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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Sailing in Kansas City?

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josh-hansen
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/23/2007 : 15:08:02

Hi All,

I am considering moving to the Kansas City area from Washington state for a great job, lower living costs and a family oriented culture. One of my biggest reservations is giving up sailing my boat, an 82" fk sr, in the beautifull Puget Sound.

Does anyone have some input on what sailing in KC is like:
How long is the season?
Can you leave the boat in year-round?
Which lakes are good for sailing?
Should I take the fin keel or start looking for a swing keel?
Or consider a smaller trailorable such as Cat 22?
Also, any tips in general on relocating to KC?

Thanks,
Josh.

Josh Hansen

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2007 : 16:08:59

Hi Josh,
I know NOTHING about the Kansas City area but with Google Earth I can go there and peak around anyway. I see 2 lakes, both miles long and with numerous marinas. Perry Lake is 45 miles west and there is a fairly large body of water 22 miles north that looks great too. The one north is 9 miles or so long. You're pretty close to the same latitude as Philly, PA so I'm thinking you have a April-May to October or something season. definitely pulling the boat in the winter. Looks though like good sailing on either lake with your 25! Good luck!

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2007 : 19:41:53

Bring your fin, we have more wind than you are used to. You need a trailer, we pull for the winter and usually do it for free on our own trailers.
Two serious lakes, Perry and Stockton, Carlisle is not all that far either, some actually drive to my lake outside of Wichita.
www.stocktonyachtclub.com
www.perryyachtclub.com/
www.ninnescah.org
You will spend about a grand a year to be in the water at a sailing only yacht club. Hard core, April-November, most May-Oct.

As for living in the KC area, it depends on your commute philosophy. Generally the best growth is South of KC in Kansas. Johnson county is synonymous with upper middle class comfort and lifestyle. Some live in Lawrence, much closer to Lake Perry and if you work in West KC Kansas then a very reasonable commute and you get to live in a college town which will feel more like the area you are leaving. The core of KC is like any other major urban trash heap of humanity, multiple murders nightly. Shawnee Mission and Prairie Village are two very nice places that are the old suburbs of KC. Do schools matter?

Edited by - on

dave holtgrave
Captain

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USA
427 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2007 : 20:54:58

smithville lake is about 20 miles north.
quite a few boats there.
there is also lake jacoma which is just on the east side of KC mo.

both of these lakes would be great to start with until your more familiar to the area.

dave holtgrave
5722 sk/tr
hard and dry near carlyle lake in southern illinois.

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josh-hansen
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 01:06:28

Frank,

I forgot that you sail out of KS! I have read many of your posts, which I am grateful for. Having read just the comments so far I feel much better about the prospect of moving.

I have a trailor but no tow rig. Is dry moorage near one of the lakes an option for the winter? A grand a year doesn't sound too bad, that's less than I'm paying now.

Josh.

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josh-hansen
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 01:34:38

To answer your questions Frank, I don't mind commuting 30-45 minutes each way,and yes schools are important. The job is in Johnson county and Iv'e read the schools there are spectacular. Olathe and Overland Park both rate highly, which comes at a price, but Lawrence sounds nice too.

Are there any houses on the big lakes? What do you think one would set me back? It's always been a dream of mine to live on a lake with my boat right out there just waiting for a little evening sail.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 06:56:49

Most lakes in Kansas are not natural so the land has never been public. I am sure there are exceptions but I have never seen a waterfront property house on a Kansas reservoir. I have a cousin who campaigns an S2 on Stockton and sailed Perry for 30 years. He grew up in Johnson county, and has been a real estate inspector for the last 10 years. Would you like to visit with him?

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 09:01:27

KC - I married a girl from KC. Still have to go there for the holidays. Overland Park is where it is at, although you could always live off of the Plaza.... Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest and now a resident of Boston - I personally would go freakin stir crazy in KC. That being said, my business atty and good friend is considering moving there because of the aforementioned quality of life issues, affordable housing, decent school systems, etc...

The "Lake of the Ozarks - LOTO" is where a couple of our Board of Trade friends keep their stinkpots... It is a sizeable lake. (Always fun to talk about boating with them.... They don't understand why they sometimes drag when they dropped 5 feet of chain on a 3:1 scope! Of course they don't hear that they are dragging because their generator runs all of the time to power this beauty...) But the LOTO is fairly sizeable.

Westport is always fun - make sure you stop in to Kelly's on a Friday night for the best hook up crowd anywhere. Boulevard brewing co. makes ok beers, nothing like the good ole Pacific NW brews. There is a huge Cabelas out by the racetrack. You have to check your gun when you go inside.

sten

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 10:29:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 KC - I married a girl from KC. Still have to go there for the holidays. Overland Park is where it is at, although you could always live off of the Plaza.... Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest and now a resident of Boston - I personally would go freakin stir crazy in KC.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What we all understand is that it is better to visit places and live here. We are just fine with people thinking we are worthless fly over states, when we read about the big dig or other coastie craziness we know why we choose to live here. I have spent some time in Boston, I could not live there, it is nice that you enjoy it.

Josh, I don't know if it matters to you but Kansas is a "right to work" state, there is no such thing as a union shop. We have unions, I belong to one, but we do not force people to join them, Missouri on the other hand is a not a right to work state. I do not know what kind of work you do but this is an issue which colors the "quality" of life and is one reason why there is such a difference between KC Mo and KC Ks. Kansas is a very entrepreneurial environment. You will love it here.

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josh-hansen
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 12:36:52

Frank,

I'm with you. With the money I'll be saving we can take trips by trains, planes and automobiles all over the nation, places we can't reach or can't afford to go to from WA. Thanks to you and others I think I'm pretty well set on settling in KS and not MO, if I get the job! The work I do is very entrepreneurial (not unionized) so your comment is very relevant. The company I am interviewing with has this novel idea of developing, manufacturing and marketing products all in-house. What a concept!

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 13:00:23

We used to live in KC as well. We bought our first house in Raytown, but that was 30 years ago, so much of the area has changed a great deal since then. For sailing, I think Lake of the Ozarks would be pretty narrow. However, I haven't been there for over 40 years, so my memory is not the best.

Another consideration, albeit a longer drive, is Grand Lake in northeastern Oklahoma. It is 60-65 miles long, 1300 miles of coastline and probably about 2.5 hours south of KC on Hwy 171. I know it isn't what you are looking for, but it might fit the bill if you trailer. We are on Grand and love it.

BTW: Speaking of food, if you like ribs, KC Masterpiece should not be missed. And there is Gate's, Arthur Bryants, etc...they all make the BBQ shows on the food network.

Edited by - cat1951 on 04/24/2007 13:01:39

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 18:15:42

No offence intended Frank. Just a personal reflection. I like being near the sea, AND you can fly to KC from Boston direct now on Midwest express for cheap... With chocolate cookies. Move KC to the sea and I'd be all over it. Maybe with global warming it soon will be! I enjoy KC visits for the most part... Mother-in-law can be tough, but Chiefs fans are just outstanding, and I can actually afford to see the Red Sox play. Bonus! And did I say that the women are beautiful? They are! That's why MO is the show me state! Gates is OK, just be prepared to order - it can be intimidating with the loud "Can I halp you?" as soon as you walk in.

sten

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