Boating and Fresh-Water Fishing in Arizona

By Louis Gerlinger

Tuesday, 21 June 2005

When most people think of recreational facilities in Arizona, they do not think of boats, marinas, yacht clubs, public boat-launching facilities, and miles of clear, fresh water suitable for boating and fishing — amenities boaters take for granted in other states.

But, these facilities do exist in Arizona — some even say Arizona boat owners are a more dedicated, energetic, and congenial crowd than their counterparts in the more traditional boating states.

Buying A Boat

Although you may not find as many boat dealers as you will find in neighboring California, Arizona does have a number of active boat dealers that sell a variety of vessels including personal watercraft, traditional motorboats suitable for use on lakes, and even exotic — and expensive — houseboats for those who desire and can afford a luxurious home on one the state’s many lakes. See the AZBW business and service directory and the Yellow Pages.

Boating Classes
Arizona Department of Game & Fish

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary - description of boating classes offered by the auxiliary and classes scheduled by state at www.cgaux.org/cgauxweb/classes/master.shtml.

U.S. Power Squadrons - description of classes offered in seamanship, navigation, and related subjects and classes scheduled by state at www.usps.org/d_stuff/classes.html.

Boating Safety Information, Laws And Regulations
Arizona Department of Game and Fish - Phoenix, AZ (602) 942-3000 www.azgfd.com.

Arizona Boating Law - Boaters Guide of Arizona: a Handbook of Boating Laws and Responsibilities - includes boat-registration requirements. On line at www.azgfd.com/outdoor_recreation/boating.shtml.

Arizona Boating Safety Report - Published annually by the department’s law-enforcement branch. Contains detailed information on boating-accident causes.

Boats And Fishing Equipment - Check AZBW Business and Service Directories and the yellow pages for the major cities in Arizona to find listing for boat sales, service and fishing equipment.

Fishing Information
Arizona Department of Game & Fish - where to fish, weekly fishing report, lake levels, and stocking schedule www.azgfd.com/h_f/fishing.shtml.

Marinas
So you are lucky enough to have a boat. Now what? You won’t be cruising around all the time, which means you will need some place to park your investment. Unless your boat is trailerable, and you can keep it at home, you will need to decided where to store it — in a lake, river, or even in the Sea of Cortez. If you’ve invested in a houseboat, which will serve as a vacation home, your choices of marinas will be somewhat limited — otherwise, Arizona has a number of first class modern marinas that provide up-to-date facilities from which to choose.

Marinas offer some or all of the following facilities for their customers — open or covered so called “wet berths,” covered or open dry storage areas where boats are parked on the owner’s trailer or on a cradle in a secure lot ashore, or in a dry stack storage facility in an enclosed building.

Marinas’ Facilities
Bartlett Lake
Bartlett Lake Marina, Carefree, AZ., (602) 316 3378, www.bartlettlake.com - covered (30,35 and 40-foot) and uncovered (20,30, 35 and 40-foot) wet slips and dry storage.

Lake Havasu
Sand Point Marina RV Resort, Lake Havasu City AZ (928) 855-0549 www.sandpointresort.com - uncovered wet slips (maximum boat length 25’) and dry storage Lake Pleasant
Pleasant Harbor Marina, Peoria, AZ (602) 977-7377 or (928) 501 - 1801 www.pleasantharbor.com  - covered (30 to 60-foot) and uncovered (30 to 75-foot) wet slips, dry storage (on owner’s trailer, no sailboats), indoor stack storage (to 30 feet, no sailboats), and economy storage.

Lake Powell
Antelope Point Marina, Page, AZ www.azmarinas.com/antelopepoint Wet slip leasing: (928) 645 5900 / Dry storage: (928) 645-5900 ext. #3 -some wet slips (55 and 75-foot houseboat size slips only) are for lease; dry storage (all boats to 75-feet) and boat-launch ramp (in and out service by marina employees — no self launching or retrieving by boat owners). (The major portion of this new resort facility is still under construction; more slips are expected to be available later in 2005.

Wahweap Marina, Page, AZ - Marina Manager (928) 645 1036 , Temporary Slips (1-14 days) (928) 645 1085 / Long Term Slips & Buoys (928) 645 1019 or (928) 645 5175, Slips, buoys and dry storage www.lakepowellmarinas.com.

Lake Powell Yacht Club, Page, AZ, (928) 645-3992, www.lpyachtclub.org -storage yard ashore for houseboats and other boats (available to club members only)

Roosevelt Lake
Roosevelt Lake Marina, Roosevelt, AZ, (602) 977 7171 and (928) 467 2245 www.azmarinas.com/RooseveltLake -covered (35 to 75-foot) and uncovered (30 to 75-foot) wet slips and dry storage (up to 30-foot)

Saguaro Lake
Saguaro Lake Marina, Mesa, AZ, (480) 986-5546 www.saguarolakemarina.com -uncovered wet slips — 24, 30 and 40-foot and dry storage

Yacht Clubs
Arizona Yacht Club

P.O. Box 598, Tempe, AZ 85280-0598, www.arizonayachtclub.org. The Arizona Yacht Club is a racing, cruising, educational, and social sailing club. It promotes social, fraternal, and sporting activities in conjunction with sailing in and around Arizona. AYC is a member of US SAILING Association and the Southern California Yachting Association.

Membership information: Emory Heisler (602) 679-0462, Membership meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the 19th Tee, Rolling Hills Golf Course, 1415 N. Mill Ave., Tempe.

Lake Havasu Yacht Club - 631 London Bridge Rd., Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403. Phone (928) 453-5005 www.lhyc.net Promotes water safety, the enjoyment of all types of boating, furthers the sport of boating through regattas and sailing races. Conducts social functions and sponsors youth activities. Member of U.S. SAILING, Yacht Clubs of America, United States Yacht Racing Union and the Southern California Yachting Association. Membership Committee: George Henry.

Lake Powell Yacht Club
P.O. Box 2368, Page, Arizona 86040, Phone (928) 645-3992 www.lpyachtclub.org Serves the interest of boat owners and water recreational enthusiasts at Lake Powell. Boat storage for members. Houseboats for members’ use. Social functions for members.