Exit 131 off US131. Brower is the place to be.

What time should someone get there? What way do we head from the launch? How long of a run from the launch is the dam?

Don't know the area at all, never been to this so need all the info I can get... THX

Check your inbox, I sent you a PM yesterday re. river info.

The Hardy Dam is downriver from wherever you put in. If you launch at the Dam, you're there, obviously.

At Oxbow or Sandy Beach, which are almost right across from each other (east and west side of the river, respectively) you can see the dam.

From Brower, you go out of the lagoon and turn left to get to the Dam.

From RiverRidge, you turn right to get to the dam (and idle out of the now wake zone) or left and under the bridge to get to the sand bar (and idle out of the no wake zone)

I don't think it matters what time you get there…there will be a few guys up there today ,more tomorrow, Friday will be busy, and Sat & Sun will be a carnival ride. An R rated carnival ride if the weather is hot.

The river isn't as tough as it sounds and from RiverRidge to the Dam is easy, and from just downriver of Brower the river starts to get wide..although this weekend it won't seem wide.

The only things to remember between RiverRidge and the Dam are:

- A pair of no wake zones that are marked - 1 at RiverRidge and the other just just upriver from Brower.
- Stay to the outside of the island just upriver from Brower, (or downriver from RiverRidge)
- When you get closer to the dam you'll see Consumers Beach on the west side…it will be obvious because of all the boats rafted and partying.
- Same side as Consumers Beach but closer to the Dam is Sandy Beach Launch. Between the launch and Consumers is a sunken island. Stay well out from the west bank there. It will be a hole in the water where nobody is boating.

The river gets trickier upriver from RiverRidge…mostly it's narrower..stay to the high bank side and don't take off across any wide open spots you find north of RiverRidge…there will be enough boats you can follow.

If I can figure out how to do it I'll try and cut / paste a couple of images from google maps.

In the past the cops have been cool. They've got a tough job that weekend. Don't be an idiot and you shouldn't have a problem.

Thx for the info.

Also how are they on noise? I am 4" wide open.

Also just to let you know I have no messages :(

I have never had any problems with noise. I normal run my jet with over the transom headers with no baffles and have never had any problems.

Noise has never been an issue & there are guys with alky burning flats & hydros running zoomies…again, depending on how you're driving.

131 North.

For the launch at the dam, Oxbow, and Sandy Beach get off exit 125 and go west on Jefferson Road which turns into 36th st.

For Oxbow turn right on Chestnut turns into 32nd sorta left onto Cottonwood and another left on cottonwood to Oxbow.
Oxbow is 2973 Cottonwood, Newaygo.

For the launch at the Dam and Sandy Beach instead of turning left on Cottonwood go sorta straight through on Croton Hardy Dr.
Right turn on the Dam Rd at sign, go across dam to the launch.

For Sandy Beach go past the Dam Launch, up the hill and turn north on Elm. Sandy Beach will be on Right

For Brower and RiverRidge

131 north to exit #131, go west on 8 Mi Rd.

For Brower turn left at the party store (Old State Rd) and follow the signs (and traffic)

For RiverRidge go straight on 8 Mile, RiverRidge is just across the bridge over the river.

we are comin in from IL on friday prolly 5 ish, we are stayin at alpine resort in Newaygo,any info on were i should go from there to put the boat in would be greatly appreciated,and any other info that mite help, we have never been but here its a good time.thanks,Louie..

Alpine Resort is in Croton. I've never stayed there but I've been told it's a pretty cool spot. Dunno what they've got for boat parking, though.

Not sure how your GPS will bring you in but if it was me I'd take 131 to exit 118 which is the Newaygo / Howard City Exit. Go West on M82 towards Newaygo 5-6 miles and turn north on Elm. (party store on the corner)

About halfway to Croton the road makes a hard left that can sneak up on you. Follow Elm to the dead end and turn right on Croton Hardy Dr.

You'll go across the causeway - watch for the people fishing (always) at the bridge. When you get to the end of the causeway Alpine Resort will be on your right.

Your downriver / below the Hardy dam and above the Croton Dam at that point.

Just north of Alpine Lodge on Croton Hardy Drive is the Driftwood on the right - which is a bar & bar food but a cool deck overlooking the Little Muskegon River.

A bit farther on the left is the Red Anchor which has good food.

To get to Hot Boat from Alpine Lodge go north past the Driftwood and Anchor on Croton Hardy Dr. You;re following the river below the dam so it winds a lot..eventually road will stretch out and you'll go up a hill to an intersection (no light) Dam and Sandy beach are to the left, Oxbow will be straight ahead…follow the signs and the people.

If you're coming in on Friday afternoon I'd get settled at the Alpine, unhitch the boat, go to the Anchor for dinner and then drive up and scout around…and back to either the Anchor or the Driftwood for a few cocktails.

sounds good,thanks alot for the good info,lookin forward to meetin some new people and some new territory boating. Were ya think would be the best place to put the boat in?

How big is it?

I haven't been to Oxbow in years but it always used to be a nice launch.

My favorite launch is Sandy Beach State Park. It's a nice gradual ramp with (usually) plenty of parking. The restrooms are "real" i.e. not an outhouse but are a ways from the ramp. It's also not usually as busy as the other ramps. The downside is it isn't as protected from wind and waves.

The dam is a nice ramp but steep, parking is tight but they get it done. The restroom is a block outhouse but it's kept up. I put in there if I'm too lazy to go to Sandy Beach or if it's rough/windy the ramp is well sheltered. The channel can be tight.

If you want to go to RiverRidge or Brower from Croton go past Sandy Beach to the end and turn right…the road jogs a bit but will take you to RiverRidge. and eventually to The turn for Brower.

Check out the different ramps Fri after you get settled. The sticker for the dam is also good at Sandy Beach. I'm a little concerned where you're going to put your boat while staying at Alpine Resort. Have you asked them about that?

His profile says he has a 338 Skater. I'm guessing 34' , 35' ??

That's a good point. I know 30's have launched at the dam, but they weren't Skaters with Arnesons'

I'd either go to Sandy Beach or Brower, but before I went to either I'd check out Oxbow as well.

Sandy Beach and Oxbow are only about 10 mins from where you're staying. Brower is a pull…one of those "you can't get there easily from here" spots from Croton.

There is a back way from Croton to Brower but I don't know it.

Take a look at google maps and if you're coming in Fri nite you'll have time to check out the launches.

the people that own the resort say i can park the boat in there personal driveway, but yes my boat is 34' overall and the trailor is 42' ,thats what ill do is go explore the place when i get there and drop the boat off,is there a certain spot were everybody will be hangin out on fri nite?

Brower Park is "the place"…lots of hot boaters camping there & the rest spread out between the various campgrounds.

I know last year on Fri nite there were also a bunch of locals at the Anchor…I'll end up there at some point but we're in there 2-3 times a week anyway.Probably will be there tonight.

The Driftwood will be busy as well & they may have a band on the deck.

Im not sure you get the scope of this thing…you're going to make a 6 hour pull and there are people coming farther…way to many to all hang out at the same place. When you take a ride by the dam on Friday night you'll see what I mean. If you go to dinner before you explore don't drink to much first, cops will be thick around the river…This event has gotten huge….they'll need to manage traffic if it's anything like prior years.

I think you're staying in the perfect spot. You can walk back to your cabin from both the Anchor and the Drifrtwood and you're not stuck in a campground…you can get away from it…granted, I wouldn't have thought the same way 25 years ago :)

Oxbow would be your "closest" place to launch, but it fills up fast. There is parking for about 50 (vehicle and trailer). Unfortunately, there will be 150+ using it. The ramp is 3 1/2 lanes wide. The half is on the left (south) side and is OK for jet ski's, etc. Most houseboats on the river launch at Oxbow because the ramp is wide. Also, for those of you who like to boat drunk, please launch at Oxbow. You provide the locals with a lot of entertainment when you try to pull out.

I have been using OXBOW for years and put the 34 SCARAB in there - perfect ramp for the longer boats. Not too steep.

Hot boat was great this year, finished off the teeth on my upper XR gears Sunday in front of Brower but they been in drive for around 400 hours so I'm not crying about it, did ALOT of racing, Smitty Buying a Go-Pro, Tony was bouncing around in bottom of boat trying to video when we were air borne!
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...type=2&theater

That video rocks! Had my adrenaline pumping for sure! Pretty sure that was Nick W. Beautiful Sunsation that's pretty fast and he's not scared to drive it! You were inching him for sure! WOW that procharger sounds nasty good!

Yeah that was Nick W and it was a good race, we both hit it at same time too, none of this stuff where one guy starts out 4 lengths of the other guy and you have to reel him in then when you do they let off and say they one, nope, he flagged it we both hit it, I was pulling him slightly (twin engine 525 efi 32 sunsation) with hp, he passed me with better handling and we called it a draw for most part. Buying a go pro next year, thats for sure!!

anyone get pictures of my new boat on the water?

What happen at Sandy beach Saturday night I heard a guy got arrested for yelling at the EMTs have anyone else hear this?

Good times on the Freedom 28 Skater!

Enjoy!

Kristy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr0wmAeiPSI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr0wmAeiPSI