Best place to launch on the west side?

JasonG · 04-23-2015, 03:40 PM

Coming back up to the lake after being out of New England for 5 years, we are looking at a boat again. Usually we drive right to meredith and launch at the town docks. Always busy.

Where is the best place to launch? By best I mean quiet or easy.

thanks!

WINNOCTURN · 04-23-2015, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonG

Coming back up to the lake after being out of New England for 5 years, we are looking at a boat again. Usually we drive right to meredith and launch at the town docks. Always busy.

Where is the best place to launch? By best I mean quiet or easy.

thanks!

Center Harbor has a good ramp but there is a Fee$$. There is some Parking.

Moultonboro, Lees Mills, some parking, very good ramp not as busy most times.

What type of Boat are you looking for?

fatlazyless · 04-23-2015, 04:07 PM

Last year, the Town of Center Harbor raised their launch ramp fee from ten to fifteen dollars, but it's only in prime time, like summer weekends and such, that there's anyone there to collect the money, so's it is usually free, and it is a well constructed ramp just below the Heath hardware store in Center Harbor with trailer-vehicle parking on the dirt p-lot up the hill a couple hundred yards and to the left of Heath's supermarket and the NH state liquor store.

Have noticed that now with Ames Farm ramp in Alton closed to public use and closed to bass fishing tournaments, the Center Harbor ramp and the Center Harbor Inn nearby have become a starting venue for spring, summer and fall bass fishing tournaments where they all start, for example, at 7-am on Saturday mornings with maybe 25 super-nice-expensive bass boats and super-nice tow vehicles.....you know the big money has arrived when these super-duper bass boats hit the water ..... $plish-$plash! .... gotta have a boat capable of 70-mph to get to the hot spots to get that big fat bass!

There's a food cart that sells hot dogs and coffee at the launch ramp with a very grumpy, older woman who collects the $15-ramp launch fee. You know, they could sell a lot more coffee and donuts and hot dogs if they had some hot younger babe who was dressed just a little bit provocatively ..... would do much more coffee and donuts business....you know it.....and make it more of a go-to spot for boaters and fishermen!

Misha888 · 04-26-2015, 10:32 AM

always reminds me of this video.

https://youtu.be/p_R1aBoRAAY

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Last year, the Town of Center Harbor raised their launch ramp fee from ten to fifteen dollars, but it's only in prime time, like summer weekends and such, that there's anyone there to collect the money, so's it is usually free, and it is a well constructed ramp just below the Heath hardware store in Center Harbor with trailer-vehicle parking on the dirt p-lot up the hill a couple hundred yards and to the left of Heath's supermarket and the NH state liquor store.

Have noticed that now with Ames Farm ramp in Alton closed to public use and closed to bass fishing tournaments, the Center Harbor ramp and the Center Harbor Inn nearby have become a starting venue for spring, summer and fall bass fishing tournaments where they all start, for example, at 7-am on Saturday mornings with maybe 25 super-nice-expensive bass boats and super-nice tow vehicles.....you know the big money has arrived when these super-duper bass boats hit the water ..... $plish-$plash! .... gotta have a boat capable of 70-mph to get to the hot spots to get that big fat bass!

There's a food cart that sells hot dogs and coffee at the launch ramp with a very grumpy, older woman who collects the $15-ramp launch fee. You know, they could sell a lot more coffee and donuts and hot dogs if they had some hot younger babe who was dressed just a little bit provocatively ..... would do much more coffee and donuts business....you know it.....and make it more of a go-to spot for boaters and fishermen!

Phantom · 04-28-2015, 06:14 AM

Don't know which direction you are heading but we have always used the private ramp at Silver Sands Motel.

fits the bill for quiet & easy !

They do charge (as most ramps), no real escaping that on the Lake any longer.

.

gf2020 · 04-28-2015, 09:04 PM

I've been happy with Lovejoy Sands and Center Harbor.

MikeF-NH · 04-29-2015, 05:54 AM

I usually use either West Alton marina or Shep Browns depending on my destination on the lake. Both are private and cost $20-25 to launch but are great facilities to launch from. If I want "free", I go to 19 Mile Bay or Center Harbor (early season) or Lees Mills...though Lees Mills is a long ride to main parts of the lake. I'm not a fan of the Alton Bay free launch but it is there.

04-23-2015, 03:40 PM	#1
JasonG Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 310 Thanks: 48 Thanked 45 Times in 33 Posts	Best place to launch on the west side? Coming back up to the lake after being out of New England for 5 years, we are looking at a boat again. Usually we drive right to meredith and launch at the town docks. Always busy. Where is the best place to launch? By best I mean quiet or easy. thanks!

04-23-2015, 04:07 PM	#3
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	........ $plish-$plash....where's the bass! Last year, the Town of Center Harbor raised their launch ramp fee from ten to fifteen dollars, but it's only in prime time, like summer weekends and such, that there's anyone there to collect the money, so's it is usually free, and it is a well constructed ramp just below the Heath hardware store in Center Harbor with trailer-vehicle parking on the dirt p-lot up the hill a couple hundred yards and to the left of Heath's supermarket and the NH state liquor store. Have noticed that now with Ames Farm ramp in Alton closed to public use and closed to bass fishing tournaments, the Center Harbor ramp and the Center Harbor Inn nearby have become a starting venue for spring, summer and fall bass fishing tournaments where they all start, for example, at 7-am on Saturday mornings with maybe 25 super-nice-expensive bass boats and super-nice tow vehicles.....you know the big money has arrived when these super-duper bass boats hit the water ..... $plish-$plash! .... gotta have a boat capable of 70-mph to get to the hot spots to get that big fat bass! There's a food cart that sells hot dogs and coffee at the launch ramp with a very grumpy, older woman who collects the $15-ramp launch fee. You know, they could sell a lot more coffee and donuts and hot dogs if they had some hot younger babe who was dressed just a little bit provocatively ..... would do much more coffee and donuts business....you know it.....and make it more of a go-to spot for boaters and fishermen! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

04-28-2015, 06:14 AM	#5
Phantom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford Posts: 1,931 Thanks: 445 Thanked 604 Times in 340 Posts	Don't know which direction you are heading but we have always used the private ramp at Silver Sands Motel. fits the bill for quiet & easy ! They do charge (as most ramps), no real escaping that on the Lake any longer. . __________________ *A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!*

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The Following User Says Thank You to JasonG For This Useful Post:
WINNOCTURN (04-23-2015)

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04-28-2015, 09:04 PM	#6
gf2020 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North of Boston Posts: 203 Thanks: 11 Thanked 35 Times in 28 Posts	I've been happy with Lovejoy Sands and Center Harbor.

04-29-2015, 05:54 AM	#7
MikeF-NH Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 317 Thanks: 2 Thanked 120 Times in 80 Posts	I usually use either West Alton marina or Shep Browns depending on my destination on the lake. Both are private and cost $20-25 to launch but are great facilities to launch from. If I want "free", I go to 19 Mile Bay or Center Harbor (early season) or Lees Mills...though Lees Mills is a long ride to main parts of the lake. I'm not a fan of the Alton Bay free launch but it is there.