Large Boat Lakes - Gorgia

[aweimer]

I might be moving for work, i'm currently on lake erie OH, and trying to figure out what to do!

I know some members here are in GA. What is a good location to put a 36' Tri? I see a large lake north east of Atlanta.

Lake Sidney Lanier
Hartwell Lake

They both look pretty big. Dime sized compaired to what i'm used too but...

Sad i just purchased my dock this year too. Just checking ahead.

[rossjo]

Both are nice lakes, big enough for your 36 (not a long cruise like your used to).

[dollarbill]

Lakes around Atlanta Ga:

Biggest and most widely used is Lake Lanier. Pretty long with the South Side of the lake fairly open. There are two "sides" to the lake - The South side gets a lot of Atlanta folks and has a majority of the marinas. The South side also has sailboats as there is a bridge sailboats cannot go under - thus the North Side and the South Side.

North side is more quiet and thinner with rivers running off main part of the lake. To put it in perspective: The South side would be a string bikini and the North Side a One Piece. Lots of Atlanta people on the South Side and all that entails.

Alatoona is north of Atlanta also... smaller - narrower than Lanier but still pretty big. May be a tad bit cleaner than Lanier.

Both Lakes have plenty of facilities and marinas. It just depends on where you are going to live in Atlanta. If you live in the I-75 corridor - Alatoona will be closest. The 85 corridor - Lanier.

If you need info on Marinas on Lanier just yell and I will be more than happy to tell you all about them.

[alexander38]

There's a guy that has a F-44 ? On Lanier on the site does any body recall his name ?

[dollarbill]

Hartwell is an interesting lake - I only have experience of the marina in Hartwell Ga.

Hartwell is a much quieter lake than Lanier - further away from Atlanta - may be 2 Hrs 15 Mins from Atlanta. Clean lake. Not as much traffic as Lanier - you can get out in the middle of Lake Hartwell and anchor and it is pretty smooth - if you anchored or stopped in the middle of lanier (south) you will either get swamped from a 120 ft houseboat wake or get run over by a go fast boat. Hartwell meanders and is thinner than Lanier but I think it has more shoreline than Lanier. Tricky navigation lake - you think you are in the middle of the channel and then the sounder alarm goes off. Lake is in South Carolina and Georgia also - they have bouys going right down the middle of the lake to let you know you are crossing in to SC. DNR is nicer on the SC side also.

If you like staying on your tri and making a weekend out of it - Hartwell may be a strong contender. The town of Hartwell is pretty neat with some restaurants and a nice Ace hardware store for the necessities and emergency items. The Marina is quiet and easy to get to (right downtown) and the people are nice and there are Trojans and Chris Craft's up there as well. The all important liquor store is right down the road as well as grocery store and a wal mart is not too far away. I mention all of this because being 2 hours plus from home - you more than likely will make a weekend of it. Lanier you can come and go pretty easily.

Oh well I rambled.. just started typing and kept on going...

[aweimer]

Thanks so much for the replies.

I half though to putting mine up for sale (mother and father in-law want it), and buying the 44 MY that's for sale.

Cost wise, what are the slip rates if anyone has info on that? Is the lease 12month or something less? Do you all keep them in year around?

Where i'm at in Erie we pay $1200 a season, + about $1000 to winterize and store for the winter, so 2200-2400 a year. I've heared $5400 ish is the going rates in Lanier?

[dollarbill]

Where does he keep it do you know. I have seen him out and I know there is a 44 at University Yacht Club and not sure if that is him or not. If it is, that is a private club so you would have to join $$$

Let me give you a run down... all of them are comparable price wise - the biggest factor is going to be the age of the dock and of course covered or not covered (covered is the prevailing type of slip down here).

Holiday is probably the biggest for cruisers - and the busiest. Easy to get to from the 85 corridor. Restaurant and ship store as well as repair facilities. The most complete marina. Even has a chapel with Sunday services if you misbehave too much on Saturday night. Not sure if the restaurant is open year round but there are plenty of restaurants near.

If you are going to be on the 400 side - you have Bald Ridge - not too familiar with it though.

Aqualand - is the largest I would say with a mix of sailboats and cruisers. Still on the 85/985 corridor. They have some nice docks over on the Z docks. Restaurant is only open during the summer I think and it is more like a grill for lunch.

Starboard Marina has gone through a change of ownerships - it is right downtown Flowery Branch - pretty easy to get to from 985/85. Getting to the big water can be a little tricky as you head down a "creek" to the big water which if Lanier is close to full pool - no problem. They have a restaurant on premise that is supposed to be pretty good - full service and I think they are trying to stay open year round.

Sunrise cove - not as easy to get to but still a good marina.

Port Royale - a collection of new and older docks. They have made some nice improvements and are making more but probably cannot handle a 44 in the new docks. Kind of harder to get to on and on the 400 side.

Farther up north is Gainesville Marina - again if you are coming from Atlanta - not as convenient as the others. Nice Marina though. E and F (I think) docks are really nice and secluded.

Really depends on where you are going to live in Atlanta - pick your side. You will see 85/985 on the map and 400 - the lake runs down the middle of them.

Yes we keep them in the water year round. Really only 3 months that are dicey Jan Feb and Mar.. and that is because of the wind. Tomorrow is supposed to be 70 and great weather.

You can plan on 1000 to 1400 a quarter.

Good luck.

[rossjo]

I half though to putting mine up for sale (mother and father in-law want it), and buying the 44 MY that's for sale.

Have you checked shipping from Chicago to Georgia? You migh tbe money ahead to sell and buy anew.

[g36]

dont know how far you want to drive or are from tennessee but chattanooga (1 1/2 hrs from atlanta) is on the tn river and you wont be land locked here. you can cruise all the to the gulf from here if you want. may find slip fees cheaper here also.

[rossjo]

That is a great option!

[aweimer]

I didn't think of that. Hmmm. Tennesse river might be a good option. To put travel in prespective I drive 4-5hrs now, I live/work in Chicago and have her docked in Lake Erie. Mother and Father-in-law have docks at Anchor Point marina. So she is watched over when we are not around. A 1-2hr drive would be nothing. I was thinking of having her in Savana, or looking for one that way.

I have not decided. Work is still up in the air. I'm hoping to talk them into some "virtual" work, since i will be traveling anyways and selling a home in Chicago is next to impossible.

We shall see, thanks for the input!

[rossjo]

Savannah is about a 5 hour drive - nice place to keep a boat.

You'll get a whole different experience between Lake Erie, Lake Lanier/Hartwell, the TN River and the Atlantic. What do you like to do on the boat?

[aweimer]

We enjoy going out for a ride to Put-In-Bay islands. Anchoring and swimming at the beach. We don't do much fishing because its not the best setup for that.

Outside of day rides, we have not done much, just cruise around enjoying the wind and sun.

[rossjo]

The lakes will keep you occupied for a few years, while the TN Rvier and Savannah offer you much more in the way of exploration.

Savannah will not require winterizing !

[g36]

if you have any questions about the TN river area please let me know since this is where i do my boating. i can probably answer some questions if you need. would like to have another trojan brother here in chattanooga