Arizona - Lake Pleasant Dry Storage

[Flamingo1]

I'm moving my boat to mast-up dry storage at Lake Pleasant and I am choosing between Scorpion Bay and Pleasant Harbor. I need to get the boat out of my yard and driveway and cutting down on mast raising and lowering is well worth a monthly charge!!!

Scorpion Bay seems to have their act together. They answer their phones and they were prepared with answers. Drawback was that they have a gravel lot and a gravel boat ramp. I have some concerns about that getting a bit sloppy and getting stuck while launching the boat...but I otherwise like their facilities and (so far) their service.

Pleasant Harbor is under new management and they seemed a bit...disorganized. When I called for information, their phone system directed you to select "2" for storage options and then promptly hung up on you. I did finally get in touch with their office and they were a bit disorganized as to the specifics of the terms of the storage agreement. I eventually did get all of the information I needed, but it took some effort. I think they have a paved storage lot (although not certain and the lot isn't a huge concern) but I do know that they have multiple, paved launching ramps.

Price is within $5.00/month, so that isn't a significant consideration.

Does anyone have any sage words of advice or anecdotes about Scorpion Bay v. Pleasant Harbor?? I appreciate any information you may have to offer.

Thanks!

 

[justsomeguy]

Well, you've got to pay $8.00/day to get into Pleasant Harbor, but it also has a small chandlery, The Sailboat Shoppe. I've heard the cost of entry can be offset by purchasing something there, but I'm not sure about this.

Guy named Tom runs it. Nice fellow.

I don't know if the entrance fee is waived if you pay rent there, however.

I've always put out from Pleasant Harbor's ramp, because it's closer along my driven route, and I'm always geeked to get out quickly. The blacktop tends to leave shoemarks on your deck when setting up/tearing down. Rain is rarely an issue, as you may know.

When visiting Scorpion Bay, I thought their overnight slips were more reasonably priced, even when I was a Pensus Group "friend of the marina".

Pleasant Harbor Marina has a pool table or two in the bar, if that helps.

Seems like a toss-up still, huh?

 

[azguy]

I slip at Pleasant Harbor and have no complaints. Everyone I have come in contact with is pleasant, helpful and attentive.

It doesn't matter if you slip at PH or Scorpion Bay you are paying $6 to get in unless you purchase the annual pass which is $180, I think.

The PO of my boat had it dried storage at PH and the area for sailboats is very convenient to the launch ramp and appears very secure. It's absolutely paved and the ramp is grooved for better traction, if that matters to you..

Also, having the sailboat shop right there can be helpful and Tom (the owner) is a great guy.

 

[Flamingo1]

Well, you've got to pay $8.00/day to get into Pleasant Harbor, but it also has a small chandlery, The Sailboat Shoppe. I've heard the cost of entry can be offset by purchasing something there, but I'm not sure about this.

Guy named Tom runs it. Nice fellow.

I don't know if the entrance fee is waived if you pay rent there, however.

I've always put out from Pleasant Harbor's ramp, because it's closer along my driven route, and I'm always geeked to get out quickly. The blacktop tends to leave shoemarks on your deck when setting up/tearing down. Rain is rarely an issue, as you may know.

When visiting Scorpion Bay, I thought their overnight slips were more reasonably priced, even when I was a Pensus Group "friend of the marina".

Pleasant Harbor Marina has a pool table or two in the bar, if that helps.

Seems like a toss-up still, huh?

Toss-up?!?! You had me with pool table!

I have been using the 10 lane ramp on the western side of the lake (because I am new and need all of the room I can possibly get) and you do have to pay to get in either side. It was $6.00 the first time I went and 10.00 the second time - both times towing the boat. The second time, they charged me extra because I have an electric trolling motor. The first time, they didn't ask. From now on, I shall subscribe to the don't ask/don't tell as it pertains to the trolling motor.

I am now leaning to the paved ramp (and pool table).

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[justsomeguy]

Rack 'em up!

Edit- One table had some extreme table roll, the table to the North, IIRC.

 

[Patrick17430]

Yelp Reveiws on Both Marinas

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pleasant-harbor-marina-phoenix
http://www.yelp.com/biz/scorpion-bay-marina-morristown

 

[Flamingo1]

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pleasant-harbor-marina-phoenix
http://www.yelp.com/biz/scorpion-bay-marina-morristown

Never occurred to me to Yelp the marina. Most of the reviews appeared to address the food at the restaurants although there were a couple that did hit on the marina and marina services.

Thanks for sharing the links!

 

[shemandr]

So speaking of Arizona sailing … my wife wants to retire there because of family and golf. I've noted it is a desert and deserts are usually damn poor sailing. Now I've learned there is Pleasant Lake and even a marina in the downtown area. What gives? Help me out Arizona sailors. What is it like? What is the sailing season? Do you primarily daysail or are there overnight opportunities? Do you ever go to the Sea of Cortez? What time of year? Places to go? Swimming?
The pressure is building here and I need to know if there is a sailing life in the desert!

 

[justsomeguy]

Check out my stupid Wordpress blog.

Edit- going over my blog, I haven't been to Lake Pleasant nearly enough recently to give much of a feel for the marinas there. Moreso, it's about the people I've met, and the trials and errors I've waded through on the lakes.

http://tomeshew.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/go-march-7-11-2012/ gives a bit of a feel for Scorpion Bay.

http://tomeshew.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/january-20-23-2012/ and a couple of posts previous to that may be somewhat enlightening.

But yes, it's the Sonoran desert, and the 2 really big lakes around here are rimmed with mountains, making flukey conditions the norm. Lake Pleasant is slightly less flukey.

 

[Flamingo1]

We visited Pleasant Harbor - had breakfast there - and then walked around the marina for a while.

After that, we headed up the hill to the RV storage office (as that is who handles the dry storage yards). That explains some of the confusion when I called in last week. I called the Marina - not the RV storage office (two separate buildings/offices).

The folks in the RV storage office were on the ball, very friendly and very helpful. We processed the paperwork in about 20 minutes and then a very nice gentleman from Harbor Patrol met me at the office and led me all the way to my parking spot. It's inside a very nice fenced and secure area. I have an access card to operate the gate.

So, she's officially moved to storage. Mast is still down at the moment, but I intend to sail MLK weekend and will put it up (and leave it up) then.

That should make sailing her a lot less work - and, therefor, a lot more fun!

I very much want to try Rocky Point someday - but I've got a lot of learning to do before I attempt that.

 

[azguy]

So speaking of Arizona sailing … my wife wants to retire there because of family and golf. I've noted it is a desert and deserts are usually damn poor sailing. Now I've learned there is Pleasant Lake and even a marina in the downtown area. What gives? Help me out Arizona sailors. What is it like? What is the sailing season? Do you primarily daysail or are there overnight opportunities? Do you ever go to the Sea of Cortez? What time of year? Places to go? Swimming?
The pressure is building here and I need to know if there is a sailing life in the desert!

Lake Pleasant has a huge sailing fleet, well huge for an inland lake. I'd say we have 100 sailboats and a large fleet of C22's that race nearly every weekend from October to April. Winds are better in those months, plus in the 4 summer months the lake has jet ski'rs and personal watercraft everywhere. Oh, yeah and it's also 115 in those months..

Tons of people spend the weekend on the lake, there are dozens and dozens of coves and even a river or two which you can explore and find a quiet spot to anchor for a few days.

San Diego is 6 hrs a way if you are a trailer sailor, so you can get your ocean fix there.