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Lake Levels
by Dave Shearer 12 May '23

12 May '23

Well, today we hit a lake level of 4193' msl which is 4.4 feet rise from our low last fall. We are likely to come up 1.5 to 2.0 feet more topping off sometime early July. That would put us at a lake level of 4194.5' to 4195' msl. If that is the case, we would only drop 1.3' to 1.5 feet this fall putting us at 4193' to 4193.7' at the mouth of the marina, or, more importantly, 4.8' to 5' at the mouth this fall. This is very good news! It means the 4' draft boats will get the whole year sailing and the 5' drafts will get most of the year sailing and the whole year if dredging happens in time. It also means that anything with a 5.3 draft or less can go in and stay in all winter. But space will be limited for the larger draft boats as we will essentially only have E dock and parts of K and B dock with enough water. Crane Day is June 6. If you want to go in please get on the list. If you add to the list we need to know: * Your name * Boat Name * Boat Type * Whether you are on Cradle, Stands or Trailer. Some things to remember (yes I'm reminding everyone again) * You will need a new Boat Slip Lease * You may very well not be going back to your old slip * We will require a copy of your current registration and proof of insurance BEFORE a slip assignment is made and you can launch your boat. * If you are craning in June 6th you WILL NEED TO BE HERE or find a good friend or relative to be here and take all responsibility for putting your boat in * You will need to find your own help. We have finally burned out all those wonderful volunteers over the years. * You will need to take your trailers home. We need to reclaim the parking lot for work. * MAKE SURE YOUR MOTORS WORK. If they don't you may be sculling or paddling to your slip. * It is best to raise your mast with the mast crane. If you are craning in, please leave your mast down until you are in the water. * Make sure to have new dock lines. You should have two bow lines, two stern lines and at least two spring lines. Dave

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CRANE DAY
by Dave Shearer 08 May '23

08 May '23

I forgot to mention that this will be called the Matt Larson Memorial Crane Day. Matt was always here for every crane day helping his fellow sailors regardless of whether he had a boat in the water or not. Matt was part of the sailing community since he was 18 years old and spent 26 years donating his time to the community before passing away very recently at 44 years old. We will do a toast in Matt's honor sometime during the crane day. A Celebration of Life is in the works also but will be a different day than crane day. Dave

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CRANE DAY - Tuesday June 6
by Dave Shearer 08 May '23

08 May '23

Crane day has finally been scheduled. After consulting many of you it seems the most suitable date is Tuesday, June 6th. I know some of you want to go in earlier and some want to go later. This seems to be the best compromise. Make sure you email me if you want on the crane list. Please email me if you are interested in volunteering to help your fellow sailors. I will send another email in the next day or two on EVERYTHING you will need to be prepared to go in the water. First on that list is you MUST be here to put your own boat in or arrange for a trusted friend or relative to put the boat in for you. We will NOT put boats in for you. Second, a non-refundable deposit will be required before crane day and payment in full on crane day. The water is still coming up fast and it looks like a great sailing season. Please also be aware that this may be a one-year option for you. We could have a disastrous winter next year and just end up pulling deeper draft boats next year. But many of you have expressed that you want to go in anyway knowing that. Thanks Dave

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Trailer available
by Dave Shearer 08 May '23

08 May '23

I have been contacted by a gentleman that has a trailer for sale. It is a double axle trailer that can take up to a 30 foot boat depending on weight (not suitable for Catalina 30 unless modified with another axle). I don't allow advertising on this email site but I know that several of you are looking for trailers. He doesn't want to necessarily market it. So if you are interested in this trailer, let me know and I will get you and the owner in contact with each other. Let me clarify that I am NOT brokering this trailer or involved in the transaction in ANY Way. I am just trying to get an interested party in contact with the owner. After that you can work the details out yourself. I am not involved. I just get a lot of inquiries on trailers available. Thanks Dave

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Raising Masts - VERY IMPORTANT!
by Dave Shearer 08 May '23

08 May '23

We had a very serious incident out at the GSL marina this last weekend. If you choose to raise your mast in the parking lot before trailer launching your boat, please do so in the northwest parking lot. One of the sailors raised his mast in unsecured storage (by the cell tower). He then began towing his boat out of storage when his mast hit an overhead powerline. The connection with the power line caused an electrical explosion that blew his has apart and damaged his standing rigging. Luckily no one was hurt but the damage to his boat is extensive. A similar situation happened to me in the mid 1970's and we weren't so lucky. I was talking to some people who were raising their mast on the beach near the cabins that used to be at the north beach at Deer Creek. My had was on the side stay and my knees were against the trailer with my feet on the ground. One of the other sailors was standing on the trampoline of the Hobie 16 while another sailor was standing, barefoot, on the tongue of the trailer waiting to hook the forestay up when the mast and forestay made contact with the power line. The sailor standing on the tongue of the trailer and myself were both electrocuted. The sailor on the trampoline, raising the mast, was not electrocuted but realized what was happening and pulled the mast away from the power line. I was thrown backward unconscious as was the sailor standing on the tongue of the trailer. Luckily I survived but the sailor on the tongue of the trailer was not so lucky and succumbed to electrocution. Another friend of mine was killed in nearly the same fashion down in Mexico when she pushed her boat, mast up, into a power line. In another incident here, a sailor pulled his boat from the lake and trailered it down the road. He forgot to take his mast down and struck a power line near Saltair. Please be very careful raising your mast or rigging your boats. It is best to use the mast crane in the marina. Always look up before you raise your mast. Also, we do not allow boats to be stored in the marina storage or parking lot with the mast up. Strong winds will likely tip your boat over potentially causing damage or injury. Please be safe. Thanks Dave

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Parking Passes for Slip Renters
by Dave Shearer 30 Apr '23

30 Apr '23

With the boats going back in and all the slip renters (dry storage renters) coming out to work on their boats please remember to make sure you have your parking passes with you. We have a lot of new gate staff and they have been instructed to make sure everyone has their passes. If you don't have your pass with you the gate staff will ask for a non-refundable entry fee. Our gate staff are wonderful. We want to keep them. Please understand they are just doing their job. Working the entry station can already be stressful without remembering who belongs or doesn't. If you have a boat here and do not have a pass please come see me to get a new pass. Thank you! Dave

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Five Foot Draft Boats - May be able to go back in.
by Dave Shearer 28 Apr '23

28 Apr '23

I have not made the final decision but we are at a place to actually consider the possibility of boats with five foot drafts or less being able to go back into the marina. We have already come up almost 4 feet for the season yet over 90% of the snowpack is still up there heading our way. I will make a decision here soon but I think there is a real possibility that boats with 5 feet of draft or less may be able to go back into the marina. I don't know if that would mean you would be able to sail all year. Anything with more than 4 feet of draft may well be stuck in the marina this Fall. We are likely to see the lake continue to come up through the early part of July before we start dropping. I think that is a very real possibility. And if that happens, we would only drop one foot this summer and fall due to evaporation. So I'm just trying to gauge how many people with Five feet or less of draft would want to go back in if we allow it. Please let me know. Thanks Dave

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GSL Road
by Dave Shearer 28 Apr '23

28 Apr '23

Well the road is almost complete to the Great Salt Lake State Park. It is so much better than it has been in three years. All the paving work is done. They just need to stripe the road. Come out, visit your boat, launch your boat, and enjoy the Great Salt Lake once again! Dave

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Dave's 25th Anniversary Social - MAY 6
by Dave Shearer 28 Apr '23

28 Apr '23

Just one reminder about the Social on May 6th Celebrating 25 Years of GSL Living Please join us as we recognize Dave's 25th Anniversary of living at the Great Salt Lake and the return of sailing/boating/rowing to our marina community! Saturday, May 6th noon to four pm at the Marina pavilion. We will provide the main course and would welcome side salads, chips, desserts, etc. Please bring your favorite "Dave" story to share as we look back on his amazing career (no, he's not quite retiring yet) as the longest running resident/Harbormaster along the shores of the Great Salt Lake. It has been an incredible winter blessed with a LOT of water allowing so many of us to return to the lake that we love. It is time to come out, socialize, celebrate and see old friends. Please RSVP so we know how much main course to provide.

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CRANE DAY
by Dave Shearer 26 Apr '23

26 Apr '23

Get your boats ready! If you have a draft of 4' or less and want to crane in, now is the time to get your boats ready. The date hasn't been set but Crane day will be the later part of May. If you want to be a part of crane day please let me know. I need your name, make and model of boat, whether you are on a trailer, cradle or stands. More information to follow. Dave

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