Why doesn't Winnipesaukee have real buoys?

bluewater sailor · 09-19-2004, 07:35 AM

The first time I saw a navigational buoy on this lake, I was flabbergasted. Those are just pvc pipes with some red or black paint on them. They are not visible from any distance, which misses the entire premise of a buoy. You should be able to see it from a comfortable distance in order to take action.
Notice on a coastal chart that it indicates how far the buoy is visible and it's usually in miles. And it doesn't appear that much thought went into the place ment of these buoys on Winnipesaukee. For instance, just north of Smith Cove, there is a black buoy which when viewed agains a BLACK background (a stone wall), it can't be seen! And it apparently didn't occur to anyone that with waves more than a foot and a half all of the buoys are awash and can't be seen. In my humble opinion, this is part of the reason motor boaters don't take right of way rules very seriously. It's hard to take the lake seriously because of its laughable buoyage. Why can't the state spend a few dollars and install some cans and nuns that can actually be seen? I don't think they would detract from the beauty of the waterway. Winnipesaukee is truly a great lake and deserves to be treated with more respect, and the bouyage is a good place to start.

09-19-2004, 07:35 AM	#1
bluewater sailor Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Why doesn't Winnipesaukee have real buoys? The first time I saw a navigational buoy on this lake, I was flabbergasted. Those are just pvc pipes with some red or black paint on them. They are not visible from any distance, which misses the entire premise of a buoy. You should be able to see it from a comfortable distance in order to take action. Notice on a coastal chart that it indicates how far the buoy is visible and it's usually in miles. And it doesn't appear that much thought went into the place ment of these buoys on Winnipesaukee. For instance, just north of Smith Cove, there is a black buoy which when viewed agains a BLACK background (a stone wall), it can't be seen! And it apparently didn't occur to anyone that with waves more than a foot and a half all of the buoys are awash and can't be seen. In my humble opinion, this is part of the reason motor boaters don't take right of way rules very seriously. It's hard to take the lake seriously because of its laughable buoyage. Why can't the state spend a few dollars and install some cans and nuns that can actually be seen? I don't think they would detract from the beauty of the waterway. Winnipesaukee is truly a great lake and deserves to be treated with more respect, and the bouyage is a good place to start.