Boating In Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is a Boater’s Paradise:

Without a doubt Lake Tahoe is one of the clearest, cleanest, deepest and most beautiful lakes in the United States. Did you know that Lake Tahoe is the highest and largest alpine lake in the U.S? Th e maximum depth of Lake Tahoe is 1,645 feet. Th ere are 71 miles of surrounding shoreline. Lake Tahoe is 22 miles long, 12 miles wide and has 39 trillion gallons of capacity. Most of my boating friends agree, boating on Lake Tahoe puts one in a peaceful serene environment, enhanced by the majestic mountains, no phones, no computers, and no stress.

If fun and excitement are on your agenda while visiting Lake Tahoe, there is a wonderful variety of marine activities from which to choose including driving your own personal watercraft to sailing, to kayaking, or jet skiing.

Incline Village Boat Launch is the only private boat launch on the North Side of the Lake. The IVGID pass that all home owners receive allows access to the several private beaches and the boat launch. You can rent a private boat from one of the many marina locations, or simply bring your own. We have many historic sites to visit by boat as well as many wonderful restaurants. It is great to take the boat over to the Hyatt for their Sunday brunch or mosey on over to Sunnyside for their great deep fried zucchini.

A beautiful trip to take is the Emerald bay cruise or the MS Dixie … They have many cruises departing throughout the day. The MS Dixie offers a great sunset dinner cruise with dancing. This is a wonderful way to relax and let someone else captain the boat. Tahoe offers many chartered excursions. We have sunset cruises, private cruises, historic Glenbrook breakfast cruises, or if you really want to pick up the pace, you can take a ride on the Tahoe Thunder.

Boating Safety:

There are many significant elements to think about when boating. BOATING IS SOMETHING TO TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.

Wind:

Sudden, high gusty winds of sufficient intensity to capsize a small craft are not unusual in the basin. When the dark line appears down the lake, gusty winds are
moving in your direction. This can happen in a matter of minutes and is not something to take lightly.

Underwater Hazards:

The lake level is very low this year so you must be aware of underwater obstructions, such as rocks and old pilings which may be exposed or barely covered near shorelines.. Very hazardous areas of Lake Tahoe have been marked by the Coast Guard with red buoys.

Water Temperature:

The water temperature of the lake is very cold. Surface temperature is approximately 40 degrees during December through April. Summer temperatures may reach the upper 60’s near the shoreline. The boater must be prepared at all times for adverse wind conditions. The wearing of personal flotation devices by all passengers aboard and the use of wet suits for water skiing is highly recommended.

Warnings:

Please don’t overestimate your boating ability or underestimate the danger of some waterways. Before getting underway, be sure your craft is not overloaded and that you have a full tank of gas. Always make sure you have the drain plug in - wouldn’t want to sink the boat!

Water Quality:

No sewage or waste water can be discharged into the waters of Lake Tahoe. Gas tanks are not to be topped off. All boats are REQUIRED to place an oil absorbent sleeve in the boat’s bilge area. Boats should be washed only with biodegradable agents which contain no phosphates. All boaters must be aware of safe boating and environmental laws which govern the waters and realize the consequences associated with violations. It is always a great idea to take a class with the Coast Guard.

Inspections:

As of June 1st all boats will be inspected for invasive species. Before you launch your boat TRPA will be doing an inspection on your boat AT ALL BOAT RAMPS.

This article appeared in the July issue of the Coldwell Banker E-Newsletter

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