Navigating Winni for new boaters

Phantom · 04-07-2016, 11:17 AM

https://www.boat-ed.com/newhampshire...uide/10103101/

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Rich · 04-07-2016, 11:36 AM

Yes... FORGET RRR (Red Right Return) on the inland waters of NH!

This threw me for a loop when I first started on the lake.

I grew up as a teenager boating out of Gloucester harbor. My dad was ex Navy (not that it matters), and taught me to navigate.

When I took my NH boating license course, I even had an argument with the instructor, not about the NH Inland Spar system, but about the ocean ATONs (Aids TO Navigation).

The class room documentation and booklets and all said the salt water ATONs were Red and Green. So I asked, "when did they change from Red and Black", he said they were always Red and Green and there never were any that were black!

I guess I was showing my age, as I knew that they were black when I was a kid. He kept arguing with me, so I had to call my brother-in-law, he used to work in the Coast Guard setting ATONs. He confirmed that years ago, they had to pull all the black ATONs and repaint them GREEN!

Oh, sorry for going off topic...

Just forget R R R in fresh water in NH!

And... the details are:

Red Top (think hot, like the South West), so South if you are heading East or West, and go West if you are heading North or South.

Black Top (think cold, like the North East), So North if you are heading East or West, or go East if you are heading North or South.

So it's not just go "North or East", it matters if you are heading in a northern /southern or eastern/western direction.

Note that sometimes it's confusing, so always check a chart for the proper side, especially when there are multiple spars in the area. I've seen a few places on the lake where just glancing at your compass to decide where to go didn't quite work properly.

radioman · 04-07-2016, 11:59 AM

Rich, I know that I will be showing my age when I say that you were correct, back in the 50s they were most definitely red and black.

Rich · 04-07-2016, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radioman

Rich, I know that I will be showing my age when I say that you were correct, back in the 50s they were most definitely red and black.

Yes!!!

But I was on the salt water back in the late 60's to early 70's. I can't talk for the 50's, as I wouldn't remember much of it.

Oh I forgot to mention... if you go into most marine shops in the area, or boat dealers, there is a nice decal that they can give you, it shows the NH Spar ATONs along with a diagram to help you remember right of way with another boat. It's small enough to apply to a spot at your helm. My first boat had one and I used it a lot. I didn't put one on my newer boat as I didn't want to clutter my helm with too many warning decals.

Phantom · 04-07-2016, 12:33 PM

First and foremost --

Remember to use your head and also consult with the Chart if even mildly in doubt !!!

Two particular spots that always threw me for my early years boating here were (1) Spars at FL#30 -- between Bear & Mink (2) Black Top off the Southern Edge of Treasure Isl. amongst 2 -3 other places.

All can be explained (and I fully understand today) but both will throw ya for a loop when your only staring at a compass ! Especially FL30 where visually you "appear" to be splitting two black Tops (they are actually somewhat staggered and thus not companions).

.

radioman · 04-07-2016, 12:50 PM

Rich, 8 yrs ago these stickers were very easy to pick-up. Not the case in recent years, I fail to remember who had them produced but I have not seen a new one in a long time, too bad as they were great!

Hillcountry · 04-07-2016, 01:25 PM

Thanks for all the replies and let me say that I am not a complete novice as I have been on Winni many times either as a kid when my dad took me salmon fishing, and as an adult when fishing by myself. I also have rented power boats on occasion to spend the day on the big lake.
One thing I have not done is to navigate all of the bays and islands (with the exception of the big easy ones like Alton, Wolfeboro, Merideth, etc.) and that is where I will need to practice and learn the hazards.
I always err on the side of caution as I don't want to be "that guy" who gets stranded by ignorance or just plain cockiness. That's not me. I respect the lakes and waters as well as my fellow boaters and everyone else that enjoys our lakes.
I am really looking forward to my new boat and NH's many waterways.

Salty · 04-08-2016, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hillcountry

Thanks for all the replies and let me say that I am not a complete novice as I have been on Winni many times either as a kid when my dad took me salmon fishing, and as an adult when fishing by myself. I also have rented power boats on occasion to spend the day on the big lake.
One thing I have not done is to navigate all of the bays and islands (with the exception of the big easy ones like Alton, Wolfeboro, Merideth, etc.) and that is where I will need to practice and learn the hazards.
I always err on the side of caution as I don't want to be "that guy" who gets stranded by ignorance or just plain cockiness. That's not me. I respect the lakes and waters as well as my fellow boaters and everyone else that enjoys our lakes.
I am really looking forward to my new boat and NH's many waterways.

I'm in the same boat, so to speak. And I agree with your sentiment. Have some knowledge and experience but a lot to learn still.

Now if I can just get launched...

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

radiocontester · 04-09-2016, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty

I'm in the same boat, so to speak. And I agree with your sentiment. Have some knowledge and experience but a lot to learn still.

Now if I can just get launched...

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Ditto.....hopefully we can share our experiences within this forum. I too have a lot to learn and will be proceeding everywhere with caution. I hope we can all enjoy a fun, safe ,and incident-free season this year!

tummyman · 04-09-2016, 02:27 PM

Been boating on Winni for over 40 years. All this info is super. However, it is also time for NH to change the SPAR colors. The Black and Red are extremely difficult to distinguish in the sun at certain times of the day. Even if they have to keep the colors, a few white stripes would certainly hlep to distinguish a specific color. Just think of he coors that runners or safety people wear....flame orange and that fabulous green. But I suspect the NH Marine Patrol will do nothing....they never do. Markers are out of place and they do nothing. Anyone almost hit the submerged rock just at the entrance to Advent Cove in Meredith that neighbors put a stick on each year? I cannot imagine why it does not get a spar located adjacent to it. Reported it a few times but fell on deaf ears. Just my two cents.....

Salty · 04-07-2016, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radioman

Rich, I know that I will be showing my age when I say that you were correct, back in the 50s they were most definitely red and black.

60's too. Some time between boating as a kid and as an adult they changed.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

04-07-2016, 11:17 AM	#1
Phantom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford Posts: 1,934 Thanks: 450 Thanked 605 Times in 341 Posts	https://www.boat-ed.com/newhampshire...uide/10103101/ . __________________ *A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!*

04-07-2016, 11:36 AM	#2
Rich Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Derry / Gilford Posts: 1,246 Thanks: 74 Thanked 345 Times in 235 Posts	Yes... FORGET RRR (Red Right Return) on the inland waters of NH! This threw me for a loop when I first started on the lake. I grew up as a teenager boating out of Gloucester harbor. My dad was ex Navy (not that it matters), and taught me to navigate. When I took my NH boating license course, I even had an argument with the instructor, not about the NH Inland Spar system, but about the ocean ATONs (Aids TO Navigation). The class room documentation and booklets and all said the salt water ATONs were Red and Green. So I asked, "when did they change from Red and Black", he said they were always Red and Green and there never were any that were black! I guess I was showing my age, as I knew that they were black when I was a kid. He kept arguing with me, so I had to call my brother-in-law, he used to work in the Coast Guard setting ATONs. He confirmed that years ago, they had to pull all the black ATONs and repaint them GREEN! Oh, sorry for going off topic... Just forget R R R in fresh water in NH! And... the details are: Red Top (think hot, like the South West), so South if you are heading East or West, and go West if you are heading North or South. Black Top (think cold, like the North East), So North if you are heading East or West, or go East if you are heading North or South. So it's not just go "North or East", it matters if you are heading in a northern /southern or eastern/western direction. Note that sometimes it's confusing, so always check a chart for the proper side, especially when there are multiple spars in the area. I've seen a few places on the lake where just glancing at your compass to decide where to go didn't quite work properly. __________________ Don't listen to me, obviously I don't understand what I'm talking about! Let's help each other save time and money: WinniGas.com Last edited by Rich; 04-07-2016 at 12:07 PM.

04-07-2016, 12:33 PM	#5
Phantom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford Posts: 1,934 Thanks: 450 Thanked 605 Times in 341 Posts	First and foremost -- Remember to use your head and also consult with the Chart if even mildly in doubt !!! Two particular spots that always threw me for my early years boating here were (1) Spars at FL#30 -- between Bear & Mink (2) Black Top off the Southern Edge of Treasure Isl. amongst 2 -3 other places. All can be explained (and I fully understand today) but both will throw ya for a loop when your only staring at a compass ! Especially FL30 where visually you "appear" to be splitting two black Tops (they are actually somewhat staggered and thus not companions). . __________________ *A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!*

04-07-2016, 12:50 PM	#6
radioman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 216 Thanks: 6 Thanked 75 Times in 50 Posts	Navigating Winni Rich, 8 yrs ago these stickers were very easy to pick-up. Not the case in recent years, I fail to remember who had them produced but I have not seen a new one in a long time, too bad as they were great!

The Following User Says Thank You to Rich For This Useful Post:
Old Sarge (04-09-2016)

04-07-2016, 11:59 AM	#3
radioman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 216 Thanks: 6 Thanked 75 Times in 50 Posts	Navigating Winni Rich, I know that I will be showing my age when I say that you were correct, back in the 50s they were most definitely red and black.

04-07-2016, 01:25 PM	#7
Hillcountry Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: In the hills Posts: 2,420 Thanks: 1,677 Thanked 786 Times in 466 Posts	Thanks for all the replies and let me say that I am not a complete novice as I have been on Winni many times either as a kid when my dad took me salmon fishing, and as an adult when fishing by myself. I also have rented power boats on occasion to spend the day on the big lake. One thing I have not done is to navigate all of the bays and islands (with the exception of the big easy ones like Alton, Wolfeboro, Merideth, etc.) and that is where I will need to practice and learn the hazards. I always err on the side of caution as I don't want to be "that guy" who gets stranded by ignorance or just plain cockiness. That's not me. I respect the lakes and waters as well as my fellow boaters and everyone else that enjoys our lakes. I am really looking forward to my new boat and NH's many waterways.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Hillcountry For This Useful Post:
beantownbaby (04-08-2016), GodSmile (04-09-2016)

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Salty For This Useful Post:
beantownbaby (04-08-2016), GodSmile (04-09-2016), Hillcountry (04-08-2016)

04-09-2016, 02:27 PM	#10
tummyman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 842 Thanks: 259 Thanked 687 Times in 244 Posts	Been boating on Winni for over 40 years. All this info is super. However, it is also time for NH to change the SPAR colors. The Black and Red are extremely difficult to distinguish in the sun at certain times of the day. Even if they have to keep the colors, a few white stripes would certainly hlep to distinguish a specific color. Just think of he coors that runners or safety people wear....flame orange and that fabulous green. But I suspect the NH Marine Patrol will do nothing....they never do. Markers are out of place and they do nothing. Anyone almost hit the submerged rock just at the entrance to Advent Cove in Meredith that neighbors put a stick on each year? I cannot imagine why it does not get a spar located adjacent to it. Reported it a few times but fell on deaf ears. Just my two cents.....

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to tummyman For This Useful Post:
campdavid (05-25-2016), Hillcountry (04-09-2016)