Day Trips To Winni - Where to go to Sand Bar It?

[JasonG]

Where would you go? Here is what we have....

3 boats (18-22') , 3 fams w/ 7-9 kids from ages 1-15. We can tube, fish, etc. Looking for a nice sand bar area anywhere from Meredith down past Gilford ( or anywhere )

Just want to relax but be close to some places to keep them entertained, grab lunch etc.

Thanks!
Jason

[Mee-n-Mac]

Some old threads that might be of some help ...

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...highlight=sand
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...highlight=sand

As the saying goes "Look for the No Rafting Zones, they're the best places to raft". (But if you keep your boats separated they're not a raft.)

[Phantom]

Jason -

There are, as said above, a number of spots -- each tend to have their own (for lack of a better word) "Culture" on the week-ends. Some tend to attract Cruisers, others the younger crowd & their Stereo's, some are very "family" oriented -- point is, hunt around for your preferences ......

If you have never anchored around the lake before -- my biggest advise is that each boat have Two anchors -- unlike some lakes and their sandbars - just about every sandbar on Winni (that I've ever seen) the custom is to Stern in the boat. Thus you'll need a good solid front anchor, and some minor secondary anchor for the stern.

Enjoy -- see you out there soon

[robmac]

west alton at the marina entrance has a nice sand bar,not loud and lots of families w/kids.make sure you are over 50 yds from shore MP was there quite a bit last summer enforcing it

[gtxrider]

Here is a shot of the afore mentioned sand bah (bar)

[Kamper]

There's a good spot in Laconia. Just south of the bridge to Governor's Island. Most people anchor on the mainland side but there's a good bar near the lighted bouy #43.

I think there's a rock in the vicinity of the bouy but cant remember excatly where. It's better to stay on the island side of the bouy to remain clear of the channel traffic.

If you like the mainland side, there's about 20 feet of beach that is part of the bridge abutment and the public can get out there. Folks sometimes rendevous there to swap people and have stuff brought to them by road. The private property begins where the fence begins. That parcel was just sold to a developer last fall so I dont know how close an eye will be kept on the longer stretch of beach that parallels Summit Ave.

Although it stays shallow all the way around the land side of the bay, you will be more comfortable near the bridge. Wet bikes and water skiers frequent this bay but they do have more activity away from the channel.

This area is handy for the Weirs and Silver Sands. It is a no-rafting zone on the chart.

Good luck!

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Kamper

There's a good spot in Laconia. Just south of the bridge to Governor's Island. Most people anchor on the mainland side but there's a good bar near the lighted bouy #43. {snip}
If you like the mainland side, there's about 20 feet of beach that is part of the bridge abutment and the public can get out there. {snip}
Although it stays shallow all the way around the land side of the bay, you will be more comfortable near the bridge. {snip}
This area is handy for the Weirs and Silver Sands. It is a no-rafting zone on the chart. Good luck!

The no rafting zone in that area means we have to anchor at least 75 feet or is it 150 feet from the shore there. Which is it? Is it the same for all NRZs?

Thanks.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by Mark

The no rafting zone in that area means we have to anchor at least 75 feet or is it 150 feet from the shore there. Which is it? Is it the same for all NRZs?

Thanks.

Search the forum and you'll find a number of discussions on just exactly what the rules are. You also have to maintain seperation from other boats, whether rafted or not.

270:44 Size of Rafts; Separation of Rafts and Single Boats. – Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, no person shall, in a prohibited location or at a prohibited time:
I. Form or allow the boat which he is operating or in charge of to be a member of a raft consisting of 3 or more boats;
II. Form or allow the boat which he is operating or in charge of to be a member of a raft if any part of such raft is:
(a) Less than 50 feet from any other raft; or
(b) Less than 50 feet from any occupied single boat which is stationary upon the waters of the same lake or pond.
III. Anchor a single boat and cause it to remain stationary upon the waters of a lake or pond other than momentarily if any part of such boat is:
(a) Less than 50 feet away from any raft; or
(b) Less than 25 feet away from any other single boat which is stationary upon the waters of such lake or pond.


NRZ's on Winni are the following;

Winnipesaukee, Lake - Lakes Region
RSA 270:74-a - Blackeys Cove, Salmon Meadow Cove, Green’s Basin. Skicraft banned 12/01/89.
RSA 270:74-a - Cedar Cove. Skicraft banned 10/31/96.
RSA 270:74-a - Skicraft banned in the cove west of Bear Island defined by an imaginary line running south from Jerry Point on Bear Island to the western most point of Rock Island to the western most point of Shepard Island to the southwest tip of Bear Island. Effective date 10/23/98.
RSA 270:74-a - Pickerel Cove - speed limit for skicraft - 08/23/02.
SAF-C 402.88 (a)- (au) - Numerous "NO WAKE" zones which can be identified on a Navigational Chart of Lake Winnipesaukee.
SAF-C 404.10 - Back Bay Channel, Wolfeboro, all vessels leaving Back Bay Channel shall have the right of way from all vessels, except for canoes, rowboats and sailboats, pursuant to RSA 270-D:2, IX, entering the channel.
SAF-C404.11 - Weirs Beach Restriction - There may be temporary restrictions on anchoring, mooring and/or rafting in the Weirs Beach area should the Commissioner of Safety determine that such restriction shall be implemented. If such a restriction is implemented, the Commissioner shall issue public notice through a press release to print, radio and television media at least three days prior to the effective date which will include effective date and time of restriction, ending date and time of restriction, reason for restriction and description of area to be restricted.
SAF-C 407.03 - Rafting as defined in
RSA 2760:42 V shall be prohibited in the following areas of Lake Winnipesaukee unless covered by one of the exceptions specified in
RSA 270:45: (1) The Kona Mansion, so called, in Moultonborough, east of an imaginary line running north and south from the red top marker buoy located on the western tip of Avery’s Point on the south to the Kona Farm gas docks on the north.
(2) Small’s Cove in Alton, southwest of an imaginary line running southeast northwest from the light 75 on the northwestern end to the northernmost point of land marking the entrance to the first cove, south of Small’s Cove on the south.
(3) Wentworth Cove, southwest of Governor’s Island Bridge west of an imaginary north-south line, running from light 43 on the north to the black top buoy located off Wentworth Cove Estates on the south.
(4) Braun Bay - There shall be no rafting within 300 feet of both fish and game property lines as delineated by Marine Patrol with orange mooring balls.
Boat Restriction - area of Paugus Bay - contact Laconia for regulations. Public Water Supply
(5) Braun Bay at a distance less than 75 feet from shore lines as delineated by Marine Patrol with orange mooring balls.
(6) Cedar Cove, specifically identified as the area opposite Plum Island which borders Alton tax map 18, lot No. 12 through 20 and 55.
(7) Winter Harbor from the southern boundary of the Tuftonboro tax map 63, lot No. 14 to the southern boundary of tax map 51, lot No. 20.
(8) The entire area known as Green’s Basin, in the town of Moultonborough.
(9) Orchard Cove, on the east side of Cow Island, in the town of Tuftonboro.
(10) The entire area known as Buzzell Cove, in the town of Moultonborough.
(11) Brickyard Cove, encompassing a described area that would run south of an imaginary line running about 2,300 feet from the northern tip of lay Point to the southern tip of Barndoor Island.
(12) The entire area known as Black Cove, in the town of Meredith, encompassing an area in Meredith tax map S-7, east from the northern most point of Lot 5-1 to the southeastern most point of Lot 1.

[Kamper]

Originally Posted by Mark

The no rafting zone in that area means ... 150 feet from the shore there. ... ?

The post above has more info than I ever knew about NRZ's but in the spot I mentioned, boats are anchored so close to shore they are sometimes moved after the stern bounces off the bottom.

It is a gently sloping sandy bottom that was created during the 1800's when their was a private resort in the area (so I'm told). The owners in that era brought in sand to build a beach. About 75' from shore it starts to drop off quite dramatically but is still not very deep for at least another hundred feet.