Dave, Pekin does indeed have a drop off and the water near the ramp is shallow. Be very careful if you launch there. If it were my boat, I would launch at Detweiller on the west side of the river at Peoria. You could launch at the public ramps near Eastport (Jonah's restaurant) on the east side but you will drag your trailer where the ramp transitions down from the parking lot and the water is very shallow there. You could pull down to Havana and launch at the ramps at the park there. Ramp is not too bad and the water is plenty deep. Only problem is the parking lot might be too small for a truck and 38' boat trailer.

It is an option but longer trailers can hang up on the ramp. We launched a friends 33' Outlaw there last fall and the trailer drug big time. Also have to be careful as there is not much water near the ramp.

Havana would be good, a friend usually launced his 388 Slingshot from there and was ok he said. I always put in at eastport, trim all the way up though. The river is great to do around September when the leaves are changing.


Rich.

Rich, We usually do the Pekin to Alton in August during my vacation. Not much debris in the river at that time except the Alton pool area always has trash. We go again for a Fall Colors Cruise to Alton in October with our boating club, USPS. May try launching at Havanah next trip as I don't want to damage the trailer or fill my engines with mud. The low water pickups on my drives are not shallow water friendly.
Dave

shorepower
 

Rich,

What length shorepower cord do you use for your 38? Ours didn't come with one. Do we need the 50' as the station is sometimes on the other side and the extra reach could be useful or will a 25' suffice?

I would think a 25 footer would be plenty. Do a test with a dock line to see how much you need.

thanks knot, we bought a 25.

Quad Cities area, Mississippi River.

Carlyle Lake and LOTO

I don't boat at Clinton, I just cop free anchorage from Knot 4 Me and bring Boody his vodka and lemonade. :cool-smiley-011:

Then I drive to LOTO and sit on the dock and drink cheap beer!:D