Boating during storms

DanteMartiniello · 07-05-2017, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japek

Hey Winni people. I have boated here at least 10 times. Only once did I experience waves and storms that are worth mentioning. This Sunday we rented a boat out of Alton and plan to head out with a few friends and my pregnant wife. With thunderstorms in the forecast for the whole day on Sunday, should we cancel the rental? Or, are there areas on the lake that are more calm than others during storms? I would hate to cancel because of 20 minutes of rain, but would also hate to put my wife in that position. Any thoughts would be apprecitated.

So,
If you think you might be entering thunderstorm on Lake Winni, take all precautions. It depends on what boat you have. I have a small 16ft boat, and have a rough time with the wind. If there is a thunderstorm, look for "Small Craft Advisory" on a weather app for your area, If then you have a small boat like me, I would not recommend you going out till those winds simmer down.

My thought of rain, it is not too bad, I mean a boat can hold water, and if it is literally down-poring remember to press your "Bilge" button after, that releases water.

Hope I can Help,

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

ApS · 07-14-2017, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanteMartiniello

So,
If you think you might be entering thunderstorm on Lake Winni, take all precautions. It depends on what boat you have. I have a small 16ft boat, and have a rough time with the wind. If there is a thunderstorm, look for "Small Craft Advisory" on a weather app for your area, If then you have a small boat like me, I would not recommend you going out till those winds simmer down. My thought of rain, it is not too bad, I mean a boat can hold water, and if it is literally down-poring remember to press your "Bilge" button after, that releases water. Hope I can Help,

BTW, "Small Craft" are considered to be less than 33-feet long by the USCG.

It's kind of scary to think that WWII had only ended by 10 years when my Dad built our little place near Johnson's Cove. We've seen some awful weather, and although I'm mindful of storms, didn't quite make it back home before a "cell" damaged my boat while I had a death-grip on it!

The following experience, posted here in 2004, should be instructive:

"We were in anchored in Johnson cove that day and remember it quite vividly.

"I was in my 28 ft cruiser rafting with friends in there 41 footer. Bow and Stern firmly anchored. When the storm came visibility went down to zero and the wind got ferocious. The wind spun both boats around in circles several times and pushed us towards the rocks on shore.

"We had to make a choice, get washed up onto the rocks or fire up the motor and power off with the risk of tangling the anchor lines in the props. We opted to cut the anchors and fire up one engine. Visibility was zero so all we could do was try to keep the boats off the rocks but were unable to go anywhere else. When the storm finally ended we found that we had suffered very little damage.

"For two weeks following the storm we donned scuba gear looking for our anchors. We finally did find the anchors all twisted up about 200 yards from where we had initally anchored that day".

.http://www.winnipesaukeeforum.com/ar...mes;read=62528

NH_boater · 07-14-2017, 09:14 PM

Pretty sure you can dock at any dock in NH, private or otherwise if your craft or passengers are in danger. I would not hesitate since 95% of home owners would welcome you.

SAMIAM · 07-15-2017, 08:22 AM

There is an unwritten rule that assistance should never be denied to someone needing help on the water.

BroadHopper · 07-15-2017, 08:46 AM

Yes storms can creep up very quickly and unacceptably. Can you imagine being on the Broads in a 20' and the waves actually washes over the windshield? How about a torrential rainstorm with visibility at 0 and the bilge pump could not keep up with the flood! Been there and done that.

Follow by countless rescue operations on The Broads when boat engines were flooded or stalled and could not start! Life on the lake is an adventure.

Yes, most landowners will allow you to tie up to weather a storm. Be aware a dock may not hold your boat so as an extra precaution you may want to drop anchor(s) around the boat for more security. Just use your common sense.

Only one landowner denied permission for storm docking. So it is rare.

Town docks are a different story. Regardless of the storm, LEOs must adhere to local ordinances regarding usage. Even during a storm!

Imagine tying up at the Weirs public docks after hours in a thunderstorm, and the police wants you to leave immediately! Even the MP was docked next to you to weather the storm! That happened to me and luckily there was an empty slip over at Irwins Pier and I use it until the storm passed.

Another case was Gilford Town docks. A thick fog rolled in the middle of the night and no GPS or radar. So I tied up only to be told by the police I can't stay there. So I went to Fay's and found an empty slip.

I tried to pass state legislature to assure emergency storm dockage at public docks in NH. It was inexpedient to legislate as the state do not want to overstep local authorities.

Just want to let you know of my experience on the lake. Because of smartphones and local NOAA radar, I have been able to avoid the storms.

Buffalo Gal · 07-15-2017, 09:19 AM

Safety in a Storm

It may not be a law, but anyone denying access to a safe dock in a storm is open to a lawsuit. I’m not a lawyer, but in doing genealogy research I learned that a shared ancestor of my 4x great grandfather was the plaintiff in a legal case that may still be taught in law school. In 1908, during a sudden storm on Lake Champlain a Mr. Ploof and his family sought a safe place to tie his boat. The caretaker of the owner of the home and the dock he tied to told them that it was private property and they must leave. The caretaker untied the boat and it was forced onto rocks on the shore. Injuries and boat damage resulted. Mr. Ploof sued and won the case. It is, I believe, settled case law. http://www.casebriefsummary.com/ploof-v-putnam/

FlyingScot · 07-15-2017, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Town docks are a different story. Regardless of the storm, LEOs must adhere to local ordinances regarding usage. Even during a storm!

Imagine tying up at the Weirs public docks after hours in a thunderstorm, and the police wants you to leave immediately! Even the MP was docked next to you to weather the storm! That happened to me and luckily there was an empty slip over at Irwins Pier and I use it until the storm passed.

Another case was Gilford Town docks. A thick fog rolled in the middle of the night and I had no GPS or radar. So I tied up only to be told by the police I can't stay there. So I went to Fay's and found an empty slip.

Whoa! Thanks for sharing. No experience at all in this area, but I think I'd let them tow the boat, etc before I'd navigate into something unsafe.

Thoughts/advice on telling LEO, "Sorry, that's just not safe..."?

Descant · 07-15-2017, 01:20 PM

Most LEO and MP are pretty savvy. We're discussing some pretty rare situations here.

Old Sarge · 07-15-2017, 02:02 PM

Very impressive Buffalo Gal, and with a copy of the over one hundred year old case summary included! Maybe you should have been a lawyer, no offense!

The Doctrine of necessity, makes sense to me!

Buffalo Gal · 07-16-2017, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Sarge

Very impressive Buffalo Gal, and with a copy of the over one hundred year old case summary included! Maybe you should have been a lawyer, no offense!

The Doctrine of necessity, makes sense to me!

Thanks Old Sarge! A small bit of information and I finally found a place to use it!

ishoot308 · 07-16-2017, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

Most LEO and MP are pretty savvy. We're discussing some pretty rare situations here.

I agree! I would say EXTREMEMLY rare...

Pineedles · 07-16-2017, 05:59 PM

You guys have been trolled.

Phantom · 07-17-2017, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Town docks are a different story. Regardless of the storm, LEOs must adhere to local ordinances regarding usage. Even during a storm!

.

Broadhopper -- I know your situation was a quite rare one & fully dependent on the "discretion" of the MP involved at the time ... for I know first hand in a Severe storm that is EXACTLY where they take shelter.

BUT -- being the kind of guy I am, and the situation you described .... I would have simply started my engines, cast off my lines, moved 2-3 feet on the slip and retied -- telling the MP that my 4 hour clock is now RESET to zero !

.

CrownRay · 07-19-2017, 10:26 AM

1. My wife was pregnant through one of our summers. She was high risk too. We went out on the lake and the ocean. Sure, we did not motor throught the big waves and she sat for most of the ride, but our almost 2 year old is doing fine!

2. Modern cars are doing away with CD players. We got a new car last fall, and the dealer said that soon the CD player will be an extra option. The "thing" these days is to play music from a bluetoothed phone, or a memory stick!

07-15-2017, 08:46 AM	#5
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,585 Thanks: 3,227 Thanked 1,106 Times in 796 Posts	My experience Yes storms can creep up very quickly and unacceptably. Can you imagine being on the Broads in a 20' and the waves actually washes over the windshield? How about a torrential rainstorm with visibility at 0 and the bilge pump could not keep up with the flood! Been there and done that. Follow by countless rescue operations on The Broads when boat engines were flooded or stalled and could not start! Life on the lake is an adventure. Yes, most landowners will allow you to tie up to weather a storm. Be aware a dock may not hold your boat so as an extra precaution you may want to drop anchor(s) around the boat for more security. Just use your common sense. Only one landowner denied permission for storm docking. So it is rare. Town docks are a different story. Regardless of the storm, LEOs must adhere to local ordinances regarding usage. Even during a storm! Imagine tying up at the Weirs public docks after hours in a thunderstorm, and the police wants you to leave immediately! Even the MP was docked next to you to weather the storm! That happened to me and luckily there was an empty slip over at Irwins Pier and I use it until the storm passed. Another case was Gilford Town docks. A thick fog rolled in the middle of the night and no GPS or radar. So I tied up only to be told by the police I can't stay there. So I went to Fay's and found an empty slip. I tried to pass state legislature to assure emergency storm dockage at public docks in NH. It was inexpedient to legislate as the state do not want to overstep local authorities. Just want to let you know of my experience on the lake. Because of smartphones and local NOAA radar, I have been able to avoid the storms. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day. Last edited by BroadHopper; 07-15-2017 at 01:08 PM. Reason: Spelling

07-15-2017, 02:02 PM	#9
Old Sarge Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Rochester, NH Posts: 150 Thanks: 106 Thanked 63 Times in 29 Posts	Great Post Very impressive Buffalo Gal, and with a copy of the over one hundred year old case summary included! Maybe you should have been a lawyer, no offense! The Doctrine of necessity, makes sense to me!

07-19-2017, 10:26 AM	#14
CrownRay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Medford MA/Blackcat Island Posts: 148 Thanks: 0 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	1. My wife was pregnant through one of our summers. She was high risk too. We went out on the lake and the ocean. Sure, we did not motor throught the big waves and she sat for most of the ride, but our almost 2 year old is doing fine! 2. Modern cars are doing away with CD players. We got a new car last fall, and the dealer said that soon the CD player will be an extra option. The "thing" these days is to play music from a bluetoothed phone, or a memory stick! __________________ "The ocean (or lake) itself is not dangerous, it's the hard stuff around the edges that will kill you."

07-14-2017, 09:14 PM	#3
NH_boater Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 298 Thanks: 14 Thanked 147 Times in 62 Posts	Pretty sure you can dock at any dock in NH, private or otherwise if your craft or passengers are in danger. I would not hesitate since 95% of home owners would welcome you.

07-15-2017, 08:22 AM	#4
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,905 Thanks: 337 Thanked 1,680 Times in 589 Posts	There is an unwritten rule that assistance should never be denied to someone needing help on the water.

07-15-2017, 09:19 AM	#6
Buffalo Gal Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Meredith Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Safety in a Storm It may not be a law, but anyone denying access to a safe dock in a storm is open to a lawsuit. I’m not a lawyer, but in doing genealogy research I learned that a shared ancestor of my 4x great grandfather was the plaintiff in a legal case that may still be taught in law school. In 1908, during a sudden storm on Lake Champlain a Mr. Ploof and his family sought a safe place to tie his boat. The caretaker of the owner of the home and the dock he tied to told them that it was private property and they must leave. The caretaker untied the boat and it was forced onto rocks on the shore. Injuries and boat damage resulted. Mr. Ploof sued and won the case. It is, I believe, settled case law. http://www.casebriefsummary.com/ploof-v-putnam/

07-15-2017, 01:20 PM	#8
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,384 Thanks: 1,357 Thanked 1,629 Times in 1,061 Posts	Most LEO and MP are pretty savvy. We're discussing some pretty rare situations here.

07-16-2017, 05:59 PM	#12
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,545 Thanks: 1,072 Thanked 668 Times in 367 Posts	You guys have been trolled.