Steamboat Lake Marina

Posts Tagged ‘Steamboat Lake’

As I sit and look out the window of the marina this morning and notice the calm in the air, I’m reminded of the fact that summer is definitely winding down. The last batch of fudge has been made, the last order of live bait as been placed and we’ve seen a noticeable increase in sweatshirt sales. Yes… it all leads me to the sad reality that very soon the boats will in fact be on dry land and the skies will begin to snow.

As I reflect on how the summer has gone, I think back to the church group that rented our wakeboard boat for 5 hours. I’ve never before seen a group of happier kids with wider smiles in my life. The sheer enjoyment they experienced that day is something I’m sure will stick with each of those kids for a very long time. And the idea that we were such a large part of their weekend entertainment really hits home in the grand scheme of what the Steamboat Lake Marina is all about.

Hardly a day goes by that we don’t get area campers, fisherman, hikers, bikers and folks from all walks of like stopping by to say what an enjoyable place this is. We are priveledged to be able to operate our business within one of the top-rated State Parks in Colorado and appreciate each and every customer that has walked through our doors. It’s easy to get caught in the rut of thinking we are in the “boat rental” business but every now and again I’m reminded that we are, in fact, operating a “people business.” It’s a two-way street too. We couldn’t survive without the patronage of our wonderful clientele and our area visitors are happy that we are here for them.

So as you think back on your summer and the memories that were created we hope that part of your recollection includes an experience or two at Stemaboat Lake. If we were lucky enough to have showed you some fun this summer, we hope you return. If you didn’t get a chance to come see us, please start thinking about next summer. We’d be honored to have you!

Life in the mountains demands that you come prepared! Check out this hilarious video that explains the types of weather you can expect when visiting Steamboat Lake.

In honor of this being ”Regatta Weekend,” a time when sailors from all around flock to the lake for competition and friendship, we offer you this video.  Not that we saw anything quite this hairy out on the lake today, but this type of entertainment reminds us all to “Watch your rudder!”

I was lucky enough to get out on one of our pontoon boats this morning for an early awakening in the fresh mountain air. As I motored out through the no-wake zone of the marina exit, I couldn’t help but notice the family camping on Bridge Island. The kids were playing some form of “tag” and their dog was happily sniffing the wildflowers. No doubt in search of new territory to mark! Mom and dad seemed to be busy whipping up breakfast for the troops. I was trying to capture the smell of griddled bacon and pancakes but they were too far off to tell for sure what the morning delicacy was to be.

The swim beach on my right was already packed with swimmers lathered in sunscreen and splashing away. Pop tents had been set out to give a bit of shade to the picnic tables on what is shaping up to be another sunny day in paradise. I couldn’t help but think back to my childhood and how a simple day at the beach with my sister and family was like an entire vacation experience all to itself. If I could sip from the Fountain of Youth and go back to those carefree days, I surely would.

On the far side of lake near the dam, I saw a cloud of dust kicking up from the trails along the shoreline. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a troop of pack horses gently carrying a group of riders along the hillsides and valley’s of our area. What a way to spend the morning in North Routt County. Nothing but the trail, the animals, the camaraderie of good friends and the gentle hint of simpler times to make a person truly appreciate this life.

Little by little, it began to dawn on me. Tomorrow is the first day of August. Kids will soon be back in school and our green aspens will soon be turning bright yellow. Things at Steamboat Lake will start winding down and there are really only a handful of busy days left in our summer calendar. Not to sound cliché, but where did the time go? When I began working here at the marina I was told how fast the summer will fly by. Thinking back now, it really did.

So for anyone looking at this summer in the same way I am, I have one bit of advice. If you haven’t made the short trek from Steamboat Springs to the Steamboat Lake State Park this summer, GO! Don’t think, just do it. And when you start making your way north from Steamboat, try to contemplate how glorious this life is. Take in all the sights, sounds, smells and colors you see on your way up here and try to remember that summer memories like this are like a candle in the wind. Don’t let yours blow out before you’ve had a chance to experience its light!

Happy Trails!

-DAVE

 

That’s right, the Steamboat Lake Marina now has a new toy for rent. You’ve asked for it, now here it is. Please welcome the newest member to our fleet – the Master Craft “X-Star” wakeboard/water ski boat! We launched this sucker and got her in the water for the first time today. We are planning to offer piloted wakeboard, water ski and wake surf lessons for all abilities starting as early as next week. Rental of the boat comes with all of the equipment you desire, a driver and hands-on instruction. What more would you expect from the most cutting edge marina in Northwest Colorado?

Here are some pics of our lovely lady. Call to inquire about rental rates and availability. Perhaps we’ll consider some discounted sessions for the lucky few who get to help us officially christen this bad boy on the lake. 970-879-7019… ask for Dave.

Specs on this baby:
- Vortec, 8.1 Liter Engine (similar to a Corvette!)
- 450 Horsepower
- 22 feet… 12 passenger capacity
- 17 speakers… CD/MP3 equipped
- On-board cooler / 12 cup holders
- Official boat of the X-Games
- The “Gold Standard” of all wakeboard boats on the market!

Walking into work yesterday, I suddenly felt the need to wear a hard hat.  Watch as one of the area’s dead trees gets a helping hand from the Rocky Mountain Youth Corp.  On a positive note… our lake view just got a whole lot better!

I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the Mastercraft this summer and making some turns on the lake.  I’m a true water skier at heart, born and raised on the lakes of Michigan.  As I’m getting back into the sport, I find myself amongst more and more wakeboarders than ever before.  

Now that I live in a ski town, it is probably very similar to the old “skiers vs. snowboarders” clash on the slopes.  Not that I’m suggesting there is any turmoil at all between water skiers and wakeboarders, it’s just that I know very little about wakeboarding (though I’m anxious to try). 

For anyone in the same boat (ha, nice pun) I wanted to attach a little “Beginners Guide to Wakeboarding.”

Once a week, we plan to scour the web for the most absurd videos we can find and bring them to you in what we like to call the “Absolutely Absurd Weekly Clip.”

Not sure if this is THE most absurd, but it’s a good one to get started with.  Kids… don’t try this at home!

For those that need a quick reminder about who we are and what we do, here’s a fun video to check out.  (Please excuse the low-budget editing… I’m no Scorsese)

As you may have guessed, this is the time of the year that we are in heavy preparation mode for the busy summer season.  With the beautiful warm weather and rapid snow melt we’ve experienced over the last few days, it’s time once again to start Spring cleaning around here.

And that begins with our website!  Yes… we are currently in the midst of updating our online presence to bring you a better tool for finding the information you’re searching.  You’ll be seeing some pretty incredible changes here over the coming weeks and we sincerely welcome your feedback.

So please be patient with us while we refine your user experience for the better.  Our goal is for this website to not only be a source of valuable information about our services, but insights into our area as a whole.