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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Lake Hpatcong NJ

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clark1962
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/21/2014 : 15:23:09

Does anyone sail at Lake Hopatcong NJ? Looking for some info on the lake. Looking for a new place to sail a little closer to home.

1983, SK TR

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5352 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2014 : 20:42:04

Looks nice and there's lots to do there, but the lake is only 4 sq miles - which by Cat25 standards and coastal cruising standards, its small. Checking the map, I see Boonton Lake several miles to the east away, and that seems pretty small. Lake Hopatcong seems about 2X that of Boonton.
I might give it a try once in a while if I were trailering, but my preference would be coastal waters.

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shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2014 : 03:21:19

Well there is always greenwood lake, and further west is wallenpaupack (bigger yet)... I'm up Wally but it's still a puddle... but at least it's deep.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2014 : 06:19:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 Looks nice and there's lots to do there, but the lake is only 4 sq miles...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">For sailing purposes, its less that that. It's effectively less than 4 miles long and 1/4 - 1/2 mile wide, and a SW breeze will be "on the nose" going the length of the lake--you'll be short-tacking all the way. (I don't know about depths.) That could be fun on a Sunfish (if you don't get run over)... A C-25 might be a little like an Freightliner on a go-cart track. (I'll probably hear from our friends on Candlewood, Lanier, and a few others.

)

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clark1962
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2014 : 08:57:03

Hopatcong is bigger than Greenwood I believe. What's wallenpaupac like.? Its a little further west than I wanted to go. Are slips available on the lake or are they all sold out constantly. What's the average cost. Haven't put in the last couple of years for financial reasons. Jersey shore is very expensive.

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makai
Deckhand

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9 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2014 : 07:58:10

How about to the jersey shore area (Barnaget Bay) Meteconk River Down to Toms River and all the open bay to Old Barney.....

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shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2014 : 08:43:14

Clark, Ironwood Point at Wally is where most of the sailors wind up (because of the sail club).. we have a nice sail club that is dirt cheap ($60/year)...
But that isn't related to dockage.. Slip fees are around $1200 a season at Ironwood. There are private docks and other marinas for sure that might be slightly less. When I asked the dockmaster last week he said he has a couple slips "maybe" available (I suppose he's waiting to hear back from the former tenants).

Wally is about 13 miles end to end. I'd say that about 6 miles of it arenicely sailable. It's an unlimited HP lake, that really only gets bad on the 2 big holidays. We have decent winds spring and fall, summer is hit or miss, most of the wind is in the evening from Late June to August. Techincally there is no "overnighting" on the lake, but it's done all the time.

There are 4 islands on the lake, only 1 is labeled "party cove" but has a small beach on it, and each has picnic tables on it (and porta-jons)... One island is usually roped off most of the spring, because there are bald eagles on it (a site to watch them at times).

The widest part of the lake is just before the dam. Its almost 1 mile wide, or slightly wider. Also there is at least one great restaurant for "Dock and Dine" Ehrhart's on the lake. Great bar, and food... nice slips to tie up to. Fun trip for the wife/fam from the marina.

Ironwood is a campground as well. They have a small store. Ledgedale also is PP&L run campground and marina, but is at the narrowest point of the lake.

There is a free public launch at the bottom of the lake (map location North), at Mangan's Cove (nice steep concrete ramp).

There are several marinas on the lake that also have docks (www.Lighthouseharbor.com, www.sterlingmarina.com) Most of the non-campground marinas do service but specialize in motorboats... Which leads me back to Ironwood... More than 60% of the boats at Ironwood are sailboats, a ratio not replicated elsewhere on the lake.

If you have any other specific questions, feel free to email me shnool @ yahoo
We'd love to have another Catalina 25 with us! Our VC has one as well, and I believe we have 2 others.

The lake is VERY deep. It's owned by the power company so its kind of laid back.

I am showing 1:45 for you to drive (not the longest anyone drives to us, but that's a pretty good distance, I'm about 50 minutes)
Anyway here's a map of the lake:

Edited by - shnool on 05/09/2014 08:45:14

clark1962
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2014 : 15:30:17

Thanks for all the info on Wally. It is a little farther than I wanted to go. 2 hr drive. I may try and take a drive out there to scout it out. Hopatcong is just so close and bigger than Greenwood Lake which I think is small for a 25' even though they have a C25 club I believe. Was also considering the Hudson in the Piermont area. only 30 min drive. I've owned the boat for 12 yrs. and have been sailing the Sandy Hook area. Slips in the shore areas are just so expensive any where from 85-150 per foot. The reason I haven't had the boat in the water for 2 yrs. My kids are also in college now so I'm kind of on my own. Thought a lake might be an easy going alternative
Thanks again for the info

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shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2014 : 16:14:20

Clark if you have a weekend in mind I'd be happy to take you out... just let me know.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2014 : 07:56:12

There've been a few Hudson R. sailors on these forums--I don't remember whom, and they're not on our map. But there's a lot of water there! I haven't been on it--things might be a little swirly with a westerly breeze coming over the Palisades, but southerlies are unimpeded (and against the current at ebb tide, making what looks like some serious chop viewed from the TZ Bridge). Go to a marina there and talk to some folks--it might be well worth a 30 minute drive.

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clark1962
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2014 : 16:42:04

Piermont NY just north of the tapanzee is on my list also. Have talked to a marina there. a mooring is reasonable but that creates other problems. Like ground tackle that I don't own. I'm going to take a ride up to Wallenpaupac also about 1 1/2 hrs says MapQuest. Might be nice not to be fighting tides and such. change of pace, I'll either love it or hate it

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5352 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2014 : 06:43:56

I cross the TZ bridge often and on summer afternoons the area is full of sails and pleasure boats. Yes I've seen nasty chop out there on due northerlies opposing an incoming tide but since the river broadens there, the currents are somewhat diminished. Some days it looks sweet however. But it's big water with the City and NY Harbor as a destination. Depends on what you want really (and of course the cost of a slip).

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