Pending Legislation
 

I believe the intent is to limit the capacity of the bay to 3 rafts, consisting of three or less vessels and after that, no more more rafts period, irrespective of number of vessels.

The hardest question to answer in this posted by Broad hopper, Who has to move when a person arrives first and is outside the prescribed distance? I suppose a call to MP could establish you were there first when they come to crack down or you could try to explain the law to the encroacher and risk altercation ....

The bay is already a designated no rafting zone on the charts, here is the regulation currently on the books and is a part of the Boaters Safety course:

Rafting in New Hampshire

Raft is defined as "any group of two or more boats which are stationary upon the waters of a lake or pond and which are congregated together, whether anchored, secured to one another, or adrift, provided that at least one of the boats in the group is occupied." Rafting is "forming or being a member of a raft."

* There are designated locations where, and times during which, the size of rafts is limited and a minimum distance is required between boats and rafts.
* Currently, there are rafting restrictions in certain locations on Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Sunapee, and Ossipee Lake.
* No one in a prohibited location or at a prohibited time may:
o Form or allow a boat, which you are operating or in charge of, to join a raft consisting of three or more boats.
o Form or allow a boat, which you are operating or in charge of, to join a raft if any part of such raft is less than 50 feet from any other raft or less than 50 feet from any occupied single boat that is stationary on the waters of the same lake or pond.
o Anchor a single boat and cause it to remain stationary on the waters of a lake or pond, other than momentarily, if any part of such boat is less than 50 feet away from any raft or less than 25 feet away from any other single boat which is stationary on the waters of such lake or pond.
* Exceptions to the rafting restrictions are:
o Boats anchored or moored at marinas, yacht clubs, or private docks with the owner's permission
o Boats involved in or attending a fireworks display, marine events, or other designated public events
o Boats on any body of water of less than 400 acres or on any estuary or tidal waters of the state

It is? It seems to me that there is no rafting near the fish and game lines and within 75 feet of shore. Unless Braun Bay is much smaller than I thought!

Good Point
 

I see what you mean, I had not seen that reg. I just checked two charts, and they both designate Braun Bay as being the area west of Glines Island to Kona Point. Yet the no rafting area is limited to the 'Sand Bar'area, perhaps this expands that definition and no rafting zone.

Any thoughts?

Looking north, this is an aerial view of Braun Bay:

That's Gilnes Island in the lower-right quadrant of the photo. The questioned area of Braun Bay is opposite—10-o'clock to the left. Hermit Cove is just behind (north of) Gilnes Island, with a rather indistinct Hermit Island nestled in it.

http://www.skypic.com/nh/12-8426.jpg

(Lettering—or something—appears to have been photoshopped from the lower right corner).

At present, all I have available is a Lake Winnipesaukee chart from 1987.

On it, Duncan shows just two rafting zones on all of Lake Winnipesaukee!
(Wentworth Cove south of Governor's Island, and a large, west-facing shoreline on Long Island).

The probl...issue of rafting appears to have been generated within the last 20 years or so. :rolleye1:

:confused: I still don't understand why boaters in the area would comprise most of the complainants. Could NH Fish & Game be a part of the complaints? :confused:

now look at the sign in this thread. only a Raft of 2 boats is permitted!!!!!!!!

Hence this legislation is no good anyways..... unless the change other existing laws....

This is trash legislation.....

Now another note, Does Betsy Patton even use the lake, I know where she lives, she is one of my neighbors. However Her and her late husband sold of the lake access property they had. Because they never used it. In short, she is willing to back something like this, but does she every even go out on the water, to understand the problem or issue.......

Must be an election coming up. With all the negative impacts regarding the current budget, fundings, and the school funding dilemma, she needs a 'feel good' law to make everyone thinks she's a good doobie. :D

I've got a solution
 

I'm just going to equip my bowrider will 50 ft outriggers and deploy them when I arrive at any sandbar.

Ain't no stinkin' late comer going to spoil my prime sun bathing spot:D

Braun Bay update
 

Does anyone have an update on the legislation? As a lake shore owner in Braun Bay I think the sign s--ks and is totally unnecessary. If the boaters rafting are a problem or if some rude boaters think that everyone in NH wants to hear their music, the MP should deal with those rude boaters (there are only a couple of them). I have property on Braun Bay because I like seeing the boats and spend many hours at the sand bar myself with my Grandkids but this past summer there were a few days that I decided to stay home since the "rude" boaters were there those days.

The House Committee on Resources, Recreaton and Development voted the bill "Inexpedient to legislate".