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Old 07-16-2021, 06:57 AM   #4
mowtorman
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Default launch ramps

Harilla's has always been one of the most primitive on the lake. There have always been large stray rocks combined with random blow outs from people power loading so trailers usually bounce around either in or out. Best to have someone in the boat, get in a little deep and make sure the boat is in deep enough water before trimming all the way and going. Good thing over the years is that the ramp was unsupervised and free but no parking and cars with trailers go a long way down the road.

Long Island is shallow and sandy. If you have a larger/heavier boat, probably not the best location and definitely 4 wheel drive can be helpful and bigger tires like a truck. The worst is rear wheel drive passenger tires as they will be in the water in the sand and spinning if trying to pull out a heavy load. I don't know if they are still there, but there were long concrete anchor bars in the area for people to tie off, they were easy to scuff a prop on as they were not marked and not easily seen unless you look for them. There are also random boulders along the shoreline. There is no parking, just beach parking which is not meant for trailers and is for Moultonborough residents only supposedly. I don't know if the police monitor it. No fee over time at Long Island

Center Harbor has always been one of the steepest launches on the lake. It is one of the best spectator spots in terms of launch misadventures between the difficulty in lining up and the quick drop off. It's great if you need deep water fast. It is usually quite blown out as big twins come out there often. It is also narrow in terms of lining up your trailer. Unless you get there very early or very late you will pay a launch fee. Heavy boat, front wheel drive, and a wet ramp means you are going to spin your front tires, maybe enough to smoke them and create some friction and momentum. For larger boats 4 wheel drive makes the task easier. If you forget to trim up coming out there is no question that you will drag your outboard or outdrive across the parking lot. Depending on the time of day and day of the week, a person could easily be behind 5 or 6 people waiting. Due to one ramp with no clear prep area, one boater can tie up the ramp for over 20 minutes by being either unprepared to launch or inconsiderate of the others waiting to get their boats in or out. There is ample parking up above the beach and park. For the amount of tax revenue generated it seems it is time for Center Harbor to rethink their dock/launch/beach design, a 2 ramp facility would make Friday and Sunday afternoons much less crowded at the launch ramp, and pull the boat/trailer crowd away from the park/beach crowd.

I never really liked the fact that operator error or a malfunctioning power boat can go right through the swim area. At least they eliminated the most inner slip by the beach ropes.

Just because an accident hasn't happened doesn't mean that it won't happen.

Happy Mowtoring!!
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