Talk to me about Buffalo, NY

[drewkaree]

Oh, and an impeller mod isn't just a jet boat thing, but it WILL void the warranty on your 2-stage, but it's worth the few pennies and time it'll cost you.

 

[2kwik4u]

@drewkaree @Julian

Not going to get a snowblower this year.....I don't think. New house we're renting comes with lawn service and snow removal. Might regret that, we'll see.

 

[2kwik4u]

Glad you had good luck with the movers… so many shady shiftless ones out there these days! Time to relax and plan the first boating outing in your new AO.

Congrats!

Heading to Chautauqua Lake tomorrow morning. Very interested to see how NY boating is.

 

[Coult45]

Oh, and an impeller mod isn't just a jet boat thing, but it WILL void the warranty on your 2-stage, but it's worth the few pennies and time it'll cost you.

wait...there's an impeller mod for snowblowers? How have I never heard about this?

 

[drewkaree]

wait...there's an impeller mod for snowblowers? How have I never heard about this?

2-stage only, and it's like having a superpower without having to wear a cape! Out of warranty only, as your first hole drilled probably voids it.

Pull the spark plug, I don't want to call you lefty or stumpy

 

[PJFan1977]

Heading to Chautauqua Lake tomorrow morning. Very interested to see how NY boating is.

How did you like Chautauqua? I have spent pretty much my entire life boating there at some point during the summer. Family will be vacationing there for the week of July 4th. If you need any suggestions about places to check out, LMK

 

[2kwik4u]

How did you like Chautauqua? I have spent pretty much my entire life boating there at some point during the summer. Family will be vacationing there for the week of July 4th. If you need any suggestions about places to check out, LMK

We spent about 3.5-4hrs there yesterday. Quick 70min drive south for us from the house to the launch. We put in right near the Chautauqua Belle at a small park I found on Google. Lake is larger than I had in my head, but still not super ginormous. We headed south to start and made it to the bridge before the natives got restless and wanted lunch. Turned around and came back up near the boat museum and tossed out an anchor for a bit.

The green algae floating in the water kind of wierded out the wife. She wasn't sure what to think of that. Water was DAMN cold for us southerners. We'll get used to that in time I'm sure. The plant life was nuts as well. I've never seen an underwater "forrest" like that. Not sure what those plants are, but they wierded out the little ones, so we didn't spend much time near shore. Was interesting too that there are no coves/creeks/etc to take refuge from the wakes/waves from the other boats. That was different for us. Best we could find was just off the shore at Lake Point beach area. Wind was coming out of the SouthEast, so the rest of the lake had some light waves/chop from the wind, and that was about as sheltered from that that we could find.

Boat ran pretty well. Didn't realize it was at ~1,300ft elevation. Still had acceptable power and a top speed around 39mph, so I'm not complaining or changing anything. Did have a problem getting it back on the trailer. Guess when she hit reverse to stop the boat it stirred up some rocks/debris from the ramp and jammed the reverse bucket shut. She panicked and shut the motor off. Luckily the wind pushed the boat towards the courtesy dock and I was able to run out and catch it. We tied a line on and walked it on the trailer. No big deal, but a first for her piloting the boat, and during a tricky moment. Cleared the bucket almost instantly once on the trailer, just a few taps to dislodge the pebbles and it was fine.

Overall, it was a pretty good day. I'm still amazed at the weather up here. It was 81/sunny with a light breeze and low humidity yesterday. We didn't even put the bimini up until after we had lunch. Just a nice cool afternoon. That's pretty unheard of in Southern Indiana this time of year. That part we can definitely get used to in short order.

 

[PJFan1977]

We spent about 3.5-4hrs there yesterday. Quick 70min drive south for us from the house to the launch. We put in right near the Chautauqua Belle at a small park I found on Google. Lake is larger than I had in my head, but still not super ginormous. We headed south to start and made it to the bridge before the natives got restless and wanted lunch. Turned around and came back up near the boat museum and tossed out an anchor for a bit.

The green algae floating in the water kind of wierded out the wife. She wasn't sure what to think of that. Water was DAMN cold for us southerners. We'll get used to that in time I'm sure. The plant life was nuts as well. I've never seen an underwater "forrest" like that. Not sure what those plants are, but they wierded out the little ones, so we didn't spend much time near shore. Was interesting too that there are no coves/creeks/etc to take refuge from the wakes/waves from the other boats. That was different for us. Best we could find was just off the shore at Lake Point beach area. Wind was coming out of the SouthEast, so the rest of the lake had some light waves/chop from the wind, and that was about as sheltered from that that we could find.

Boat ran pretty well. Didn't realize it was at ~1,300ft elevation. Still had acceptable power and a top speed around 39mph, so I'm not complaining or changing anything. Did have a problem getting it back on the trailer. Guess when she hit reverse to stop the boat it stirred up some rocks/debris from the ramp and jammed the reverse bucket shut. She panicked and shut the motor off. Luckily the wind pushed the boat towards the courtesy dock and I was able to run out and catch it. We tied a line on and walked it on the trailer. No big deal, but a first for her piloting the boat, and during a tricky moment. Cleared the bucket almost instantly once on the trailer, just a few taps to dislodge the pebbles and it was fine.

Overall, it was a pretty good day. I'm still amazed at the weather up here. It was 81/sunny with a light breeze and low humidity yesterday. We didn't even put the bimini up until after we had lunch. Just a nice cool afternoon. That's pretty unheard of in Southern Indiana this time of year. That part we can definitely get used to in short order.

Chautauqua is a very weedy lake, especially once you get past the bridge because that end is much shallower. It can also get very choppy and thunderstorms can spring up quick. There is a nice, free public launch at Bemus Point (near the boat museum you mentioned). Water temps will come up soon, especially with the heat we're going to have this week. Many folks anchor off Long Point State Park. There's also a somewhat sandy area just to the other side of the lake from the point. If you head way down the lake past the bridge, be careful as there's an underwater island. It's marked but there are so many markers it's almost confusing where it starts and ends.

Is the algae especially bad this year? Some times those algae blooms can be dangerous to people and pets. It never used to be a problem but I remember it being pretty substantial last year. There is a website that monitors it that I don't have handy right now, a quick google search should help.

Some places to check out around the lake if you head back...
Ellicottville Brewing Company (EBC)
The Casino (not an actual Casino, good wings)
Midway State Park - an amusement park that's been around > 100 years
Chautauqua Lake KOA Campground
Many wineries/distilleries/breweries
Guppies Restaurant (always very busy during the summer - great food)
Southern Tier Brewing Company

 

[2kwik4u]

Is the algae especially bad this year? Some times those algae blooms can be dangerous to people and pets. It never used to be a problem but I remember it being pretty substantial last year. There is a website that monitors it that I don't have handy right now, a quick google search should help.

I'm not sure I'm one to judge what "especially bad" looks like. This is the first time I've ever seen this, so I'm completely unaware of what level it's at. I could tell the water was clear for a fairly good depth (10ft maybe?) compared to what I'm used to, but there was obviously floating spores or something in there. I scooped a handful of water out and I could see them in my hand. The floated right away and we didn't notice them really "sticking" to us when we got out, so we didn't think too much about it.

Only took one video and one picture yesterday. Have a look and let me know what you think.

New video by Mike Dobrick

photos.app.goo.gl

Some places to check out around the lake if you head back...
Ellicottville Brewing Company (EBC)
The Casino (not an actual Casino, good wings)
Midway State Park - an amusement park that's been around > 100 years
Chautauqua Lake KOA Campground
Many wineries/distilleries/breweries
Guppies Restaurant (always very busy during the summer - great food)
Southern Tier Brewing Company

Thanks for the recommendations. We'll put 'em on the list !!

 

[PJFan1977]

HAB (Harmful Algae Bloom) interactive map:

ArcGIS Web Application

nysdec.maps.arcgis.com

Blue Green Algae:

Blue Green Algae

The Department of Health keeps you informed about exposures that can potentially harm you and your family. Please refer to this section more information. Blue Green Algae Blue Green Algae Physician's Reference

chqgov.com

 

[PJFan1977]

Only took one video and one picture yesterday. Have a look and let me know what you think.

New video by Mike Dobrick

photos.app.goo.gl

Thanks for the recommendations. We'll put 'em on the list !!

Water looks pretty clear there! Definitely not what I saw last summer

 

[2kwik4u]

Water looks pretty clear there! Definitely not what I saw last summer

Yea, compared to the links you just sent, this was nothing. Water was definitely clear, but had some spores floating in it as well. Water wasn't full "bloom" like what those links present at all.

I'm probably over cautious since I was hospitalized in '20 with a lung infection that was traced back to some fungus from Jamaica. Guessing I inhaled it from the water while wakeboarding on an excursion there during vacation. Nothing like having severe respiratory distress requiring hospitalization in the middle of a global pandemic either.......needless to say, I'm a bit scarred.

 

[drewkaree]

That water is gorgeous compared to the typical stuff I'm used to seeing.

The blue green algae is the stuff you'll REALLY wanna pay attention to, familiarize yourself with what it looks like. Shouldn't be an issue further out into the lake, but around the launches, you may encounter it. You'll notice the smell WAY before the visual.

The stuff below could be any number of weeds, milfoil & coontail are the common things that make me think of a forest. Explain to the kids that it's like grass in the lawn, only it grows in the water, and nobody ever cuts the grass. I've found that my grandkids were skeeved out by it as well, until I got a few samples pulled for them to show what it looks like, and now they're fine swimming in the creek, sometimes jumping right into a floating pile for some reason. Go figure.

 

[2kwik4u]

That water is gorgeous compared to the typical stuff I'm used to seeing.

The blue green algae is the stuff you'll REALLY wanna pay attention to, familiarize yourself with what it looks like. Shouldn't be an issue further out into the lake, but around the launches, you may encounter it. You'll notice the smell WAY before the visual.

The stuff below could be any number of weeds, milfoil & coontail are the common things that make me think of a forest. Explain to the kids that it's like grass in the lawn, only it grows in the water, and nobody ever cuts the grass. I've found that my grandkids were skeeved out by it as well, until I got a few samples pulled for them to show what it looks like, and now they're fine swimming in the creek, sometimes jumping right into a floating pile for some reason. Go figure.

Here's the only other picture I snapped from Sunday. Water is definitely more blue than green up here.