Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - NH Marine Patrol funding, or lack there of

lakershaker · 07-24-2006, 03:48 PM

I own island property on the lake that is only accessible /used while I have my boat in the water. I love coming up to the lake, and I pay a property tax to the town of Alton at the same rate as people who live here year round. That is fine, because as many have said on the forum, if I don't like it I can always sell...

Well, maybe we should have a higher registration cost or a supplemental fee for large cabin cruisers. As I see it, the folks who own their "floating cabins" use just as many resources, if not more by always being on the water. Case in point is the cruiser at the Weirs that just caught on fire. The owner was from out of state, so the only money going to the state for his usage of the resources was a modest registration fee. Also, the usage of their floating cabins causes much more environmental damage from the large wakes. These "Floating Cabins" have a kitchen, a septic system, A/C, and a 35' boat with a 9.5' beam has about 80' of waterfrontage and the owners use their floating cabin for the same season I do. But these lake residents only pay a relatively small registration fee. In MA, CT or many other states, they would have to pay a personal property tax on the boat, which would level the playing, or paying, field. Since NH doesn't charge this tax, it makes the area even more attractive than it already is, and attracts more boats from those other jurisdictions, which causes a strain on the lake and the infrastructure – a vicious cycle.

There appear to be lots of non-landowner boaters on the forum who fiercely defend their use of the lake – as they should. I am saying that those boats that have sleeping, eating and sanitary facilities should pay a premium for the considerably higher strain they place on the lake. The general registration fee doesn’t seem to cover it.

07-24-2006, 03:48 PM	#6
lakershaker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rattlesnake Isl. - Simsbury, CT Posts: 274 Thanks: 91 Thanked 46 Times in 28 Posts	The "Other" Lakefront property owners could be taxed... I own island property on the lake that is only accessible /used while I have my boat in the water. I love coming up to the lake, and I pay a property tax to the town of Alton at the same rate as people who live here year round. That is fine, because as many have said on the forum, if I don't like it I can always sell... Well, maybe we should have a higher registration cost or a supplemental fee for large cabin cruisers. As I see it, the folks who own their "floating cabins" use just as many resources, if not more by always being on the water. Case in point is the cruiser at the Weirs that just caught on fire. The owner was from out of state, so the only money going to the state for his usage of the resources was a modest registration fee. Also, the usage of their floating cabins causes much more environmental damage from the large wakes. These "Floating Cabins" have a kitchen, a septic system, A/C, and a 35' boat with a 9.5' beam has about 80' of waterfrontage and the owners use their floating cabin for the same season I do. But these lake residents only pay a relatively small registration fee. In MA, CT or many other states, they would have to pay a personal property tax on the boat, which would level the playing, or paying, field. Since NH doesn't charge this tax, it makes the area even more attractive than it already is, and attracts more boats from those other jurisdictions, which causes a strain on the lake and the infrastructure – a vicious cycle. There appear to be lots of non-landowner boaters on the forum who fiercely defend their use of the lake – as they should. I am saying that those boats that have sleeping, eating and sanitary facilities should pay a premium for the considerably higher strain they place on the lake. The general registration fee doesn’t seem to cover it.