Lake Sinclair, GA

Started a reply and it vanished, hope this isn't a duplicate...

Sinclair and Oconee make up what's called "Lake Country". Have kept my boats at an Oconee marina for years. Never been on Sinclair but have been meaning to. In fact, we would like to move out that way someday, and while Oconee is considered nicer, it s far pricier and has no town like Milledgeville where my wife might find a job. So...been thinking about putting one at Sinclair Marina to check it out.....

Milledgeville is a great little college town. I work there a few weeks every year so know it well. Naturally the closer to MV the better, cheaper as you go out.

400+ miles of shoreline so little likelihood of getting bored. Man-made (like all GA lakes), owned by Georgia Power. They periodically pump water back and forth between Sinclair and Oconee to generate power. Oconee level does not noticeably fluctuate, but have heard rumor that Sinclair does a bit, stick to the big water and am sure it's fine, someone there could tell you more. Have heard they have, or will be, shutting down the power plant at the opposite end/terminus Sinclair Dam. No idea what that might effect. Good news is these lakes are seemingly unaffected by drought. When GA was in big drought some years back and lakes like Lanier were down like 15 or 20 feet, Oconee was maybe less than a foot off full pool (which is why we chose it.....)

I'd move to MV in a heartbeat but that's me. If you do it though, let us know, good excuse for a GA gathering.....I'm certain at least Kermit would come out to play....

BTW: Saturday forecast 74 degrees no rain.

74Wind wrote: They periodically pump water back and forth between Sinclair and Oconee to generate power.

Morfoot wrote:    Jeffy is correct that the water level fluctuates DAILY. IT can litereally be down 3-4 feet in the morning but as the sun goes down the level goes back up.

Slight thread jack here:
I know I've asked before and don't think I really got an answer. Considering efficiencies, it takes energy to pump water up hill, I'm struggling to understand the gains. Are they pumping up at night when there's excess off peak power available? Georgia Power must be burning lots of fossil fuels or nukes where shutting down boiler/generators for short times isn't worth it??

Morfoot wrote: Pretty rednecky/country living out

WTF Timbob, what do you expect? It's Georgia! We love guns, beer, the confederate flag, bbq and our brothers sister LOL

Have been on Oconee at a Friends house and since he doesn't know the lake well enough, he only drives the pontoon around as there are submerged trees that GA Power never cut down...
But I have also see folks skiing (and hen asked, they know the area and scouted the part of the lake before the first run)

do it.

LOL....."2 Kims ago"........


I agree with Greg & Larry.






john

Thanks, everyone.

I'm considering a job at the college in Milledgeville. The ability to own a year-round waterfront property with a middle-class income is a huge draw for us, since it's something I never thought I'd be able to do until retirement.

The realtor we're meeting keeps a pontoon on the lake, and I think she's going to take us out on the water on Saturday, so thanks anyway, Morfoot - I think we're covered. (though it would always be nice to take a ride in a classic 2001!)

My understanding is the lake level fluctuates because of hydroelectric power generation over the course of the day/evening. I heard the big coal-fired plant (which actually raised the water temperature in its vicinity) closed this year and will be torn down.

Fingers crossed that my better half likes it down there enough to relocate...

I just looked at that lake on Zillow. Wow! Very nice, and realistically priced homes! Plenty to choose from.

Massachustians? That would make a far longer bumper sticker than the M*************** stickers our Bostonian neighbors proudly display.......


.

Looked at a few places today on the lake. Looks like a nice body of water for a small boat, with a lot of variety and area to cover, and a lot of calm water on which to ski. Although pretty clean, the clarity of the water (at least this time of year) isn't great; it looks like a muddy bottom contributes to that. Lots of places with open-sided boathouses, and homes run (as one of you said) the gamut from mobile homes to high-end places.

Apparently, the lake is drawn down about 5 feet for maintenance reasons. Looks like that's what's happening at this moment. Looking at the data, it's been at least a few years since that last occurred. The realtor will take us out in the lake in the morning, just for kicks.

terminaldegree wrote: Fingers crossed that my better half likes it down there enough to relocate...

So, how did that part go, first impressions-wise?

Sounds like an adventure!

Congratulations! Let us know when you get down here, Morfoot and I, at the very least, will get together with you.

And who knows.... if you do end up buying lakefront, perhaps the Lanierites and others can join in for a full-on GA Fan invasion. ...

Ha! I'd better hold out for one of the boathouses with two slips and lifts, then.
...and a large closet!

Just a quick update - we found a place on Lake Sinclair (just off of 441, north of Plant Branch in the Rooty Creek area), and are under contract now. Will move down and start work 8/1, and happy to host a few of y'all locals (it feels funny to type "y'all"!) come sometime starting in October. The home has a single slip boathouse and a good spot to dock a boat overnight with an honest 3 feet of water. Thanks for the advice from those "in the know".

Congrats Owen and welcome to Georgia! The y'all thing will grow on ya and soon grits will too! Have a cousin from Iowa who was so taken by the use of the word that he uses it all the time now as it just fits..... My favorite is " all y'all". Let us know when you get settled in and we'll have a dock warming party welcoming you to the deep south. Yes' we still ski down here till at least November.