New to the lake

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by trashman

I believe where his son is 14 years old, he is allowed to drive up to a 25 hp engine without anyone else with him, and without a license. It says if over 16 years old and driving a boat with an engine that's over 25hp, they need someone older with them who has their license.

Yup—I noted that with my comment about it applying to 25 horsepower or above, etc.

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[NHskier]

You can pick up a free copy of the NH Boater’s Guide at many marinas, and I know in the past they’ve had them at Thurston’s/North Water. They’ll have them at Marine Patrol HQ in Glendale as well.

Having been a long-time slip renter at Thurston’s and being familiar with the new dock configuration with North Water:
- the dam flow at Lakeport (end of Paugus Bay) defines the water flow through the channel. When wide open the current is running very fast making it more of a challenge to get in and out.
- the channel can get very busy particularly on weekends. Heading out before 10am can help avoid the heaviest traffic.
- Best to exit the dock area towards Paugus Bay, then once the channel widens towards Winni Marine swing around and head back to the main lake. Same thing coming back in, go past the dock entry, swing around and approach coming into the current to have better control.

[Major]

Originally Posted by NHskier

Having been a long-time slip renter at Thurston’s and being familiar with the new dock configuration with North Water:
- Best to exit the dock area towards Paugus Bay, then once the channel widens towards Winni Marine swing around and head back to the main lake. Same thing coming back in, go past the dock entry, swing around and approach coming into the current to have better control.

This is the best advice I’ve seen on the Forum! A big thank you! I wish everyone else followed this advice as well!


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[Rich]

Welcome to the lake!!

I remember my first year! Lot's to learn and I'm still learning.

I'm often around during the week also, normally Wednesday on, but it varies. I'm happy to meet up or take you for a ride.

Get your chart, find the following to know where they are so you can avoid problems and be prepared:

1) The Witches (off Governer's Isle and Timber Isle)
2) Spindle point, find the navaids, it's sort of an S turn get through the area
3) No wake zones, for example Eagle Island and Governor's Island pass, inside Governor's Island pass, through the Weirs Channel until south of the area about at the Ice Cream shack.
4) The graveyard (yes).

If you have the Bizer chart (highly recommended), find the 'suggested path' that will show you how best route yourself past many islands and the markers (some don't make sense, sometimes you pass between the marker and an island, other times you stay on the far side of a marker from the island).

Remember the Navaids !!!! :

Red-Top Stay south or west of them. (if you're going north/south stay west, if you're going west/east stay south.

Black-Top: Stay north or east of them. (if your going north/south, stay east, If you're going east/west, stay north).

All Red, and companion all Black. Go between Red and black.

How to remember the above?

Think of Red as a warm color, and is warm like the South West USA
Think of Black as a cold color, and is cold like the North East USA.

Good luck and enjoy the lake. Learn the surrounding hills and features, for example Gunstock Mountain ski slopes can be seen from most parts of the lake, it helps you get your orientation.

Take a ride and watch your chart, never follow another boater thinking he must know where is safe. Often they do, but often it's someone just as confused are you are!

Good luck and have fun! Feel free to ask for help or go for a ride together.

[jayhawk_nation]

Originally Posted by Rich

Welcome to the lake!!

I remember my first year! Lot's to learn and I'm still learning.

I'm often around during the week also, normally Wednesday on, but it varies. I'm happy to meet up or take you for a ride.

Get your chart, find the following to know where they are so you can avoid problems and be prepared:

1) The Witches (off Governer's Isle and Timber Isle)
2) Spindle point, find the navaids, it's sort of an S turn get through the area
3) No wake zones, for example Eagle Island and Governor's Island pass, inside Governor's Island pass, through the Weirs Channel until south of the area about at the Ice Cream shack.
4) The graveyard (yes).

If you have the Bizer chart (highly recommended), find the 'suggested path' that will show you how best route yourself past many islands and the markers (some don't make sense, sometimes you pass between the marker and an island, other times you stay on the far side of a marker from the island).

Remember the Navaids !!!! :

Red-Top Stay south or west of them. (if you're going north/south stay west, if you're going west/east stay south.

Black-Top: Stay north or east of them. (if your going north/south, stay east, If you're going east/west, stay north).

All Red, and companion all Black. Go between Red and black.

How to remember the above?

Think of Red as a warm color, and is warm like the South West USA
Think of Black as a cold color, and is cold like the North East USA.

Good luck and enjoy the lake. Learn the surrounding hills and features, for example Gunstock Mountain ski slopes can be seen from most parts of the lake, it helps you get your orientation.

Take a ride and watch your chart, never follow another boater thinking he must know where is safe. Often they do, but often it's someone just as confused are you are!

Good luck and have fun! Feel free to ask for help or go for a ride together.

Thank you for that. My only question is how well-marked is those spots with rocks. The Witches and graveyard? Are they easy to navigate around and avoid?

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by jayhawk_nation

Thank you for that. My only question is how well-marked is those spots with rocks. The Witches and graveyard? Are they easy to navigate around and avoid?

They're well-marked, and there's plenty of room to navigate, BUT if one gets confused or isn't 100% on how markers work, or is approaching too quickly, it/they can become a problem...and often do.

That being said, if you've got your chart and know where you are—and keep to that "safe passage" line—you'll have no problems.

If you get mixed up, turned around, etc. just slow down/stop until you figure it out. There's no rush out there, right?

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[jayhawk_nation]

Originally Posted by NHskier

You can pick up a free copy of the NH Boater’s Guide at many marinas, and I know in the past they’ve had them at Thurston’s/North Water. They’ll have them at Marine Patrol HQ in Glendale as well.

Having been a long-time slip renter at Thurston’s and being familiar with the new dock configuration with North Water:
- the dam flow at Lakeport (end of Paugus Bay) defines the water flow through the channel. When wide open the current is running very fast making it more of a challenge to get in and out.
- the channel can get very busy particularly on weekends. Heading out before 10am can help avoid the heaviest traffic.
- Best to exit the dock area towards Paugus Bay, then once the channel widens towards Winni Marine swing around and head back to the main lake. Same thing coming back in, go past the dock entry, swing around and approach coming into the current to have better control.

So you're saying go down the river coming out of the marina and spin around when it is safe before heading back up? And go past the marina coming back before spinning back? My only question is, how fast does the current get moving, and when is it the worst? I feel like the current adds stress to an already stressful and busy area. Are there any days when it is too fast for your boat to handle, or at least too fast, where you feel unsafe?

[steve-on-mark]

Originally Posted by jayhawk_nation

So you're saying go down the river coming out of the marina and spin around when it is safe before heading back up? And go past the marina coming back before spinning back? My only question is, how fast does the current get moving, and when is it the worst? I feel like the current adds stress to an already stressful and busy area. Are there any days when it is too fast for your boat to handle, or at least too fast, where you feel unsafe?

It's always easier to control your boat when going against the current rather than with it. Now think of what happens when you squeeze the end of a garden hose while water is running through it. The amount of water flowing doesn't change, but the pressure increases greatly...all the water flowing towards the dam is squeezed into that small channel which causes the currents to increase. It's not dangerous like under the General Sullivan Bridge in Dover / Newington, but it can push you around a little, so to maintain more control going against it really helps!

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[Major]

Originally Posted by jayhawk_nation

So you're saying go down the river coming out of the marina and spin around when it is safe before heading back up? And go past the marina coming back before spinning back? My only question is, how fast does the current get moving, and when is it the worst? I feel like the current adds stress to an already stressful and busy area. Are there any days when it is too fast for your boat to handle, or at least too fast, where you feel unsafe?

The issue is that at Thurston's Marina (I forget the new name), it is very narrow and the current when the lake is high is somewhere between 6-10 MPH, so it's strong. When coming out of the marina and going towards the "big lake", when there is heavy traffic, it is difficult to feather your way into the line of traffic, especially with the heavy current. So when coming out, if you go towards Paugus Bay and turn around where it is wider and the current has less effect, it is easier to go to the "big lake". When coming in from the "big lake", often the marina is filled with boats and traffic in the small area, and with the current, it is difficult to make the righthand turn into the marina. As noted above, it is easier to make a lefthand turn against the current.

Those of us who travel into and out of the Weirs Beach channel are often encountered by some sort of S-show from someone trying to enter and exit the marina. This was great advice as to how to navigate it.

[NHskier]

Originally Posted by jayhawk_nation

So you're saying go down the river coming out of the marina and spin around when it is safe before heading back up? And go past the marina coming back before spinning back? My only question is, how fast does the current get moving, and when is it the worst? I feel like the current adds stress to an already stressful and busy area. Are there any days when it is too fast for your boat to handle, or at least too fast, where you feel unsafe?

Major and Steve-on-Mark have clarified things well. In general, the current is worst in the spring due to snowmelt, and the Lakeport dam operators having to let more water out to compensate. Outflows can also be raised during the season if there have been extensive rains, raising the level too high. So it’s never a case of Tuesdays being fast current days or anything like that.

I got into the habit of checking the state website showing dam output as a way to gauge the current. Wide open, which is in the 1800 cfm range, means the channel is running very fast. 250 cfm is about the minimum flow, with minimal affect on channel velocity. This post from JeffK has the details on where to find this info.

With the current dock setup, you’re exiting a bit further down the channel which helps. The gas dock area can be very difficult to navigate when the current is running hard. Exiting towards Paugus Bay helps in dealing with faster current, though if it’s a busy day with lots of traffic it gets hairy trying to hold position trying to get out.

[retired]

Make a stop at the Wolfeboro town docks. Great town for food, ice cream and shopping. Stop at the Yum Yum Shop for baked goodies. Your wife will love it.

[DickR]

Originally Posted by NHskier

...
I got into the habit of checking the state website showing dam output as a way to gauge the current. Wide open, which is in the 1800 cfm range, means the channel is running very fast..

Has anyone determined the channel cross section area at various places? That would let us divide flow by area to approximate current speed at those places.

OP: there have been discussions on this forum about definition of "headway speed" as it relates to boat operation within 150 ft of anything. At times, proceeding north through the Weirs channel can't be done at idle speed, as current speed is greater than what normally would be "headway speed."

[retired]

If you are looking for a calmer spot for water skiing, avoid open water and look for calmer coves. Winter Harbor would be a good choice.

[jayhawk_nation]

Update everyone: I know I said I wouldn't go out on the weekend, but we couldn't resist this morning. We went out very early and went cruising around. We had an excellent time cruising around. We checked out a few spots and went around a few of the harbors. We went to Long Island, and I checked the map, and it said that the bridge had 14-foot clearance. That was a lie!!!! I was pulling in thinking, wow, that looks small, and the good thing I put on her is in good old reverse. Otherwise, things would have turned out much, much differently. We then went to Meridith for lunch, and the traffic had started to pick up. We had a great lunch before returning to the dock. Weirs was absolutely packed!!!! We went slow, but holy smokes it was crowded. Lesson learned. After 10:30 AM on Sunday is not good.
Only a few questions after this trip for the next time: Are the docks next to Meridith Docks restaurant free? We are also doing a Valet service at our Marina, and I was wondering if I am expected to tip them? I tipped the nice service man who turned around our boat quickly after winter, but should I tip everyone else?
Thanks again for everyone's help!

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by jayhawk_nation

Update everyone: I know I said I wouldn't go out on the weekend, but we couldn't resist this morning. We went out very early and went cruising around. We had an excellent time cruising around. We checked out a few spots and went around a few of the harbors. We went to Long Island, and I checked the map, and it said that the bridge had 14-foot clearance. That was a lie!!!! I was pulling in thinking, wow, that looks small, and the good thing I put on her is in good old reverse. Otherwise, things would have turned out much, much differently. We then went to Meridith for lunch, and the traffic had started to pick up. We had a great lunch before returning to the dock. Weirs was absolutely packed!!!! We went slow, but holy smokes it was crowded. Lesson learned. After 10:30 AM on Sunday is not good.
Only a few questions after this trip for the next time: Are the docks next to Meridith Docks restaurant free? We are also doing a Valet service at our Marina, and I was wondering if I am expected to tip them? I tipped the nice service man who turned around our boat quickly after winter, but should I tip everyone else?
Thanks again for everyone's help!

The docks at Lago's are free to patrons. Meredith Harbor was packed when I went by at 4pm Saturday!

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by jayhawk_nation

Update everyone: I know I said I wouldn't go out on the weekend, but we couldn't resist this morning. We went out very early and went cruising around. We had an excellent time cruising around. We checked out a few spots and went around a few of the harbors. We went to Long Island, and I checked the map, and it said that the bridge had 14-foot clearance. That was a lie!!!! I was pulling in thinking, wow, that looks small, and the good thing I put on her is in good old reverse. Otherwise, things would have turned out much, much differently. We then went to Meridith for lunch, and the traffic had started to pick up. We had a great lunch before returning to the dock. Weirs was absolutely packed!!!! We went slow, but holy smokes it was crowded. Lesson learned. After 10:30 AM on Sunday is not good.
Only a few questions after this trip for the next time: Are the docks next to Meridith Docks restaurant free? We are also doing a Valet service at our Marina, and I was wondering if I am expected to tip them? I tipped the nice service man who turned around our boat quickly after winter, but should I tip everyone else?
Thanks again for everyone's help!

I always tipped for good service at WINNI Marine.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by jayhawk_nation

Update everyone: I know I said I wouldn't go out on the weekend, but we couldn't resist this morning. We went out very early and went cruising around. We had an excellent time cruising around. We checked out a few spots and went around a few of the harbors. We went to Long Island, and I checked the map, and it said that the bridge had 14-foot clearance. That was a lie!!!! I was pulling in thinking, wow, that looks small, and the good thing I put on her is in good old reverse. Otherwise, things would have turned out much, much differently. We then went to Meridith for lunch, and the traffic had started to pick up. We had a great lunch before returning to the dock. Weirs was absolutely packed!!!! We went slow, but holy smokes it was crowded. Lesson learned. After 10:30 AM on Sunday is not good.
Only a few questions after this trip for the next time: Are the docks next to Meridith Docks restaurant free? We are also doing a Valet service at our Marina, and I was wondering if I am expected to tip them? I tipped the nice service man who turned around our boat quickly after winter, but should I tip everyone else?
Thanks again for everyone's help!

My Boat Chart by Bizer says that the Long Island Bridge is only 7' 7" when the lake is at full lake, which is about where the lake is now. No way that it would be 14 FT. You may want to recheck your chart or get a GPS Charter plotter.

Welcome to the Lake and enjoy.

Dave

[webmaster]

This could be helpful: On our Youtube channel I posted several videos passing through various bridges and other areas on the lake: Long Island Bridge, Black Cat Island bridge, Governors Island bridge, Back Bay bridge, Sally's Gut, Six Pack and others.

Here's the one for the Long Island bridge:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_riE59aFkg

[LakeWinniMom]

Originally Posted by jayhawk_nation

Update everyone: I know I said I wouldn't go out on the weekend, but we couldn't resist this morning. We went out very early and went cruising around. We had an excellent time cruising around. We checked out a few spots and went around a few of the harbors. We went to Long Island, and I checked the map, and it said that the bridge had 14-foot clearance. That was a lie!!!! I was pulling in thinking, wow, that looks small, and the good thing I put on her is in good old reverse. Otherwise, things would have turned out much, much differently. We then went to Meridith for lunch, and the traffic had started to pick up. We had a great lunch before returning to the dock. Weirs was absolutely packed!!!! We went slow, but holy smokes it was crowded. Lesson learned. After 10:30 AM on Sunday is not good.
Only a few questions after this trip for the next time: Are the docks next to Meridith Docks restaurant free? We are also doing a Valet service at our Marina, and I was wondering if I am expected to tip them? I tipped the nice service man who turned around our boat quickly after winter, but should I tip everyone else?
Thanks again for everyone's help!

Docks at Lago are for guest staying at the hotel and those dining there.

Meredith Town Docks are free and have about a 3 hr limit.

Town Docks Restaurant has 2 dock. Last I knew they needed some work though, not sure if they are being used.

Docks at Church Landing are only available to those staying there.

**Take the kids by Blueberry Island and watch the Eagles nesting. They also may like Sally's Gut (AKA the Jungle Cruise) and boating by Becky's Island (the smallest island on the lake with a "house" on it.

[bobkatfly]

Originally Posted by retired

If you are looking for a calmer spot for water skiing, avoid open water and look for calmer coves. Winter Harbor would be a good choice.

No. Stay away from Winter harbor. It's still iced in.

[retired]

I get it. We get tubers all day long in front of our place because it is a wide open area. The boat chop is relentless. Unfortunately, the lake belongs to everyone and you can't do anything about it.

[bobkatfly]

Originally Posted by retired

I get it. We get tubers all day long in front of our place because it is a wide open area. The boat chop is relentless. Unfortunately, the lake belongs to everyone and you can't do anything about it.

I know, worth a shot anyway.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by retired

I get it. We get tubers all day long in front of our place because it is a wide open area. The boat chop is relentless. Unfortunately, the lake belongs to everyone and you can't do anything about it.

Several years ago, a huge landslide of driveway gravel washed into the beaches of three abutting landowners--including us'uns (as the last and most distant. The rough-edged gravel made wading near shore sorta painful.

Now, there is room for three tubers in the main body of Winter Harbor, and while the chop is certainly "relentless", I've noticed the gravel is being slowly abraded and pounded into fine sand!

[CampEye]

Welcome to the lake! All great advice. I would add:

1. Always carry both your boater's license and your auto driver's license. Not that I know this from first-hand experience , but Marine Patrol expects both should you be pulled over by them. They'll also always check that you have PFDs, a throwable float, working horn and a properly charged fire extinguisher.

2. In addition to having physical charts on board, I always have Navionics app up on my phone to confirm I'm where I think I am and which way to go around each spar buoy. Very reassuring, especially when traveling at night.

Enjoy!

[Dave R]

I did not see anyone else mention this. "No Wake" on Winnipesaukee is not the same as "No Wake" on the ocean (and pretty much everywhere else) where it pretty much means don't plane or plow. People get really worked up if you make even a small wake in a no wake zone on the lake.

[Weekend Pundit]

Originally Posted by bobkatfly

No. Stay away from Winter harbor. It's still iced in.

You forgot to mention the fresh-water sharks...with frickin' lasers!

[salty dog]

Originally Posted by jayhawk_nation

So you're saying go down the river coming out of the marina and spin around when it is safe before heading back up? And go past the marina coming back before spinning back? My only question is, how fast does the current get moving, and when is it the worst? I feel like the current adds stress to an already stressful and busy area. Are there any days when it is too fast for your boat to handle, or at least too fast, where you feel unsafe?

Hi and welcome to Winni. We keep our pontoon at North Water and go out once a week all summer. It can be a bit tricky coming in depending on traffic and current. I mostly do a 'K' turn to position for going into the valet area. Problem is that's difficult if there is traffic. Sometimes you just have to go past and turn around when traffic permits. Occasionally, depending on wind, current, and traffic, I reverse just at the entrance and back in. Good luck and enjoy the summer!