Martels ramp is closed

[JohnNH]

As I previously posted re; the closing of the ramp at Sarges would cause additional problems on Winnisquam, we are now faced with a single site at Shalimar that has high fee's, terrible launch facility and NO parking.

We all need to contact the City of Laconia ( what are they thinking city management team ) as well as all state department heads and get this problem fixed immediately.

For your reading convenience, I have attached the text from the Laconia Daily Sun that highlights the issues that have led up to the closing of Martels.

John/NH
Martel's owner closing boat ramp
LACONIA — A $25 parking ticket has cost fisherman and boaters the last boat
launch on Lake Winnisquam open to the general public. "It's closed," said
Ralph Langevin, owner of Martel's Sport Shop on Winnisquam Ave. yesterday.
"When the last boat comes out tonight, a chain's going up. It's closed."
Following hard on the heels of the closure of the ramp at the former Sarge's
Country Store at Mosquito Bridge, Langevin's decision will add to the
pressure for public access to Lake Winnisquam, which has revived interest in
building a boat launch at Ahern State Park.
When a police officer yesterday ticketed a pickup with a trailer, it was the
last straw for Langevin, who has been handling a growing number of boats in
cramped quarters since the closure of the ramp at Sarge's in June. He said
that despite only one weekend of decent weather, the number of boats using
the ramp on Saturday and Sunday more than doubled to over 100 and weekday
traffic has risen significantly. He said those paying the $10 to use his
ramp are evenly divided between anglers and boaters.
Pointing to the truck parked on verge on the south side of Winnisquam Avenue
behind Fred Fuller Oil Co., he said "they've been parking there for 50
years. The ticket is for parking on the sidewalk, but there isn't any
sidewalk. It's not posted." Fuming, Langevin said that when he sought an
explanation from the police, he was told "to ask the Department of Public
Works if you can park there. What's that about?"
Langevin's frustrations began on the last weekend in June, shortly after
Sarge's ramp closed, when a horde of anglers and boaters flocked to his
ramp, touching off a Chinese fire drill, though he used more vivid, less
polite imagery. Describing a melee of vehicles and boats that led to
shouting matches, he began to question then whether providing access was
worth the trouble.
"As soon as I learned Sarge's was closing I warned everybody this was going
to happen," Langevin said. "I didn't want to piss off my neighbors. I told
everybody if we work together, we can get through this." Instead, he said
that after using the ramp "without ever paying a dime," state and local
agencies have done nothing to ease the situation while the police, by
issuing the ticket, simply aggravated it. "All they had to do was come in
and say 'Ralph, you can't let your customers park there,'" Langevin said.
"How hard is that?"
Stressing that Laconia "is a resort community," Langevin said that city
government, especially the police, should be welcoming visitors and
encouraging business during the summer season. "All this traffic is helping
everybody in Laconia," he said.
"The ramp is a courtesy thing for sportsmen, not a money maker," Langevin
said. He said that the ramp required extra staff and insurance. Moreover, he
rents parking space from Fred Fuller Oil Co. and Werner Precision Machine on
weekends, when the traffic in line for the ramp reduces his over-the-counter
trade. "It's not worth it and I don't need it," he said.
In June, the Public Water Access Advisory Board (PWAAB), created to expand
public access to New Hampshire waters, revived a proposal to build a boat
ramp at Ahern State Park, which was shelved in 2002 when the City Council
expressed unanimous opposition to the plan. Likewise, the Ahern State Park
Advisory Committee (ASPAC) agreed that access at the park should be confined
to "cartops" — rowboats, canoes and kayaks.
As an alternative, City Councilor Fred Toll (Ward 3), who chairs the ASPAC,
has suggested a four-acre parcel at the foot of Water Street, directly
across the Winnipesaukee River from Martel's Sport Shop, which houses the
sewage pumping station and the offices of the Winnipesaukee River Basin
Project. The PWAAB, along with the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department and
the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, are in the process
of reviewing the sites in preparation for the meeting of the PWAAB in
September.
The prospect of a public boat launch right across the river merely fuels
Langevin's ire. "Try to tell somebody how to get to Water Street for I-93,"
he laughed, adding that "if they can't handle the traffic tie-ups and
parking problems here, what makes them think they can handle them there? And
why should I be a convenience to the state and the city when in a year or
two they want to stick it to me?" he asked.
Meanwhile, Langevin insisted he would have no second thoughts. "I'm probably
the most stubborn, hard-headed, dumb frog you've ever met in your life," he
declared. "I won't reopen it."

[SAMIAM]

Geez.....what a shame....guess they'll all have to go Winnipesaukee

[robjnh]

SAMIAM ,

I own on the water but don't have a ramp. I never park my trailer any where but on my property yet, I have no place to pull my boat out now. Fewer ramps on the lake is nice to keep traffic down, no ramp is a real issue.

I guess I am going to have to buy a Four Winns (But they don't make inboards)as my next boat unless you are going to let me use your ramp!!!!!

[SIKSUKR]

On the channel 9 news last night it was reported that he would let people take boats out but was no longer allowing them to launch.I can't say I blame him for being a little P.O.ed at the town officials,especially when,according to him, he let's them launch for free. SS

[chipj29]

Well isn't that great. One of the nicest lakes around is now "private". No public access? That is insane. Something needs to be done, and done soon. Otherwise, it is a big loss to those of us who do not own property on the lake.

[SAMIAM]

robjnh.....I'm on the north end of the lake and my frontage is a little too steep to trailer in or out.I go to Ahern Park and back right into the beach.The sand is very firm but the water is pretty shallow so you have to back in up to your hubs......if you've got 4wd you'll be all set. See ya out there!

[robjnh]

Hope the secret does not go too far. Is Ahern Park on the NE side of the Lake in Laconia?

I am also on the N end of the Lake in Waldron Bay. We have a grey and blue Malibu. Honk if you see us.

Rob

[SAMIAM]

Ahern Park has beautiful western exposure.....some times we go there in the late afternoon and beach our boat.Often, there is no one else there.There is an access road to the park off of North main st in Laconia.I have no trouble getting in and out with a 26' boat.I'll look for you,Rob....I have a navy/white Hurricane deck boat.

[Rob]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new...ke_winnisquam/

Below is the text.
State officials look at sites for boat ramps to Lake Winnisquam

August 3, 2004

TILTON, N.H. -- State officials visited two sites being considered for construction of a public boat launch at Lake Winnisquam.





Allen MacNeil, chairman of the state's Public Water Access Advisory Board, said about 20 people showed up Monday to tour Ahern State Park and a second site, at the mouth of the Winnipesaukee River, owned by the state's Department of Environmental services.

The board, a division of the state Fish and Game Department, is expected to make a recommendation on which site to develop at its next meeting on Sept. 13.

A public launch would have to be open 24 hours and would require parking for boats and trailers, widening of the gravel road and bathrooms.

But some city officials and members of the Ahern State Park Committee are opposed to a boat ramp at the park. They want to preserve it as a swimming and recreational area.

The committee suggests that the state advisory board look at installing a launch on state-owned property on the site of the former Laconia sewage treatment plant. MacNeil said the site could be converted to a boat launch, but would require some dredging, and that the removal of old sewage tanks could be costly.

Public boat launch access to the site was effectively cut off over the weekend when Ralph Langevin, owner of Martel's Bait Shop in Laconia, closed a popular launch. Police had been ticketing his customers for parking violations.

Langevin said he'd be willing to reopen the ramp if state and city officials start working together to solve the public access problem.

[Rob]

http://www.fosters.com/august_2004/0...ap_nh0803f.asp

[Rob]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new...h_is_reopened/

Rob

[JohnNH]

Just a quick note to thank everyone involved in this important development.

This is truly great NEWS that Martel's is once again open and that Governor Benson and all the departments involved are now committed to build a launch on Winnisquam.

I attended the meeting and had an opportunity to voice my conerns to the Governor as well as many directors, the mayor of Laconia and endless members of the press. The person that stands out in this entire successful process is the owner of Martel's ; Mr. Ralph Langiven -- stop by and shake his hand - he's the best.

This event is the stepping stone toward establishment of facilities on all the lakes in the state that are greater than 10 acres and perhaps most importanty the ability to provide boaters of all types the access they are entitled to.

Thanks agian for your support,
John/NH