First Time Boating on the Lake

[WINNOCTURN]

Originally Posted by FromDownSouoth

Hello all,

I live down in Virginia and am new to Lake Winni. My family (wife, daughters aged 6 and 4) and I are renting a house on the lake the last week of June. Although I have experience boating (both sailing yachts and cruising trawlers down on the Chesapeake Bay on multiple day trips), I have been away from extensive boating the last number of years (having small kids will do that do a guy!).

I would like to start my kids out boating and am considering renting a pontoon boat (with 25 hp engine) for a couple days during our trip. I am a pretty cautious guy and, being a former boy scout, I prepare pretty extensively. I bought a chart of the lake from Bizer's and have been studying the location of rocks, etc. I am aware of the boating "rules of the road", and have been teaching my kids boating safety. Do you regulars have any words of advice for me?

Before you go out on your own you may want to take a Cruise on either or both the Sophie C or the Doris E. They will get you close to things around the Lake. You may call and ask what specific areas of the Lake they cover.

It may be helpful to know the area you are staying in. Knowing that people here on the forum can offer more specific advise as to things to lookout for and things to look for.

Always have a chart with you and KNOW the WEATHER. WINNI is not always kind to Boaters.

If I had one word of caution avoid Moultonboro Bay!

Sophie C-U/S Mail Boat
http://www.cruisenh.com/sophie.php

Doris E
http://www.cruisenh.com/doris.php


Mt Washington
http://www.cruisenh.com/index.php