The Wiggles
 

Is anybody familiar with this narrow channel just north of dow island? specifically, when headed towards melvin village/the graveyard, are you supposed to take the first gate on the right, that is almost perpendicular to the next three?

Crude drawing of Dow passage
 

Hope this helps. You do have a Chart?

If you have a chart, the route will be obvious. Keep the Black on your right. The preferred route is shown nicely on the Bizer ...AND the Green Duncan chart. :look: NB

yeah the bizer chart we have is not really that clear. the first gate is at a much sharper angle in real life than on the chart. good to know

Time for a new chart. While reading it you can learn the terminology like markers. I assume that's what you are refering to when you say "gate". There is no substitute for a good chart for exactly this example. It can very confusing looking at markers from the water but the chart will show you the way.

yes a gate. two markers you travel between. in this instance, the chart caused the confusion, as it depicted 4 gates in a reasonably straight line, where as in real life, one gate is almost perpendicular to the rest. adding to the confusion, the marker pair in question is positioned so it looks like it is the access to a small cove on dow island. to someone who has not traveled this route before, it all added to a "which way do we go" moment.

Hey wakeupandride...

I've spent a lot of time fishing around Dow Island and agree that the markers often look very different on the water than as depicted on the chart! This goes for many (most?) locations on the big lake.

One thing I'd like to clarify, however, is that those markers on the north side of Dow Island are *not* "gate" markers per se. They are red/black tipped white spar markers that indicate you must travel North/East of the black tipped markers and South/West of the red tipped markers. *In This Case* it means you mostly travel between the red tipped and black tipped markers.

There are "gate" markers that you do go between... the difference is that they are sold red/black spar markers and they (are supposed to) always come in pairs and you are supposed to travel between the pairs regardless of the direction you're travelling.

I only have my green chart handy, but on that, the "gate" markers are depicted as red/black squares and the red/black tipped white spar markers are depicted as red/black circles. The channel between Long Island and Whortleberry Island is a good example of "gate" markers.... three matched pairs of solid red/black spar markers.

For those unfamiliar with New Hampshire's navigation aid system... assuming you are supposed to travel between a pair of red/black tipped white spar markers is a *huge* mistake!

Hope this makes sense....

Cheers...

Gusman

Attached is the area in question as depicted on Bizer's chart. As others have pointed out, it's a tricky area and looks a bit different when you're in a boat. What can Bizer do to make this easier to understand?

That is some skinny water in there. I've been around Moultonboro Neck for 40 years and never really wanted to go through there.
This past winter I was daydreaming with my chart and thought about going through. I guess I've never done it because in a couple of minutes I can be around the bend south of Whortleberry and heading up through the Graveyard or over to 19 Mile Bay.
Maybe I'll ride through while on vacation just to see what is in there.

Some Advantages Come Through Living Here...
 

Year round, and starting out with a smaller boat...

Hi Baja Guy, great Winni story... You have about 15 years total on me as I started boating here in 1970s, lived on Paugus Bay full time from 1982 through 2006, and get up there on occasion ever since. Now mind you, I am here most every day through this very Website. Thanks to Webmaster Don! :)

Moving on, Baja can and will cost you here, depending on single or dual out drive units and prop configuration. Baja Guy has shown that he reads and understands his charts, and that he has survived and is still not only enjoying this Great Lake, but is more than ready to explore it to its limits.

Now, I would very strongly recommend for anyone that would move on to challenge Lake Winnipesaukee and enjoy, how should I say this, ' her outer limits ', 'Only do it at full Lake, and never try it in early spring as left over winter debris can ding you up pretty quick. Also, late season they drop the Lake level to prevent dock and shoreline damage from the on slot of winters ice.

Furthermore, yes... I dinged A prop over many enjoyable years here, nothing that required more than an hammer, dent anvil and a file to restore though! :) :) :) :)
Consider this... I was on a Duncan chart when I first learned to lap Lake Winni's waters, Oh and yes I challenged her. I did however buy a Bizer chart, only and because I absolutely refused to install back-up lights on my boat!... Hey, its a toss Up!

Thanks again to Baja Guy for reminding me to comment!
Happy Boating!

Terry
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all kinds of rocks in there
 

I was in there years ago when we used to camp at long island campground. My 2 boys and I were fishing. I decided that unless I had a reason to go in there it was way to easy to make a mistake and wind up regretting it.
I'm surprised it is marked and not left as an area you either stay away from or pass at your own risk.
Although on a jetski or in a jet boat it would be a lot easier.

10-4!!
 

Even though this is "my part" of the lake I seldom venture in there, not worth it!

As you will see from my screen name, I am from Dow Is. I am across from the Long Island Bridge.

Here is my story, that my sister and I still laugh at (although, I think she laughs harder!). First of all, I grew up on Dow, as my mom starting coming here at the age of 16. I am 44. As a kid, my sister and I would go out on the boat (me...maybe 10 and she about 15). She would purposely tease me when we got to THAT tip of Dow, by disconnecting the gas line so the boat would stall and then she would reconnect and do it again. I guess I thought we would float away and never get back. I tell her all the time now, that I am forever "scarred" by this. Although, thankfully we do have many laughs about it now.

I also remember being in my uncle's boat once and we hit a rock over there.

Now that I am older, I still will not venture around the island in a power boat by myself. (I honestly still get scared when I see rocks canoeing or kayaking!)

My brother, sister, husband and friends go thru there like it is no problem. I go with them and still hold my breath! We have friends that live right in that area on Dow and when we visit, especially at night, I cringe.

It is more of one of those things where you need to bite the bullet, learn the area and do it over and over. But at this age, I guess I am still a chicken! My mother still tells me to get in the boat and go around the island and I still make up excuses not to!!! :rolleye2:

If "the wiggles" is the spot I think it is, I like to go through there at 40+ MPH, it's exciting.