Dilemma over boats anchoring off our beach

[SIKSUKR]

I hate to think that Lord Helmet is a representive of my state of NH.I would hope you understand he/she is probably just trying to stir things up.No need for that kind of attitude on this forum. SS

[KonaChick]

Cabinfever..why should we employ Marine Patrols precious time to make sure you don't have any boats anchored off your shores?? As has been mentioned several times as long they don't put foot on land they are doing absolutely nothing illegal! You had to know before you bought the property that this was a popular high traffic area..didn't you venture out onto the island to see what the boat traffic was like before you inveseted in the property?? If you didn't you probably should have. And Samiam..the water snake story is deplorable!! You frightened a bunch of innocent kids because they were too close to your beach?!?! How about asking them to please move instead of giving the poor kids nightmares for weeks to come and probably making them so scared they would never set foot into Winni waters again! I think that story is far from funny..I think it's kind of sick to be honest.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

People are coming ashore illegally. This seems to be a big part of the issue here. They have every right to be upset about it.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by KonaChick

And Samiam..the water snake story is deplorable!! You frightened a bunch of innocent kids because they were too close to your beach?!?! How about asking them to please move instead of giving the poor kids nightmares for weeks to come and probably making them so scared they would never set foot into Winni waters again! I think that story is far from funny..I think it's kind of sick to be honest.

I thought the water snake thing was hysterical. Those frightened kids have a wonderful story to tell for the rest of their lives.

[PROPELLER]

Konachick, if you read Cabinfevers previous posts, he/she does not have a problem with anchoring in front of the beach, just give them some space so they can also use it too. I don't think that is too much to ask. Cabinfevers posts suggest they wish to share, not eliminate boats anchoring.

I think its commendable that Cabinfever has taken this approach & I hope he/she does not change their mind after reading some of these posts. Cabinfever could have taken the approach many shorefront owners have, like not asking for advise & putting in swim lines.

Cabinfever could take down the famous swing rope also. No one has a right to use it since they do not own the property.

BTW, I think the snake story is hilarious, don't be so melodramtic.

[KonaChick]

That's funny I thought I was being sensitive to the children..come on over to my beach Propeller and make sure to bring your children. We can laugh the day away at their reactions to the 3' water snake I let out into the water when they least expect it. Hey better yet..my neighbor is legally blind, why don't we invite him over and when he sits down pull out his chair!! This could be fun! A regular laugh-riot!! Oh and by the way..stop being so insensitive to innocent children who have no say in where their parents bring them or let them swim!

[PROPELLER]

I suppose kids being exposed to many of the violent TV shows, movies etc would not be nightmare material? Telling ghost stories around the campfire does not scare kids? Give me a break.

Did you see the movie, The Great Outdoors with John Candy & Dan Akroyd? There was a story about a bear that John Candy encountered allegedly & he scared the kids, hilarious.

No, I don't have a problem telling kids a scary ghost story or playing a joke like with the snakes, I liked it as a kid. None of these kinds of things happened to you as a kid?

[PROPELLER]

So Konachick, you have a beach? All us boaters who anchor around the lake should come over to your beach & set anchors so you & the family can not swim & injure yourself on the anchors, see how you like it. Your post seems to indicate that its ok to do this in front of Cabinfevers beach, how bout yours?

[KonaChick]

No Propeller no one intentionally released a 3' water snake into the water where I was swimming..perhaps i led a sheltered life. You do realize John Candy was playing a character and that MOVIE was just pretend...

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by KonaChick

Cabinfever..why should we employ Marine Patrols precious time to make sure you don't have any boats anchored off your shores?? As has been mentioned several times as long they don't put foot on land they are doing absolutely nothing illegal! You had to know before you bought the property that this was a popular high traffic area..didn't you venture out onto the island to see what the boat traffic was like before you inveseted in the property?? If you didn't you probably should have. {snip}

First things first, if you read the posts above you'll see that nowhere did CF ask to have the MP remove "any boats" (I've added emphasis above), any meaning all the way you've written it, from the shorelines. The word compromise was mentioned at least twice. As for a high traffic area, Outlaw's posts are dead on. It's not so much a question of legal or not, but rather a question of proper or not. Honestly put yourself in the position of a waterfront owner. Would you mind having multiple boats tied together anchored 1 foot from your front (side, back, whatever) yard ? Having said boats block your access by water to/from the shore ?? Swim lines (suggested by the MP, not CF) and no rafting zones (not yet discussed herein) are 2 methods of trying to work out the compromise between boaters and landowners rights as there are competing legitimate interests.

The question of public access and private use of beach area has come up before re: ocean front property. The rulings I'm familiar with, and I'd opine are pertinent to this discussion, tend to allow public access to areas below the high water mark (it's private land above). All well and good but they also aren't interpreted such that someone can have a party on the public land during low tide. The public access below private land is transitory in nature. Again the watchword was compromise, trying to respect both parties legitimate concerns.

I asked in a previous post and I'll ask again how far out would you be willing to tolerate anchored boats ? As a boater I too don't like the loss (from competing boats and/or increased housing development) of good anchorage but I also try to adhere to the old adage of walking a mile in the other guys shoes. I wouldn't like having boats anchored just off my dock, forcing me to run a veritable obstacle course to go to/from the lake ... forcing me to listen to their music instead of the more meliforous notes of umm, say a high powered "offshore" boat Some consideration for the other guys concerns was all that was being asked for. Barring such consideration we're all going to see more of the above 2 solutions, and likely even more restrictive approaches, as time goes by.

[KonaChick]

I wouldn't want to tolerate it at all...the real question is are they breaking any laws? Probably not! moot point!

[PROPELLER]

Originally Posted by KonaChick

I wouldn't want to tolerate it at all...the real question is are they breaking any laws? Probably not! moot point!

Were those neighbors you were complaining about in July breaking any laws? Probably not! Moot point!

[Just Sold]

People should stop beating up on Cabinfever. She stated she is trying to work out a reasonable solution that I think anyone of us would want to do in the same situation.

I went around Timber Island last Friday and today. Friday I did not see anyone moored in such a way as to interfere with a beach useage. Today I saw 3 large (>25') boats rafted together. They could have been blocking a beach but due to their size I am not sure it was a beach behind them. Heck I do not even know where the beach in question is on the island.

Half the island on the NW side is well marked and I think better marking of the island is needed and Cabinfever noted that too.

Let's give Cabinfever a chance to see what she can do with all the good info that has been provided here.

[SAMIAM]

Konachick....you should have been there when I threw that snake in.....never saw so many arms and legs flapping in my life......we laughed ourselves silly.Poor little children are probably in therapy now.

[SAMIAM]

Konachick....you should have been there when I threw that snake in.....never saw so many arms and legs flapping in my life......we laughed ourselves silly.Poor little children are probably in therapy now..Oh,by the way,Dave....I can't move back to Mass. I was bron and raised right here in the lakes region.

[KonaChick]

Propeller they actually were breaking the headway speed law of 150' I was fairly confident about this but just wanted to ask for some advice just to make sure I was correct about the situation. Actually that weekend they broke about 3 different boating laws Anyway....I'm gracefully bowing out Propeller. We'll have to agree to disagree about the water snakes. If you want to frighten a group of adults who are being obnoxious so be it..to frighten children in that manner who are innocent is just wrong. I'm not posting again but I'm sure you will Hey when that same group off Timber Island decides to raft off my beach maybe I'll be writing again for more advice. After all isn't that what this forum is about? Different opinions and maybe some sound advice. Take care Prop and hopefully it won't rain to much this weekend!

[PROPELLER]

Actually, Konachick the headway speed law Skip quoted says that it does not apply when starting skiers from shore, dock etc as long as no one or boat etc is endangered. Your post did not indicate anyone or anything was endangered, just sounded like it was a nuisance.

And yes this Forum is for advise, that was the whole point of Cabinfevers thread so why dump on Cabinfever with such attitude in your posts. Posters were curteous & friendly when you wanted advise with your problem & if you reread your thread I was on your side. I would have been more curteous than your neighbors.

Thats all Cabinfever is looking for, some curtesy not if any laws were broken.

[Kona Bay Girl]

Cabinfever, I was over in the area this past weekend and saw an array of boats. I noticed that there was still a relator's (sp) on the island. Maybe if you slapped a big "sold" across it, you could eliminate some of the confusion.

The swimming net is a good idea. I don't see why it wouldn't be fair if an area was roped of for swimming. Like you said, there are other places to anchor. True, nobody owns the water but people have a right to their own privacy and the welfare of their residence. Throwing trash on the island is trespassing and littering, and should not be tolerated.

You could also put a flagpole on the beach if it's possible. Having a flag on the island might send a clue to people that it's populated.

What do the other two families on the island think of this dilemma?

[Skipper of the Sea Que]

I think Cabinfever came to the forum in a very nice and friendly way looking for relief from a reasonable and annoying concern. I commend the Cabinfever family for their approach and attitude in this matter (and for keeping your fever down after reading a few of the posts in this thread ).

I too am one of many that has occasionally dropped anchor around Timber Island over the years. I don't recall going on to the beach in that one little cove we'd visit - but my kids may have at some time. They would enjoy any beach respectfully - no screaming, leaving no trash or other mess (we have trash containers and an enclosed head on board that my family and guests use especially right after I pump it out). Since that beach is now privately owned we will take due notice thereof and govern ourselves accordingly. I hope others do the same.

And if you, Cabinfever, take too much grief about this I wouldn't blame you for putting up swim lines - but I thank you for not going that route as your first option. I hope you get to fully enjoy your island property and I wish you best of luck. Thanks for trying to find a compromise solution - I hope it can be done. Remember, (somebody famous said) you can not please all the people all the time

This may or may not be the area Cabinfever wants to access via land or boat. This picture from 2001 is a SMALL raft just off shore of Timber Island. I've seen considerably larger rafts there (but didn't have a camera).

This is NOT the area between Timber and Mark Islands but around the corner and south of that.