Highland Lakes ramp? - Austin Boat Forums

JC

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Cedar Park

Highland Lakes ramp?
Mar 19^th, 2013 at 11:44pm

I've never used that ramp before, but need to get the boat on the water and make sure it's running good before I sell it.
Is it concrete? How's the traction? How steep is it compared to Sandy Creek park or the dam? I'll be using my 2wd pick-up and would like to not have the rear wheels in the water.
Any hazards close to the ramp?
At what level can the ramp no longer be used?
Is there a dock to tie up to (I'll be solo)?
Sorry abt all the questions, but don't want to get stuck, or worse, break something I'm abt to sell..

Thx in adv!
P.S. I know it will be closed to the public after April 1st.

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nathan

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Re: Highland Lakes ramp?
Reply #1 - Mar 20^th, 2013 at 7:16am

Griswald wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2012 at 9:54am:

right next to Volente Beach, Jared, $20 to launch but Frank has a concrete ramp and about the only option these days. I launched there 2wks ago and it was in/out...easy as pie.

g wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2012 at 7:40am:

Concrete. We launched two 32 Sunsations and a 28 Nordic from that ramp for the run we did last March. The lake was several feet lower than it is right now. If it is windy, you just have to be cautious of the rocks off your starboard.

above is some quotes from other members about highland lake ramp. but I am sure the guys that have used them lately will chime in.

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Captain YARRR

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Re: Highland Lakes ramp?
Reply #2 - Mar 21^st, 2013 at 5:53pm

It is concrete and it is a good way to go. I was using it regularly before I moved my boat to a marina. At this level it is a little tricky. It is still concrete at this level I believe, but it is along the side of a wall of rocks.

That said, you just need to make sure as you go down the ramp that you turn your trailer out to the open water. If you have your trailer parallel to the rock wall you run the risk of being blown in to it. Something we found out very nearly the hard way at our first ABF run last year.

That word of warning said, it is a good ramp and easy to use. The Highland Lakes folks are a pleasure too.

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JC Veteran Austin Boater Offline Austin Boater Posts: 254 Cedar Park	Re: Highland Lakes ramp? Reply #3 - Mar 21^st, 2013 at 10:42pm Is there a dock to tie-off to?
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g

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Re: Highland Lakes ramp?
Reply #4 - Mar 21^st, 2013 at 10:53pm

JC wrote on Mar 21^st, 2013 at 10:42pm:

Is there a dock to tie-off to?

Yes, but not directly next to the ramp. You will have to launch, then drive your boat to the docks across from the ramp, tie-up then retrieve your rig. Not too bad at all. But as Yarrr said, be careful with the wall to your starboard launching and retriving. I had jay gadsby backing my rig (a total pro, by the way) and his buddy sitting at the wall to fend off in case i got too close to the rocks. Everything was fine, but it was nice to have the help.

Another option if you are looking to just splash for a test drive. Try lake LBJ. Constant level, free and a good ramp/dock for solo launching.

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JC Veteran Austin Boater Offline Austin Boater Posts: 254 Cedar Park	Re: Highland Lakes ramp? Reply #5 - Mar 22^nd, 2013 at 8:46pm Great! Thx for the info. I'll probably be there Monday for a test drive. I thought abt LBJ, but I'm only a few miles from Volente.
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Captain YARRR Admin Offline Doing the rain dance Posts: 2587 Round Rock, TX Gender:	Re: Highland Lakes ramp? Reply #6 - Mar 24^th, 2013 at 11:33pm Good luck out there! Hopefully you got her all buttoned down for a quick sale. Feel free to post it up in the classifieds here too.
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JC Veteran Austin Boater Offline Austin Boater Posts: 254 Cedar Park	Re: Highland Lakes ramp? Reply #7 - Mar 25^th, 2013 at 12:19am Thx Capt. With the temps a bit lower than they have been, I may postpone my test drive. Saw on OSO you were having distributor problems. Did ya find a economical solution?
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Captain YARRR Admin Offline Doing the rain dance Posts: 2587 Round Rock, TX Gender:	Re: Highland Lakes ramp? Reply #8 - Mar 25^th, 2013 at 6:49pm Looks like $3 worth of cable ties has got me back on the water for the time being. Not a solution I like, but supposedly it works pretty well. Nothing wrong with the distributor. Just missing that little lip the cap screws in to. Not sure it's fixed yet, got to go for a test run before I say I'm out of the woods.
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Tyranni Austin Boater Offline Austin Boater Posts: 117	Re: Highland Lakes ramp? Reply #9 - Mar 25^th, 2013 at 7:50pm Be careful you have a good seal. Marine distributors are supposed to be ignition protected, which means there is no way to get bilge air in there. With all the sparking that goes on inside its one of the more important parts to isolate.
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Captain YARRR Admin Offline Doing the rain dance Posts: 2587 Round Rock, TX Gender:	Re: Highland Lakes ramp? Reply #10 - Mar 25^th, 2013 at 8:38pm That is definitely a good word of caution. Makes sense. It feels as solid as the other engine. But it is temporary. I don't like half-assed fixes.
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JC Veteran Austin Boater Offline Austin Boater Posts: 254 Cedar Park	Re: Highland Lakes ramp? Reply #11 - Mar 25^th, 2013 at 8:44pm I drove out to the Highland Lakes ramp to check it out before I took the boat there. Ramp not looking so good. I assume this is the ramp you guys were talking abt. Water level today is 630.43....
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g

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Re: Highland Lakes ramp?
Reply #12 - Mar 25^th, 2013 at 11:07pm

JC wrote on Mar 25^th, 2013 at 8:44pm:

I drove out to the Highland Lakes ramp to check it out before I took the boat there. Ramp not looking so good.
I assume this is the ramp you guys were talking abt.
Water level today is 630.43....

Yep, that's it. I splashed my 32 Sunny out there a few weeks back at that water level. Easy in and out.

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JC Veteran Austin Boater Offline Austin Boater Posts: 254 Cedar Park	Re: Highland Lakes ramp? Reply #13 - Mar 26^th, 2013 at 12:02am Did your truck rear tires go off the concrete? 4wd??
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g Veteran Austin Boater Offline Posts: 338 Banished to an island	Re: Highland Lakes ramp? Reply #14 - Mar 26^th, 2013 at 8:20am JC wrote on Mar 26^th, 2013 at 12:02am: Did your truck rear tires go off the concrete? 4wd?? No, rear tires stayed dry. Yes, did not need it. Jay pulled his 28 Nordic Heat out with his 2WD
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