Anchored boat overnight

[Woodland Artisan]

Other than the obvious problem of leaving anything unattended in a public space, are there rules for leaving a boat anchored, out of the way in a secluded cove, overnight or even a few hours unattended?

I'm planning the 2nd stage of my kayaking expedition series (6 years late!) of paddling end-to-end on Table Rock for this coming spring/summer and would like to have my newly acquired small pontoon boat (assuming I can get it back in time to complete rigging it ... Wrench, ahem? ...) staged at certain places for me to spend some of the nights.  Sometimes, someone will be with it all the time (moving it ahead of me, of course) and other times probably not.  Any laws against that?

My 1st stage was on Stockton and only took 4 days; staying at campgrounds and one night on an island.  I'd really like to just stay on the pontoon boat for the nights this time.

[Dutch]

The only thing that comes to mind is I believe there is a rule about distance from the bank in the dark without an anchor light.

[Bill Babler]

Dutch I believer your correct. I believe all the houseboat rentals want the bow of the boat grounded for overnight lodging

[Dutch]

1 hour ago, Bill Babler said:

Dutch I believer your correct. I believe all the houseboat rentals want the bow of the boat grounded for overnight lodging

If I remember correctly the water patrolman said 50 yards from the bank was the number, but I was busy rubbing my posterior from his chewing for us fishing too far from the bank without a light on to be accurate with that.

[Woodland Artisan]

An anchor light isn't a problem.  I'd have to find the blasted thing if I arrived after dark, anyway. ha!

Thanks.

[Devan S.]

Once upon a time I had actually planned out the exact trip your going to take. Plan was to paddle from the base of Beaver Dam to Table Rock Dam. 

The COE campgrounds line up nicely for use. However depending on the time of year you do it there may be issues with booking them correctly and the commitment that comes with having to paddle so many set miles in a day. 

[fishinwrench]

3 hours ago, Woodland Artisan said:

Wrench, ahem?

She's coming along nicely..... finally. 

Covid, and being the only wrench turner here has definitely bogged things down....but I'm steady at it.  

Thanks for your patience 🤗

[Woodland Artisan]

1 hour ago, Devan S. said:

Once upon a time I had actually planned out the exact trip your going to take. Plan was to paddle from the base of Beaver Dam to Table Rock Dam. 

The COE campgrounds line up nicely for use. However depending on the time of year you do it there may be issues with booking them correctly and the commitment that comes with having to paddle so many set miles in a day. 

 

Where you able to make the trip?  I'm not planning to start quite so far as Beaver Dam but at Beaver, a couple of miles North of there.  Then going past Table Rock Dam a bit to the Ark 311 bridge.  I'm figuring about 75+/- miles.  Stockton was ~40 so this should be a good test to see if I want to tackle Stage 3 (circumnavigate Stockton) next.  I'm wanting to do this end-to-end of Table Rock in early May and well before Memorial Day; before it gets too crazy on the lake.  Campgrounds just aren't for me.  Too loud and too much of a hassle just to find a spot to pull up the kayak, string the hammock, eat a bit and then leave in 4 or 5 hours.  Loved saying on the island!  When planning for the Stockton end-to-end, I expected to do 10 miles a day (about 4 days) with no fishing.  After the 2nd day, I borrowed rod/tackle and still did 10 miles.  But, I had good weather and favorable winds for each leg.  Won't expect that on Table Rock in May, though.

[Woodland Artisan]

2 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

She's coming along nicely..... finally. 

Covid, and being the only wrench turner here has definitely bogged things down....but I'm steady at it.  

Thanks for your patience 🤗

👍

As long as it gets me from point A to point B when I need it to.

[Bill Babler]

The Corps of Engineers Dewy Short visitors center gives the length of the White River system at over 1,200 miles and says the Table Rock section is 110 miles on the White River. I'm guessing from Beaver Dam to I  really don't know where. I'm guessing that a portion of Long Creek must be included. 

Sounds like a fun journey