Wolfeboro town docks expansion
 

Looks like there will be more dock space in the future.

https://www.wolfeboronh.us/sites/wol...ugust_10_0.pdf

Dock expansion would be fantastic. We have a large pontoon boat and we can never get a place to park at the existing docks.

The additional docking will be a big plus. My concern is the added length of the docks will provide more opportunity for bumper boats. I like spending time in Wolfeboro, but like the Weirs I try to avoid the docks on busy weekends.

Wolfeboro definitely needs a dock attendant on busy (summer, good weather) weekends. Many times there are inner docks available, but people can't judge the size of the spot from the water side.

I would be very happy with a dock master especially on busy weekend. I would even be ok with a small fee to cover the cost. (could use one in Meredith Bay also)

Agreed. I do find that it is much easier to see openings at Meredith. I think Meredith needs a director from the water side (or a numbering system like at the deli) I have seen near fist fights in Meredith!

I have also it’s a shame. I little fee and some organization would go a long way in making life easier using the town docks.


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That would be GREAT, How many times do you see some jackass taking up 2 spots.

Especially when you're doing the right thing, staying at no wake speed, watching to see who is ahead of you waiting, and Mr Largepenisboat flys in past you and jumps at the first spot they see open.

Then you got to deal with the wife, errrr I mean the First Mate nagging you that you were too slow and being too nice... :eek:

I've more than a few evenings driving up to Merideth, waiting in line for a spot, getting line cut, turning around and going to Weirs instead. My blood pressure is more important than Town Dock's verses Anthony Pier.

If these warrant articles pass the docks will get repaired and design work will get started on the expansion:

For it
 

Love both the idea of expansion and a dock master.

... height adjustable aluminum dock with blue vinyl edges
 

With two sup paddle board rental businesses close to the Wolfeboro town docks, http://www.divewinnipesaukee.com/Wat...-Rentals.shtml, and www.fullmoonpaddleboard.com, plus other paddle vessels like kayaks getting paddled in Wolfeboro Bay, maybe the town will consider adding a dock area to their town docks that is easier to be used by paddlers.

In Meredith, at the Meredith town docks, next to the trailer boat launch ramp, paddlers have a relative easy put in, take out spot, by using the aluminum dock there that is height adjustable, so it is low to the water level, and all the dock edges have very nice, softer, blue vinyl edging that facilitates sliding kayaks and paddle boards in and out of the lake .... and it frees up the launch ramp for boats on trailers.

Wouldn't it be nice to see the Town of Wolfeboro install a similar dock section that is user friendly for launching and retrieving car top, roof rack carry, small paddle craft like kayaks, canoes, and sup paddle boards.

If you are a paddler and want to extend your paddling season, with colder water paddling .... here's a low price, $250-479, high quality dry suit from Rockport, Maine: https://www.mythicdrysuits.com. For a number of different articles, try googling 'Mythic dry suits, Rockport, Maine.'

Looks as though there is only a request for the design and permitting for the expansion, not the dock expansion itself. Hopefully that part will be requested next year.

Woleboro has a dock to launch kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. Plenty of parking & an easy walk to the excellent stores & restaurants.
I'm not going to tell you where it is because we don't want noodles scattered all around it.

Sounds like a good spot .... is news to me:

From July 18, 2013, New England Boating: Lake Winni launch ramp guide;

Back Bay Public Dock-Wolfeboro: One block north of Lake Winnipesaukee on Railroad Avenue behind the old Wolfeboro railroad terminal. Access to the lake requires passage below Main St bridge with a clearance of 4.2 feet. Free

Is there a launch ramp for trailers or just some beat up, 95-year old wooden dock for hand carry, sliding kayaks into the water?

Is the parking there free parking, metered, or needs a sticker? What's up with America's oldest summer resort? Does it have the oldest town launch dock, too?

You found it and yes it's free as long as you pick-up your noodles when you leave.

The Cotton Valley Trail ends there also. You can walk or bike the trail if you don't want to launch your paddle boats. Then go and enjoy what Wolfeboro has to offer, but most of that isn't free so you probably aren't interested in that. :D

This is great news and a smart move by Wolfeboro (assuming it happens).

I love the idea of a dock master and a small fee for docking there during peak hours (to pay for the dock master).

If they really want to bring boater money to town (which is clearly the motivation for expanding dock space), they should rent overnight dock space with a maximum stay period (to prevent the town docks from becoming seasonal or long-term slips). The dock master mentioned above would be able to manage this.

Since they are also planning to renovate the bathrooms, hopefully they'll be smart enough to include showers for overnight dock guests.

For those that think this could never work, please understand it's normal and common in many places outside NH. I've used municipal overnight docks and showers many times and in many places. Most recently in: Mechanicville, NY (AWESOME bathrooms there...), Fort Edward, NY; Burlington, VT; and Whitehall, NY. I have never experienced any night time loud noises or disturbances at any municipal dock.

Clearly, you don't know Wolfeboro, Dave.

How many showers do you want? How about a sauna in each bathroom also.
Lockers and towels would be nice.
Why not put high speed wifi at the dock.
Heck they might as well throw in free hot coffee too.

Anything else that you want??

Who would want to stay overnight at the Wolfeboro docks. That would be like sleeping in a parking lot.


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Wifi would be reasonable the rest of the suggestions would be superfluous. Two showers would be adequate, four would be great.

You know this would not be free to the boaters, right? Wolfeboro could easily get 3 to 4 bucks per foot, per weekend night. It would more than pay for itself, but the main goal of this (and the improvements already proposed) would be to increase revenue for the downtown businesses. Imagine all the folks stuck going back to the same marina slip every night that would welcome an alternative. They'd want to make the most of their night away by enjoying a bit of boutique shopping, a nice meal out, a bunch of drinks, and a hearty breakfast the morning after. Each overnight boat has potential to bring hundreds of dollars into the local economy per night.

Have you ever seen a marina? The Wolfeboro docks are spacious in comparison.

You would be extremely surprised. Many out of towners would. It’s done all the time on other lakes and rivers. People love the experience it’s camping on the water.


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Dave, tis is right--I'm ROFL. Your plan is for the most expensive town on the lake to offer a weekend overnight on the water for $100? To people who do not live in Wolfeboro? Who would be taking space normally available to locals? At a time of year that all the town is already packed?

And this is before we get to the various noise, alcohol, and other nuisance issues...

Yeah, why not? Those docks are completely empty all night, overnight use would not displace any locals. You realize the town is expanding dock space that it offers for free to anyone now, right? Why would they do that if they didn't want any more people visiting the town?

There are already laws that prohibit the issues you described, but in my experience, those issues really aren't a problem.

I would think that the goal of the dock expansion is to increase traffic to downtown Wolfeboro during business hours, particularly on higher traffic days. Overnight accommodations wouldn’t add material revenue to local businesses or the town. The businesses are closed “overnight” and additional daily boaters using those same dock spaces that you would dedicate to overnight use should spend the same money for meals and drinks that Dave R attributes to overnight dockers, and perhaps more. I do understand the point that there are boaters who would utilize and appreciate such accommodations, but I don’t see any material benefit to the Town (and agree that the other nuisance issues raised would have to be considered). We have only had a place in Wolfeboro for a few years now, but from my admittedly limited experience, this would seem like a very hard sell.

FLL: Asleep at the Switch...
 

Wal-Mart offers free overnight RV parking in their parking lots—with no shortage of takers.

.

The boaters that my plan targets don't typically venture out at night and would never consider leaving their slips at 7 PM to go to dinner because the thought of a night-time passage fills them with dread. I'm also targeting boaters that would not normally go out for breakfast by boat. If you've ever walked around the town docks on a Saturday or Sunday morning, you may have noticed that the majority of boats there for breakfast are not cabin cruisers.

If you'd like to see a nearby place where the city rents dock space overnight with great success, check out the Burlington City Marina in Vermont. I spent two nights there last Summer while in the midst of a 16 day, 450 mile cruise that included the US/Canada border and Saugerties, NY on Hudson River, and it was great. Here's a photo album of the trip:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=129af23b1e

I have no confidence that this idea would ever take hold in Wolfeboro and it's not something I'd ever make use of. It's just something I have a lot of experience with (not on Winni...) and it's awesome. I am only suggesting this for the sake of folks that are stuck going back to the same slip every night; that's such a bummer...

That’s exactly what Wolfeboro wants; to become a Walmart.


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My only concern with the Wolfeboro docks is the relative narrowness, IMHO, between docks. Of course no where near as narrow as at the Weirs. We have docked in Wolfeboro and have pulled down deep into the dock area, only to have two cruisers dock on either side of the ends of the dock. On a windy day, it can be challenging, to say the least, to have to back out, especially on a windy day, with the wind being a crosswind across the docks.
My wife and I have often thought how nice it would be to take out one finger dock, build a dock across the retaining wall, and extend the finger docks out, similar to the Meredith dock setup.
As far as a dockmaster is concerned, I would not want to see a charge for short term docking, but could see the charge for overnight docking. One nice thing about having the dockmaster present would be he/she could help prevent the inconsiderate boater from pulling in and taking up what amounts to two docking spaces, who don't bother moving the boat while tying up so as not to take up unneeded space.

Dave

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Fifty+ years ago the southern dock in Wolfeboro was designated a "cruisers only" dock. Had a water hose and electricity. Wolfeboro, Weirs and Meredith all wanted to attract cruisers because there weren't very many and they attracted sightseers. As a little kid, it was always an adventure to wake up, look out the porthole and try to remember where we were. The downtown was smaller then, fewer restaurants, so except for Dockside, I don't recall eating out very much. We cooked and ate on board.
I'm guessing the present docks are about 40' apart. Until a few years ago we had a 35' Sea Ray with beam a little over 12 feet. No problem going in/out between two other cruisers, but great visibility from the flybridge. Whenever possible we back in to the end of the dock so we can secure to the dock with stern and spring cleats and let the bow extend out 10-12 feet so other boats have more room.

Thank you for this! I love hearing about the history of the lake and the town.

Dave R, Awesome pictures, People don't think of that area as historic compared to southern NE, But it really is, especially around the river. Thanks for that.

Wow Dave incredible pictures what a fantastic trip.


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Thanks. Champlain is loaded with history. It's the birthplace of the US Navy, for instance. If you ever want to see what the Mount looked like in its original form, check out the Ticonderoga at the Shelburne Museum. It's a restored-to-1919-state sister ship and it;s very cool. They used the original chairs from the Mount to make it period correct.