Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania....

Steve73 · Apr 19, 2023

Doug Kline said:
How busy is the ramp normally and do you have to deal with currents/wind on the Susquehanna? Hearing all these nightmare stories about controlling a jet boat has me a little bit nervous. Heard lots of good things about ski beach in that area and it definitely is closer for us than the lake.

Typically current and winds aren't too bad there. I go to port deposit Marina Park ($10 to launch or $50 for the season). You can see it on Google Maps, its an L shape dock, pretty small, just go slow (in and out of neutral). Best tip I got when docking is just don't go any faster than you'd be comfortable hitting the dock and you will be fine

I'm there a good bit on weekends and there is another guy with a jet boat who launches out of there. Happy to line up with you some time and give you some tips / help out. Most people launching out of there are nice too. Occasionally you run into a grumpy fisherman, but most have been helpful and patient when I was learning. There are some boat up restaurants in the area and Fishing Battery Island is a populate hang out island about 25 minute boat ride from the ramp.

There is also another ramp called Perryville Ramp (i've never dropped in there), but its another 10 mins down the road, but that is a little more protected from the wind and currents, but that whole back half of the island that it drops you into is no wake, so you have to putt putt out of there.

Steve73 · Apr 19, 2023

Doug Kline said:
How busy is the ramp normally and do you have to deal with currents/wind on the Susquehanna? Hearing all these nightmare stories about controlling a jet boat has me a little bit nervous. Heard lots of good things about ski beach in that area and it definitely is closer for us than the lake.

As far as how busy, I go mostly on Saturday. If you get there around 8:30am, no line... drop right in. Unless I beat you there because that is usually when I aim to drop in. If you get there between 9am - 10am probably going to be 2-5 boats waiting to drop. Just do your prep work and be ready to drop when its your turn and you will be fine.

Doug Kline · Apr 19, 2023

Steve73 said:
Typically current and winds aren't too bad there. I go to port deposit Marina Park ($10 to launch or $50 for the season). You can see it on Google Maps, its an L shape dock, pretty small, just go slow (in and out of neutral). Best tip I got when docking is just don't go any faster than you'd be comfortable hitting the dock and you will be fine I'm there a good bit on weekends and there is another guy with a jet boat who launches out of there. Happy to line up with you some time and give you some tips / help out. Most people launching out of there are nice too. Occasionally you run into a grumpy fisherman, but most have been helpful and patient when I was learning. There are some boat up restaurants in the area and Fishing Battery Island is a populate hang out island about 25 minute boat ride from the ramp.

There is also another ramp called Perryville Ramp (i've never dropped in there), but its another 10 mins down the road, but that is a little more protected from the wind and currents, but that whole back half of the island that it drops you into is no wake, so you have to putt putt out of there.

That sounds great, definitely will give that a shot. Only an hour and 25 min from my house. Thanks so much for the offer, may just take you up on that.

Steve73 · Apr 19, 2023

Doug Kline said:
That sounds great, definitely will give that a shot. Only an hour and 25 min from my house. Thanks so much for the offer, may just take you up on that.

No problem. Yeah just message me whenever you are going. If I'm headed out we can meet up. If not, I can atleast give you the lay of the waters, where to go, where to avoid. Basically you don't want to go up river past Tiki Lees, it gets shallow and rocky up there and the opposite side of the Port Deposit launch ramp also can get rocky over there. Its all marked well if you use Navionics or another app to check the waters out.

RNYCLV · Apr 20, 2023

Ironwood Point, is super easy for newbies and is a pay launch which is normally slower paced. We launch there all the time. When are you going up, we can certainly help you. As a club we have slips there and all launch there

RNYCLV · May 1, 2023

If anyone is interested, we have a group of sites at a campground on the lake we will be there all weekend long. Come out and have some fun! Keep Calm and Boat on!

RNYCLV · May 2, 2024

This year Redneck Yacht Club is a featured sponsor of NEPA's biggest water event, Wally Lake Fest held August 23-25. We will have craft vendors, car/motorcycle show, boat show, a floating stage with bands, food vendors, local breweries/wineries, kids games a small carnival and adult cornhole. It will be a great weekend. There are plenty of AirBNB's, cottages, Verbo's, Hotels/Motels, cabins, Bed & Breakfasts and campgrounds to stay at and pricing is very reasonable. Come on out, it will be fun. If you need information, don't be shy send a message.

Doug Kline · May 3, 2024

Will be there!!

RNYCLV · May 3, 2024

Heck Yea! You are more than welcome to hang out at the sites, or the house. We rented out a big house just down from Ledgedale off of Ledgedale road.

RNYCLV · May 20, 2024

We will be out if anyone is interested.

RNYCLV · May 29, 2024

We are planning a lake and island clean up on Lake Wallenpaupack ahead of Lake Wally Fest. If anyone is interested in helping please let me know! It would be on Eagle Island, Cairns Island, Big Island, near the dam, Mangan Cove and shoreline near the concert site. After Memorial Day there is a ton of floating debris and trash left out. Lets make the lake beautiful!

RNYCLV · Jul 31, 2024

Its here, 23 days away!

Wally Lake Fest

www.northernpoconos.org

Jeff L24 · Jul 31, 2024

RNYCLV said:
Ironwood Point, is super easy for newbies and is a pay launch which is normally slower paced. We launch there all the time. When are you going up, we can certainly help you. As a club we have slips there and all launch there

I'm in Skippack, so in between Philly and Allentown. I split my time between Beltzville, the Upper Chesapeake, and a small stretch of the Schuylkill River near Phoenixville. Only one visit to Lake Wally so far, I'll use Ironwood next time I go. Where do you launch at Lake George? Does it get crowded on Lake George?

RNYCLV · Jul 31, 2024

Jeff L24 said:
I'm in Skippack, so in between Philly and Allentown. I split my time between Beltzville, the Upper Chesapeake, and a small stretch of the Schuylkill River near Phoenixville. Only one visit to Lake Wally so far, I'll use Ironwood next time I go. Where do you launch at Lake George? Does it get crowded on Lake George?

I'm originally from Philadelphia, I know Skippack well. As a kid my folks used to go all the time for antiques and horses. Beautiful area. I have a slip at Ironwood, and launch there with friends all the time great place and people. For Lg, traditionally at Rogers Rock just down from Ticonderoga. However, we have launched at Million Dollar,( cluster f*ck) of a launch, normally always packed and sadly its often people who are very new or have very little experience. However its very convenient if you are in the south end of the lake. We've launched at Beckley's, its tight and an odd launch but fun. Norwal and Smith in Bolton, both are easy and slower paced, Norwal even has extended parking. The town of Hague has a launch at the town park, its a tough one with bigger boats and trailers but its a cool place. We've done Mossy Point in Ticonderoga too, easy in and easy out, it is gated thought so be out before they close, only real issue is being in no wake for awhile before you get into the lake. Depends on where you wanna stay, if you head up let me know we can help you navigate the lake. Its our home away from home.
As for crowded, the lake itself is 32 miles long and about 3 miles wide at its widest point. There will always be boats on the water, some days i.e. July 4th, it gets nuts, wake is nuts and the boats are everywhere, however a random tuesday in August, you may see 3 boats all day. It depends allot on time and location as well. Our property is North, in Ti. So we only have the traffic of locals and campers. South you have everyone who rented a boat and watched a video plus residents and parasailers, and steamboat tours.

Jeff L24 · Jul 31, 2024

RNYCLV said:
I'm originally from Philadelphia, I know Skippack well. As a kid my folks used to go all the time for antiques and horses. Beautiful area. I have a slip at Ironwood, and launch there with friends all the time great place and people. For Lg, traditionally at Rogers Rock just down from Ticonderoga. However, we have launched at Million Dollar,( cluster f*ck) of a launch, normally always packed and sadly its often people who are very new or have very little experience. However its very convenient if you are in the south end of the lake. We've launched at Beckley's, its tight and an odd launch but fun. Norwal and Smith in Bolton, both are easy and slower paced, Norwal even has extended parking. The town of Hague has a launch at the town park, its a tough one with bigger boats and trailers but its a cool place. We've done Mossy Point in Ticonderoga too, easy in and easy out, it is gated thought so be out before they close, only real issue is being in no wake for awhile before you get into the lake. Depends on where you wanna stay, if you head up let me know we can help you navigate the lake. Its our home away from home.
As for crowded, the lake itself is 32 miles long and about 3 miles wide at its widest point. There will always be boats on the water, some days i.e. July 4th, it gets nuts, wake is nuts and the boats are everywhere, however a random tuesday in August, you may see 3 boats all day. It depends allot on time and location as well. Our property is North, in Ti. So we only have the traffic of locals and campers. South you have everyone who rented a boat and watched a video plus residents and parasailers, and steamboat tours.

Funny you mentioned July 4th because that's when we had our bad experience on Lake Wally. Last year we realized most of our bad experiences were during July 4th travel so we now avoid crowded places. Spent this July 4th in the WV mountains, not a person in sight!

RNYCLV · Aug 1, 2024

Jeff L24 said:
Funny you mentioned July 4th because that's when we had our bad experience on Lake Wally. Last year we realized most of our bad experiences were during July 4th travel so we now avoid crowded places. Spent this July 4th in the WV mountains, not a person in sight!

Thats the way to do it.
If you come to Wally, let me know we will show you around.

Jeff L24 · Aug 1, 2024

RNYCLV said:
Thats the way to do it.
If you come to Wally, let me know we will show you around.

One of the things that annoyed us over that July 4th vacation was that none of the no wake areas were respected. No matter what no wake area we visited, people were tubing and skiing. Is that the norm at Lake Wally or was it just the July 4th beginners that don't know the rules?

RNYCLV · Aug 2, 2024

Jeff L24 said:
One of the things that annoyed us over that July 4th vacation was that none of the no wake areas were respected. No matter what no wake area we visited, people were tubing and skiing. Is that the norm at Lake Wally or was it just the July 4th beginners that don't know the rules?

Def. not the norm. July 4th is a crazy weekend. You get everyone with a rental cabin or house bringing up their friends from the city to "have a peaceful weekend" Which turns into every teenage kid wanting to be towed, every rental boat at every marina taken and everyone with a boat in the area on the lake. The lake itself is traditionally very nice. The holidays tend to bring out the worst of boating etiquette. There are places you can go to get away from the hustle and bustle of the lake and still enjoy yourself. Martins Cove, Eagle Island and Carins Island tend to be where we spend most of our time. Now they can get crowded and have long chains of tied off boats. However everyone in those chains is out to enjoy themselves and everyone is playing music and grilling, talking and sharing food and drinks. It can be a fun time. Carins Island (Party Cove) is fun on Saturdays and Sundays, busy at times but a ton of swimming, and grilling. There is porta potties on the Island and walking paths with beaches as well.

Jeff L24 · Aug 3, 2024

RNYCLV said:
Def. not the norm. July 4th is a crazy weekend. You get everyone with a rental cabin or house bringing up their friends from the city to "have a peaceful weekend" Which turns into every teenage kid wanting to be towed, every rental boat at every marina taken and everyone with a boat in the area on the lake. The lake itself is traditionally very nice. The holidays tend to bring out the worst of boating etiquette. There are places you can go to get away from the hustle and bustle of the lake and still enjoy yourself. Martins Cove, Eagle Island and Carins Island tend to be where we spend most of our time. Now they can get crowded and have long chains of tied off boats. However everyone in those chains is out to enjoy themselves and everyone is playing music and grilling, talking and sharing food and drinks. It can be a fun time. Carins Island (Party Cove) is fun on Saturdays and Sundays, busy at times but a ton of swimming, and grilling. There is porta potties on the Island and walking paths with beaches as well.

And I assume you recommend Ironwood as a good place to camp in addition to launching? I'd definitely be up for bringing the tent or renting a cabin if they have them.
Our last stay was at Silver Birches and the slip they rented me was really poor quality. The cleats ripped out of the wood and my boat sustained gelcoat damage on both sides. Because of that experience I'm almost more comfortable launching and retrieving each day vs renting a slip. But can you comment on the quality of their transient slips?
Thanks for all the great feedback!

RNYCLV · Aug 5, 2024

Jeff L24 said:
And I assume you recommend Ironwood as a good place to camp in addition to launching? I'd definitely be up for bringing the tent or renting a cabin if they have them.
Our last stay was at Silver Birches and the slip they rented me was really poor quality. The cleats ripped out of the wood and my boat sustained gelcoat damage on both sides. Because of that experience I'm almost more comfortable launching and retrieving each day vs renting a slip. But can you comment on the quality of their transient slips?
Thanks for all the great feedback!

Sorry for the late response. I have a camper site and slip there so I am bias. The launch can be tough the first time as its a tight lower turn. However once you've done it once or have someone guide you the first time if needed you'll be a pro. Its a pay per launch $10, so its traditionally not busy but very well regulated. The operators of the campground and slips are great (Tom and Doris) I do send a ton of people their way. If you do go and we aren't there a drop of my name or my brothers may help ya out a bit, we do a lot of side things for them and they do appreciate friends and family of those who are regulars. Not saying they will roll out a red carpet and comp everything, but they do tend to have a nicer disposition and do tend to drop their costs when its a known person. Building a solid relationship with them, just simple conversation and a nice cigar for them will go a long way. I have my boat on D dock which is across from the gas dock and its in good shape. The lower section is all brand new this year and they will be redoing the rest this winter, most of the rental slips are on A dock. A dock does get some wake from the point but not enough to be worried. The water can get dicey during peak hours, however you are traditionally on the water at that time so its a non issue. It is surveilled so things always have a watchful eye on them, which is nice. The tent sites are all great, I personally recommend sites 52-55. They have the best views on the campground, right on the water .... I will attach some images of everything for you.