Sundancer
Well-Known Member
- Jul 20, 2005
- 2,909
- Boat Info
- 34 year old CLASSIC 300 DA, towed almost anywhere behind the Duramax Dually Crew Cab.
- Engines
- 16 cyl, 700 cu. in./Alpha I's
Preface: Lake Coeur d'Alene in Northern Idaho is still a great lake. In the last 20 years a large resort was built on the north end of the lake. It now surpasses Sun Valley as the top Idaho destination. We had a bad weekend there a couple of weekends ago and I wrote this to warn the rest of my family. I think it could apply to many lakes all around the country or world for that matter. The resort is very high end and the crowd that it draws make more in a couple of months than most folks make in a year in Idaho. So there is somewhat of a disparity between the two. Still, the locals love their lake and refuse to be over-run by the summer visitors. Anyway, here is what I wrote:
First, buy a boat. Then drive to the Mica Bay on the west side of Lake Coeur d’Alene in Northern Idaho and launch the boat. Park your tow vehicle and trailer at any of the 30 FREE spots for the weekend. Next, drive your boat all over the lake until you get tired of idiots water skiing within ten feet of your boat complaining that you are in their way.
Next go to Harrison, Id at the south end and watch people with really expensive, fancy boats discover they can't dock in the wind because they don't know how, they’re drunk or the sun was in their eyes. Watch their boat careen of the other boats while people scramble trying to help others and protect their own small boats. (Editor’s note: Park on the north dock, no one else parks there because it's apparently too easy.) The expensive boat crowd (also known as the tw’ers or Two Weakers (yes, weAk) because they use the lake and boat two weeks a year.) fancy themselves in getting in and out of tight spaces, in the wind and getting points for hitting the most boats in the process. Enjoy the nice concrete docks, the small town environment and get some ice cream while staying on shore where it’s safer. When you can't take anymore, boat to the North end of the lake. It's easy to find, just follow the biggest boats zigzagging up the lake and look for the tallest building. You'll know you are there when you see the sheriff boats pulling over jet skiers for jumping wakes, jet boaters for driving at night with headlights on and a bazillion boat wakes that throw you like a cork in a toilet flush stream. When you get to those big wakes, hang on just a little longer and slow to 1800 RPM to create the largest wake possible while racing other boats to through the no wake zone. When you pass the logjam and as contrary as it seems to your better judgment, hang a right and look for some docks with green caps on the pilings. This is the City park where the average joe parks and is roughly 1/20th of the cost of a night at the resort (and shares the launch!). You can back in or drive straight into an available slip. Some try it sideways, but it marks up the docks.
When you have successfully docked and tied up, note the number on the front of your slip then walk with $15 in cash to the Park and Dock sign and pay the nightly fee for your slip. Now you are free from all the nuts on Lake CDA and you can stand up above the water near the pay station and get a different perspective. You'll see loud boats, wooden boats, Testosterone boats, guys that can't drive, guys that could before they had that sixth beer and women getting yelled at by their spouse/insignificant other for a variety of reasons. You’ll see scantily clad, sunburned, lipo scars and folks that don’t have a license for the offending swimsuit. Apparently, there is no TV show "What Not to Wear" swimsuit edition? Lean over the railing and look to the right and you can have even more fun watching people launch and load their boats. Take big score cards and you can judge them Olympic style as they perform their maneuvers like:
1) The boat drop. This scores BIG points if the boat leaves the trailer without getting wet and low marks for touching the water.
2) The launch, oh DARN (expletive edited in good taste!) followed by a speedy retrieval back on the trailer. They get big marks if they PARKED their trailer and had to run back to it when they discovered they left the bilge plug out. The highest marks available are when the boat falls apart from the weight of the water INSIDE the boat AFTER leaving the water. This is the equivalent of a perfect score in gymnastics.
3) The “boat won't start so yell at your wife” is popular, as is yelling at your wife because she can't start the boat; back the trailer down the ramp or anything else well enough for that matter. “Do it yourself Bub” replies from the female while walking away score high.
4) The launch and float is when you launch your boat and THEN remember you forgot to put ropes on it to secure it to the dock, trailer, spouse or Golden Retriever. Extra points earned for each child under 12 in the boat that DOES NOT have his/her life preserver on.
5) Launch and spend the weekend right there at the dock (this saves fuel but angers others who are launching and retrieving). Extra points if you refuse to move.
6) Retrieve your boat and unload it, dry it, wax it, wax her, polish, drain, detail, un-canvas, strap up, tie down, cover, check your oil, eat, raise the motor and change the prop after pulling two feet from the water while still blocking the ramp. Additional points for each task performed.
7) Starting the boat and letting it run while waiting for your turn to launch. Extra points if you actually SMELL burnt rubber.
8) Launching and letting Rover swim in the active launch and retrieve area. BIG points if the dog makes any noise due to pain.
9) ????
Of course there are many other ways to have a good time at the resort too. I won't spoil the fun!! And it's only $15 per night!! Come see Lake Coeur d’Alene!!
First, buy a boat. Then drive to the Mica Bay on the west side of Lake Coeur d’Alene in Northern Idaho and launch the boat. Park your tow vehicle and trailer at any of the 30 FREE spots for the weekend. Next, drive your boat all over the lake until you get tired of idiots water skiing within ten feet of your boat complaining that you are in their way.
Next go to Harrison, Id at the south end and watch people with really expensive, fancy boats discover they can't dock in the wind because they don't know how, they’re drunk or the sun was in their eyes. Watch their boat careen of the other boats while people scramble trying to help others and protect their own small boats. (Editor’s note: Park on the north dock, no one else parks there because it's apparently too easy.) The expensive boat crowd (also known as the tw’ers or Two Weakers (yes, weAk) because they use the lake and boat two weeks a year.) fancy themselves in getting in and out of tight spaces, in the wind and getting points for hitting the most boats in the process. Enjoy the nice concrete docks, the small town environment and get some ice cream while staying on shore where it’s safer. When you can't take anymore, boat to the North end of the lake. It's easy to find, just follow the biggest boats zigzagging up the lake and look for the tallest building. You'll know you are there when you see the sheriff boats pulling over jet skiers for jumping wakes, jet boaters for driving at night with headlights on and a bazillion boat wakes that throw you like a cork in a toilet flush stream. When you get to those big wakes, hang on just a little longer and slow to 1800 RPM to create the largest wake possible while racing other boats to through the no wake zone. When you pass the logjam and as contrary as it seems to your better judgment, hang a right and look for some docks with green caps on the pilings. This is the City park where the average joe parks and is roughly 1/20th of the cost of a night at the resort (and shares the launch!). You can back in or drive straight into an available slip. Some try it sideways, but it marks up the docks.
When you have successfully docked and tied up, note the number on the front of your slip then walk with $15 in cash to the Park and Dock sign and pay the nightly fee for your slip. Now you are free from all the nuts on Lake CDA and you can stand up above the water near the pay station and get a different perspective. You'll see loud boats, wooden boats, Testosterone boats, guys that can't drive, guys that could before they had that sixth beer and women getting yelled at by their spouse/insignificant other for a variety of reasons. You’ll see scantily clad, sunburned, lipo scars and folks that don’t have a license for the offending swimsuit. Apparently, there is no TV show "What Not to Wear" swimsuit edition? Lean over the railing and look to the right and you can have even more fun watching people launch and load their boats. Take big score cards and you can judge them Olympic style as they perform their maneuvers like:
1) The boat drop. This scores BIG points if the boat leaves the trailer without getting wet and low marks for touching the water.
2) The launch, oh DARN (expletive edited in good taste!) followed by a speedy retrieval back on the trailer. They get big marks if they PARKED their trailer and had to run back to it when they discovered they left the bilge plug out. The highest marks available are when the boat falls apart from the weight of the water INSIDE the boat AFTER leaving the water. This is the equivalent of a perfect score in gymnastics.
3) The “boat won't start so yell at your wife” is popular, as is yelling at your wife because she can't start the boat; back the trailer down the ramp or anything else well enough for that matter. “Do it yourself Bub” replies from the female while walking away score high.
4) The launch and float is when you launch your boat and THEN remember you forgot to put ropes on it to secure it to the dock, trailer, spouse or Golden Retriever. Extra points earned for each child under 12 in the boat that DOES NOT have his/her life preserver on.
5) Launch and spend the weekend right there at the dock (this saves fuel but angers others who are launching and retrieving). Extra points if you refuse to move.
6) Retrieve your boat and unload it, dry it, wax it, wax her, polish, drain, detail, un-canvas, strap up, tie down, cover, check your oil, eat, raise the motor and change the prop after pulling two feet from the water while still blocking the ramp. Additional points for each task performed.
7) Starting the boat and letting it run while waiting for your turn to launch. Extra points if you actually SMELL burnt rubber.
8) Launching and letting Rover swim in the active launch and retrieve area. BIG points if the dog makes any noise due to pain.
9) ????
Of course there are many other ways to have a good time at the resort too. I won't spoil the fun!! And it's only $15 per night!! Come see Lake Coeur d’Alene!!
