Anyone Ever Sail Salton Sea?

[pokerrick1]

Has anyone ever sailed (or even boated on) the Salton Sea in SE California. I am interrested in it as a possible destination - - - anyone been there - done that???

Rick

[David Mellon]

I looked at an old photo on Google Earth and there was a ramp there. Actually the Spanish hauled a galleon there in parts and used it to haul borax from a mine on the east side. It was found and raised about a decade ago. I wonder about the water level at this point since we are at the low point of our seven year drought cycle. I would love to join a combined Arizona, Las Vegas and SoCal fleet on a trip there! Let's find the local yacht club or ramp office and find out if it is possible. I remember passing by that area when I was eight or nine years old but don't remember much. I wonder if the Ph balance would eat our engines! I'll look into it and report what I find.

[David Mellon]

Ok, to start with visit http://www.saltonsea.ca.gov/boating.htm it shows 7 marinas and claims it is a great place for boating. Other pages warn of health issues from sediments blowing about when the water levels drop. That site doesn't cite current levels. The Salton Sea Beach Marina has a paved ramp, fuel and is open daily. They claim fishing is good and includes a favorite of mine, Tilapia. Some of the ramps listed include phone numbers, I am sure they will let us know more details such as anchoring areas and rules, dock or mooring availability etc.

[Richard_Norman]

Has anyone ever sailed (or even boated on) the Salton Sea in SE California. I am interrested in it as a possible destination - - - anyone been there - done that???

Rick

I grew up in the Los Angeles area and we travelled around the state to fish at every opportunity. In the late 1050's and early 1960's we used to go to the Salton Sea regularly to fish and enjoyed it a great deal. It was HOT, dry and (on occasion) windy.

By the mid to late 1970's the sea was in serious environmental trouble and the recreational usage dropped to almost nothing. I have not been back since. There is a program about it (environmental disasters) that has aired on the History Channel a few times. It looks pretty grim but may not accurately reflect the current state of the sea.

One other consideration is that it has vast areas of very shallow water (again from my memory of 45 years ago). I remember areas where for many miles, the water was just a couple of feet deep. I don't ever remember seeing a sailboat there but it was before the trailerable sailboat craze of the 70's and I was more into driving dad's 14' runabout that sailing so I probably wouldn't have noticed a sailboat unless we collided.

[jackie m]

We were there maybe six or seven years ago. Was a lasting olfactory experience.

Lot of dead fish and dead birds everywhere. Incredibly awful. Unless there have been some major changes, I wouldn't even think of it.

Just my .02

Here's a short little trailer of a documentary about the place and pretty much describes what we found....

Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 7491581464

Website for the documentary http://www.plaguesandpleasures.com/

jackie m

[pokerrick1]

In the late 1050's we used to go to the Salton Sea regularly to fish

Man - - - you are REALLY OLD - - - but thanks for the info. I think Salton Sea has improved drastically, but I also think there are better places to trailer the Mac - - - like back to MDR for a good ole MDR, San Pedro, Long Beach, Alamitos Bay, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Catalina Island circle trip

Rick

[jackie m]

I think Salton Sea has improved drastically

What makes you say that? Have you see anything about improvements recently or been there? I ask because we thought about kayaking there until we drove around it. We've been in the area in the last four years and it pretty much seems the same to us but we haven't checked out the parks.

jackie

[pokerrick1]

What makes you say that?

I say that because I stopped there on my way to and from Mexico recently (three weeks ago) on both the east and west sides of the lake and in two different marina areas. I didn't get the smell I've heard about and didn't see any dead fish.

I couldn't get a depth map of the lake and I am also concerned about the vast shallow areas I've heard and read about. I had my fill of "shallow" at San Felipe with their 22' tides, where "inside the harbor" I scraped bottom a few times at low tide- - - you can't even tell where the in and out channel there is located?

Rick

[dennisneal]

From late November to early March the Salton Sea is almost pleasant. Its actually a highly rated spot for seeing migratory birds. Otherwise, the place usually reeks with the smell of rotting fish. There's a good reason why development has failed: Its not a good spot for tourists. I believe the lake is contaminated from agricultural runoff.

There are a few basic launch ramps, but no amenities.

You'll have a lot more fun at MDR.

[pokerrick1]

I believe Dennis (actually I believe Admiral Margaret)

Rick

[jackie m]

Found some recent info and pictures on this area here (difficult to find any info on Salton Sea with regard to camping/boating so here ya go... ) :

http://www.rvpics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3964

[dennisneal]

OK.

Here's the real skinny on the Salton Sea!

With the exception of a few birdwatchers, the tourists that actually spend time at the Salton Sea don't go there for motorboating, sailing, or fishing. They go there to "Worship the Sun", if you know what I mean. Hidden in the canyons surrounding the Sea are several "Member Only" RV parks where, I suppose, geezers can walk around wearing nothing but a pair of flip flops.

I swear that I have absolutely no personal knowledge of the activities! But, there are persistant rumors that these places exist.

[dvideohd]

I went....

burned out and abandoned buildings. graffiti... everywhere..... poverty...

It was like some post-apocalypse movie setting.....

may be a nice place.. but it seemed totally surreal to me....

--jr