Sandbars on Winni?
 

Looking for the most family friendly sandbars or nice remote places to anchor and swim and their locations. I understand that there will be busy days. But I'd like to stay away from the crazy spots. Thanks for your input.

There are a few different sandbars--the one I'm most familiar with is in Braun Bay. The system there seems to be the further in, the more rowdy the crowd. We've always floated towards the outside and had great family fun. You'll need two anchors and good driving skills to get in and out.

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PS Where will you be docking/slipping the boat?

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We are launching from Fay's

Another place you're not far from is Ragged Island. There are a ton of rocks just below the surface all around, and it gets really busy on nice weather weekends, but the East side has one of the greatest swimming areas on the lake.

A note on something important when navigating: on most charts and GPS, rocks within 150' of shore aren't marked.

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Don't forget about the West Alton sand bar. That one is usually a bit less hectic and not too far away from Fay's if I remember correctly. Braun is definitely the nicest sandbar on the lake but it gets pretty nutty on a weekend. Reminds me of a public pool on a hot Saturday. :laugh:

The Paugus Bay sandbar is also popular:

https://www.facebook.com/Paugus-Bay-...143941/?ref=hl

Not a sandbar but...
 

Put this into Google Maps. 43.690909, -71.434857 Real nice spot and there is never anybody there.

is it deep or shallow

Family friendly (Search the coordinates provided in Google maps, turn on Google Earth to see the sandbar visually:
Some of these are small spots that may get busy on the weekends.

At most (if not all) of these sand bars, you can back up your boat, set a stern and bow anchor and let the kids wade/walk on the sandbar. I recommend to use some water shoes, people have been known to cut their feet (not very often, but it happens) from unknown things in the sand, so be safe.

Smalls Cove (Just inside of Sleepers, next to the entrance to West Alton Marina) 43.546765, -71.293326
Patrician shores 43.689591, -71.453188
Silver Sands (Sander's bay) 43.582772, -71.407552
Governor's Island Bridge 43.602511, -71.426856
Paugus Bay: 43.564440, -71.452723

Braun Bay is a VERY busy spot and popular with the drinking crowd on weekends. 43.679819, -71.384245
(To understand Braun Bay, when you are not at work, and the kids and/or family are NOT around, go to YouTube and search for Braun Bay, you will get the idea.

I don't have kids, but I know people that do! ;)

WOW great info thank you we'll be staying away from Bruan Bay for sure

You may not need to stay away, just be aware what it's like on some of the weekends to check it if's compatible with your particular family needs. It's not always as crazy as the you tube posts, but it can be at times! :)

I always love these threads when they start ...... makes me laugh !

Now, all due respect Rattletrap, do you REALLY think I would share my favorite "remote" sandbars or places to anchor and swim without the crowds here on a Public forum? Seems like the perfect definition for Oxymoron.

Thankfully ... none of the above are places that we frequent .... go - Yes .... Frequent - Heck No !

and for your info .... each of the places mentioned have their own unique character or quirk

West Alton -- not really a sand bar as you typically are in chest deep water & Marine Patrol (over the past two seasons) has aggressively (but randomly) enforced that it is a No Rafting Zone

Silver Sands -- not bad if you like being just outside the swim line for a hotel & it's quests

Governor's Bridge - Again like Alton, not really a sand bar and you have the Bridge traffic (which is not all that bad)

Patrician Shore - Best bet of the bunch -- very nice, true sand bar but gets crowded very quickly --and crazy busy on weekends ... great entertainment if that's your gig

Paugus/Margate - Again very good, but again gets crowded quickly and the source of some good comedy for sure--- here there is no rhyme or logic as where or how to anchor --- everyone seems to pull in and drop anchor and just when you think there is no more room between boats the pontoons all scoot in between and head in close to the cemetery



One piece of serious advice (as you are new) ..... have a second anchor ..... most every spot is one that customarily people us a front and stern anchor



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It's shallow near the shore. You can get a pretty good view from Google Earth.

What I don't like about Paugus/Margate is the wave action there from all the boats or the wind. You tend to get bounced around a lot. If you're in the water it's not that bad.

IMO, Braun Bay is not that bad outside the center of it. Get towards the edges and it's very relaxing.

I'll echo what others have. Don't be that guy who comes busting in, no idea how to drop anchor, and cause a huge commotion. Best thing you can do is ask for help and someone will guide you in and even help set your anchors (yes, you need 2!!).

It's also fine during the week. It's really only crazy on the weekends.

Yes that is one thing everyone has told me 2 anchors.

Here's a few sandbar pictures posted in this thread:

https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/...25247927_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...05440080_o.jpg

Phantom makes a point
 

If any one wouldn't mind having a laid back couple new to boating and their dog at their favorite "Spot" please private message me.I promise to bring two anchors, a grill and an extra burger and ask for some help LOL!!

Not that I know what I'm doing, nor where I'm going, but I am just next to Fay's, so you can follow us out anytime ;) But it will be a little while before I head out to the next sandbar.

I still remember what it's like to be new on the lake, and still feel very new myself.

Would this be a regular weekend at these sandbars?
 

WOW these looks like crazy town to me LOL! does anyone know where these are?

Absolutely Rich it's pretty intimidating

Those are at Braun Bay.

Yeah no thanks :laugh: little much 20 years ago well................

I don't spend a lot of time rafting but Braun Bay is kinda fun to stop by and people watch. Other than occasional knucklehead thinking everybody within 100 yards wants to hear his stereo blasting rap it can be a good time no matter what age you or your kids are. Everybody is very friendly and more than willing to help a newbie out.

Braun Bay is pretty awesome during the week, if you can make that work. Weekends are definitely louder and much busier!

Maybe its just me but many times I like just drifting in the middle of the Broads and watching life go by.

See you out there...:)

You want intimidating? Try going to Meredith to watch the Independence Day fireworks by boat, and they trying to make it back at night!

It's like trying to navigate though a washing machine, while blind folded, at night. I've done it a few times now, and it never is a good feeling for me.

Ah, the benefit of not having little ones on the boat.
 

We have several places that we will go that are quiet, and we are anchored in 20-30 ft or water. Normally don't even have to put out a second anchor.

Even better is your idea. With the wind layed down, we will go out and depending on what way the little bit of wind is blowing, we just kill the engine, put up the bimini, lower the swim ladder, and watch the world go by.

Sometimes we even make a game of it: we guess beforehand how many boats will pass within 50 ft of us while there is a 1.5 mile radius of open lake around us. :laugh: :cheers:

Upthesaukee --

Sometimes those boats that come within 1/2 mile of you (like me) are simply passing respectfully close/yet far away enough away not to disturb to make sure the Captain doesn't need assistance.

In the past 10 years I've actually had 3-4 instances where they did, so I don't plan on changing my practices ....... not that you were complaining, I get it!



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^ This. We helped out three boaters last year who were not floating by choice!

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It seems a large percentage of people are doing this naked! :eek: or should it be :cool:

:laugh:

Shhhhhh ......... that's the other reason I tend to swing by but as soon as I figure out their not .. continue on to the next :laugh:


Phantom admits (and wife already knows) he's a dirty old man
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Be careful what you ask for!!!

True story....

I was explaining this to a friend last year as we were cruising through the broads..... he didn't believe me. Until we came upon a boat floating on the broads and as we do... two naked men, one climbing up the swim latter, the other on their boat! :eek:

We sped up and continued on our way! :D

DOH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:

Saw a woman sunbathing nude on a rock last summer--would've run ashore if my wife hadn't noticed I was veering off course...

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Closest I ever came to that was when I was SCUBA diving... I surfaced near some rocks, looked up and there were two women laying on rocks, where they thought no one could see them. They would have heard a boat approaching, so they felt very 'safe'.

I looked up, noticed them... they saw me, I waved, then went back down and had a nice smile on my face for the rest of the dive.

They were probably in their 20's and very attractive :)