Swim raft

bridget · 05-22-2018, 04:51 PM

Hi all

We bought a property this fall and want to buy/install a swim raft on our shoreline. Looking for recs on where to buy and whether we need a permit. If so, does the raft company handle that? Thanks!

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Doobs41378 · 05-22-2018, 05:58 PM

I believe you can get them at Parafunalia in Gilford.

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ishoot308 · 05-22-2018, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bridget

Hi all

We bought a property this fall and want to buy/install a swim raft on our shoreline. Looking for recs on where to buy and whether we need a permit. If so, does the raft company handle that? Thanks!

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

No permit required. Keep in front of your property and no more than 150’ out from high water mark. If you're in or near a channel or other similar tight areas, it cannot impede navigation. Highly recommend writing your name and address on it.

Have fun!

Dan

Descant · 05-22-2018, 08:45 PM

There's one high and dry on my beach on Welch Island. No name address phone number on three sides. I can't get to the fourth side to look. Posted on "lost and found" with no response. How much will you spend on such a raft without putting your phone number on it? I charge $10/day storage from Ice out to June 15. Then $25/day for clogging my beach. Please identify and come get your raft, whoever you are.

codeman671 · 05-22-2018, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

There's one high and dry on my beach on Welch Island. No name address phone number on three sides. I can't get to the fourth side to look. Posted on "lost and found" with no response. How much will you spend on such a raft without putting your phone number on it? I charge $10/day storage from Ice out to June 15. Then $25/day for clogging my beach. Please identify and come get your raft, whoever you are.

If it doesn't disappear soon I can help you with that

tis · 05-23-2018, 04:53 AM

Your name and address and reflections are required to be on it. Sorry phone number not address.

Loony Singer · 05-23-2018, 05:50 AM

These folks made our aluminum frame and cedar decking raft years ago, and it's held up very well. Nice people, but obviously very busy at this time of year!

smith point boater · 05-23-2018, 06:21 AM

Call Watermark - They will handle 100%

hd333 · 05-23-2018, 08:29 AM

Center Harbor Dock. They have multiple options. They will deliver and set it up.
Very easy to do business with.

Prices on similar rafts seemed to be pretty standard when we did a little research last year.

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MAXUM · 05-23-2018, 09:19 AM

https://nh.craigslist.org/for/d/swim...582359028.html

bridget · 05-23-2018, 08:42 PM

We like the wooden look. Would you folks recommend aluminum w cedar removable planking or is there something else that lasts longer?

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FlyingScot · 05-24-2018, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bridget

We like the wooden look. Would you folks recommend aluminum w cedar removable planking or is there something else that lasts longer?
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We also like the wooden look, but we ended up with poly--it lasts forever, it's zero maintenance, and it's always smooth to the touch. From a distance the "natural" colors blend in well, so it is similar in aesthetic from a distance. The pop-up back rests and table are really nice too.

If you do decide to go with wood, I recommend cedar, not pressure treated. The pressure treatment chemicals have to go somewhere, like into the lake or onto your skin as you sunbathe.

Here's a website; I cant remember where we bought ours, but this model is widely available:

https://www.hewittrad.com/otter-island-swim-raft/

winniwizard · 05-24-2018, 08:42 AM

Check with Town. Set backs from your extended property lines out from shore out into the water may apply to the platform's placement.

LIforrelaxin · 05-24-2018, 09:35 AM

All great thoughts and recommendations here...

Remember wood means maintenance. Aluminum can become hot to the touch....
The poly rafts often don't sit high out of the water...

If your neighbors have one, I would talk with them, chances are they will not mind you using theirs to try that style out....

We have swim rafts scattered down our shoreline.... there is never an issue, when someone wants to take a break from swiming and jumps up on the closet one to them... But then again the road I am one, the people are all pretty friendly...

ishoot308 · 05-24-2018, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterG

We also like the wooden look, but we ended up with poly--it lasts forever, it's zero maintenance, and it's always smooth to the touch. From a distance the "natural" colors blend in well, so it is similar in aesthetic from a distance. The pop-up back rests and table are really nice too.
Here's a website; I cant remember where we bought ours, but this model is widely available:

https://www.hewittrad.com/otter-island-swim-raft/

Yup, we had this raft for a number of years and it was great! Sits low in the water making it easy to climb on, very stable and the pop up backrest and table work great!

Dan

Descant · 05-24-2018, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

If it doesn't disappear soon I can help you with that

Marine Patrol came out to look, offered to take it, but it is so far on land one person can't move it and pulling it off would probably rip it apart. I suggested they leave it for awhile to see if somebody called in to claim it. They have better things to do than collect swim rafts.
Anybody know anything about "abandoned property" law?

Outdoorsman · 05-25-2018, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

Marine Patrol came out to look, offered to take it, but it is so far on land one person can't move it and pulling it off would probably rip it apart. I suggested they leave it for awhile to see if somebody called in to claim it. They have better things to do than collect swim rafts.
Anybody know anything about "abandoned property" law?

Finders keepers, losers weepers

Loony Singer · 05-25-2018, 05:46 AM

We love our aluminum raft with cedar decking, BUT...as cedar ages, it can produce tiny little splinters. Much better than the enormous, jagged splinters from pressure treated, but still. We talked to Center Harbor Dock and Pier about converting to composite or PVC. Turns out that very expensive structural modifications to the aluminum frame would be required, due to the heavier weight. So if you're getting a new aluminum-framed raft, make the wood vs. composite decision up front!

tis · 05-25-2018, 06:47 AM

I agree. Don't put wood on it.

Dave M · 05-25-2018, 09:55 AM

Dan, can you give a approximate cost of the Otter swim raft.

Thanks Dave M

ishoot308 · 05-25-2018, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave M

Dan, can you give a approximate cost of the Otter swim raft.

Thanks Dave M

I believe we paid around $1400.00 for it from Production Trailer and Dock but that was about 8 years ago. I assume the prices have increased a bit since then.

Here is one online for $1699.00 I think a local dealer would do better on price however... I think Watermark may be a dealer as I believe they bought out Production Trailer and Dock http://www.directdocks.com/otisra.ht...d=293946777986

Dan

05-22-2018, 04:51 PM	#1
bridget Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 5 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Swim raft Hi all We bought a property this fall and want to buy/install a swim raft on our shoreline. Looking for recs on where to buy and whether we need a permit. If so, does the raft company handle that? Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

05-22-2018, 08:45 PM	#4
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,378 Thanks: 1,353 Thanked 1,628 Times in 1,060 Posts	Lost raft? There's one high and dry on my beach on Welch Island. No name address phone number on three sides. I can't get to the fourth side to look. Posted on "lost and found" with no response. How much will you spend on such a raft without putting your phone number on it? I charge $10/day storage from Ice out to June 15. Then $25/day for clogging my beach. Please identify and come get your raft, whoever you are.

05-23-2018, 05:50 AM	#7
Loony Singer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 110 Thanks: 30 Thanked 16 Times in 11 Posts	Center Harbor Dock and Pier These folks made our aluminum frame and cedar decking raft years ago, and it's held up very well. Nice people, but obviously very busy at this time of year!

05-23-2018, 06:21 AM	#8
smith point boater Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: West Alton,NH Posts: 212 Thanks: 336 Thanked 97 Times in 56 Posts	Raft Call Watermark - They will handle 100%

05-24-2018, 08:42 AM	#13
winniwizard Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Swim Platform Check with Town. Set backs from your extended property lines out from shore out into the water may apply to the platform's placement.

05-22-2018, 05:58 PM	#2
Doobs41378 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 510 Thanks: 234 Thanked 88 Times in 73 Posts	I believe you can get them at Parafunalia in Gilford. Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

The Following User Says Thank You to Doobs41378 For This Useful Post:
bridget (05-22-2018)

The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
bridget (05-22-2018)

The Following User Says Thank You to Descant For This Useful Post:
AC2717 (05-23-2018)

05-23-2018, 04:53 AM	#6
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,748 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,459 Times in 1,016 Posts	Your name and address and reflections are required to be on it. Sorry phone number not address.

05-23-2018, 08:29 AM	#9
hd333 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 143 Thanks: 16 Thanked 48 Times in 29 Posts	Center Harbor Dock. They have multiple options. They will deliver and set it up. Very easy to do business with. Prices on similar rafts seemed to be pretty standard when we did a little research last year. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05-23-2018, 09:19 AM	#10
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	https://nh.craigslist.org/for/d/swim...582359028.html

05-23-2018, 08:42 PM	#11
bridget Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 5 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	We like the wooden look. Would you folks recommend aluminum w cedar removable planking or is there something else that lasts longer? Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

05-24-2018, 09:35 AM	#14
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,875 Thanks: 1,037 Thanked 892 Times in 524 Posts	All great thoughts and recommendations here... Remember wood means maintenance. Aluminum can become hot to the touch.... The poly rafts often don't sit high out of the water... If your neighbors have one, I would talk with them, chances are they will not mind you using theirs to try that style out.... We have swim rafts scattered down our shoreline.... there is never an issue, when someone wants to take a break from swiming and jumps up on the closet one to them... But then again the road I am one, the people are all pretty friendly... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

05-25-2018, 05:46 AM	#18
Loony Singer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 110 Thanks: 30 Thanked 16 Times in 11 Posts	A couple more thoughts based on our experience We love our aluminum raft with cedar decking, BUT...as cedar ages, it can produce tiny little splinters. Much better than the enormous, jagged splinters from pressure treated, but still. We talked to Center Harbor Dock and Pier about converting to composite or PVC. Turns out that very expensive structural modifications to the aluminum frame would be required, due to the heavier weight. So if you're getting a new aluminum-framed raft, make the wood vs. composite decision up front!

05-25-2018, 06:47 AM	#19
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,748 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,459 Times in 1,016 Posts	I agree. Don't put wood on it.

05-25-2018, 09:55 AM	#20
Dave M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 395 Thanks: 4 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	Cost? Dan, can you give a approximate cost of the Otter swim raft. Thanks Dave M