This area looks like it could be confusing
 

Can any one give me some help here because it look like I'd want to cut east sooner then i should if coming from the Weirs.

You need to tell us where you want to go.

This is easy. Coming from the Wiers due east you either go through the zone between Governors Island and Eagle Island (which is clearly marked as a no wake zone) or around the north side of the black spars on the north side of Eagle Island.

Its really not that confusing, and it is A LOT BIGGER in person! :) But you really should get a Bizer map... Its much clearer.

There is a clearly marked short channel between Eagle Is and Governor's Is. This channel is a No Wake Zone.

The Passage between Eagle Is and Pitchwood Is. is also pretty easy. There is a lighted marker (red dot #44) Just go between the Red marker and the closest black marker and you will be fine.

Woodsy

Bizer does it better
 

I agree on getting a Bizer chart. Here is a shot of the area... I find going between Eagle Island and Governor's more straight forward. For a newcomer, there are a lot of markers on the Pitchwood side of Eagle. You can get a little confused the first couple of times. I have seen many a boat go through the area where all the rocks lurk below. They were lucky?

Map
 

Yes agreed just waiting for my Bizer to be delivered

just follow the markers....

Just as an FYI, if you are ever heading towards Meredith, I find the area North of Eagle (close to Stonedam and Pitchwood) deceiving as it looks like a large open area, but there are rocks under there!

Don't follow other boats, follow the markers.

Also, get on google maps, look at the Satellite view, you can almost see the rocky area near Stonedam

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6202.../data=!3m1!1e3

I have a larger boat (38') and I feel very comfortable going between Eagle and Governor's, or going inside of Governors under the bridge if you want to look at all the pretty houses. Don't forget the no-wake zones. ;)

Fastest Route
 

From Weirs Beach I find that going through the lighted red and black marker by Pitchwood is actually faster than going through the NWZ even though the distance is greater. Of course on a weekend it gets really crazy in that area and I would probably go through the NWZ from Weirs but even that becomes a little hectic.

Island Girl - Is that a .pdf file of the Bizer chart or some sort of GPS enabled chart?

Again, don't assume the guy you are following is correct. I see a ton of people cut the markers north of Eagle island. I helped a guy who trashed his outdrive last year. He had no idea why those rocks were there... Plenty of water on the correct side. It just doesn't "look" you have to go so far north there.

It looks like the old Winni app that was available for iStuff, but I don't know that it has been updated for newer phones. Brad Goodman wrote the one I have in 2010 using a Bizer 2010 chart.

Lake Winni app
 

Yes my clip is from Brad Goodwin's app. It is no longer on the apple store. We do use it on dark nights. I don't know if Bizer still sells an electronic version. I bought that as well... Not sure where it is. I just keep a laminated chart in the boat, the mini chart in the jetski, and numerous years of paper charts in the house.

Rattletrap, I studied that chart every winter for years to make sure I learned where the dangerous places are. When I approach those areas.. If I don't remember exactly where markers are, I pull out the chart.

Good advice on not following people... They could be wrong.

Time to put the boat in the water!
IG

Even on weekends you can generally just cruise on the Pitchwood route, most folks going that way know the route well and keep right/stay on-plane. There's the occasional boater that lacks courtesy and goes right down the middle at plowing speed, but that is not as common as it used to be before GPS became popular on boats.

I when I go through there, I adjust my speed long before I enter the area to time my passage such that I avoid passing side by side at the choke point between FL44 and the closest black-topped spar.

It's amazing how few people go the Pitchwood route at night. If you leave the Weirs Beach fireworks with everyone else, almost no one goes that way. FL44 makes it really easy since you can head right for FL44 from anywhere west of FL1 without danger of hitting any rocks.

one more view
 

This is the view in the Navionics Boating app on iPhone. The blue line route was generated by their auto-routing add-on.

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...ap%20Eagle.jpg

Map
 

It's funny, being a new boater and not being familiar with the lake. I stair at the map for so long trying to get familiar with certain route ect. I look at a place like this for so long it looks like you'd need a shoe horn to get two boats through side by side. Then I looked at it on google maps (thanks Rich) and it looks like a two tankers could go through with no issue :laugh::laugh::laugh:

App
 

My app is not showing the markers is there a setting I'm missing ?

Which one
 

Which of the avionics apps is this one? I'd like to get it.

The first time I went by the Witches I thought the same thing.It was a waaaay larger area than it looked on the chart.

Using a Garmin 50DV and Bizer map, the only two places I've found tricky are north of Smith Point (just outside Moultonborough Bay, posted about this last August) and, I think, the section across from Chase Point, north of Hole in the Wall. There's a stretch along a peninsula that's really shallow and not well marked if coming south from the Graveyard.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

Navionics
 

Navionics Boating USA

What else?
 

That's a pretty nice presentation. Does the iPhone do all the stuff that a "real" GPS does? Way points? tracking? Preplanned routes? Stored routes? PM if you think I'm getting off the thread. If visibility is reasonable night or day, I've had no problems over the years, night or day. Thick fog I use the compass for limited routes e.g mainland to camp. It would be nice to have expanded capacity without working too hard at it.

Full featured
 

Yes, the app is pretty full-featured with tracking, waypoints, and auto-routing (add-on). Has satellite land views available and shows all docks. Depth contours are very accurate where I've checked and at 1' intervals (depths show at closer zoom levels). The some buoy representations are not ideal as they are more like ocean nav markers, but once you get used to them, it works ok. I use depth as a backup cross-check for navigation at night, using my depth sounder, so good depth readings are important. Phone brightness can be dimmed way down for night use.

Unfortunately the auto-routing is not available for Android devices.

RattleTrap - if I am not mistaken, you are coming FROM Fay's direction.

With that said, if you are going to the Weirs/ Meredith area for the first time and it is past 11:00a on a Saturday then your best "first" tour is to simply go under the Governor's bridge.... keeping in mind that the NWZ on the Fay's side starts 150ft from the bridge (not the FL 43 as some think) but does not end on the Weirs side until FL 69.

As far as the area you are looking at -- it is NOT as intimidating as the map shows -- IF THE BOATING TRAFFIC is high volume, it will be quite easy to discern the no wake passage on FL 2 side .... problem with the FL44 North side (which I agree is much easier/faster despite the longer distance- once you know & are familiar with it) is that wayyyyy too many boats "cut through" the markers improperly and inevitably (being your first passage) you will question yourself -- which you do not want on an extremely busy day.

Use a Sunday morning or weekday to explore the FL44 side, approach it from both directions a couple of times and you will find it quite easy --- as others said -- IGNORE other boaters !!




.

Flasher 44 side...
 

While I tend to stay towards the Alton to Gilford to Bear Island to Wolfeboro end of the lake, when I do head to Meredith, I often go through the north side (FL 44) side of Eagle Island. I always have my Bizer chart on the dash for reference, and once I pick out the buoys, I am good to go.
One thing I have found in going through this area is that there is a segment of boating society that go through that area at a reduced throttle, increasing their boat wake, and additionally taking their half of the passage out of the middle. Makes it a little rough and "tight" at times going through that side of Eagle. ;)

Bizer map
 

Do they come in a laminated version?

Yes they do.

10mil laminated version:
http://www.nhlakecharts.com/product/WINT

5mil laminated version
http://www.nhlakecharts.com/product/WIN5

I prefer this when out on the lake.

Map
 

Obviously there is a 5mil difference do you have a preference ? Is one easier to use because of the thickness

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I can't recall which one I have (5 vs. 10 mil), but overall the laminated version is better than the "waterproof" one.

Funny how we all have a preference ......

Personally, I do not like the laminated version for inevitably when I "need" to refer to the chart the area seems to always be on the fold and thus somewhat more difficult to discern.

For years, I have used the waterproof version and after a couple of initial "refolds" at the house find it much easier in conjunction with a clipboard. The key of course is the clipboard !! Nothing worse than a big 'ol map flopping around in your face while underway (even if at headway speed).

Done right, you can get the "folds" such that as you travel you simply turn the map over on the clipboard or simply open the next "leaf" and reclip.

Another aspect is that after a few years (I do not believe you have to buy a chart year to year) the waterproof version becomes very pliable and much easier to fold mid section.



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I have the same problem with the laminated version as Phantom. The "fold" area is really tricky even with a full size chart. Another thing about the Bizer Chart, it doesn't have north at the top. What’s up with that?

Compass is on the chart.
http://www.nhlakecharts.com/account/...=1450273952214

That's an interesting idea. I assume you use a plastic clipboard?

actually it's an old (like me) laminate version which is stowed in the locker in front of the helm most times but within easy reach


Using this, I can fold it to wherever I think I may need
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