Marine Patrol shake's their head!

[Rich]

I was coming back from the Nazwa last weekend and headed toward Smith Cove, it was just about after sunset.

As I'm coming South of Lockes Island just after passing through the Witches headed East, I see that the Marine Patrol had a boat pulled over. This was in the area between Lockes and Varney Point.

I wasn't moving very fast, but had a small wake, so I stayed about 200 ft away or so from the stopped boats. I even slowed down a bit as I approached them.

As I'm coming up on the MP, which was pulled broadside to the boat he had stopped, here comes another boat headed towards us going West at a significant speed, throwing a big wake.

Yes, you guessed it, he decided to go between my boat and the two boats that were stopped.

I looked over to see what the MP officer would do. He just looked up, raised his arms and hands towards the sky in a sort of 'WTF' gesture and shook his head.

I'm not sure why the MP had the first boat stopped, but at this point I would have let the first guy go and gone after the guy on the passing boat.

At least the MP didn't notice that my port nav light was out (we noticed it was out just as we left the Naswa and were trying to get back before sunset).

[Winnilifer]

Yep - Very easily could've sounded his siren/horn and waved him to stop. Finished with that boat then gone to him. End of shift?

[BroadHopper]

I see this many times. That is why we need more staff and presence.

I've seen people do a dare when MP is busy with another boat. For example last week, there were 2 MP boats assisting EMT and police during an incident in front of Summit condo Association off Paugus Bay.

As I was approaching the channel from Paugus Bay, there were a number of boat passing me within 50 feet and continued at above wake speed through the channel. Totally uncalled for. What's the rush!!!!!!!

[HellRaZoR004]

What's the small island between Governors and Stonedam?

I was going between the markers of the small island and Stonedam (not the no wake zone near Governors) on Sunday and two boats came flying through within 20 feet of me throwing huge wakes. I used my horn at the first boat and they just waved. I was pissed!...

As I try to keep control the second one goes by right behind the first and the two on board were wearing uniforms (it sure looked like MP, but I'm not 100%). They waved as well....I was even more pissed!

So much for headway.

[BroadHopper]

I only see Fish and Game wardens and Fire Fighters wearing uniforms out on the lake. Sometimes I see other LEOs on the lake but almost always on a MP boat.

I do notice on occasions Fish & Game officers breaking the rules, and I assume they are on a mission. Very rarely do I see the firefighters breaking rules unless it is in an emergency.

Most probably the second boat was fish and Game. They usually travel in unmarked powerboats.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by HellRaZoR004

What's the small island between Governors and Stonedam?

I was going between the markers of the small island and Stonedam (not the no wake zone near Governors) on Sunday and two boats came flying through within 20 feet of me throwing huge wakes. I used my horn at the first boat and they just waved. I was pissed!...

As I try to keep control the second one goes by right behind the first and the two on board were wearing uniforms (it sure looked like MP, but I'm not 100%). They waved as well....I was even more pissed!

So much for headway.

North side of Eagle Island perhaps? There's room to pass on plane, but only if you stay close to the markers.

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by HellRaZoR004

What's the small island between Governors and Stonedam?

I was going between the markers of the small island and Stonedam (not the no wake zone near Governors) on Sunday and two boats came flying through within 20 feet of me throwing huge wakes. I used my horn at the first boat and they just waved. I was pissed!...

As I try to keep control the second one goes by right behind the first and the two on board were wearing uniforms (it sure looked like MP, but I'm not 100%). They waved as well....I was even more pissed!

So much for headway.

I believe HellRazoR is referring to Pitchwood Island and utilizing FL#44 .... I sure hope he is NOT referring to the No Wake Zone between Stonedam & Welcome Island

[Rich]

This makes me wonder every time I'm at my computer and away from the boat: Is there an online chart of Lake Winnipesaukee?

If not, I'll have to bring a older chart home soon.

[kbh]

Originally Posted by Rich

This makes me wonder every time I'm at my computer and away from the boat: Is there an online chart of Lake Winnipesaukee?

If not, I'll have to bring a older chart home soon.

Bizer sells a .pdf version of their chart, I use it frequently while at home or office and away from hard copy chart...

http://bizer.com/

[dt5150]

i almost got run over while trolling the other night off welch. some a-hole in a big white cobalt bowrider buzzed right by me at about 50 feet. i watched him coming up right behind me and had to veer to the right. as he went on by, i looked over to give him a single digit gesture and saw that he wasn't even facing forward. he was seated at the helm, facing AFT (with 3 other people in the boat), going about 30 mph. he wasn't even watching where he was going! unreal...

[tc_mike]

Originally Posted by Rich

This makes me wonder every time I'm at my computer and away from the boat: Is there an online chart of Lake Winnipesaukee?

If not, I'll have to bring a older chart home soon.

Some info was provided in this thread a while back.

[HellRaZoR004]

As some have previously guessed I was travelling through the markers between Eagle Isl and Pitchwood and Stonedam Isl.

I can see maybe if everyone was hugging the markers it would be fine...but no one was.

[sum-r breeze]

Last Sunday we had 2 boats coming at us one after the other through the no wake zone between Eagle and Goverors up on at least 3/4 plane. I'm waving at them to slow down...I get the blank stare back at me like "What?" Then I yell "This is a NO WAKE zone!!" I guess we have a lot of "Low Information" boaters on the lake! We were all novices at one time but certain things need to be researched before you head out on the big lake. ie READ A CHART!!!

Wave 'cuz I'll be wavin' (a chart) back!!
The Breeze

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by sum-r breeze

Last Sunday we had 2 boats coming at us one after the other through the no wake zone between Eagle and Goverors up on at least 3/4 plane. I'm waving at them to slow down...I get the blank stare back at me like "What?" Then I yell "This is a NO WAKE zone!!" I guess we have a lot of "Low Information" boaters on the lake! We were all novices at one time but certain things need to be researched before you head out on the big lake. ie READ A CHART!!!

Wave 'cuz I'll be wavin' (a chart) back!!
The Breeze

Hey Walter, did that boat happen to be a 35' Fountain, Yellow and orange?

We got pulled over coming through the Weirs on Saturday...someone forgot his registration sticker in the truck and the MP spotted it. They ran the registration and let us go on our way, they were very polite other than a 5 foot scuff on our starboard bow!! The water was rough, they didn't mean it. Most of the scuff rubbed off...a little elbow grease will take the rest off.
Stop by the compound this weekend!!

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by sum-r breeze

Last Sunday we had 2 boats coming at us one after the other through the no wake zone between Eagle and Goverors up on at least 3/4 plane. I'm waving at them to slow down...I get the blank stare back at me like "What?" Then I yell "This is a NO WAKE zone!!" I guess we have a lot of "Low Information" boaters on the lake! We were all novices at one time but certain things need to be researched before you head out on the big lake. ie READ A CHART!!!

Wave 'cuz I'll be wavin' (a chart) back!!
The Breeze

We had that Saturday...Heading through the channel we were met with a moron in a 28' Chris Craft on plane as he entered the NWZ. I did not give him the "salute", but made my displeasure known. He backed down and looked rather perplexed.

[jrc]

The answer I always get is "I'm not making a wake"

I got a little taste of that myself Saturday when someone yelled at me in the entrance to Smith cove. I was doing just under 6 MPH according to my GPS.

I slowed down when he yelled and he told me that my slowing indicated my guilt. I don't know, maybe I was legal but not courteous...

[tis]

I yelled at someone last weekend and his reply was: "I'm going slow." I told him that didn't matter, it was the wake that matters.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by tis

I yelled at someone last weekend and his reply was: "I'm going slow." I told him that didn't matter, it was the wake that matters.

It's not though, my boat makes a very obvious wake when I'm operating legally at headway speed, which is all you are required to do in a no wake zone in NH.

[tis]

We have had this discussion before and it depends on who the MP officer is if you get stopped or not. We had one officer who wouldn't even allow the tiniest ripple. Even I was shocked at who he stopped. Headway speed is not no wake, but I know you will probably argue it as it was argued before. No wake is no wake. Headway speed is headway speed. Years ago we used to have headway speed signs on the lake.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by tis

We have had this discussion before and it depends on who the MP officer is if you get stopped or not. We had one officer who wouldn't even allow the tiniest ripple. Even I was shocked at who he stopped. Headway speed is not no wake, but I know you will probably argue it as it was argued before. No wake is no wake. Headway speed is headway speed. Years ago we used to have headway speed signs on the lake.

Hopefully the Marine Patrol will become more aware of the state's boating laws in the future.

270-D:1 Definitions.

VI. "Headway speed'' means 6 miles per hour or the slowest speed that a boat can be operated and maintain steerage way.

VIII. "No wake area'' means an area where a boat is to be operated only at headway speed.

[tis]

Most boats can go slower than 6MPH and the whole idea of a no wake area is you are not supposed to make a wake. There are reasons for not allowing wakes.