Best place to buy a raft?

offmycloud · 03-20-2008, 12:56 PM

I need a small raft for my kids to swim to. Does anyone know of a good place to purchase one? Our place is in Moultonborough.
Thanks

winnidiver · 03-20-2008, 01:18 PM

Center Harbor Dock and Pier On Rt25 And Lake Shore drive.

Dave M · 03-20-2008, 03:49 PM

You may want to try Docks Unlimited in Meredith, 279-3116. They
advertise rafts.

DM

bilproject · 03-20-2008, 03:56 PM

Don't forget you need a DES mooring permit to put out that raft! People at Docks Unlimited are very helpful and nice. Bought Jet ski lifts from them last year.

Gatto Nero · 03-20-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bilproject

Don't forget you need a DES mooring permit to put out that raft! People at Docks Unlimited are very helpful and nice. Bought Jet ski lifts from them last year.

I don't believe that is correct. I seem to recall that you might need to notify either DES of Safety Services, but a permit is not required. I do believe that whoever governs them wants you to have your name and number on it in case it gets away.

offmycloud · 03-20-2008, 04:24 PM

Thank you all! Gatto Nero is correct. I only need a mooring permit for a boat mooring, not a raft. I can just stick a raft out there. At least this was the case last year. I put a one of those big blow up tramps out there last year and didn't like it. They don't bounce very well and are tough to climb up on. They are really comfy to lie on though.

KonaChick · 03-20-2008, 06:41 PM

a few years back DES or MP I can't remember which one wanted you to more or less "register" your raft. You had to fill out all the paper work and of course pay a $10 fee. At that point they said you had to have reflectors on your raft and also your name and phone # written clearly on one side. I've never seen or heard anything else about this meaning we've never recieved anything in the mail telling us we needed to renew the "registration". My guess is the agency just needed to raise some quick cash and decided to sucker the raft owners out there for the money. Stupid, stupid, stupid!!!

fatlazyless · 03-20-2008, 07:54 PM

In my opinion, those yellow and blue stripped inflatable raft-trampolenes are very difficult to climb up on their web ladder. Maybe fun once you get up on those rafts, but climbing that little web ladder is like impossible.

Maybe check craigslistnh and enter raft into the for sale search.

Phantom · 03-20-2008, 08:37 PM

Irwin Marine is another spot to check out --- we bought out "pontoon" raft from them

codeman671 · 03-20-2008, 09:14 PM

We bought a leftover 8x10 from Watermark, complete as a package with the chain, snap line, block, etc. $2k I think.

Grady223 · 03-21-2008, 09:50 AM

Using parts purchased from Overton's, actually parts meant for floating dock sections, including the floats. It cost about $800, including the ladder about 8 years ago and is still in great shape. It is 6' by 8'.

offmycloud · 03-21-2008, 05:46 PM

Thanks everyone - I will check all that out. Where is Watermark?

SIKSUKR · 03-24-2008, 08:30 AM

Watermark is across from the Laconia airport in Gilford on Rt 11.

ApS · 03-24-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatto Nero

"...I do believe that whoever governs them wants you to have your name and number on it in case it gets away..."

The raft rescued last Spring by me (of two known to the forum to be errant among the ice floes last year) had no ID on it on any surface, and the owners were unaware of its location for weeks.

It has a number n-O-w-W-W!

I'd suggest putting a contact name or cellphone number visible from shore by binoculars on each horizontal surface to assure a timely return.

Bear Islander · 03-24-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KonaChick

a few years back DES or MP I can't remember which one wanted you to more or less "register" your raft. You had to fill out all the paper work and of course pay a $10 fee. At that point they said you had to have reflectors on your raft and also your name and phone # written clearly on one side. I've never seen or heard anything else about this meaning we've never recieved anything in the mail telling us we needed to renew the "registration". My guess is the agency just needed to raise some quick cash and decided to sucker the raft owners out there for the money. Stupid, stupid, stupid!!!

A few years ago the Department of Safety enacted an administrative rule requiring permits for swim rafts. However the legislature did not like this idea and they reversed it.

You DO NOT need a permit for a swim raft.

here is an old thread on the subject.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ead.php?t=2433

03-20-2008, 12:56 PM	#1
offmycloud Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago IL and Moultonborough Posts: 165 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Best place to buy a raft? I need a small raft for my kids to swim to. Does anyone know of a good place to purchase one? Our place is in Moultonborough. Thanks

03-20-2008, 01:18 PM	#2
winnidiver Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 54 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Float Center Harbor Dock and Pier On Rt25 And Lake Shore drive.

03-20-2008, 03:49 PM	#3
Dave M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 395 Thanks: 4 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	Raft You may want to try Docks Unlimited in Meredith, 279-3116. They advertise rafts. DM

03-20-2008, 08:37 PM	#9
Phantom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford Posts: 1,934 Thanks: 450 Thanked 605 Times in 341 Posts	Irwin Marine is another spot to check out --- we bought out "pontoon" raft from them __________________ *A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!*

03-21-2008, 09:50 AM	#11
Grady223 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Hope, PA & Barndoor Island Posts: 465 Thanks: 93 Thanked 24 Times in 18 Posts	Built My Own Using parts purchased from Overton's, actually parts meant for floating dock sections, including the floats. It cost about $800, including the ladder about 8 years ago and is still in great shape. It is 6' by 8'.

03-20-2008, 03:56 PM	#4
bilproject Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bear Island/Fort Myers, Fla Posts: 231 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 59 Times in 41 Posts	Don't forget you need a DES mooring permit to put out that raft! People at Docks Unlimited are very helpful and nice. Bought Jet ski lifts from them last year.

03-20-2008, 04:24 PM	#6
offmycloud Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago IL and Moultonborough Posts: 165 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Thank you all! Gatto Nero is correct. I only need a mooring permit for a boat mooring, not a raft. I can just stick a raft out there. At least this was the case last year. I put a one of those big blow up tramps out there last year and didn't like it. They don't bounce very well and are tough to climb up on. They are really comfy to lie on though.

03-20-2008, 06:41 PM	#7
KonaChick Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 518 Thanks: 19 Thanked 62 Times in 15 Posts	a few years back DES or MP I can't remember which one wanted you to more or less "register" your raft. You had to fill out all the paper work and of course pay a $10 fee. At that point they said you had to have reflectors on your raft and also your name and phone # written clearly on one side. I've never seen or heard anything else about this meaning we've never recieved anything in the mail telling us we needed to renew the "registration". My guess is the agency just needed to raise some quick cash and decided to sucker the raft owners out there for the money. Stupid, stupid, stupid!!!

03-20-2008, 07:54 PM	#8
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,849 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 303 Thanked 1,033 Times in 752 Posts	In my opinion, those yellow and blue stripped inflatable raft-trampolenes are very difficult to climb up on their web ladder. Maybe fun once you get up on those rafts, but climbing that little web ladder is like impossible. Maybe check craigslistnh and enter raft into the for sale search.

03-20-2008, 09:14 PM	#10
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,539 Thanks: 222 Thanked 828 Times in 499 Posts	We bought a leftover 8x10 from Watermark, complete as a package with the chain, snap line, block, etc. $2k I think.

03-21-2008, 05:46 PM	#12
offmycloud Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago IL and Moultonborough Posts: 165 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Thanks everyone - I will check all that out. Where is Watermark?

03-24-2008, 08:30 AM	#13
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Watermark is across from the Laconia airport in Gilford on Rt 11. __________________ SIKSUKR

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