FRANKS TRACT?

P

paz

Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2008
RO Number
30553
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33
I really like mildred but was thinking about trying franks tract for my next outing. Looks to be not much further than mildred but looks way bigger on map! Also appears to have some services? Food Gas etc? Any advice.
Also thinking it would be nice to have some alternate transportation as pulling up anchor several times a day would be a DRAG. My boat is 28 feet. Is pulling a jetski behind a hassle?
 
Paz,

Franks tract has it's issues and you need to know your way around as I am sure others will tell you, but one of my neighbors was there this last weekend and brought back an 8 1/2 lb large mouth - really nice! He said it was so windy on Sat night, one big sail boat had to cut his anchor, and another lost his dink. Pretty rough water sometimes.

As for towing a ski, you can do it but keep it slow. Many ski's require you to shut off the cooling water intake so you dont force water into the engine without it running. A I understand it, if you stay slow, around 8 or so knotts, you are OK. Make sure you use floating line so you don't suck it into you prop when you slow down. Also, if you do shut off the water intake make sure you open it back up before you ride - a friend forgot and fried his motor last year and it was pretty sad.

Have a great trip!

Jim
 
I've towed a 10 ft. Achilles inflatable on my old 26' boat with no trouble at all. I haven't used it the past couple of years because I tend to anchor out for two to six days without going ashore.

It helps to have a chart with you for exploring Franks Tract. There are many shallows and obstructions. Plenty of Bethel Island services along Piper Slough. That's the west side of Franks Tract.

The last time I was messing around in Franks Tract was two years ago and it was full of weed. There have been herbicide treatments since then and the situation is improved. Have a good strainer on your engine raw water intake to be on the safe side.

Nice tules along the north side of Franks make for attractive anchoring, but it gets shallow there. The remains of the broken down Sandmound Slough levee on the south side offers small stretches of sandy beach at low tide.

All sloughs and rivers on the edges of Franks Tract get lots of traffic.

Viewer for NOAA Chart 18660
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18660.shtml
 
I would stick with Mildred. I went across both Mildred and Franks on Saturday and if you think it was windy on Mildred, then it was a hurricane on Franks.

It's fun taking the jet ski over the big waves the whip up on Franks, but I can't see it as being much fun to anchor out on. Although I did see some on the north side stuffed in the tules like Yzer said. But watch the depth and the stumps over there.
 
Franks Tract is my back yard. Everything mentioned above is true. The gas dock at Russo's Marina on Piper Slu sells "maps" of the tract which shows all the hazards I am aware of. It was surveyed by a private company about 7 yrs ago. NOAA charts of the area will not be as accurate due to lack of updating. Some hazards change from one year to another.

Do not anchor in Franks Tract. It is either too windy or, if calm, mosquitoes will eat you alive!!!! There are good anchorages on Sandmound Slu if you head south. Traffic can be very busy on weekends, but part of the Slu is a No Wake Zone.

If towing your jetski is inconvenient another option is one adult drives the boat while another adult rides the jetski to your anchorage.

There are three restaurants on Piper Slu and all three have docks for boaters: Lundborg Landing [a favorite of fisherman]; Paradise rb2@gr5t Sugar Barge [geared toward adults; also has a convenience store, fuel, pumpout]; and Rusty Porthole [not as funky as Lundborg's nor as sophisticated as Paradise].

Have a great time exploring the area!
 
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