AVI Hotel to Havasu by Boat

[ccracing]

I am trying to get some input on the drive by boat, from the AVI Hotel to Park Moabi or even Havasu on the river. Is there anything that I should watch out for, or if you stay in the middle of the river, is it a fairly safe ride? I remember when I was a kid we took a drive up that way and hit a sandbar. Luckily we were in a jet. Now with my IO I don't want to tear it up. Would I be better Driving from the AVI and putting in at Park Moabi? Are there certain times of the day where you can do it due to the water level being higher? Any info is appreciated.

Chad

[OutCole'd]

For a jet boat or sea doo, no problem. Anything else this time of year, better be kinda careful.Lots of shallow areas. I've done the Moabi to Havasu trip lots, with no problems. But you still need to be careful.

[Havasu Dreamin]

There is really no problem going South to Havasu from the Needles bridge. Between the Needles bridge and North to the Avi, there are some shallow areas to watch out for. We did it once with our 21 Essex which had the Bravo III, I was sweating bullets becasue I would have screwed up two props at ~$1k to replace http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/Wow1.gif . There is no way I would make that trip now in the current boat. I'd go up to the Needles bridge, but no further. And I'll echo Bill, now is not the time of year to make that run at all.

[Rivercrazy2]

That section is pretty much my home water and I run it all the time. However, I ran it in my former jet boat for years and know it well.

I do run my 25' outdrive boat now and have not hit anything.

It all depends on what time of year your planning on the run. From late march through june your fine. The water now is way to low even for most jet boats. After June, the afternoon flows are OK for the run but not in the morning generally (if you don't know the water).

For the most part, the Az side of the river is deeper. The cali section between the Avi and Needles bridge has a few significant rock bars to watch out for.

[shane forrest]

I HAVE DONE THE TRIP MANY TIMES IN MY 25 DAYTONA FROM THE AVI TO HAVASU THE LAST TIME I WENT WAS LABOR DAY WEEKEND 2004. I WOULD NOT GO UP THERE UNLESS IT IS SUMMER TIME AND WOULDNT MAKE THE TRIP UNTILL AT LEAST 11:00 A.M. WHEN YOU COME BACK IN THE AFTERNOON USUALLY YOU CAN MAKE IT STRAIGHT THREW EXCEPT TWO SPOTS THAT I KNOW OF THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SHORELINE BUT THOSE SANDBARS ARE EASY TO SEE.ON THE WAY DOWN TO HAVASU FROM AVI TO NEEDLES BRIDGE YOU DONT WANT TO STAY RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE YOUR GOING TO BE ZIG ZAGGING A BIT YOU JUST HAVE TO WATCH THE WATER AND DONT PUT YOUR BEST PROP ON EITHER.THE RIDE FROM NEEDLES BRIDGE TO HAVASU IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!! http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumb.gif

[ccracing]

Guys thanks for the info. I am looking at the weekend or March 25th. If I put in at Park Moabi, I take it I will still need to be careful? How far is the bridge from Park Moabi, anyone know approx miles or miutes by boat. I have friends that will be staying at Moabi but is it risky to run on the river there, even to the south towards Havasu? Thanks for all the input.

Chad

[Havasu Dreamin]

Running from the Needles bridge South to Moabi and on to Havasu should not be too much of a problem. I've never run into any problems between the bridge and Havasu, aside from the very North end of the lake where you go from the "river portion" to the lake portion. This is where there is a shallow area. I would say from the bridge to Moabi would be about 20-30 minutes. From Moabi to the channel would probably be about 40-50 minutes maybe. Those times might be way off as we have not gone North of Moabi in two years and only went North of the Sandbar once last year.

[ccracing]

That helps! I think i am confused though. When you cross over the river on the I-40 is that what you consider the Needles bridge or is there another one farther north?

Chad

[PUMP 'HER']

Moabi is north of the 40, south of Needles. There are 2 bridges over the river through Needles. Â*The 95 and one south of that, never been across that one, looks like a smaller bridge, @ Jack Smith Park. Â*Moabi is just south of the map on this (http://www.randmcnally.com/rmc/directions/dirGetMap.jsp?val=large&BV_SessionID=@@@@0306587248.1106871606@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadddjgldmikcefecggfdffhdgjf.0&cmty=0&Q=http%3A//map.rmservers.com/map%3Fr%3DIMAG%257C%2525PD%253D492%2C292%2525LL%25 3D34%252E726402%2C%252D114%252E528297%2525ZM%253DM 3998%252E98%2525LLICON%253DIcon4%2C34%252E838539%2 C%252D114%252E604301%2C%2CFont11%2CR%257C%2525MS%2 53DB%257C%257C%26d%3D75%26t%3Dmn%26z%3D9%26id%3DRM C%26tid%3D0306587248.1106871798.557142%26fix%3D1%2 6h%3D6DF8AA4898D3CBCCAB9C61A20FD4E7F6&n=&A=&C=Needles&S=CA&Z=&c=USA&z=small&T=34.838539&N=-114.604301&h=false&aprt=&CT=34.726402&CN=-114.528297&l=9) page. Â*(sorry you'll have to go look at it yourself they don't allow linking http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif Â*)

[digginfordollars]

There is one major sandbar to lookout for between Moabi and Havasu, it is easy to spot though. Usually full of naked women and drunken men. http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rollinglaugh.gif http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumb.gif

[Havasu Dreamin]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ccracing @ Jan. 27 2005, 3:31 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">That helps! I think i am confused though. When you cross over the river on the I-40 is that what you consider the Needles bridge or is there another one farther north?

Chad[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
The bridge I am referring to is the one just North of Needles Marina Park.

As Brandon alluded to, there are multiple bridges between the Avi and Havasu. The first one is right at the Avi, the second is the Needles Bridge, the third and fourth, both South of Moabi, are the I-40 and the railroad bridge which are right next to each other and right at Topock Marina.

[beer hunter]

I'm surprised M2ME hasn't chimed in here, a few years ago Kurt and I drove his 23' Essex down from the Avi to the Sandbar when the water was very low at about 10:00am. I had made the trip before in my 19'er when the water was up and other than a big rockbar in the Needles area it seemed fine. Our trip was totally different. The water was only 4' to 5', maybe 6' in the main channel but much lower near the banks. We were on and off plane and going very slow all the way to Needles trying to avoid the shallow spots, lumber etc. Once we got down to Needles everything was fine and you could run at speed the rest of the way. On our way back the water was up and it didn't seem much different than the areas below Needles. If you're going to make that trip, do it when the water is up a little. http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[titties and beer]

i worry just going to the sandbar,but on to topic i just HAULASSSSSSS http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumb.gif

[just another payment]

Best advise ; "BUY A JET AND STOP WORRYING"

I have made the run in early march from laughlin all the way to havasu in the early morning and even though I will admit it is a white knuckle ride in some spots , as long as you stay on plane and keep moving it sure is fun. http://www.lasvegashotboats.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/jump.gif

[PUMP 'HER']

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (just another payment @ Jan. 27 2005, 10:21 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Best advise ; Â*"BUY A JET AND STOP WORRYING"[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Best advice I've heard in a while.

[shane forrest]

I AGREE THATS WHY I JUST BOUGHT A JET

[ccracing]

Thanks for the info guys.

Chad