Wolfeboro Dock Expansion

[Descant]

Adding more dock space for six boats that are waiting may not help. It's like adding another lane to I-93. The drive gets easier and more people start using it and the road is full again. Alternatively, you draw straws to see who stays in the bay with the boat after dropping everybody else off.
Whatever the EDC says, yes, I'd go to more town docks if docking were easier/more available. Our time at various ports has dropped to near zero over the last several years.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by Descant

Adding more dock space for six boats that are waiting may not help. It's like adding another lane to I-93. The drive gets easier and more people start using it and the road is full again.

I think that is kind of the point. The town is not that worried about how long you wait for a dock. The additional docking space would help all of the businesses in Wolfeboro and maybe attract more people who come by boat.

I know there have been many times we would have taken the boat to Wolfeboro but went elsewhere because we felt there was a better chance of finding an open dock, or at least a shorter waiting line.

[tis]

Since when does the town of Wolfeboro care about business? Over the years the town has made it very difficult for new businesses to come in the area

[BillJohn]

I use to regularly go to Wolfeboro for groceries, ice cream, lunch, etc. It was a fun way to experience the lake. Today docking around lunchtime has become next to impossible. I can live with waiting in line but I cannot live with the numerous folks who will steal a spot out of turn.

More dock space would mean more money for the business in town. Seems like a simple way to help the local economy at minimal expense to the taxpayer.

[4 for Boating]

Has anyone seen the plans that show what exactly these changes would have looked like? I ask as I find the docks right now rather tight to get into and simply extending them in length out further would seem to make that issue worse.

We used to go over and watch people try to get in and out - crazy especially if someone was backing out from a shoreline spot and it was windy. Large/oversized/wide boats at the end of the pier almost blocks everyone in.

Good place to get your boat ding'd up.

[tis]

Originally Posted by 4 for Boating

Has anyone seen the plans that show what exactly these changes would have looked like? I ask as I find the docks right now rather tight to get into and simply extending them in length out further would seem to make that issue worse.

We used to go over and watch people try to get in and out - crazy especially if someone was backing out from a shoreline spot and it was windy. Large/oversized/wide boats at the end of the pier almost blocks everyone in.

Good place to get your boat ding'd up.

Somebody else mentioned that very thing. Maybe it wasn't on here but I did see that.

[BillJohn]

Originally Posted by 4 for Boating

Has anyone seen the plans that show what exactly these changes would have looked like? I ask as I find the docks right now rather tight to get into and simply extending them in length out further would seem to make that issue worse.

We used to go over and watch people try to get in and out - crazy especially if someone was backing out from a shoreline spot and it was windy. Large/oversized/wide boats at the end of the pier almost blocks everyone in.

Good place to get your boat ding'd up.

I have sat there in amazement as people plow into other boats. I understand it can be tough at times but going slow is always the answer. I agree of there were more length to the dock there would be more dings but the risk of dings has always been the risk of docking there in the first place. I have been hit many times but lucky for me never had any damage.

[SAB1]

These problems don’t exist in winter and one reason I love winter so much. Jump on your sled and ride.... :-)

[Descant]

In my mind, I keep going back to Glendale where there has been successful supervision at the docks for over 50 years, at least at peak times. The Wolfeboro Chamber of Commerce, with BOS approval, could hire somebody to be a dockmaster of sorts. Wave people in when there is room for their size boat, make space for larger boats. Post a sign that says docking here is implicit permission for your boat to be moved to make space for others. We used to do this all the time, especially at the Weirs, and in recent years, people have balked at it. A dockmaster could handle that. My recollection is, there is a four hour limit in Wolfeboro, but I'm unaware of any routine patrol to enforce that. A dockmaster could also send low profile boats under the bridge to additional public docks in Back Bay, that I understand are little known or used.
Does Wolfeboro have street parking meters (Weirs does)? Would docking meters help?

[marinewife]

Originally Posted by Descant

In my mind, I keep going back to Glendale where there has been successful supervision at the docks for over 50 years, at least at peak times. The Wolfeboro Chamber of Commerce, with BOS approval, could hire somebody to be a dockmaster of sorts. Wave people in when there is room for their size boat, make space for larger boats. Post a sign that says docking here is implicit permission for your boat to be moved to make space for others. We used to do this all the time, especially at the Weirs, and in recent years, people have balked at it. A dockmaster could handle that. My recollection is, there is a four hour limit in Wolfeboro, but I'm unaware of any routine patrol to enforce that. A dockmaster could also send low profile boats under the bridge to additional public docks in Back Bay, that I understand are little known or used.
Does Wolfeboro have street parking meters (Weirs does)? Would docking meters help?

I have 3 friends who use Back Bay in Wolfeboro with smaller boats and every spot was being used with their name tags on the docks last year. Wolfeboro has a 2 hour parking limit for cars that is monitored and tickets are issued, but there are no meters (yet). EDIT- I mis-spoke, it's not public.

[Dave R]

The smart and simple solution would be a bunch of first come, first served moorings, and launch service. Would not cost much to implement and the fees for the launch service would make it self-sustaining. The size of the mooring balls would indicate the size of the moorings, so they could put a bunch of moorings for 25 feet LOA or less, close together, then a bunch for 35 feet LOA or less, and little further out and further apart etc. I would use the mooring "balls" that have a well for the pennant on tops so it does not heang in the water and get grungy. If the moorings fill, there's nothing stopping anyone from anchoring and using the mooring service.

We use town moorings all the time while cruising the coast. We never bother with the launch service though because we carry a RIB tender on the stern. Don't see many tenders on Winni...

[fatlazyless]

Ya know ...... as long as you leave someone on-board, who stays on the boat, believe it is ok to drop anchor off-shore the town dock in the no-wake zone, and row ashore in the dinghy, which can be carried/wheeled up and onto the shore area while you visit the town on foot.

Certain breeds of dogs like the Portuguese Water Dog who are super-smart, easy to train, and eager to please ..... could probably do a bang-up job of minding the yacht ..... while all the humans head off, to go stuff their face at a local restaurant.

[4 for Boating]

I know each town and docking has its own PROS/CONS but its hard to beat Meredith. Big wide docks that can accommodate most any size boat and room to actually turn around in-between piers if need be. Also things to do/eat right off the docks. Granted maybe not as nice as Wolfeboro in terms of shops.

I'll say this, as boaters towards the other end of the lake, it does not make much sense to try to go to Wolfeboro on a weekend (some 45 min cruise over) when potentially faced with not getting a docking spot and circling around with 20 other boats for over hour. No question in my mind if the situation was improved the town would see more business - if that's what it's looking for.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by marinewife

I have 3 friends who use Back Bay in Wolfeboro with smaller boats and every spot was being used with their name tags on the docks last year. Wolfeboro has a 2 hour parking limit for cars that is monitored and tickets are issued, but there are no meters (yet).

Public docks with name tags? How does that work? Is there room back there for more portable docks?

[camp guy]

The overwhelming problem at the Wolfeboro docks is the boat drivers themselves. I have spent a lot of time around these docks watching boat drivers do some incredibly dumb things, and I feel very confident in saying that at no time did the docks themselves move, or cause any of the problems. If a boat captain doesn't know how dock his boat, he shouldn't be driving, if a boat captain is not able to turn around, he shouldn't be driving. Some of these captains don't understand that going very slowly is appropriate when in a tight situation.

I like the idea of maybe "Y-ing" out the extensions, but this shouldn't relieve the captain of knowing how to be a captain.

[tis]

The question is what will the state allow?

[BillJohn]

Originally Posted by camp guy

The overwhelming problem at the Wolfeboro docks is the boat drivers themselves. I have spent a lot of time around these docks watching boat drivers do some incredibly dumb things, and I feel very confident in saying that at no time did the docks themselves move, or cause any of the problems. If a boat captain doesn't know how dock his boat, he shouldn't be driving, if a boat captain is not able to turn around, he shouldn't be driving. Some of these captains don't understand that going very slowly is appropriate when in a tight situation.

I like the idea of maybe "Y-ing" out the extensions, but this shouldn't relieve the captain of knowing how to be a captain.

I recall watching someone having a terrible time docking so I ran over to help. I told them to throw their lines and both looked at me as if I said something in another language so I said your ropes. Both replied we did not bring any. I just walked away.

On another occasion, a pontoon boat could not dock, managed to get himself bow to dock as people rushed to help. What does the captain do? He goes full throttle into the dock. Luckily no one was hurt.

I guess we all had to learn somewhere.

[Wentworth06]

I’m for more dock space. Gives me more to laugh at all summer. Last year I saw a girl fall right out of their boat. Beer cans and all. Nothing funnier than the boat drivers and passengers at wolfeboro s docks. Add more and it will multiply my laughter.

[TheTimeTraveler]

I expect the price of gas to be $1 to $2 per gallon higher this summer than it was last summer.

With that said, I would think that boat traffic may be down a bit, and therefore docking spaces all over the lake may be a bit more plentiful (let's hope!).

[Descant]

Originally Posted by TheTimeTraveler

I expect the price of gas to be $1 to $2 per gallon higher this summer than it was last summer.

With that said, I would think that boat traffic may be down a bit, and therefore docking spaces all over the lake may be a bit more plentiful (let's hope!).

I think the contrary. Boaters will head straight to a destination, park and stay as long as allowed instead of buying sandwiches and ice cream and going cruising. Actually, as long as we don't have fuel shortages, I don't think the price matters that much to many people.

[Mink Islander]

Originally Posted by TheTimeTraveler

I expect the price of gas to be $1 to $2 per gallon higher this summer than it was last summer.

With that said, I would think that boat traffic may be down a bit, and therefore docking spaces all over the lake may be a bit more plentiful (let's hope!).

Gas for the boat is pretty short money compared to the cost of boat ownership on the lake overall (slip, boat maintenance, boat cost). I suspect boating traffic is relatively insensitive to the price of gas.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by TheTimeTraveler

I expect the price of gas to be $1 to $2 per gallon higher this summer than it was last summer.

With that said, I would think that boat traffic may be down a bit, and therefore docking spaces all over the lake may be a bit more plentiful (let's hope!).

I definitely disagree. Your spending all that money on a big boat payment docking winter storage ect. A dollar or 2 a gallon isn’t going to keep people home.

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[Wentworth06]

It will not keep anyone home. With all the stimulus money out there and PPP money , a hike in prices will not keep people from having fun. Never has in the past . People today feel entitled to having fun and spending money.

[jeffk]

I found the easy way to deal with crowding is to adjust your schedule. Go to town for breakfast and then wander around and shop. Or go over around 10, walk around and shop, grab an early lunch and done. Or go over at 2, grab a late lunch and shop. Avoid major holiday weekends completely.

As to all the money to be made, while I may be in Wolfeboro many times during the summer, I rarely buy anything but meals or ice cream. I don't need souvenirs or "lake" gifts/decor, having most of what I need already.

I would ponder whether most visitors to the lake actually travel by boat? Even if they rent a lakeshore home, do they have a boat or do they travel around by car? Most people that visit are not staying where they could leave a boat in the water all week, even if they have one.

To finish it off, since I live here, I almost never go boating on the weekend anymore. The crowding on the lake is insane and boaters that understand and obey boating laws and observe courtesy seem to be almost extinct. Common sense is VERY uncommon as you see people tubing their kids on plane through a crowd of other boats that are zipping in all directions. I might do an EARLY breakfast run on the weekend and then off the lake until the weekdays.

[tis]

You wouldn't think so but the last couple of times gas got high it definitely DID affect the amount of boat traffic on the lake. Ask any marina.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by tis

You wouldn't think so but the last couple of times gas got high it definitely DID affect the amount of boat traffic on the lake. Ask any marina.

I think partially true. In ~2009 gas sales were down. However, it wasn't just the price of gas, it was general recession. There were slips for rent with no takers, foreclosures on both boats and slips and a lot of boats that never came out of shrink wrap. That could all happen again, but not this year.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Descant

I think partially true. In ~2009 gas sales were down. However, it wasn't just the price of gas, it was general recession. There were slips for rent with no takers, foreclosures on both boats and slips and a lot of boats that never came out of shrink wrap. That could all happen again, but not this year.

I agree with you but high gas prices helped fuel the recession, don't you think?

[mswlogo]

Originally Posted by joey2665

I definitely disagree. Your spending all that money on a big boat payment docking winter storage ect. A dollar or 2 a gallon isn’t going to keep people home.

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

One thing I hate with high gas prices on the lakes is it encourages folks to haul gasoline by hand to their boats. Sometimes in improper containers. It’s just an accident waiting happen, including spillage into the lake.