Did the 1% Win at Kona?

[laketrout]

I had the same experience when I was near Governors island facing Laconia side. Middle -aged guy came running down the dock at 1st I thought it was an emergency so I went closer only to get sworn at in a very rude manner telling me to get the ^%$ out of the area. Fun ! I wasn't even close to his house/dock. " A few " folks seem to think they own the water too? Life is way to short to get into shouting matches with people.

On a side note someone mentioned Patrician sandbar? Where is that? I am familiar with Braun Bay, West Alton and Paugus Bay sandbars all best during the weekday if I can do it, no one there. During warm and sunny summer weekends many sandbars are like parking lots during peak times before after lunch and before dinner.

Thanks,
George

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by laketrout

I had the same experience when I was near Governors island facing Laconia side. Middle -aged guy came running down the dock at 1st I thought it was an emergency so I went closer only to get sworn at in a very rude manner telling me to get the ^%$ out of the area. Fun ! I wasn't even close to his house/dock. " A few " folks seem to think they own the water too?

On a side note someone mentioned Patrician sandbar? Where is that? I am familiar with Braun Bay, West Alton and Paugus Bay sandbars all best during the weekday if I can do it, no one there.

Thanks,
George

I hope you laughed at him and stayed put.

[Rich]

When land owners do this, just wave back and smile. If they continue, pick up your cell phone, call the MP for them, since they would probably go into their home to complain about you for some made up reason (probably saying you were doing something illegal). Be the first to call!

Or perhaps take a video of the landowner, it seems that YouTube if full of actions like this these days.

Or maybe the forum water users (boaters) should start a rolling gathering, sort of a on-water-forum-fest. Pick a good place to anchor each weekend, and then many of us can try out all of these various places on the lake.

This way a lot of us would get to try different spots on the lake that we may never have thought of visiting, and we can get to know each other on the water.

I'm not talking about rafting in a no-rafting zone, but legally anchoring and enjoying the day.

[AC2717]

Rich, I think you just stumbled onto a great idea of having a forum fest anchoring every weekend or so around the lake so we can all learn our way around and check out different spots and meet people

[ericnh]

You can come as close to shore as you like, just make sure when you are 150' or closer you are moving at headway speed (5mph or less). Further, if the area is a "no-rafting" you may still anchor out... but at least 50' from another boat. Property owners think they own the water... and that is wrong. The swim rafts and docks they have on the lake are a privilege. The lake is everyones.... I still try to maintain a good distance from shore to ensure everyone has some privacy. One time we anchored out at least 200' from shore in an area people park their boats and the owners of a home started freaking out...yelling at us and making a big deal about it. We moved so we could enjoy ourselves without angry eyes on us... 10 min later another boat anchored out in the same spot.

[DBreskin]

Originally Posted by ericnh

You can come as close to shore as you like, just make sure when you are 150' or closer you are moving at headway speed (5mph or less). Further, if the area is a "no-rafting" you may still anchor out... but at least 50' from another boat.

I believe the rule is 25' from another single boat and 50' from two boats rafted together (where rafting is permitted).

[Bear Islander]

Actually waterfront property owners due have riparian rights to the waters adjacent to their property. A lot of people get this wrong.

That is why waterfront owners get to put out rafts, docks, moorings etc. These are Common Law rights that go back centuries.

Yes, the state owns the lake. And property owners have absolutely no right to tell anyone to move their boat or prevent them from anchoring. However it is not correct to say they have no rights to the water next to their property.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Someone parked their boat on our raft one day. They then climbed on the raft and hung out for a while. Is that legal due to the raft being located on the lake in front of our house?

[tbonies]

Originally Posted by Greene's Basin Girl

Someone parked their boat on our raft one day. They then climbed on the raft and hung out for a while. Is that legal due to the raft being located on the lake in front of our house?

It depends.
A). Do you wear curlers?
B). Do you flail your arms?
C). Does your husband also do the same?
D). Is your raft located about 300 yards off your shoreline?
E). Did the violator look like the original poster of this silly thread?

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by Greene's Basin Girl

Someone parked their boat on our raft one day. They then climbed on the raft and hung out for a while. Is that legal due to the raft being located on the lake in front of our house?

It is still your property Jill. More than anything it is downright rude to do what they did.

[MeredithMan]

First, there seems to be a prevailing attitude on this forum that if someone owns a nice waterfront property, that person is a self-absorbed, arrogant A.H. Sorry, folks, not always the case. And let's remember that each of us is fighting a battle that the other person doesn't know about....family break-up; serious illness; addiction; etc....cut people some slack.

Second, regarding GBG's question of people tying up to her raft: you can absolutely tell them to get off. We had a similar issue with people on swim floats tying up to our mooring. I called the Mooring People in Belmont and was told that even though the lake is public waters, people's moorings and docks are private property and if people are not given permission to be on them, (unless it's an emergency or matter of safety), the waterfront property owner can ask, (tell), them to leave.

I view this issue as both a boater and waterfront property owner. As boaters, one of our favorite things to do is pack a lunch and anchor in a calm spot and hang out for a while. We always try to go somewhere secluded, but if we have to be in front of a person's home, we stay quite a ways out in respect of their privacy and their right to enjoy the water in front of their home to swim, play catch with their kids, etc. After all, it is their HOME. As a waterfront property owner, this is something that is very important to me. It is why I bought waterfront...to be able to enjoy the lake right at my doorstep.

It really comes down to what is legal vs. what is obnoxious. While it is legal to shout profanities at the players at a Red Sox game, it is also obnoxious. While it is legal to be a few inches from a person's face and be in their personal space, it is also obnoxious. Likewise, while it is legal to anchor your boat as close as you want to a complete stranger's waterfront HOME and hang out, it is also obnoxious.

[patman]

Originally Posted by MeredithMan

It really comes down to what is legal vs. what is obnoxious. [...] while it is legal to anchor your boat as close as you want to a complete stranger's waterfront HOME and hang out, it is also obnoxious.

That reminds me of an episode of The Sopranos. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitec...deposit_battle

[Dave R]

Took a cruise over by the area described in the original post on Saturday. Looks like it would be a lovely place to anchor and wade, but one would have to be WAY too close to shore to do so, IMO. I would not anchor in water shallow enough to wade from the boat there unless the houses were not there. I would not anchor in deep water and swim to shallow water there either. No one yelled at me.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Dave R

Looks like it would be a lovely place to anchor and wade, but one would have to be WAY too close to shore to do so, IMO. I would not anchor in water shallow enough to wade from the boat there unless the houses were not there. I would not anchor in deep water and swim to shallow water there either.

OP specifically mentioned 8-10' of water, "no wading like Braun," but that it was nice and sandy.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

OP specifically mentioned 8-10' of water, "no wading like Braun," but that it was nice and sandy.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

Yup, that's why I specified wading. If you are going to anchor in 8 to 10 feet of water why does the sandy bottom matter? Mucky bottoms hold the anchor just as well.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Dave R

Yup, that's why I specified wading. If you are going to anchor in 8 to 10 feet of water why does the sandy bottom matter? Mucky bottoms hold the anchor just as well.

I took it to mean that you thought the OP was too close to the homes. If that was not your intention, I apologize.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

[Rich]

Because I posted an idea in this thread, I also want to say:

I don't condone being obnoxious anywhere on the lake.

But there are some places on the lake where it may be ok to play loud music, etc. These places would be somewhere without others nearby. 'Others' here mean other boaters, homes, people on a beach, etc. Where are these places located? It depends on the situation at the time. If you're the first boater at a location and no one else is there, and there are no homes are nearby, then perhaps you can play your music loudly, or do other 'obnoxious' things. But the moment another boater shows up, or you are made aware that there is a home nearby, you should turn down your music (no matter the type of music, or whatever you were doing) and be polite.

To the home owners that say that people should not anchor right in front of their home as they spent a lot of money to buy that home, or to pay the high taxes, I still say that the law is correct in that anyone should be able to anchor, even feet from their shore/raft/dock. But the boater should act accordingly and be polite and respectful. Not that I would do it.

To me it's the same thing as if I wanted to park my car at the curb in front of their home. As long as I wasn't doing anything illegal, nor being disrespectful, then there is no reason someone should ask me to leave (yes, peering into people's windows is not being polite and could be considered illegal). If I wanted to get out and sit in the back of my pickup truck and enjoy lunch with my family, then I have the right to be there (unless it's a no parking zone, etc.). So why can't I enjoy the lake wherever I go if I'm not being a pest (and my quiet presence can't be considered 'being a pest').

I also don't assume that someone that has a property (nice or not) on or near the lake are self-absorbed, arrogant nor an A.H. in any way. The homeowner's own actions could only make me come to this conclusion.

NOTE: I don't own a pickup truck, and I always try to be polite, friendly and helpful.

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

You can anchor off my property anytime you want. Swim over and join us!
If you act like an ass hat you'll be treated like one. Simple as that. Mutual respect.
I wouldn't bother yelling at an obnoxious boater more than once. Just like the geese, you'll be moved along. Your choice how that happens.

It's a big lake, we should all be able to have fun without ruining another's.

[Rich]

Thanks! And if you see my boat, swim or boat over and say hi! We like making new friends!

If we're making lunch, or having snacks, as long as we have enough to share, you're also welcome!

It goes both ways!

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by Rich

Thanks! And if you see my boat, swim or boat over and say hi! We like making new friends!

If we're making lunch, or having snacks, as long as we have enough to share, you're also welcome!

It goes both ways!

That's it! Summers are too short. Making friends and sharing is what makes it all worth while. If you look due north from the sand bar in Paugus you'll see our crowd...everyone is always welcome.
Life's too short...play hard!

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by Greene's Basin Girl

Someone parked their boat on our raft one day. They then climbed on the raft and hung out for a while. Is that legal due to the raft being located on the lake in front of our house?

Funny story, but my inlaws have a raft with a fake owl on it so birds don't land on it. Bass fisherman one day was floating by and had a fish on. He got tangled up with the raft. He climbed on it to untangle his line. In doing so he stumbled on the owl and broke it. Two days later they had a brand new owl with a card in a ziplock bag taped to it apologizing. Kind of restored a little bit of what I had for humanity.

[SAMIAM]

Thinking about the original post and it dawned on me that 300 yards is almost 1/5 of a mile nearly out of range of a human voice on the lake.....and an elderly man swimming that far to yell at them?
Looks more like a hit at the 1% crowd
it's not just evil, selfish shorefront owners that are always at fault. Some rafters are not exactly enviromental stewards, evidenced by cans, bottles, paper and the occasional diaper and condoms that wash up on peoples beaches and many owners report that they have to listen to stereo's with hiphop music sprinkled with lyrics that include the F bomb.
Everybody has a right to enjoy the lake....including the property owners

[SIKSUKR]

Agree Samiam. To put it in scale at the lake, If you're sitting on the Naswa beach its less than 200 yards across the channel. 300 is a looong way off shore.

[laketrout]

The lake for me is about having fun and relaxing & Life is just to short to get into battles with the 1% percent of ___ fill in the blank people that own houses on the water or boaters who think they own the water.

[Little Bear]

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

Actually waterfront property owners due have riparian rights to the waters adjacent to their property. A lot of people get this wrong.

That is why waterfront owners get to put out rafts, docks, moorings etc. These are Common Law rights that go back centuries.

Yes, the state owns the lake. And property owners have absolutely no right to tell anyone to move their boat or prevent them from anchoring. However it is not correct to say they have no rights to the water next to their property.

Here's an interesting article that references the littoral rights afforded to waterfront property owners. Although this article is focused on docks, the fundamental information gives a good overview of these littoral rights.

https://www.nhbar.org/publications/d...ue.asp?id=6549