THE BEACH BAGS BEGINNING
FALL 2016
After a sublime Weatherill Canyon surf run, we returned to our pin anchored 75’ Summerset - tucked away within a sandstone cove specifically selected to shield us from the previous evening's wild winds. Shortly thereafter, a Ranger arrived and harshed our mellow - an educational conversation ensued. Negative impacts of pinning included:
• thousands of holes exist and numbers are increasing rapidly
• accelerating shoreline erosion
• damaging the fossil record including dinosaur footprints
• damaging boats and injuring swimmers due to left-behind pins
• illegal
Confronted with the conundrum protecting and preserving our Lake Powell paradise and securing our favorite anchorages (beautiful, private, sheltered and secure sandstone shorelines), our journey to find an easy and effective no-trace anchoring solution began.
2016... HOURS LATER
What the Ranger didn't realize is that the houseboat he had approached was owned by Hotwire Development, LLC., a product development consultancy, captained by its CEO with over 40 years of Lake Powell houseboating experience.
A resolve was made that very day to be a part of the solution. We comitted to develop a new anchoring technique - one allowing us to continue easily and safely enjoying our favorite anchorages, primarily on rock – with our new understanding of the preservation efforts of the National Park Service.
After all, Hotwire Development, LLC. has a history of "reinventing the wheel" with new innovations across many industries from eco-friendly plumbing to high tech products. And this challenge was special, because this time it was personal.
FALL 2017
Outfitted with Beach Bags prototypes, we conducted our phase-one research and development testing in West Canyon during our annual employee-appreciation getaway.
We searched for winds, weather and challenging shorelines – conditions allowing us to measure and collect data on windspeeds, anchor line forces, and Beach Bags holding power on a wide variety of sand and sandstone shorelines. We also monitored ease-of-use, fill rates and everything we could think of encompassing the entire Beach Bags experience.
With that, the fire was lit and we knew we had not only a solution for ourselves but one for the future of houseboat anchoring.
TODAY
Embodying an ingenious blend of innovation, technology and engineering expertise adapted from commercial marine use, industrial fluid storage, sailing and aviation, Beach Bags are modern, structured and customized for use on Lake Powell's houseboats.
Our anchor materials and rigging have been tested and validated in harsh environments, yet specifically selected to elegantly maximize strength, safety, ease-of-use and shoreline preservation.
The end result- a high-quality, versatile, no-trace anchoring system meeting the National Park Service mission of providing for public use while preserving Lake Powell's scientific, historic and scenic features for generations to come.
We invite you to Fill & Chill.
TOMORROW
While perfecting Beach Bags, we recognized an opportunity to replace more than pin anchoring.
Meetings with the National Park Service, marina operators and reviews of safety related incidents revealed houseboaters face significant challenges in several areas. As a result, the likelihood of property damage and personal injury are greatly increased when situations go awry.
By drawing on our decades of Lake Powell experiences and engineering expertise, we're creating other innovative and cost effective solutions to improve houseboat operation and safety for you and your guests.
Stay tuned for more details as we continue to be inspired by everything that is possible for improving Lake Powell experiences, enjoyment and safety for all.
