Odd hazards in the lake

LakeDad · 09-01-2021, 08:24 PM

What is the strangest thing you've hit or almost almost hit at speed on the lake?

On Monday, I almost hit a watermelon, an entire watermelon with only the top cut off.
It was just below the surface and I'd never have seen it had I not just missed it starboard side.
I've also encountered towels, a shoe and multiple hats, which I remove from the water when found.

Winilyme · 09-01-2021, 10:04 PM

It didn’t happen on the lake but this reminded me of an experience my uncle had when driving on the NJ Turnpike at speed. He saw a straw hat bouncing ahead of him on the highway and as he approached it, the hat bounced up and caught itself on the drivers side mirror. He rolled down his window and brought it in.

Dave R · 09-02-2021, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winilyme

It didn’t happen on the lake but this reminded me of an experience my uncle had when driving on the NJ Turnpike at speed. He saw a straw hat bouncing ahead of him on the highway and as he approached it, the hat bounced up and caught itself on the drivers side mirror. He rolled down his window and brought it in.

When I started reading this, I thought: "oh no, this is going to end with "there was a severed head in it."". Really glad the anecdote went in an entirely different direction.

tis · 09-02-2021, 06:52 AM

I didn't almost hit it because I wasn't in the boat but when I walked outside I saw something floating in the current by my house. I tried to make out what it was and thought it might be a tv. I finally got in the little boat and rowed out and got it. It was a computer monitor. I called the police and there had been some computers and monitors stolen at the high school. It sat in my closet for several months but they finally came and got it.

codeman671 · 09-02-2021, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave R

When I started reading this, I thought: "oh no, this is going to end with "there was a severed head in it."". Really glad the anecdote went in an entirely different direction.

In NJ you never know....

WinnisquamZ · 09-02-2021, 09:31 AM

Group question, how much distance do you give a lakegull to move out of the way before you turn the boat?

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Merrymeeting · 09-02-2021, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

Group question, how much distance do you give a lakegull to move out of the way before you turn the boat?

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

None, I usually aim for them.

Patofnaud · 09-02-2021, 10:13 AM

A year or so ago, southwest end of Welch, leaving narrows heading toward Gov'nrs, I saw and almost hit some 4x4x16ft PT lumber floating just below the surface.

Luckily I was able to flag down an MP to mark/fetch and I was going slow from just leaving narrows. Else at speed in the open, it would have been nasty.

Kamper · 09-02-2021, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

None, I usually aim for them.

Since you can't predict their escape path that is probably the best way, as long as you don't "correct your aim!"

steve-on-mark · 09-02-2021, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

None, I usually aim for them.

that's how collisions with spinning cars are avoided in NASCAR !

fltsimguy · 09-02-2021, 11:35 AM

A deer swimming between Long Island and Sandy Island.

Bizer · 09-02-2021, 09:12 PM

In September, 2003, a boater reported that he hit a submerged object just north of light #18 heading towards the Barber’s Pole. I went to this location. I searched for about 20 minutes before I found a wooden piling about three feet below the surface. Normally, a boater would pass 20-30 feet west of this piling on their way to the Barber’s Pole. Also, lake was lower than it would be for most of the boating season. The water’s depth at this point was about twelve feet. I took a photo of the piling and sent it to the Marine Patrol. It had been removed by the following spring.

Descant · 09-02-2021, 09:25 PM

Interesting. Any idea of why it was there? Remnants of some structure?

Senter Cove Guy · 09-03-2021, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

Interesting. Any idea of why it was there? Remnants of some structure?

I dove on it when it was first reported. It took me a while to find it. To me it appeared to be a broken tree about 4-6 inches in diameter with strong roots into the bottom. I tried uprooting it by hand and couldn't move it. I went back several days later with a hand saw to cut it down and couldn't find it again.

Lakegeezer · 09-04-2021, 05:56 AM

It was a dark and stormy nite. Really! We were leaving Wolfeboro after the July 4'th fireworks. Well, there were supposed to have been fireworks, but the event was canceled due to a thunderstorm that blew through. We sheltered at someone's dock during the intense storm and when it was through, left in the very dark night with freshening winds towards the Barber Pole. About the time we were rounding the point, keeping Parker Island on our left, a huge trampoline type float appeared out of the dark, right in front of us. It had gotten away in the storm and was drifting south. It was taller than the bow of my boat and we were going slow, bow high to deal with the white caps. Had my OMG moment, missed it by a foot or so and kept on going. Haven't been to Wolfeboro at night since.

thinkxingu · 09-04-2021, 06:05 AM

We see deer swimming out to Whaleback Island fairly often—pretty awesome to watch, mostly when they spring out of the water.

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09-02-2021, 09:12 PM	#12
Bizer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 336 Thanks: 0 Thanked 243 Times in 82 Posts	In September, 2003, a boater reported that he hit a submerged object just north of light #18 heading towards the Barber’s Pole. I went to this location. I searched for about 20 minutes before I found a wooden piling about three feet below the surface. Normally, a boater would pass 20-30 feet west of this piling on their way to the Barber’s Pole. Also, lake was lower than it would be for most of the boating season. The water’s depth at this point was about twelve feet. I took a photo of the piling and sent it to the Marine Patrol. It had been removed by the following spring. Attached Images Last edited by Bizer; 09-03-2021 at 04:56 AM.

09-02-2021, 09:25 PM	#13
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,333 Thanks: 1,337 Thanked 1,619 Times in 1,051 Posts	Piling Interesting. Any idea of why it was there? Remnants of some structure?

09-04-2021, 05:56 AM	#15
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,677 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 353 Thanked 639 Times in 290 Posts	out of the darkness It was a dark and stormy nite. Really! We were leaving Wolfeboro after the July 4'th fireworks. Well, there were supposed to have been fireworks, but the event was canceled due to a thunderstorm that blew through. We sheltered at someone's dock during the intense storm and when it was through, left in the very dark night with freshening winds towards the Barber Pole. About the time we were rounding the point, keeping Parker Island on our left, a huge trampoline type float appeared out of the dark, right in front of us. It had gotten away in the storm and was drifting south. It was taller than the bow of my boat and we were going slow, bow high to deal with the white caps. Had my OMG moment, missed it by a foot or so and kept on going. Haven't been to Wolfeboro at night since. __________________ -lg

09-01-2021, 08:24 PM	#1
LakeDad Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 127 Thanks: 2 Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts	Odd hazards in the lake What is the strangest thing you've hit or almost almost hit at speed on the lake? On Monday, I almost hit a watermelon, an entire watermelon with only the top cut off. It was just below the surface and I'd never have seen it had I not just missed it starboard side. I've also encountered towels, a shoe and multiple hats, which I remove from the water when found.

09-01-2021, 10:04 PM	#2
Winilyme Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Ice in = CT / Ice out = Winnipesaukee Posts: 483 Thanks: 132 Thanked 289 Times in 155 Posts	It didn’t happen on the lake but this reminded me of an experience my uncle had when driving on the NJ Turnpike at speed. He saw a straw hat bouncing ahead of him on the highway and as he approached it, the hat bounced up and caught itself on the drivers side mirror. He rolled down his window and brought it in.

09-02-2021, 06:52 AM	#4
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,695 Thanks: 751 Thanked 1,450 Times in 1,008 Posts	I didn't almost hit it because I wasn't in the boat but when I walked outside I saw something floating in the current by my house. I tried to make out what it was and thought it might be a tv. I finally got in the little boat and rowed out and got it. It was a computer monitor. I called the police and there had been some computers and monitors stolen at the high school. It sat in my closet for several months but they finally came and got it.

09-02-2021, 09:31 AM	#6
WinnisquamZ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 2,041 Thanks: 210 Thanked 652 Times in 435 Posts	Group question, how much distance do you give a lakegull to move out of the way before you turn the boat? Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

09-02-2021, 10:13 AM	#8
Patofnaud Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Tilton/Paugus Bay Posts: 239 Thanks: 13 Thanked 64 Times in 45 Posts	A year or so ago, southwest end of Welch, leaving narrows heading toward Gov'nrs, I saw and almost hit some 4x4x16ft PT lumber floating just below the surface. Luckily I was able to flag down an MP to mark/fetch and I was going slow from just leaving narrows. Else at speed in the open, it would have been nasty.

09-02-2021, 11:35 AM	#11
fltsimguy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 69 Thanks: 14 Thanked 30 Times in 11 Posts	A deer swimming between Long Island and Sandy Island.

09-04-2021, 06:05 AM	#16
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 6,208 Thanks: 1,167 Thanked 2,047 Times in 1,270 Posts	We see deer swimming out to Whaleback Island fairly often—pretty awesome to watch, mostly when they spring out of the water. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk