Timmy - Welcome to NH and the Lake. I hope you find as much enjoyment here as we have. As folks above have mentioned, a paper chart is key and there's none better than Bizer's. When getting started, following Bizer's recommended routes will give you plenty of water under the prop while you start to explore. I would say it's more important to learn the lake visually and with the chart than relying on the GPS to start.
When you're ready to start exploring other areas of the lake there is no shame in going slow and having someone sitting in the bow on rock patrol. Asking others for advice on how to navigate new/tricky areas is always encouraged. Assuming that others know what they're doing and blindly following them is never a good idea. After all, they might be in their first season, too, yet to understand what all those colored sticks mean.
We also like to hit the town docks around the lake, but try to avoid the peak hours. Many visitors to the lake like to converge in the Weirs and Meredith or do the boat parade in the channel. After sitting in traffic all week, I don't know why they want to spend their weekends sniffing boat exhaust, but they do. There's a lot of "good lake" on the other side of Welch and Bear -- that's where we spend our time. Although I must admit that Church Landing in Meredith is one of my favorite spots on the lake. As is getting ice cream by boat at Liliuokalani's.
While under way, always remain conscious of where you are on the water. When getting started, the morning light and the afternoon setting sun can make the same portions of the lake look quite different, or make the buoys harder to spot. I have at least one "holy crap" moment each season and last season's came in the Graveyard. I thought I was on a sufficient course as I was approaching the buoys, but when I looked over the side and saw the bottom of the lake eagerly smiling back up at me, that was it.
It looked like like more than buoy had been prop-lunch that day, so I tend to "go around" more often than not now.
Which is another good point -- sometimes nav aids are not where they're supposed to be. This could be due to ice early in the season or Capt. Bonehead running them over later in the season.
Finally, we've been at Fay's for years. Admittedly, it's not the most glamorous
looking facility on the lake, but when we evaluate the whole package -- location, access to the broads, services, personnel, relationships -- there's no other place we'd rather be or team we'd rather have supporting our boating. They'll take good care of you and you'll have a great season. In fact, I hope Steve is "making water" right now to help get this season kicked off.