Anchoring Near Shore
 

Wondering what the etiquette is when anchoring near the shore with houses around it? I know it’s a public lake so there shouldn’t really be an issue anchoring for the most part but had a woman today near melvin bay that wasn’t happy at all that we were anchored in front of her house. We were anchored out near the row of mooring buoys so about 150’ from shore. She decided to bring her sailboat from shore and attach it to what I assume is her mooring which was right next to our boat in what seemed like an attempt to get us to move. She seemed to have an attitude from the start when she first came out plowing into the tube we had in the water that the kids had been playing on telling us it looked like we were right in her house from where we were. We asked her if she wanted us to move and she said it would be nice if we went out further past the moorings. We stayed for about another 1/2 hour then took the kids tubing.

First time renting a house on lake Winnipesaukee but have rented houses/boats on other lakes and never had an issue before. I would have had no problem moving further down if she had been polite but all she made me want to do is go back there again tomorrow.

Anchoring Near Shore
 

She hit your tube? I really don’t understand why people think they own the water. I’ve had a run in too. It just makes me want to return to the same spot the next day.


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It’s a big lake, no reason to anchor in a mooring field....

Dan

150’ from the mooring field is correct. Not from shore


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Sounds like a place you "can" anchor but "shouldn't."

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We were 150’ from shore not the mooring row so if we were supposed to be 150’ from that then we weren’t. There were no boats attached to any of the moorings at the time until she brought out her sailboat, husband and I assume grandson to play on the sailboat. We chose that area due to the water depth so the kids would be able to touch bottom.

Shhhhhh...be quiet
 

We live in a cove, and the only time we feel intruded upon is when people come in close to shore, anchor, play loud music and have a great old noisy time. Maybe I am an old curmudgeon, but I think it’s rude to invade other people’s space. Shrieking children and barking dogs...NO!

Yes, You should of Been 150’ from mooring field. No big deal everyone learns from their mistakes. Take a ride around with a Bizer chart and see where everyone else is anchoring. Like I said earlier it’s a big lake with lots of other legal places to anchor while respecting property owners privacy.

Dan

No loud music but definitely had kids swimming. Try to be as considerate as possible but just want to make sure we we or weren’t technically wrong. Loving the lake so far though but you definitely need to pay attention for rocks over near where we are staying.

Bought the bizer chart in advance after reading these forums definitely helpful navigating where we are staying.

I understand courtesy dictates keeping some distance from a mooring field but is there a law prohibiting anchoring within 150’ of a mooring field?

Message me if you want some more...friendly places to anchor.

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I was able to locate the following statute:
270:64-a Docking, Mooring Prohibited. –
I. (b) No person shall anchor within an approved congregate or public mooring field.

The description stevem provides in the initial post sounds like a row of private moorings rather than a congregate or public mooring field so it should not be prohibited to anchor within 150', even if it is ill-advised.

Maybe you were too close to the moorings. But if she had a mooring there she should have known the rules and could have easily asked / told you to move. Anchoring in a mooring field could be a nav hazard.

But still, ‘plowing into a tube’ with kids in the water, even if they were out creates an unsafe and more hostile situation.


Flame away lol


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Most of the summer camps are closed this year, so you might want to try setting anchor by Robindell or Tecumseh. Swimming in our cove is not great, so we used to take the grands to Ragged Island for swimming, picnics, etc. They love tubing near Tecumseh. There you are...a few suggestions from an old bat!

It's not illegal, it's just not cool. This woman clearly knew it wasn't illegal, so she was annoying in the hope the person wouldn't want to deal with it.

Unless the OP was close to a boat/boats, it shouldn't have been a problem.

That being said, I know a few people who live over there and they are very aware that the area is a giant sandbar and that at any point people might start hanging out there and, as a result, tend to be...protective.

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Private would fall under the term “Congregate”. The 150’ foot rule does not differentiate between private or public objects....if it’s an object the 150’ rule applies....I may be wrong but that is the way I have always understood the rule.

Dan

NH Saf-C 408.05 Mooring Permit Application distinguishes between private moorings and congregate mooring fields, and defines congregate moorings as 5 or more moorings under a single permit.

My understanding is the 150' rule governs headway speed while underway, rather than anchoring. I believe it is legal to anchor within 150' of shore even if it is inconsiderate to do so.

Call Marine Patrol and ask if your allowed to anchor in a Private mooring field. When they stop laughing, let us know what they say...

Dan

Steve, welcome to the forum. It’s a big lake, if someone is annoyed they may (or may not) have a point. Instead of pushing back by “going back tomorrow” ( I know, I would want to push back too) move on, take a ride and see more of this beautiful lake.
As an example, Ragged Island is a great spot to moor especially during the week. The Lakes Region Conservation Trust owns it and has nature trails and “facilities” available on the island. No need to deal with stress on vacation, if someone’s being a jerk just move on. Plenty of room for all of us.

Thanks for the responses everyone, got some great suggestions and places we will try out during the week. Just a clarification, when we arrived in the area there were zero boats anchored or attached to the mooring buoys so we didn’t think it was an issue anchoring there. Also when I say the woman plowed into the tube we had the tube on a rope attached to the boat and when the woman was walking into the water towards us/her mooring spot I started pulling it back toward the boat so she didn’t have to go under or lift the rope up and she just hit into the tube with her body and kept going.

I agree with earlier posters. Don't fight it, there are other places to go. Most on this Forum will not give up their favorite spots, so it is tough for a newbie. Eventually, Steven, the OP, will find a spot and he will be quiet too.

If a shore owner gives us grief when we stop to float for a bit, that becomes my new “favorite place to anchor” when sharing spots on the forums !

(Just kidding. Maybe)

Yes, there are plenty of spots to go where they are not houses. It always makes me wonder if boaters that stop right in front of somebody find it fun to sit and stare at them.

Amost all of the camps are close. Sandy Island is a perfect spot to anchor offshore (150'). I do believe there is a caretaker living on the island so don't attempt to go exploring on the island.

I think some of you are missing a key point that OP was making;

"We chose that area due to the water depth so the kids would be able to touch bottom. "

So some of you may be thinking older kids and deeper water anchoring, but as a parent, I will tell you it was a challenge when my kids were young to find a safe spot to anchor where the kids could get out and walk.

A lot of the rest of the country has places that you can "beach" your boat and then get the little ones out for some fun in shallow water, but so far as I know there is no such place on Winnipesaukee. The concept of beaching a boat on any beach at Winnipesaukee seems like a taboo subject on par with satanic rituals,,,

And let me echo the shock and displeasure someone else posted of this homeowner actually "plowing into" the OP's tube or even coming so close to their boat when they had little kids in the water. I fully respect home owners and the sometimes unacceptable behavior they suffer at the hands of rude boaters, but in no way does that EVER justify boating and hitting a tube where little kids are swimming. I fear my response to anyone who would intentionally put small children in the water at risk by boating out to put their boat on a mooring just to make a point. NOT ACCEPTABLE, EVER. Safety first and ALWAYS around children and boats. The last thing any of us wants to read is that some child was injured or worse because someone was trying to make a point.

Enough said by me,,,

But, it is illegal to raft within 150’. Not knowing the boating safety rules is no excuse


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I agree that hitting the tube was completely unacceptable.

As a separate matter, I don't think anyone's missing the point--as others have pointed out in different ways--whatever the law, waist deep on your little kids is just too close to anchor in front of a person's home.

As a general rule I will totally agree, BUT,,, there are spots that have a long slow pitch, just look at Ellacoya, I think you could be 300' from shore and still be in 4' of water.

I doubt there are many such places, but maybe some that keep you 150' out as the OP said they were, but still be in shallow water. I have seen a few such spots over the years.

Melvin Bay is 3-4' deep a longggg way from shore.

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The NH Marine Patrol seems to think otherwise. Their FAQ page includes:
It is legal for someone to anchor in front of a house, as water bodies over 10 acres in size are public bodies of water.

What the law says and what is considerate may be different. I'd never anchor with 200' of someone's home.

As far as I can discern, the 150' rule applies only to vessels in motion. Can anyone cite a law stating it is illegal to anchor or raft within 150' of shoreline or a private mooring? As an example, in Braun Bay the law stipulates boats may not anchor closer than 75' to shore.

As others have said, please call and and ask. Then tell us what they say.


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It may be a “ big lake “ but it seems to get smaller every year !

I called this morning and my call was forwarded to the voicemail of someone on vacation who would return “around the middle of August.”

It is definitely not illegal to anchor less than 150’ from shore unless noted otherwise for a specific area. You were supposed to be asking if it was legal to anchor within the confines of a mooring field private or public..

Dan

Dan, that is what I called about. I’ll try again next week.
The statutes list three types of mooring: private, congregate, and public. I don’t believe the law recognizes private and field as two terms that can be used together but perhaps I’ll find out when I’m able to speak with an official.

I hate to say it but I think it is legal to anchor less than 150' from shore unless it is a no rafting zone. I don't think it's considerate but I think it's legal.

I know for a fact it is legal. You can even put your anchor on shore up to the high water mark unless noted otherwise for a specific location...

Dan

Yes, I never want to be that affirmative. I always try to qualify my replies a little even if I am positive.

I hear you...Marine Patrol (Dave Barrett) confirmed This for me a while ago....

Dan