I launch out of West Alton more often than not and love the facility. It's never crazy busy there and the people are great. The marina is well protected from wind and waves and the single ramp is well maintained. They also have bathroom facilities on site and the sand bar right at the entrance is popular for swimming with the kids (south side of the channel).
I used to use Ames but even if Ames were open, I like WAM better. Ames was open to wind, waves and boat wakes and I was always nervous about dropping my boat/trailer off the concrete there the way it dropped off on each side. With that boat of yours, you are probably only 5 minutes to Ames once you are on the water.
Given that they are building camping facilities at WAM, we may even do a camping/boating weekend there next season.
The only down side is that you are a good boat ride from any popular public docking facilities that offer shore activities such as Wiers, Merideth, Wolfboro, or Alton.
I did have one time that a bass tourney was getting out at WAM when I was launching and had a significant wait (only one dock) so that could happen to you. It would be nice to see Ames re-open even if only as a tourney launch spot to take pressure off other lanches.
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