Boats Expected In Full Force For Father’s Day

COEUR D’ALENE — With floodwaters receding and the air warming, Father’s Day weekend is expected to see a huge increase in the number of boats zipping around Coeur d’Alene Lake.

In mid-May, the sun was shining and the weather seemed prime for boating conditions. However, rapidly melting snowfall pushed the lake’s levels up past flood stage and thick debris prompted officials to issue a No Wake order.

Then, when the No Wake ordinance was lifted, the sun retreated and cloudy weather, rain and even a bit of snow and hail prevented many from going out to enjoy the lake over the past couple weeks.

However, those concerns are distant memories now and Father’s Day weekend is poised to be a busy one on the lake. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s with clear skies throughout Saturday and Sunday.

Surprisingly, gas prices aren’t as expensive on the lake as one might expect. That’s because the tank of gas available for boaters at Coeur d’Alene Resort was purchased before fuel prices started skyrocketing across the country. A gallon of gas on the lake cost $4.14 on Friday, still more than what you’ll pay at the neighborhood pump, but not by much.

However, once that tank runs out they’ll have to purchase fuel at the current price, which is sure to send lake gas prices through the roof. In short, if you need to fill up your boat on the lake, it’s probably a good idea to do it soon.

With a crowd expected to scatter to all corners of Coeur d’Alene Lake, officials are warning boaters to still keep an eye out for debris, watch out for swimmers training for the upcoming Ironman competition and to wear a life jacket. The water is still very frigid and it will make swimming extremely difficult should someone fall overboard.

If you do head out on the lake over the weekend, you might catch a glimpse of one of the biggest boats to ever grace these North Idaho waters. Print and hospitality magnate Brad Hagadone is living in a 70 foot, three-deck boat while his home is constructed.

The boat was recently launched into Coeur d’Alene Lake with the help of a crane that lifted it off a flatbed.