Annual Raft Ups

Eagle Mountain Lake has a Raft Up that is sponsored by a local lake establishment on the 3rd Saturday of August in Old Ranch House Slough a.k.a. "Party Cove". That is not to say that their isn't some kind of Raft Up, Tie Up going on just about every weekend. To see where "Party Cove" is located look at the Navionics maps below.

Some tips for boat captains:

• Make sure you have enough Coast Guard approved PFD's (life jackets) aboard for all passengers. Check to be sure all other safety equipment such as fire extinguishers are functional. "Courtesy safety inspections" are a common occurrence and infractions tend to lead to greater scrutiny. Making a safety inspection quick and easy is the fastest way to getting back on the water and on your way.

• Ensure that your boat is in good working order! Navigating the party cove can be tricky, and your boat needs to be working properly to do so safely. If your boat has trouble going in or out of gear, dies when shifting, or otherwise has a problem that makes maneuvering difficult, you should know that stops can be abrupt, with space between boats and swimmers practically negligible. Captain's need to rely on their crew for line handling and spotting swimmers and other boats. Boats and people get crowded up very quickly, and it sometimes takes an able crew to keep things from getting damaged or people from getting hurt. Be aware though, as captain you should be prepared to handle things by yourself, especially at the end of the day when the best your crew may be able to manage is to just stay out of the way.

• Do not allow passengers to ride on the back of benches, seats, or on top of engine covers (sundecks) unless your boat is rigged with railing 6 inches high. Passengers must be seated, or standing properly while underway, even if just idling. If the boat is in gear, park your rear. If you're entering or leaving the cove this rule is strictly enforced as boats must proceed at no-wake speed and it can take a while to reach the main group making it very tempting to forget this rule. Watch your wake, it's guaranteed Water Patrol will be. Take your time, the party is not going anywhere.

• Take plenty of bumpers for your boat as others typically don't bring enough for theirs. Have plenty of line (rope). You can never have too many lines for securing things and I'm always amazed at how many people show up (cough -rentals!) without a single one.

• Bring at least one anchor! Make sure it is rated for your size boat. The big boats have big anchors, but they can't hold an entire line in a strong wind.

• Be helpful and patient with other boaters, the party cove has visitors ranging in experience from beginner to expert, with all sorts in between. A little courtesy can go a long way to keeping minor problems from becoming large headaches. Cooler heads prevail.

• Don't stray too far from your boat and have an exit strategy. With so many boats tied together one boater’s problem can soon become everyone's problem. A sudden storm or an anchor that suddenly breaks loose can strain lines, and many times you may find it is simply safer to untie from the group rather than fight to keep it together.

• Be respectful of other people's property. Take care of the boats next to you, and they'll do the same. It's a boating thing.

• Stay away from aluminum pontoon boats, and don't tie up to one unless you're in one. Trust me on this one. There aren't enough bumpers in the world to protect fiberglass from the sharp edge of a piece of aluminum.

**And the BIG ones:

• Do NOT operate any watercraft under the influence of drugs (legal or otherwise).

• Do NOT operate any watercraft under the influence of alcohol.

• A captain's job is a lonely job, if it's done right. As captain you may be tempted to join in the thrall, but remember the same .08 alcohol level limit for operating a car, applies to all watercraft in Texas and the consequences of getting caught just as severe. This is the single biggest problem at the lake for vacationers unfamiliar with the law, and violators receive absolutely no leniency when caught. If you want to play with everyone else then appoint someone else as Captain! Flirt with drinking and boating if you want, many do, but remember you are being watched. Lake Patrol is NOT lenient in this area. ZERO TOLERANCE!

• The party cove is not without its detractors, there are those who would pass laws that would make it impossible for it to exist. Tragic accidents are rare but when they happen it often stirs the fervor of reigning in this kind of activity, but the only method that could work is by passing draconian laws such as restricting the number of boats that can tie together in a group. For the most part, thousands of people have enjoyed the party cove at Eagle Mountain Lake over the decades, and by taking responsibility for our own behaviors we can demonstrate these laws are not necessary, and ensure this tradition will go on for many years to come.

Safe boating everyone, and remember to do as Captain Stubing says; “Don’t be an asshole!”

TIE OFF - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!

There's lot of folks posting "rules" and times for the Tie Up.

Here's the proposed times that were used in the past:

40’ and bigger by 11:00 AM

30’ to 39’ by Noon

20 to 29’ by 1:00 PM.

This is great in theory but let's get real, you're gonna show up when you want to show up. Just try to let the big boats get in the cove first.

Here's the bottom line:

1. It's going to be a hot mess. The boat ramps will be a mess, the lake will be a mess, the cove will be a mess. Go into it understanding you'll need extra patience.

2. In addition to bringing extra patience you need to bring lots of extra boat bumpers and tie lines. You need at least 4 fenders and four tie ropes.

3. Bring your anchor and anchor your boat after you tie off.

4. Have a designated driver. Don't drink and boat. It's not cool and you will go to jail if you get caught. Lake Patrol and TPWD will be out in full force and they don't play. Don't say we didn't warn you.

5. As a captain you are responsible for everyone on your boat. Make sure people drink water, don't drink too much alcohol and get everyone back safe. When you're back on land, make sure you have a designated driver and don't let anyone drive home drunk.

6. Make sure your boat is legal. There will be LOTS of safety checks. You need your TX Number, valid registration, PFD's for everyone on board, a throwable PFD, a fire extinguisher and a HORN that works.

7. This event has been pretty rowdy in the past. It's not for kids. Leave them at home. You have been warned. If you must bring them then I would suggest you boat over to Big Carter Slough and tie up there for a PG rated day.

8. When you face the cove from the main lake in the back left arm of the cove you'll see a boat dock. That belongs to Texas Parks and Wildlife. Don't block the game wardens access to the lake.

9. Don't drive your boat or PWC in the center of the circle. This is for swimmers only. BE SAFE.

10. BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL to everyone including THE LAKE PATROL and GAME WARDENS. They're just doing their jobs and trying to keep everyone SAFE. They don't want to haul people to jail but they will. Be nice, it goes a long way! If you cop a attitude or give them grief your probability of making a trip downtown will increase significantly.

11. Bring lots of trash bags and keep up with your trash until you get off the water or back home. This includes bottle caps, can tabs and anything else. Lighter stuff like chip bags and plastic wrappers blow off. Keep up with them, RESPECT OUR LAKE and don't trash it. If you trash the lake and act a fool, the lake peeps (us included) will make you famous online. Their will be drones and cameras operating at all times.

12. The buoys in Party Cove and all over the lake are privately owned. Be respectful of others property. They've paid for the permits and buoys. If you're asked to move early in the day then move! Most of all, look for the the big buoy that says POLICE. Don't tie to it :)

13. Keep in mind that when you tie up you're stuck. It's hard to just pull back out and run to the store for something. Plan ahead and be respectful.

14. Practice safe boating in and out of the cove and. across the lake. Traffic will be high, watch out, slow down and be courteous. If you stay late, make sure YOUR LIGHTS ARE ON AND WORKING.

*****More helpful tips:*****

If you don't know the lake download the Navionics app.

https://www.navionics.com/usa/apps/navionics-boating?gclsrc=aw.ds

If you don't know where to launch here's where to find that info on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. Expect to PAY to launch, expect to wait to launch, and expect parking to be a nightmare. You can also expect to pay to park extra vehicles that come with you.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/eagle_mountain/access.phtml

If you want food, here's the options:

-Sammy's On The Lake at Lakeview Marina Eagle Mountain Lake (northeast side) has tacos, burgers, nachos, etc and a full bar (with an awesome bartender, Lane).

-Eagle Mountain Landing Cafe at West Bay Marina (northwest side) has burgers, sandwiches and other stuff as well as. a full bar.

-Augie's Sunset Cafe & Marina near the dam has burgers, sandwiches and other stuff as well as. a full bar.

*There is no restaurant at the Eagle Mountain Marina now and the The Lakehouse at Harbor One Marina is open.

Keep in mind the marinas and restaurants will be very busy also! Again, patience!

If you need gas on the water most of the marinas have fuel.

If you need food, beer, ice or other supplies Lakeview Marina, West Bay Marina, and Lake Country Marina are the best options.

If you break down and need a tow the number to Tow Boat US Eagle Mountain Lake & BoatwoRx Inc is (954) 830-5196

Finally, we don't organize this event. It's a lake event organized by the community. If you get hurt, go to jail or anything else bad happens to you don't say we didn't warn you. Don’t complain online that it was not organized and a crappy get together and they didn’t have this or that. Again, you have been forewarned not to come. As the old saying goes, you think you can organize and run this event and pay for the help to pull it off next year, GO FOR IT. You won’t get any resistance from taking the reins on running this event.

Old Ranch House Slough a.k.a. "Party Cove"

Circa 2002

Party Cove location is located at the top right on the above picture.

When the lake is down starting at 4' stay away from the red circles marked on these maps.

When the lake is down starting at 4' stay away from the red circles marked on these maps.

When the lake is down starting at 4' stay away from the red circles marked on these maps.

See if you can identify the man on left. He’s still very much still out on the lake today.

To see how these Raft Ups played out the last few years click on the subpages below.