Weirs Channel today.

[LoveLakeLife]

The lake is high enough now that two-way traffic is working while going under the Governor’s Island bridge. What’s the right of way rule when it’s one-way traffic?


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[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by LoveLakeLife

The lake is high enough now that two-way traffic is working while going under the Governor’s Island bridge. What’s the right of way rule when it’s one-way traffic?
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This has been discussed on the forum before.

There is no right of way rule passing under the bridge, however common courtesy usually dictates that the first boat to arrive goes through first.

Many people like to alternate and have one boat pass in one direction and then another boat from the opposite direction. That is the main cause of the backups. On a hot day that wait can seem like a long time.

It is much more efficient when several boats pass in each direction, especially on weekends. However, when you do that, many times people coming the other way look at you like you just committed some foul or violation. They just don't understand.

[Skippermark]

Thank you, @TiltonBB for the reply. I got back home and got busy and couldn't get on for a couple days.

@LoveLakeLife, I probably shouldn't have said "rule" but as TiltonBB said "common courtesy."

Some places do have rules, like at the Charlestown Breachway, incoming boats have to yield to outgoing ones, but there's none at Winnipesaukee that I'm aware of.

I usually do the alternating thing because, again, as TiltonBB said, people will give you the evil eye if they think you went out of turn. Usually when I'm boating, I'm in no rush, so if someone wants to go "out of turn," it's fine with me.

It does get a little annoying if people do it non-stop, kind of like when you're at a light and people keep turning left in front of you even though you have the green light to go straight.

[Descant]

"Some places do have rules, like at the Charlestown Breachway, incoming boats have to yield to outgoing ones, but there's none at Winnipesaukee that I'm aware of."

In my very limited salt water experience, that's the common practice. And you call the bridge attendant on VHF and s/he says "there are three boats ahead of you" because you can't always see the boats hovering farther back. Wouldn't be fun if we had drawbridges on the lake?

Generally, I think coastal boaters are more experienced and more courteous than lake boaters. This, confirmed to me many years ago by Dave Barrett.

[Phantom]

The other aspect of the Govenor's Isl. bridge is many many boaters believe that FL#43 is the beginning of the no wake zone when approaching from the Saunders Bay side. When in fact, you can run up to 150ft before the bridge..

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by Phantom

The other aspect of the Govenor's Isl. bridge is many many boaters believe that FL#43 is the beginning of the no wake zone when approaching from the Saunders Bay side. When in fact, you can run up to 150ft before the bridge..

True but I think this misconception works to everyone’s advantage and is much more safe. Boaters passing through, those anchored and the shoreline properties.


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