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orange beach alabama vacation ?
- Thread starter glsmohio
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dgoodwin10
Active Member
I wish I lived closer than Birmingham... Riding the Intercoastal on a ski is on my Bucket List! If you've never been OBA is a cool place that I think you'll enjoy. I'll check on any rules for you since I have a few contacts down there.
glsmohio
Well-Known Member
lol thanks. its on my Bucket List too!!! from what I found out you dont want to go out in to golf but in the bay is fun to ride in.
glsmohio
Well-Known Member
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2682132,-87.5619351,3554m/data=!3m1!1e3
if you go to the link and look where it says "orange beach" thats about where we are staying.
if you go to the link and look where it says "orange beach" thats about where we are staying.
Waterluvr
New Member
You're in for a real treat in that area, I spend my winter's on the Bon Secour just West of there and it's one of the nicest coastal area's in the country. Great people, beautiful bay area's you can ride.
If you're lucky you might catch a hot flat day on the Gulf that time of year, go for it if conditions allow but there's an endless amount of smoother water in the bay's most of the time.
The only thing you need to pay close attention to are the times for the start of Sunset, and subtract half an hour as they enforce that pretty strictly for PWC's being on the water and it's a hefty fine.
If you're lucky you might catch a hot flat day on the Gulf that time of year, go for it if conditions allow but there's an endless amount of smoother water in the bay's most of the time.
The only thing you need to pay close attention to are the times for the start of Sunset, and subtract half an hour as they enforce that pretty strictly for PWC's being on the water and it's a hefty fine.
glsmohio
Well-Known Member
so, i can ride in the bay in the middle of the day and ill be fine then lol
glsmohio
Well-Known Member
THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO.
I JUST FOUND THIS
http://www.obparksandrec.com/parkstrails/publicboatlaunches.html
SEEING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THERE, DO YOU THINK MY XP AND SPX WOULD BE FINE TO RUN AROUND IN THE BAY? NEVER BEEN IN SALT WATER. WILL THE NO WAKE ZONES BE MARKED OR DO YOU KNOW IF A MAP I CAN GET TO SEE THAT KINDA STUFF (OUR LAKE HAS A MAP TO SHOW YOU)
Waterluvr
New Member
No wake zones are marked pretty well, far as any PWC is concerned you just really need to pay attention to the days forecast and understand tide charts a little bit as you don't have to deal with that up North.
You do not want to get caught out a couple miles from the ramp if bad weather moves in, or winds and the tides get things stirred up because it's tough to make any headway at all in those conditions. Aside from a flare gun, you need a decent portable radio just in case the bays are enormous bodies of water and you have to have the ability to use a VHF radio if you have a break down or something you're so small out there on a PWC no one will see you.
Also pay attention to the wakes that commercial shipping makes, you have to get the bow into that mess when it reaches you or your gonna have a bad day.
One thing I would suggest is using a gps w/maps while out there, on a decent day you can ride 50+ miles no problem but it's nice to have gps mapping that shows your location, surrounding shorelines and places to stop for fuel etc.
You do not want to get caught out a couple miles from the ramp if bad weather moves in, or winds and the tides get things stirred up because it's tough to make any headway at all in those conditions. Aside from a flare gun, you need a decent portable radio just in case the bays are enormous bodies of water and you have to have the ability to use a VHF radio if you have a break down or something you're so small out there on a PWC no one will see you.
Also pay attention to the wakes that commercial shipping makes, you have to get the bow into that mess when it reaches you or your gonna have a bad day.
One thing I would suggest is using a gps w/maps while out there, on a decent day you can ride 50+ miles no problem but it's nice to have gps mapping that shows your location, surrounding shorelines and places to stop for fuel etc.
glsmohio
Well-Known Member
thanks for all the info. I dont plan to go far from the ramp. Just a dream to ride my skis once in the salt water. Is the flare gun a must have by law? I know its not in ohio but i know things are different. Thanks again for all the help
Waterluvr
New Member
USCG regs apply to coastal waters and connecting tributaries. You need to wear an approved PFD, carry an audible signaling device (whistle or air horn audible for one NM) and have visual signaling devices (flares) with current non expired dates in addition to the fire extinguisher. Regarding state law and PWC's, make sure you know when the start of sunset is (right about 8pm that time of year) and be completely off and out of the water by half an hour prior or they can ticket you never mind you may still be able to get a sunburn around 7:30 in June.
Your flares can be handheld or a gun, if taking two machines it's ok to go cheap on handhelds for one but if you actually needed to use them you wouldn't regret having a flare gun handy, someone might actually see that.
They do conduct safety equipment checks on vessels they don't recognise in their AO's so have everything on both machines, expect fines if you don't aside from that most of the county and state LEO's on the water are pretty outgoing and friendly they know boaters, hunters and fisherman are where the bread gets buttered in that part of the state and they don't exist without that revenue coming in.
Shacho
New Member
Also, if time permits, tour the Portage Creek Canal - Lulu's Restaurant and a few other establishments are located there. Keep in mine what Waterluvr has mentioned about the weather, if the weather change for the worst (hi winds) the swells are un-forgiving. I had a rough time returning to the ramp and I was on a Sea Doo GTI 155. Enjoy!!
glsmohio
Well-Known Member
where is the best place to buy a flare gun and or the cheapest?
Waterluvr
New Member
Buy it from a local retailer, you'll have to pay shipping and a hazmat fee if you order one flares are considered hazmat.
Skidoodle
Member
Your gonna have a blast! I had always wanted to ride the intercoastal on my ski and last year we finally did. We put in at the public ramp underneath the overpass in Gulf Shores and rode West to the Mobile Bay and up into Bayou le Batre (sp?) and then came back to ramp and rode East to the mouth of Wolf Bay. We absolutely loved it and we barely scratched the surface. Print off a map and carry either GPS or use your iPhone to keep up with your location, its' very wide open, big water. Also, most importantly, prep your trailer for the long haul down! Pack or replace wheel bearings, inspect and/or replace tires, make sure all trailer lights work and that skis are well strapped to trailer. Good Luck.......
Spimothy Leary
Well-Known Member
yes, 100% agree... I ride in salt every other week, for several years now, my ski's are flawless... a good rinse off, flush, and maybe some CRC does the trick, I don't even think twice.
I'm actually planning a trip right up into that area, Gulf Shores area and planning on bringing a ski or two...
when you get back I'd be curious as to
a) ride report... how'd you like it ?
b) are there rental places up there since it will be a family reunion thing and we might be able to get 5-6 family members together for a tour or something so we'd need a few skies...
glsmohio
Well-Known Member
yep i will give you all info along with some go-pro. I have called and talked to two different rental places. It was $275 for 3hrs of riding and he took you around the bay. He also told me since i had my own skis i could ride along with them since i would be renting 2 to 3 skis.
Spimothy Leary
Well-Known Member
oh,,,, even better, then the ski-less family members can rent, and I can tag along for free !
hali-farkin-lu-ya !!! That would be ideal.
i'm down to one ski right now with an empty slot on the double, was hoping to pick up a spare ride by June/July this will help motivate me !
hali-farkin-lu-ya !!! That would be ideal.
i'm down to one ski right now with an empty slot on the double, was hoping to pick up a spare ride by June/July this will help motivate me !
This ski was a strictly salt water ski when I purchased it but you wouldn't know it. The owner took great care and did the proper maintenance after rides
96 XP800!
Keep the 2 strokes alive!
See, I told you salt water was no good. The corrosion is so bad it turned your silver manifold white. Better donate that tired old ski to me.
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