New to the lake, seeking advice

Taz · 08-03-2021, 09:12 PM

There are alot things to digest with all these posts. Hope I don't make it more confusing. I agree that Center Harbor is easier and more quiet to get a parking spot than Meredith Town docks. If you go to Center Harbor, I recommend eating at Red Hill Dari. You can walk and get take out or eat outside at their tables or at the picnic tables at Center Harbor Beach right at the docks. It's great take out with one of the best lobster rolls on the lake and reasonably priced. If you must go to Meredith Town Docks for lunch, with your size boat and go a little earlier you should be fine getting a spot, get there before11 am and walk around town if 11 is too early to eat. If you don't get a spot or do not want to wait in Meredith and you want to stay in the Meredith, Weirs, Paugus Bay area, a good backup is the NASWA for lunch. It's in the channel between Weirs Beach and Paugus Bay. They have employees who will help direct you to a spot, will help you tie up and there is alot of parking. This past Sunday when myself on my own boat and friends on their boat didn't want to wait in Meredith, we went to NASWA, 12:30 pm for lunch and there was plenty of parking for our 2 30 foot boats, no wait to sit down and its a great outdoor beach bar with great burgers, fries and great drinks, live music sometimes, great carribean feel/vibe. I highly recommend it.

Descant · 08-03-2021, 09:58 PM

I agree. Naswa Beach Bar is preferred over "Town Docks". I have friends who called to reserve a dock, but their boat is 43', so not as easy as yours. Nevertheless, Naswa owns the docks and can exercise control. All due respect to Alex Rey, the Naswa Beach Bar gets the nod from me for ease of access.

bumpye · 08-04-2021, 07:42 AM

All good advice from everyone. Gives you an idea of how helpful people can be. I will just add my 2 cents worth. After boating on the lake for 8-9 years, the first three with a rental and no GPS, I'm still a "nervous nelly" in an area I'm not familiar with. The best advice I can give is to know where you are at all times. It was not uncommon for me to stop and figure out what island I'm looking at. For the inexperienced, they all look the same. Navionics is good except for their buoy locations and markings. Use the Bizer chart for that
As far as tubing, we have done that in Braun Bay and Center Harbor (where we stay). As mentioned before, weekdays are better than weekends. We never waited more than 15 minutes or so at town docks during the week. Didn't even bother on the weekends.
Oh, and one other piece of advice-don't assume the boat in front of you knows what they're doing. Follow only if you know where you're going.
Enjoy!

08-03-2021, 09:12 PM	#1
Taz Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 347 Thanks: 3 Thanked 70 Times in 47 Posts	Some ideas There are alot things to digest with all these posts. Hope I don't make it more confusing. I agree that Center Harbor is easier and more quiet to get a parking spot than Meredith Town docks. If you go to Center Harbor, I recommend eating at Red Hill Dari. You can walk and get take out or eat outside at their tables or at the picnic tables at Center Harbor Beach right at the docks. It's great take out with one of the best lobster rolls on the lake and reasonably priced. If you must go to Meredith Town Docks for lunch, with your size boat and go a little earlier you should be fine getting a spot, get there before11 am and walk around town if 11 is too early to eat. If you don't get a spot or do not want to wait in Meredith and you want to stay in the Meredith, Weirs, Paugus Bay area, a good backup is the NASWA for lunch. It's in the channel between Weirs Beach and Paugus Bay. They have employees who will help direct you to a spot, will help you tie up and there is alot of parking. This past Sunday when myself on my own boat and friends on their boat didn't want to wait in Meredith, we went to NASWA, 12:30 pm for lunch and there was plenty of parking for our 2 30 foot boats, no wait to sit down and its a great outdoor beach bar with great burgers, fries and great drinks, live music sometimes, great carribean feel/vibe. I highly recommend it.

08-03-2021, 09:58 PM	#2
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,479 Thanks: 1,390 Thanked 1,667 Times in 1,086 Posts	Naswa I agree. Naswa Beach Bar is preferred over "Town Docks". I have friends who called to reserve a dock, but their boat is 43', so not as easy as yours. Nevertheless, Naswa owns the docks and can exercise control. All due respect to Alex Rey, the Naswa Beach Bar gets the nod from me for ease of access.

08-04-2021, 07:42 AM	#3
bumpye Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 6 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Good Advice All good advice from everyone. Gives you an idea of how helpful people can be. I will just add my 2 cents worth. After boating on the lake for 8-9 years, the first three with a rental and no GPS, I'm still a "nervous nelly" in an area I'm not familiar with. The best advice I can give is to know where you are at all times. It was not uncommon for me to stop and figure out what island I'm looking at. For the inexperienced, they all look the same. Navionics is good except for their buoy locations and markings. Use the Bizer chart for that As far as tubing, we have done that in Braun Bay and Center Harbor (where we stay). As mentioned before, weekdays are better than weekends. We never waited more than 15 minutes or so at town docks during the week. Didn't even bother on the weekends. Oh, and one other piece of advice-don't assume the boat in front of you knows what they're doing. Follow only if you know where you're going. Enjoy!

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to bumpye For This Useful Post:
BoatHouse (08-04-2021), erick26 (08-07-2021)