To Boat on Winni or Not to Boat on Winni..Changed for 2016 and I need input

[lfm]

After tailoring our boat from Litchfield (right next door to you) for 3 years, we had valet service with Meredith Marina for 8 years. It's an easy drive up 93. The valet service was very convenient. Just call them an hour prior and your boat will be fueled and ready in the water when you arrive. At the end of the day, just leave it at the dock and they pull it for you.

The only reason we no longer use the valet service is that we finally have a cottage with our own dock.

Valet or a slip is definitely worth it. It made day trips much less stressful and more enjoyable.

[George Des]

Know exactly what you are talking about. We are located over in the Portland area of Maine but enjoy Winni. Also like Great East for in water picnics but Winni is much more fun with the access to many restaurants along the lake. The ride over and the trailering with offload and unload though is a real drag. We are looking very hard at the valet service for next season as a way to get the most out of our boating days. Meredith is a fairly long haul for us but just not having to haul the boat and offload/load is a big plus. Have considered both Sebago and Long Lake over here on the Maine side--slips and valet much cheaper-- but neither offers the diversity of experience Winni does

[Dave R]

I can fully understand where you are coming from, and I think a slip is probably the best bet for you, especially if you get a boat with sleeping accommodations.

That said, I have a boat with sleeping accommodations and I cannot imagine having it in a slip. I LOVE taking it to different lakes, rivers, and the ocean and trailer towing does not bother me at all. If you have an adequate tow vehicle, consider towing a bigger boat for awhile before you opt for a slip.

Winnipesaukee is wonderful and I'll always keep coming back, but man, it's very limiting (geographically and legally) compared to all the other places you can go in a boat. We live in trailer boating paradise. The ocean is less than an hour away. The Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River are only a 6.5 hour drive. Lake George, Lake Champlain, Buzzards Bay, and the Hudson River are all only 3 hours away. Narragansett Bay, the CT River, or the Lakes region of Maine are just 2.5 hours away. All of those alternative places allow overnight anchoring.

[Rich]

I live in Derry so I know the drive well.

I have a boat and wet slip. We love to spend the weekends on board.

As others have said, you just need to decide if you want something large enough to be comfortable to overnight on, and then possibly locked into Winnipesaukee as it may then be too large to trailer.

Stop by Cafe Teresa some Friday night and we can discuss it further if you like.

[salty dog]

A others have mentioned, the trailering aspect every time you go to the lake gets old. We were hauling each time from Beverly (a good hour and a half) and finally decided to keep the boat at the lake. We chose a trailer/valet scenario (at Andrew's Marina) which is easy, fast, less expensive, and allows me to launch myself, be launched, or take the boat wherever (if I wanted to.) It cuts out a lot of time, possible frustration, and wear and tear.

[VitaBene]

If Winni is your major boating destination (it is ours), then a slip or valet will serve you well. Your day will be so much easier and will be less stressful. We live very close to the lake (like 500 yards close) and we bit the bullet and slipped our boat just for that reason. Let's face it, there are some days that you come in from a day of sun and fun and don't want to cover your boat, let alone retrieve it and trailer it home for an hour and a half.

Jason- regarding your boat size. You were on the right track originally! My 26' plus bowrider will be in the water for another month. You are welcome to take it for a ride to understand how much more enjoyable Winni can be with a slip and enough boat!

[Pricestavern]

I say go with the slip if you can afford it. We started with Valet (at West Alton Marina) but after a couple years moved to a slip (also at WAM). The valet can be limiting if you need to dock for any length of time (sudden need to go to the store, etc.), plus you can stay overnight in your boat when tied at your slip (I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong here). At WAM, there are slips available where you have a spot of ground immediately in front of the slip where people put up tents/sheds (some very elaborate, all seasonal).

As to Dave R's point about limiting yourself to Lk. Winni - nothing says you can't take your boat out of the water, put it on your trailer, and haul it off to some other exotic destination.

[Winnisquamer]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

If Winni is your major boating destination (it is ours), then a slip or valet will serve you well. Your day will be so much easier and will be less stressful. We live very close to the lake (like 500 yards close) and we bit the bullet and slipped our boat just for that reason. Let's face it, there are some days that you come in from a day of sun and fun and don't want to cover your boat, let alone retrieve it and trailer it home for an hour and a half.

Jason- regarding your boat size. You were on the right track originally! My 26' plus bowrider will be in the water for another month. You are welcome to take it for a ride to understand how much more enjoyable Winni can be with a slip and enough boat!

Especially this time of year. Its almost (almost) like having the whole lake to yourself!

[boat_guy64]

I live in Windham and bought a boat on Winnipesaukee two years before purchasing our house at the lake. We utilized the rack service at Mountain View.

When I reached the Dunkin Donuts at Londonderry, I'd call into MVYC and ask for my boat. When I arrived, it was in the water and ready for the day. It was very convenient and allowed to be immediately be in the water. Exit was just as fast and easy. It maximized our time and our boat stayed very clean.

It was easy and was a great way to go. If I didn't have a dock, I'd still be doing it the same way.