Weed ingestion on Lake Havasu

[bumpy]

Hi,
We were out this week on Lake Havasu and went upriver to explore ( not in our Yamaha) and we saw a few 230/240's on the river at a California side campground. I was curious about the mats of weeds we saw on the lake; are they the type/quantity that cause clogs? I am hoping one or both of the boaters we saw are on this forum, because someday I will drag my boat to this beautiful location, and I want to learn from the experienced.

 

[jcyamaharider]

If they are you have the perfect boat. Turn off the motors, pop out the clean out ports, then you are back underway. No issue at all.

 

[bobbie]

being from a cannibas legal state..... i expected a story of over-indulging!

 

[itsdgm]

@Glassman would probably have some info on that area. I think he runs his 230 over there.

 

[Glassman]

You could be referring to the large patches that are located at the mouth of the Colorado where it meets the lake. That area is easy to bypass, once past it, it's smooth sailing. You won't have much issue with weeds or grass unless you want to venture into the little pockets of water hidden behind the reeds along the river. And even then, just run in one one engine at slow speed and you'll be fine.

Don't let that patch stop you from venturing up river...the gorge south of Topock is a must-see.



We were just there the weekend before last. Topock itself is fun, a great pit stop for gas, food and fun at Topock 66 . Had a blast! http://topock66.com/

And just a bit farther up river is Pirates Cove on the CA side. http://www.piratecoveresort.com/

 

[bumpy]

Thanks Glassman. You are right about the location of the weed mats, but we did see a few floating down the river. The scenery is amazing, and very different than our New England norm. We stopped going up-river just after the campground at Pirates cove. I hope to get back there soon.

 

[Glassman]

Thanks Glassman. You are right about the location of the weed mats, but we did see a few floating down the river. The scenery is amazing, and very different than our New England norm. We stopped going up-river just after the campground at Pirates cove. I hope to get back there soon.

OK, cool. So you did make it up there.
If you had kept going you would pass through Needles and then it's a few miles up river to the Avi Casino and then on down through Bullhead, AZ and finally Laughlin, NV. - that's where the London Bridge jet-boat to Havasu starts out from.

It's a pleasant run up that stretch and easy for our boats - there are a few sandbars that have claimed more than a few prop boats over the years.

 

[4x15mph]

I don't understand how the clean out plugs help out with the full weeds??? When I hit weeds, they get pulled into the intake plates which are not really accessible by the clean out plugs. I love the jet boat and i grew up with an outboard where my dad would have to reverse the prop to clear the seaweed but our boats are not really not "free" from weed. Right? When we are out and get plugged up, one of us jumps out and clears the weeks from underneath. We have seen some serious weed mats

 

[Ronnie]

Before I got into Yamaha jet boats o had two other jet boats without clean out plugs. The plugs give the user an alternative to jumping in to clear the grates or to doing "reverse trick".

After having to get in on a cold morning and a cold night to clear the grate, o would not even consider buying a jet boat without clean out plugs.

 

[whaler7626]

As long as you pass with speed, weeds matting the surface should be no problem! Lake Minnetonka here in MN has terrible weed problems, sometimes in no wake areas.. those clogs cant easily be cleared by the plugs, and we just jump in.