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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Klamath Lake ???

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Waterboy
Navigator

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USA
204 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/30/2004 : 00:39:16

First let me apologize in advance for a loquacious and perhaps rambling diatribe; I'm tired, punchy, and happy. See paragraph 3 if you'd like to cut to the chase.

'back from the summer road trip ... from AZ to LA to VA to WI and MN to MT to OR and back ... C250 WB in tow 'most' of the way (and in the water frequently as well ... YAY!). 'broke things, fixed things, learned heaps, 'specially about putting her in and out of the water and stepping/unstepping. More on this later ... with photos too after I knock off a few items on the todo list.

Anyway ... there was a pragmatic rationalization for our odyssey in addition to escaping the heat and road rage of Phoenix in the summer. Where to make base camp for the next 20 years or so? It must have: 1) low to medium cost of living 2) decent economy and opportunity for entrepeneurship and 3) 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' type of climate (not too hot, not to cold; I'm from MT and she from AZ)and 4) You Guessed Correctly! - good sailing!

So, Klamath Falls OR, is about 2 leisurely hours east of the Ashland/Medford/Grant's Pass area on the I5 corridor. In addition to seeming to meet the first three criteria, Upper Klamath Lake is about 25 miles long and aroung 6 miles wide, however it does have a reputation for being shallow (ave depth 14'). While we did not have the opportunity to sail here or interview other sailors, we did see boats on the lake and there was a small marina and yacht club.

Does anyone have any first hand experience sailing here? The place looks almost too good to be true. 'didn't find much on the web with my cursory searches.

Thanks in advance !!!

Greg in (for now) AZ
C250 WB 'Sabrosa'

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 00:56:14

I drove through the area a year ago, not the lake just up I 5, it looked beautiful. I talked to a fellow that owns a couple of drive through espresso shops there. He loved the area, just said that it was murder for alergies. You got the whole valley up wind blowing all the pollen to you. I'd still like to take the admrial there to see what it looks like too.

Edited by - on

Waterboy
Navigator

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USA
204 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 01:09:04

My First Mate has horrible allergies as well. She was troubled greatly by them in the I5 area, but very much less so further east. 'kind of an additional unwritten criteria as we looked about the country.

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 01:16:23

My wife is untroubled, I on the other hand have great difficulty too.

Edited by - on

Tony Partain
1st Mate

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USA
93 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 03:34:56

First let me point out the good points about Klamath Lake. Its very big and not crowded at all. On the west side of the lake you will find several bays that provide good protection for anchoring. There is a yacht club and a marina. A few boats race one day a week in the summer. The wind is some of the best inland sailing I have ever experienced. On the south end of the lake there is an island that creates a venturi that compares to a sea breeze. Very good sailing.

The down sides are difficult. BUGS in the early spring they are tolerable. But mid summer they are bad. Klamath contains algae and it contains a lot, so much that its harvested and sold as a health product. Southern Oregon and Northern California grow potatoes and many other crops. The lake is lowered late summer to accommodate salmon runs and agriculture. Mid channel we ran a ground last October on a friends Catalina 22.

For another opinion you can call Brian Fitz Gerald he owns Meridian Sail Center in Klamath. 541-884-5869 Or Ron at Pelican Marina 541- 882-5834

Good luck

Edited by - Tony Partain on 08/30/2004 03:37:40

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 09:53:07

LOTS of people moving there for retirement... the Medford/Grants Pass area is the fastest growing area in Oregon. It's not that big of a hop down I-5 to Shasta for a 'big lake' sailing fix.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 15:09:15

Mt St Helens could never happen again.

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Waterboy
Navigator

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USA
204 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2004 : 00:41:24

... and Mauna Kea will never pull a Krakatoa, right?

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Tony Partain
1st Mate

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USA
93 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2004 : 16:37:51

Waterboy here's another option for you, Fern Ridge Lake in Eugene OR. http://www.eugeneyachtclub.org/about/index.html

Edited by - Tony Partain on 08/31/2004 16:41:12

Bruce Ebling
Navigator

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USA
155 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2004 : 20:55:50

I have sailed Fern Ridge Resevoir since 1983. There is always wind on the lake and many types of racing there. There is a yacht club that is very active plus three marinas that have extensive moorage. From time to time the lake suffers from low water (about once every 5 -10 years). The lake is shallow (max depth in the 25 to 30' range) and can kick up some sizable waves. There are plenty of anchorages for sailboats, but the lake can get busy in the summer months.
Bruce Ebling
1989 WK "Selah"

Edited by - on

boeningc
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2004 : 14:41:12

I live here in Klamath Falls. We bought our Catalina 25 last summer.

Like Tony said, the lake gets low and the bugs get bad. I think his average depth may be a little generous though. I thought it was more like 8' to 10'. Probably depends on when you're talking about and who you're talking to.

When we were out around the middle/beginning of July most of the area before the first island (Buck Island) was in the 6' to 7' range. Supposedly the part of the lake north of the first island hangs around the 8' range. It's probably also worth noting that the lake bottom is pretty flat. Not too exciting on the fish finder.

IMHO, the best times for sailing are from March/April after the ice melts off until the end of June. After that the lake gets more green as the algae blooms and the midges and mosquitos get worse. I think it was Memorial Day weekend when were were out and the bugs were so thick it may as well have been raining them. Mostly what we call midges. They're small little green bugs with a 48 hour lifespan.

http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2004/09/01/news/top_stories/top1.txt
http://www.worldmarktheclub.com/destinations/2004/jul/extra3.shtml

Here's a pic takeen last summer towards the end of July. I guess it wasn't too bad since the kids were swimming. Although this year they weren't as enthusiastic on jumping in.

http://www.theboenings.com/pictures/2003-07-26-klamath-lake/IMG_1632.JPG

The Rogue Yacht Club is based out of Howard Prairie. I've never sailed up there but hear it's not too bad.

http://www.howardprairieresort.com/Sailing.html

If you or anyone else here is ever in town feel free to drop me a line and we'll go for a criuse.

Charlie
1978 SR/SK

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2004 : 19:14:46

Charlie,
A quick question before checkin gyour links. When you say ice, does that mean the lake frezzes? In regards to depth, Have you ever hit bottom? Would a fin keel have dificulty?
Thanks

Edited by - on

boeningc
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2004 : 02:30:54

Matt,

During the winter the lake does freeze. I've never driven out on it but have heard of people doing so.

Brian Fitzgerald (mentioned earlier by Tony and whom I used to work for) told me that one of the local mills used to drive out and dump sawdust.

I have hit bottom but only a couple times. There are a few areas to steer clear of. One is the sawdust piles that are like a big sandbar. They're easy to steer clear of. Along the east bank just before the first island I've also hit what looked like a tree on the fish finder. I probably should have tacked a little sooner.

There are some rocks near what's called the "Rock House" (oddly enough a house built out of rocks). The only other place I really know to steer clear of is the area between the public marina and the yacht club. I've been told there are many sharp rocks in that area. There are a couple markers noting the hazard but I've never been close enough to read them.

One of the guys I work with sails his Catalina 27. Brian has a couple 22's and a 25. All fixed keel. I've seen a couple other 25 to 27 fixed keels out there as well. I think the biggest thing is just knowing when to get off the lake. My biggest fear is having my swing up too far and pulling the rudder off. Of course if it's that bad I could always get out and walk back for help.

I hope I didn't scare anyone off from visiting Klamath Lake. Don't get me wrong ... it's a big beautiful lake with snowcapped mountains in the distance and wildlife everywhere. I just feel that people should know what to expect come the middle of summer.

Charlie
78 SR/SK

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MattL
 Charlie,
A quick question before checkin gyour links. When you say ice, does that mean the lake frezzes? In regards to depth, Have you ever hit bottom? Would a fin keel have dificulty?
Thanks
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2004 : 02:45:01

Sounds good to me. I think you are fortunate to have such a nice place to sail.

It's kind of far for most memebers of our club to do for a week end sailing trip but I'll mention it to our crusing director for next year.

Edited by - on

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