How a Lake Thaws

It’s officially spring and the temperatures are beginning to warm up. With temperatures above freezing, we’re patiently waiting for the ice on Lake Wallenpaupack to thaw so we can get docks and boats ready for the upcoming season and back into the water at Lighthouse Harbor Marina. As previously explained in our “How a Lake Freezes” blog, lakes freeze starting at the top and going down. So it’s no surprise that a lake thaws starting at the bottom and coming up!

Once there is no snow left on the top of the lake, the sun can directly penetrate the ice. Acting like glass in a greenhouse, the ice insulates the water below and allows it to warm up which melts the deepest layers of ice first. As the ice thins to about 4-12 inches it converts into “candles” (long vertical crystals) which conduct light even more. This causes the ice to appear black because it’s not reflecting much sunlight.

The light energy is being transferred to the underlying water which increases its temperature. The crystals break apart as water fills in between them causing more reflection and making the ice appear grayish. This thin layer of ice crystals on the surface of the lake is easily broken up by wind and blown around the lake causing water to reemerge.

The warm temperatures, along with the rain expected today, will help this thawing process and will hopefully melt most of the ice on the lake. Once the lake is thawed out we’re one step closer to summer and boating season!

2014 Tigé RZ2 for sale on Lake Wallenpaupack - LighthouseHarbor.com

2014 Tige RZ2 in black and yellow! Powered by Indmar's 350 HP M57 V-Drive. Edgy yet versatile, the RZ2 epitomizes the Tige experience, producing awe-inspiring wakes and adrenaline-induced smiles. Always up for a challenge, it will provide a never-ending supply of perfect days, epic wakes and legendary memories. Count on it.

This boat has the Convex VX surf system and surf Ballast package. It is loaded with options and includes a custom, matching Boatmate trailer. For more information, call or stop by Lighthouse Harbor Marina! (570) 857-0220 969 Route 507 Greentown, Pa 18426.

Specifications:

• Length Overall 22'
• Beam 8' 6"
• Fuel Capacity 48 Gal.
• Weight 4150 lbs
• Seating Capacity 15

Tigé - lighthouseharbor.com/tige-boats.html

"Tige Boats launched in 1991 placing innovation and passion at the heart of our boats. Since our beginning, we have remained a family owned business placing relationships with our owners, dealer network and vendors as a priority.

Today, Tige keeps these values alive with one common goal in mind—to make your ride better than anything else on the water. Through a refined sense of aesthetics, precision manufacturing, and a love for watersports, we have set new standards in boat design and engineering. By personally engaging with and using our own products, we have introduced many innovative technologies and industry firsts, each one created to make your time behind the wheel or on your board as perfect as possible.

From the new ASR to the highly-acclaimed Z3 and throughout the entire 2015 lineup, Tige produces the most technologically advanced product line specializing in massive wakeboarding wakes and ocean-worthy wakesurf waves. The all-new Touch2 interface, Surf Link remote, patented ConvexV hull, and TAPS2 technology are just some of the features that make Tige unlike anything else on the water." - Tigé

You can find these amazing boats at Lighthouse Harbor Marina on Lake Wallenpauack.

Ice Safety Thickness

With the extremely cold temperatures, Lake Wallenpaupack had over 20 inches of ice in some parts this winter. Since spring is a week away and temperatures are quickly warming up, keep in mind that the ice will start to melt fast and is never 100% safe so it's vital you take precautions when going out. Here are some things to remember:

In case of an emergency, always pack extra, warm clothing and a blanket. An ice pick also may help you get out of the water if you fall through. Never go out on the ice without telling someone else when and where you’ll be out.

If you’re going on ice that you are unfamiliar with, ask the locals about dangerous spots. Never assume the thickness of the ice is uniform over the whole body of water. Some spots may be weaker than others.

There are many things you can observe to guess if the ice is safe for your activities. The color and texture of the ice, the snow coverage on top of the ice, the depth and width of the body of water you’re on, and the recent temperatures are all factors to take into consideration. Different ice colors may indicate different types and thickness of ice. For instance, light gray to dark black may mean the ice is melting, white to opaque may show that water-saturated snow froze over the ice which formed another thin layer and probably is unsafe, and blue to clear ice indicates the ice has a high density and may be the safest. However, don’t rely on the color of the ice alone.

Different ice thickness determines the activities that may be safe. Ice that is 3 inches or less is never safe and ice that is 11 inches may be safe enough to hold a truck’s weight. The chart below gives an idea of proper ice thickness based on activity.

Lighthouse Harbor Marina's Social Medias

You are probably familiar with Lighthouse Harbor Marina's website LighthouseHarbor.com but have you noticed the icons at the top of the page? Not only can you access our home page or contact us through email, but you can connect with our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Blog, YouTube, or Instagram pages right from our website!

Lighthouse Harbor Marina is on a variety of social networks in order to connect with you. We love to keep you updated, share the view of Lake Wallenpaupack from our marina, and give you information on upcoming events. And to be honest, we get very excited when you share stuff with us!

Our Facebook page features photo albums of the activities we host at the marina, such as the annual Paupack Plunge and the annual Customer Appreciation BBQ. We also enjoy sharing funny cartoons, information on watersports equipment and boats we have in stock, and information on lake happenings.

On our Twitter page we re-tweet a lot of helpful safety information along with boat, fishing, and local information.

Some of our Pinterest boards include "Wakeboarding & Other Watersports," "Paddleboarding & Kayaking," "Lighthouses," and "Furry First Mates".

The Lake Wallenpaupack Blog, hosted by Lighthouse Harbor Marina, features information, events, and images from the Lake Wallenpaupack area of the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. A beautiful place to live, play and vacation!

Many of our commercials for Wallenpaupack Life are uploaded to our YouTube Channel.

And we love to post beautiful pictures of our view of the lake on our Instagram.

 

No matter what social medias you prefer, be sure to find us and friend/follow/like us so we can keep in touch!

Boating Safety Education Certificate - Boat-Ed.com

As boaters, it’s our responsibility to be educated and responsible in operation, etiquette, and the rules of the waterways. Boater education saves lives and prevents accidents on the water. More than 40 states in the United States have educational requirements for those who operate a boat or PWC (personal water craft) on state waters. Anyone who operates a boat with over 25hp and was born Jan. 1, 1982 or later, is required by law to have a Boating Safety Education Certificate. In order to make your boating experience safe, Pennsylvania law enforcement officers patrol the waterways to ensure everyone is educated. There’s no reason to get caught without a required certificate, especially with how easy it is to get one.

When you visit Boat-Ed.com you’ll learn how to improve your boating skills step-by-step. You can take the safety course, which is broken down into 6 easy-to-understand parts, at your own pace. At the end of each part you take a quiz to ensure you’re understanding each topic. After scoring at least 70% on the quiz, you move on to the next part. You can study each part as much as you’d like in order to pass each quiz.

The certification exam is available for you to take upon completing all parts. Depending on your level of comfort, you can take a practice exam or proceed straight to the certification exam, both contain all the material learned in the 6 parts of the course. In order to pass the certification exam, you must score at least 80%. You have the option to take the exam as many times as you’d like until you pass and you pay only when you pass. You instantly print a temporary certificate after passing and within 4-6 weeks your certification card will arrive in the mail. This is a lifetime certification!

This online boater education course is accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission as an approved online boating license course. It only takes a few hours and can be completed at one time, or over a period of time, from your mobile device or computer. It’s also proudly made in Dallas, Texas, USA!

Spring Fever

Since it’s now March and spring is officially less than a month away, you may have a case of spring fever. Spring fever is a very real sensation which causes physical and psychological symptoms.

Arising from mid-March to mid-April in the northern hemisphere, the symptoms of spring fever may be more or less distinct based on the person. The most common symptoms include sensitivity to changes in the weather, faintness, irritability, headaches, and lack of drive.

The causes of spring fever are not yet fully known, however, hormone balance may be a contributor. One premise suggests that the body’s reserves of serotonin (the “happiness hormone”), which is produced by sunlight, become drained throughout the winter which causes melatonin (the “sleep hormone) to take more effect. In the spring when the days start to get longer, the body readapts its hormone levels which releases more endorphin, testosterone, and estrogen. The feeling of tiredness is caused by the strain this puts on the body. Food may also be a contributor. People usually consume more calories, fat, and carbohydrates in the winter, whereas the body needs more vitamins and proteins during the hormone adjustment period.

No matter what the cause of spring fever, it’s no doubt everyone’s felt it at some point. Since this winter was especially hard, spring fever may be more strenuous this year. Let the thought of beautiful, warm, sunny weather get us through!