New Boat Owner - Boating on Winnipesaukee

StormPanic · 03-19-2015, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steveo

I agree look back over prior conversations but one thing you need to do with a relatively small boat is keep track of weather forecast, particularly upcoming storms and wind conditions. You do not want to be caught off guard in the middle of the broads in large swells - plan ahead

Thanks - not really planning on heading out into the broads any time soon. Will be spending the weekend in early May (staying at Mills Falls Bay Point) with the wife. Plan to bundle up and get to know the new boat a bit and cruise between Meredith and Paugus Bays. Then have another week booked at a cottage on Paugus Bay in July.

jetlag100 · 03-19-2015, 01:35 PM

And, don't follow someone that you think ,knows where they're going......there's way, too many , out there boating ,that don't have a clue: cool:

8gv · 03-19-2015, 03:44 PM

Not about routes to follow but this has served me well:

"Never approach the dock faster than you are willing to hit it."

And...

When the lake is rocking and rolling a light boat can get lifted and then dropped into a dock. That can rip a rub rail right off the boat!

VitaBene · 03-19-2015, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StormPanic

Thanks - not really planning on heading out into the broads any time soon. Will be spending the weekend in early May (staying at Mills Falls Bay Point) with the wife. Plan to bundle up and get to know the new boat a bit and cruise between Meredith and Paugus Bays. Then have another week booked at a cottage on Paugus Bay in July.

That is a nice super easy run- I can't think of a marker between Meredith and Paugus of any concern. The Weirs Channel can be tricky based on traffic, water level and water flow, but I am sure you will be fine!

Dave R · 03-19-2015, 06:17 PM

You gotta go through Sally's Gut for sure. Don't be afraid of the Broads, just pick your days carefully wind/traffic wise. Venture up toward Center Harbor, it's nice up that way and usually not too choppy.

Descant · 03-19-2015, 09:10 PM

Obviously, you can get to the Weirs. From there, take out your chart and follow the Sophie C or the Doris E. You know they're going in deep water and they'll come back to the starting point. When the PA system says 'x;' island on your left, check the chart., and 'x' island will be on your left. EASY. Enjoy yourself and don't get all worked up about the warnings here. Wolfeboro for lunch? Follow the Mount. You just need to check her schedule for follow times. I recommend Jo Greens second floor deck.
There's a lot of talk here about GPS, but a compass is more reliable and cheaper by a factor of 10. Look at the chart, look at the compass, and follow the commercial boat home.

Island Girl · 03-20-2015, 12:14 PM

My first boat was a 17.5 bowrider. We used it all over the lake. We also learned about the north west wind and the broads.

If the NW, N, and sometime WNW wind is 11 mph or above Do Not Go there. You will get tossed around and it is scary. I remember screaming in a storm going from Wolfeboro to Welch Island.. "We are going to die, we are going to die!"

Since then, I have a bigger boat (20.5') and watch the weather forecast all of the time. If the forecast for 03810 is over 12, I am probably not going out there. This is for the broads and the more southern parts of the lake.

You will learn what wind direction and speed impacts where you want to go. The more adventurous will go out there in heavy wind. On more calm days and on non-weekend days it is a joy to go all over the lake on any sized boat. Our favorite is jetski travel.

Have fun, there is no better place in the world

VitaBene · 03-20-2015, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island Girl

I remember screaming in a storm going from Wolfeboro to Welch Island.. "We are going to die, we are going to die!"

LOL I can picture this IG!!!!

LIforrelaxin · 03-20-2015, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island Girl

If the NW, N, and sometime WNW wind is 11 mph or above Do Not Go there. You will get tossed around and it is scary. I remember screaming in a storm going from Wolfeboro to Welch Island.. "We are going to die, we are going to die!"

We all where given a chance in my family to get that scared once and scream out... And it was a chance and it didn't last long... My Dad then looked at us with our Life Jackets on, and asked if we wanted to find out what the worst case scenario would be like, and he offered to just through us overboard...

Needless to say we had many more hairy rides over the years, but we never screamed in panic again....

I have had many adventurous crossing of the broads of the years... The most fun I ever had was last year on my Jet Ski... I think I actually preferred the smaller vessel... As I hopped skipped, jumped my way across from Alton Bay to the Barbers Poles... But I didn't have to worry about taking water over the bow etc..... I just jumped when I felt I needed to stretch, skipped from wave to wave when I felt energetic, and hopped off the jet ski holding a tether when I need to rest...

Just Sold · 03-20-2015, 06:56 PM

The Broads can and will get rough. It was August 2010 in a 14' Starcraft Falcon with a 40hp Merc and my to be wife and I were just south of Diamond Island. An extremely windy day. I did a 180 between swells (3'+) to head back to Alton Bay. That was a real thrilling move to put it mildly!

We are still here too!
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...611&ppuser=628

glastron guy · 03-21-2015, 12:28 PM

Nice trip for a new boat owner would be from Meredith or Paugus bay up to Center harbor. Lot's of time we take a nice leisurely ride up to to Center harbor and then drop the anchor for a few hours to have lunch and swim.

03-19-2015, 09:10 PM	#6
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,597 Thanks: 1,418 Thanked 1,705 Times in 1,109 Posts	Follow the ... Obviously, you can get to the Weirs. From there, take out your chart and follow the Sophie C or the Doris E. You know they're going in deep water and they'll come back to the starting point. When the PA system says 'x;' island on your left, check the chart., and 'x' island will be on your left. EASY. Enjoy yourself and don't get all worked up about the warnings here. Wolfeboro for lunch? Follow the Mount. You just need to check her schedule for follow times. I recommend Jo Greens second floor deck. There's a lot of talk here about GPS, but a compass is more reliable and cheaper by a factor of 10. Look at the chart, look at the compass, and follow the commercial boat home.

03-20-2015, 12:14 PM	#7
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,358 Thanks: 18 Thanked 577 Times in 183 Posts	Broads and wind My first boat was a 17.5 bowrider. We used it all over the lake. We also learned about the north west wind and the broads. If the NW, N, and sometime WNW wind is 11 mph or above Do Not Go there. You will get tossed around and it is scary. I remember screaming in a storm going from Wolfeboro to Welch Island.. "We are going to die, we are going to die!" Since then, I have a bigger boat (20.5') and watch the weather forecast all of the time. If the forecast for 03810 is over 12, I am probably not going out there. This is for the broads and the more southern parts of the lake. You will learn what wind direction and speed impacts where you want to go. The more adventurous will go out there in heavy wind. On more calm days and on non-weekend days it is a joy to go all over the lake on any sized boat. Our favorite is jetski travel. Have fun, there is no better place in the world __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

03-20-2015, 06:56 PM	#10
Just Sold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart Posts: 2,616 Thanks: 1,086 Thanked 434 Times in 210 Posts	The Broads can and will get rough. It was August 2010 in a 14' Starcraft Falcon with a 40hp Merc and my to be wife and I were just south of Diamond Island. An extremely windy day. I did a 180 between swells (3'+) to head back to Alton Bay. That was a real thrilling move to put it mildly! We are still here too! http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...611&ppuser=628 __________________ Just Sold At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata

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03-19-2015, 01:35 PM	#2
jetlag100 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Revere, Massachusetts and Moultonborough, N.H. Posts: 311 Thanks: 228 Thanked 79 Times in 50 Posts	And, don't follow someone that you think ,knows where they're going......there's way, too many , out there boating ,that don't have a clue: cool:

03-19-2015, 03:44 PM	#3
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,193 Thanks: 63 Thanked 764 Times in 497 Posts	Not about routes to follow but this has served me well: "Never approach the dock faster than you are willing to hit it." And... When the lake is rocking and rolling a light boat can get lifted and then dropped into a dock. That can rip a rub rail right off the boat!

The Following User Says Thank You to 8gv For This Useful Post:
LIforrelaxin (03-20-2015)

03-19-2015, 06:17 PM	#5
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	You gotta go through Sally's Gut for sure. Don't be afraid of the Broads, just pick your days carefully wind/traffic wise. Venture up toward Center Harbor, it's nice up that way and usually not too choppy.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Island Girl For This Useful Post:
LIforrelaxin (03-20-2015), VitaBene (03-20-2015)

03-21-2015, 12:28 PM	#11
glastron guy Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Nice trip for a new boat owner would be from Meredith or Paugus bay up to Center harbor. Lot's of time we take a nice leisurely ride up to to Center harbor and then drop the anchor for a few hours to have lunch and swim.