Where were all the boats this weekend?

[TimmyG]

I agree with kjblath. We all need to look at things outside our little windows. Wait till your taxes go up next administration. (sorry, taxes won't go up, my tax break will go away.) How silly of me to think they will raise our taxes.
Being new to the lake I am loving the reduced traffic. I am having a hard time like everyone else but I have chosen to enjoy the lake while I can. I have been on the lake every weekend since 2 days after ice out. I have gone through almost 2 tanks of gas already (78 gallon tank). My wife and I skip the dinner nights out, movies, and cancelled HBO. We would rather go to the lake and relax!
So, for everyone who says they won't go because of this or that, fine, stay home. More room for us who will be there.

TG

[chipj29]

I-93 northbound through Concord on Saturday morning was free and clear, which is unusual for summer. Same thing southbound on Sunday afternoon. Next 2 weekends should be a different story. Next weekend being the peak of m'cycle week, and then the race the following weekend. We shall see.

[Justenuff]

Made it up to the lake on Saturday. Very little traffic on 93, Hooksett toll traffic was minimal, no wait at 11:30 am. Sailed between Lockes, Governor's and Timber Island with minimal traffic. Wakes were few and far between. Reminded me of several years ago when the lake level was too high and all of the lake was a nwz.
Was a beautiful sailing day. We even avoided the Mount this time as the wind carried us!
Definitely seems like boating traffic is down.

[CentreHarborEric]

I agree with the posts on here taking an optimistic approach. If you look at the "feeder" markets to Winni, where tourists and second homeowners most likely travel from (i.e. MA, RI, CT, and NY/PA to a lesser extent), jobs and the economies are holding up OK, despite the bad press. MA especially has to date bucked the rising unemployment trend seen in the US as a whole.
Unfortunately, people probably expect another shoe to drop in their worlds based on the news they read and hear, so they are probably ratcheting down in anticipation, even if they haven't been negatively affected beyond gas price increases.
There's some election year news cycle bias at work here for sure (not to get political on it), sensationalism over the rise in gas prices (pretty easy to put up some video of $4/gas signs on the side of the road and interview some drivers) and the fact that everyone is affected in some way by gas prices.
BUT, the NH boating season is short, and by my calcs, gas isn't the number one cost of ownership (for most boats), especially if you are carrying a note. Slips, storage, service, insurance are all more or less fixed costs, gas might be 25-40% more than last year, but even with this accounted for, why wouldn't you run the boat (if you've put the boat in the water, serviced it and will store it at the end of the season), especially if traffic is down and the lake is presumably even more enjoyable as a result? Maybe run it a little more conservatively, but enjoy it!
This was always an expensive hobby, and the incremental increase in fuel will probably flush out some folks who were just able to afford it @ $2 or $3/gallon. I expect the warm water and school vacation to stir up the activity and for this summer to be busy, just not quite as busy as the past few.

[Dave R]

A lot of folks that can afford to run boats this Summer may not do so, purely out of guilt. With demand high and supply low, I feel pretty guilty and irresponsible about adding to the demand by burning gas for no other reason than pleasure. Maybe the media has brainwashed me, but an understanding of simple economics clearly shows that the petroleum products we buy for pleasure drive up the price of gas/oil for those that need it for work and survival.

That said, I have used my boat this year, and will continue to, but I will be spending most of my time at anchor.

[kjbathe]

Originally Posted by CentreHarborEric

BUT, the NH boating season is short, and by my calcs, gas isn't the number one cost of ownership (for most boats)

Excellent point. I was reading an article/interview earlier this year (in The Laker? -- or one of the other free publications around town) where it was also noted that gas was only a small part of the total cost of ownership. The average boater was going to spend only $250-280 more on gas this year due to the increased prices.

Kind of scary when a few hundred dollars is a drop in bucket relative to the total cost of our summer hobby.

[gravy boat]

We trailer our boat so we just fill up off-lake.
We also go from GLendale to our desintation and either anchor or dock until it's time to head home.

GB

[HUH]

Im sure many others here feel the same way as I do but another dollar per gallon will cost me about an extra 250-300 dollars for the summer.. "Negligible" considering the peace and enjoyment we get from boating. If it keeps afew people off the lake , thats worth the extra buck too

[robmac]

I think that most people that pleasure boat just as they do for vacations preplan for the expenses of boat outtings.My family will be boating the same amount we always have.I might add a friend who installs pools said he's never been so busy.

[Weekend Pundit]

One thing I noticed yesterday while out on the lake is that a lot of folks are going a lot slower than I usually see. There were a much larger percentage of folks cruising along at just above headway speed, not bothering to go up on plane.

On the other hand, it could be that I was just paying more attention to the speeds out on the lake than I usually do.

It was quite apparent that while boat traffic was up this weekend as compared to the previous weekends, there didn't seem to be as much boat traffic as I expected. Of course this could be attributed to the later than usual Bike Week, keeping some of the regular weekenders away.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Weekend Pundit

One thing I noticed yesterday while out on the lake is that a lot of folks are going a lot slower than I usually see. There were a much larger percentage of folks cruising along at just above headway speed, not bothering to go up on plane.

If they had fuel flow meters, they would probably not be doing that.

[Alton Bay Bob]

Originally Posted by Weekend Pundit

It was quite apparent that while boat traffic was up this weekend as compared to the previous weekends, there didn't seem to be as much boat traffic as I expected. Of course this could be attributed to the later than usual Bike Week, keeping some of the regular weekenders away.

We had our office party yesterday so I spent most of the day on the lake giving tours of Alton Bay, Wolfboro and Rattlesnake. It was glorious. Very little boat chop and calm seas. We rode into Alton Bay at about 6:30 PM and the only other boat there was the marine patrol. Thankfully all the children were wearing life preservers and I just waved to the marine patrol guys. I remember that biker week is always a great time to be on the water. The regulars really do stay away......

[SIKSUKR]

Definately an increase of traffic on Saturday over the last 2 weekends but still a lot less than I would expect.The trailer parking at Glendale still was only about 25% full.Went to Braun Bay and the place was much more quiet than I would have thought.That's ok with me though!

[Dave M]

One of the best weekends on the water. Lake was so calm. Went for an ice cream Saturday at 6pm in Center Harbor, maybe saw 4 boats. Had my choice of spots. Went to Meredith Sunday morning at 8am and had breakfast at Waterfall Cafe in Mills Falls. Water was like glass and again had my choice of spots. Headed back home and decide to hit Weirs to minature golfing which was closed. Plenty of spots to choose from and walked cycle city. Awesome bikes to see. Headed back out to Lake and just cruised around and got back just ahead of the storm. Just a ripple on the boards. Can't remember when I saw it so calm. Maybe saw 10 boats on the whole lake I traveled. Wife was in her glory with a electric blanket around her and me in my shorts loving the wind. Just loved the reduced number of boaters, OK I'm selfish but still great.

Just an awesome weekend.

Dave M

[Jeti]

Lake has been very nice.. No chop.. I had a cigar in middle of the broads with a buddy on our jetskis.. could have seen a bug drop!

[Tiger Lilly]

As an avid kayaker, I am absolutely thrilled to death to keep reading about the quieter than normal lake -- zippity do da day! I can't wait to get there in July!