Rantalot, I would not recommend crossing the lake with only 20 hp jet, that is equivilant to a 15 hp prop. If the lake gets rough you will find yourself in a lot of trouble. Winter brings artic northerly outflows, these outflows combined with an incoming tide and your into very large water. I've been turned around more than once and winter is your worse time to cross. Even if you make it across, coming back can be as bad or worse. Afternoon winds usually come from the south so more than likely you will have rough water going back. During summer, I would have no problem using your boat, winter is a different story.
Yah, what RA40 said......
I'll add a couple of points (please don't take offense if you already know this stuff...) Both Coquitlam and Ridge-Meadows SAR get called many time a year to Pitt Lake to search for, or rescue stranded boaters. The locals also rescue many people.
- Pitt Lake has incredible potential for absolutely terrible conditions, and the conditions change fast at any time of year.
- If you haven't already done so, look at (better yet, buy) a chart of the lake and be familiar with the shoals at the south end. As Sandhead indicated, it's not just the big one on the west side of the channel that's an issue.
- Remember that it is tidal(physically, not from fisheries POV). beached boats float away....or become high and dry depending on the flow.
- not a very busy lake at this time of year. If you get beached away from the communities on the lake, nobody will easily see you.
- Spotty or nonexistent cell service beyond goose island.
- Be prepared for an overnighter.
In spite of all this doom and gloom, the scenery alone up there is spectacular and well worth a trip. Once you get to the north end of the lake, it's hard to believe that you are still that close to town (relatively)
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Topic: Pitt river (Read 2763 times)