that (OK, I hate seeing any damage).

Ouch. I saw the police boat to and I was thinking that Also. Lol
You put a picture in my mind now and I can see the kayaker guys using the tables for a course. We have marinas closing here because of the high water on lake Michigan as well. You know it will go down and we will complain its so low. It's the cycle of life. But man you just think how much rain it takes to fill these lakes. It's crazy.

BobRae99 wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 3:05 pm

AsLan7 wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 12:43 pm

Big Block Power wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 12:13 pm Yes that's crazy A7 as long as your prop now doesn't strike a picnic table.

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Aint that the truth bbp. ....although a picnic table does a little less damage than rebar which we wrapped our prop around one year with the lake being so low.

Btw, in the picture above where security is driving, the edge of the lake wall is off to the right of those picnic tables (by those pylons & light gray telephone pole). In the late 2000's we could not tie up to the cleats on this wall since it was a 4 foot drop DOWN to the boat to load people! It was mainly used by large Ferry boats. Now you can kayak right over it and around picnic tables as an obstacle course!


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Were those props rebuildable or did you have to replace them? I hate being damage like that (OK, I hate seeing any damage).

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We replaced both props. Also had the outdrive replaced. SkiSafe Insurance helped ease the pain.
(I was more upset our boating day was ruined. )

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Minnesota is letting the marina and boat dock installers to go back to work as of yesterday. Now if the damn ice would leave our lake!

From an article:

There have been several updates to Minnesota's "critical sector" list during the coronavirus Stay at Home order, which will allow more people back to work.

The updates to Executive Order 20-33 were made on Monday, and several of the professions now exempt from the order appear to have an eye on the upcoming boating season.

That's because among the workers now consider essential are those who "install and support the installation of docks, boat lifts, and other water related equipment and boat delivery."

Also added to the "critical sectors" list are workers who help with the operation of safe harbors and marinas, and bait harvesters. Resort hotel workers are also allowed to work, but those who work in communal areas of resorts – which will remain closed – are not.

Gov. Tim Walz has previously said that boating and fishing season would go ahead, but that boaters should only go out onto Minnesota lakes with people from their own household to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread.

Local lakes around Phoenix are still open. They have closed beach and day use area access, but the ramps and water are still open. My home lake (Lake Pleasant) has restricted hours 6am-8pm. I don't think it's going to get any worse from here *knocks on wood*.

We just got a notice from the waterway agency that the lakes will remain open as long as people don't raft up, and only immediate household is on the boat. Boats must maintain 10' between when on the hook. Unfortunately my confidence in people obeying these rules is low, so we'll see if the bad apples spoil the fun...

I just talked to a co-worker in Michigan. The only boats that can be used right now are kayaks, canoes, and sailboats. Boats with motors are expressly prohibited. Also, all launches are closed. It's gone so far there that they can't even visit a neighbor. I guess it's worse in some areas.

sailor55330 wrote: Fri Apr 17, 2020 10:25 am I just talked to a co-worker in Michigan. The only boats that can be used right now are kayaks, canoes, and sailboats. Boats with motors are expressly prohibited. Also, all launches are closed. It's gone so far there that they can't even visit a neighbor. I guess it's worse in some areas.

Yes the Michigan Gov went off the deep end and ours teamed up with her and others.

All boating is allowed here and I just got word from our dock installers that me and my neighbor are at the top of his list as soon as the ice is out which should be in two or three days with the warm(er) and sunny forecast. Best stretch of weather on the way since early September.In the mean time I got a new smoker yesterday to give me something to do. Yesterday I cooked bacon, ribs, and chicken and today it might be another batch of ribs and some sockeye salmon. Thousands of ducks, swan, and some loons are rafted up here waiting for the ice to melt on their journey north.

Golf is officially back in NY. How about marina’s and yacht clubs?

Marinas open again. Cuomo must be listening in.