Welcome back to the lake evil. First, if you like the 'touristy' thing, you might want to stay clear of a slip in Paugus Bay unless you like making two trips through the NWZ at the channel every time you want to go out. If you scout out places like winni.com classifieds 'slips' heading they appear to be renting from $2500 at Akwa Marina Yacht Club near the Weirs to upwards of $5000-$6000 at MVYC or Spinnaker Cove. MVYC can rack up to a 29' with a single drive. Valet racks, which are basically a poor mans slip are becoming increasingly harder to come by and are still $1100 - $1500 and though some places are unlimited launchings, alot will limit you to so many times a week and there is an extra charge sometimes as large as $50 for each additional launch/haul-out. Additionally, there are no Marinas with valet that will allow overniting.
There are private docks available sporadically but keep in mind that most of them are in fairly open water and not protected in cases of storms and rough water. In addition, very few will have amenities like electricity, water, cable, bath/showers, etc. And again, overniting at a private dock may be a question also.
As far as
where to slip...I keep mine in Gilford which is centrally convenient to Weirs, Meredith, Center Harbor, Wolfboro, and Alton Bay. None of them being more than a half hour away in any direction. Again, with a limited number of NWZs.
As far as
which Marinas are good or bad. I have found that boaters
within Marinas/Yacht Clubs are most always the friendliest people you will meet, no matter where you decide on. Marina management is sometimes where the rub is. I prefer a Yacht Club atmosphere where there is no onsite Service Dept as it allows me to contract whoever I want to do work on my boat. There are some excellent Mobile Marine Services in the area. Where as, if there is a Service Dept attached to the Marina/Yacht Club you are more or less expected to use it, no matter the quality or expense of their work. Some places will not even let an Independant Marine Service on their property.
This experience comes from 20 years of boating and includes trailering, valet racking and wet slips. If you would like to PM or email me I may have a lead or two on an available wet slip.
