lake level
 

It seems we have this issue yearly but the lake is very low, not having any appreciable rain since mid June and temps very high (next Mon-Wed expected to be 92-93). This of course evaporates water that much faster. We are in the the period of time when a course mistake could easily result in damage. How many times have you been boating and notice a boat on the wrong side of markers? You can more easily get away with this in June than later in the year so careful out there!

Many times, especially when there are black and red top spar buoys indicating that the course should go N/E or S/W of a hazard, and a novice boater interprets this a a channel marker and heads between then - right at the rock or shoal.. ouch!

Here in The North, every single time we're out.

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The witches beckon

It seems to us that the lake level is lower than usual for this time of year, which will be really infuriating if we have to pull the boat during the absolute peak time for boating on the lake!

Absolutely no rain will do that


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So will extremely warm weather causing greater evaporation. lake level alarmingly for thsi time of year.

Oh course. Many of us can’t get the boat off a lift this low. Grass is brunt and losing ground plants. Started to water a small area of grass to keep the yard usable, but it’s seriously an issue.


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Here’s Bizer’s chart showing where we are currently at as compared to previous years… Black line is 2025…

Dan

query for the forum
 

So since about 2020, it seems the lake has been very low this time of year more often than not. We are at a spot on the lake where we have bedrock beneath the stern of our boat that sits at about 46" at full lake so about 32" today. We have a 26' i/o bowrider that is SUPPOSED draft only 18" dry but in actuality when fueled sits about 2' down and with the outdrive raised as much as I dare to maintain some thrust the skag sits about 28" down. We are on the windward side of the lake and even with our breakwater the boat rocks quite a bit on windy days. Hence, the problem. I just pulled my boat and that really upsets teh fam (and me). I've exhausted all alternatives to my lakefront options. The only option that remains is a different boat. I'm considering the same size outboard with an outboard engine OR a pontoon. Specifically, a new Chaparral osx 250 or a Harris 230 tritoon.

Any input is appreciated.

RSMLP:
I’m a pontoon snob, go with the Harris!
BUT:
Only a triton, with the largest toons they offer.
Straked & skinned
No less than a 10 foot top, I wish I went 12.
Rent one for a day and see what you like or dislike on the floor plan. To me the 6-foot flip-flop seat on the rear all around waste. Try different h.p. versions if they will allow? There is a happy medium where it becomes diminishing returns H.P. to mph/gas.
At home if you go pontoon draw/tape out the playpen size and insert cardboard cutouts if you want to go w/ a plan you pick out.
Good luck

?
 

Straked & skinned?

toon
 

leaning in that direction buy certain members of the fam think they're the "minivans of the lake"!

The pontoon/tritoon is absolutely the minivan of the lake: spacious, comfortable, flexible, etc. We LOVE ours and use it for everything.

The only issue is power and speed. If getting places matters to you, get the biggest possible engine. The absolute biggest. Without question.

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Absolutely a minivan - and no matter how much you dress it up or increase horsepower it's still a minivan. Nothing wrong with that.

engine
 

100% agreement.

Mini Van
 

Love my “mini van”! She gets up and goes better than most non “mini vans” with 600 horses!! They aren’t your grandpa’s floating barn doors anymore! Need very little water at my dock to tie up also!

Dan

Pontoon
 

As with any boat, what you buy depends upon how you plan to use it. I have had several pontoon boats and what was most important to me was seating and room. 26 Feet and 300 HP is fine, even when loaded up. I wanted room for family and friends.

The flip back and forth seat backs didn't seem too useful and sinks and bar stools weren't too appealing either. The two Captain's chairs were something that was important. I have never wanted any boat where the left front seat is a bench that faces backwards.

We take them to Florida in the winter and often take 3 other couples out with us. The boats never seem crowded. Even going out on the Gulf from Marco Island to Sanibel has never been and issue and I am surprised at how good the ride is. They are very stable. In my experience they use a lot less fuel than an I/O too.

Other than the ride the biggest difference with a V hull boat is the lack of a full windshield and no real ability to close the front wind off while underway. So, early or late in the NH summer season you have to dress a little warmer some days.

(Last winter I towed to Miami, spent a couple of days, and went in and out of the Haulover Inlet. If you know, you know! :) )

I run an off shore sport fishing boat in RI and chuckled when the Admiral said she wanted a toon for the lake house.
Know what? I love it! It’s like driving your living room down the lake! They are a ball.

Question: is Winni dam controlled?
We are on Ossipee, which is dam controlled, and never worry about water level.

Did you wave to the camera?

Yes, there is a dam in Lakeport/Laconia. It is running at its minimum. There is a power plant just past the dam so they cannot close the dam completely. At 250 cfs, compared to the max of about 2000 cfs that lowers the lake about an inch per day, it probably spills about 3" a month. If the dam was completely closed, the lake level would probably be much better.

As others have said, no rain and hot weather evaporation is the issue. As best I can tell we are about 6" below normal for this time of year.

I'm a bow rider convert, love my pontoon. As I get older, I find it so much easier to get in and out of, maintain, and keep clean.

Mooring whips??

Absolutely….at least a 300hp. Our Bennington Tritons drives like a sport boat

THIS. Every single time I think about moving to something different than my tritoon, I remember that the only maintenance I do is a wipe down of the seats and application of 303 twice a summer, some petroleum jelly on the cover snaps, and a power wash once a season (done by MVM). That's all for the last ten years, and the boat looks new.

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Halfway through the season I grab my scrub brush, anchor in a calm location and float around in my life jacket scrubbing the toons while everyone is swimming.:D

thanks!
 

Super helpful, people! Anyone have anything negative to say? I figured they could be a chilly ride occasionally. Bring army blankets! Yes, we have mooring whips and yes, I'll get the biggest damn engine it will carry!

Any boat without a full cuddy cabin or enclosure will be a chilly ride when its cold out. My pontoon has a full windshield and is about as useful as other boats with full windshields but the front area between the two helms also has a snap in windscreen (it can be seen in pic above) which actually works quite well at keeping the wind off you. I'm sure you could have a custom enclosure made just not sure its worth it and depends on how much time you are using your boat during those cold spring and fall days...

For those cold and rainy / bad weather days, we rely on our Eastern 22 to get us to and from our island home...

Good luck with your decision!

Dan

I'd go with the chaparral. I'm near the Kona where it's very shallow right now and considering making the switch from a jet boat, given the propensity to suck up bottom sediment and debris which damages the jet pumps.

Actually considering going back to a prop which I can at least trim high and avoid this stuff. A jet boat gives no such options - you just have to plow through it to get to your dock.

Called it a season
 

First time ever pulling the plug on the boating season in August. Almost touching bottom at the dock already. Folks at the marina said they've had a couple customers phone them stating they don't have enough water to get their boat off their lift, so they had to go save them. :eek:

How exactly do they save them? I assume there isn't enough water to motor off the lift so they need to be pulled off? And if there's not enough water behind the lift...what then?

They didn't specifically say, but my assumption was pull it / tow it off...???

Seriously, big problem for many. Was able to pull my lift back a foot. But, after Labor Day it’s coming out


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