Good Place to Put In a Small 12 ft. Snark Sailboat

ultrarider · 06-08-2015, 05:23 AM

Bought my wife a small Snark 12' sailboat for our anniversary. She used to sail one like this, when she was a young girl, so she's excited about doing it again 40 years later. Can anyone tell us some good spots to put the boat in? Big lake, Wentworth, Mirror, Crystal ? We have a small trailer to carry it, which also doubles as a dolly to wheel it to the water if needed. Looking for places that are legal, easily accessible, and have a spot to park our vehicle, & trailer near by. Preferably a protected cove like Winter Harbor. We live in North Wolfeboro close to Lake Wentworth. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Ultrarider

tis · 06-08-2015, 06:09 AM

If you want to put it in Winter Harbor, go to the Libby Museum and put it in there. There is parking up Lang Road just in back of the Museum.

ApS · 06-08-2015, 07:18 AM

Hands down, Lake Wentworth is the best choice for a 12' sailboat constructed of Styrofoam™. There are two ramps to Lake Wentworth: one is at the State Park on the Northwest corner of the lake. Another is at Mast Landing on Route 28, which is actually on Crescent Lake—with access to Wentworth via Smith River. Consider Crescent Lake itself, if you want to get your "sea legs" on a small quiet lake.

Mirror Lake has some limited trailer parking near Libby Museum's Lang Pond Road. I don't think there's a public ramp that leads to Mirror Lake directly, but there may be access off Lang Pond Road (with a very short carry). As Mirror Lake is a relatively warm lake, check for water quality issues before you launch. Fog could hinder sightlines. Toxic algae turn up there periodically. We have members here from Mirror Lake, who should be able to give more detailed help.

A ramp is located across the street from Libby Museum into Lake Winnipesaukee. Although the immediate area has waters protected from strong winds for 270º, power boats make it a heavily-trafficked area. I wouldn't consider sailing a Snark in that vicinity—especially on weekends.

Even launching at Libby Museum has risk, as getting a trailer turned to the ramp is troublesome due to motor traffic negotiating Route 109's adjacent tight curves. Try an early AM-launch.

BTW: A Snark sailboat, at under 12' of hull length, doesn't require a NH "Wind-Tax" sticker.

8gv · 06-08-2015, 07:39 AM

Ahern State Park in Laconia has access to Winnesquam. It has two sandy beaches where you can put in without a bunch of boats stacking up behind you.

Take 106 north out of downtown then left on "The Right Path" and then left again to the park. It may be a dawn to dusk facility so do get locked out!

I had a Snark. It was cool, so cool that the sail said "KOOL" on it which was a popular brand of smokes back in the day.

tis · 06-08-2015, 12:07 PM

APS, I am pretty sure that the area where the water comes into view on Mirror Lake beside Rte. 109 (on the right after you go by Tuftonboro Neck Road) is a public launch area.

fatlazyless · 06-09-2015, 10:35 AM

About one mile down a side road off Route 25 in Meredith on Lake Winnipesaukee, close to the Center Harbor-Meredith town line, and close to Saint Charles Borromeo Church, you fill find the kayak/canoe launching spot at the Town of Meredith-Leavitt Beach recreation area. Watch for the small green road name sign 'Leavitt Beach' at the curve in the road on Route 25 just a wee bit north of the granite sign for Saint Charles Borromeo Church.

Price to park on the dirt parking lot at Meredith's Leavitt Beach; no charge! In the back of the dirt parking lot, there is a sign showing the way to the canoe/kayak launching area, and a 12' Snark sailboat is pretty similar to a kayak/canoe. A single lane, dirt road runs for about 1/10-mile through a swampy wetlands and takes you to the waters edge, un-loading spot.

Happy sailing on the north end of Lake Winnipesaukee which has a lot of shallow water and is much more protected from the wind than the area known as the broads, about five miles away.

fatlazyless · 06-10-2015, 07:32 AM

And, here's another Lake Winnipesaukee, Town of Meredith property that could be used to launch a 12' Snark sailboat or a kayak or canoe. About six miles or so from the big Meredith intersection of Route 3 and 25, way down Meredith Neck, down Pleasant St, down Meredith Neck Rd, about a mile past the big sign for Shep Brown's Boat Basin, down Cattle Landing Rd .... you will find the Cattle Landing-Meredith Town Dock and public parking lot, a dirt lot across Cattle Landing Rd from the Cattle Landing Town Dock. There is no sign there that identifies this town facility as the Cattle Landing Town Dock maybe because they wish to keep it a secret?

Anyway, the blue wood fence there, atop the grassy embankment that decends down a short grassy slope to the sandy Winnipesaukee lake floor has an opening of 60" of open space in the fence. And, 60" or 5-feet, should be enough to fit a 12' Snark.

In the winter, this 60" opening is used by snowmobiles, and even for launching bob houses out onto the frozen lake.

Parking here is not regulated so it is 'no charge' and no restrictions, and open to the public.

If you sail to the right from the Cattle Landing Town Dock, or to the south west, you will very soon enter the area bordered by South Bear Island, Mark Isl, Timber Isl, Governor's Isl, and the Meredith Neck mainland which is a good spot for sailing with some good wind and views of Gunstock and Belknap peaks.

06-08-2015, 05:23 AM	#1
ultrarider Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 105 Thanks: 1 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	Good Place to Put In a Small 12 ft. Snark Sailboat Bought my wife a small Snark 12' sailboat for our anniversary. She used to sail one like this, when she was a young girl, so she's excited about doing it again 40 years later. Can anyone tell us some good spots to put the boat in? Big lake, Wentworth, Mirror, Crystal ? We have a small trailer to carry it, which also doubles as a dolly to wheel it to the water if needed. Looking for places that are legal, easily accessible, and have a spot to park our vehicle, & trailer near by. Preferably a protected cove like Winter Harbor. We live in North Wolfeboro close to Lake Wentworth. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thank you, Ultrarider Last edited by ultrarider; 06-08-2015 at 06:07 AM. Reason: added text

06-08-2015, 07:18 AM	#3
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,788 Thanks: 2,085 Thanked 742 Times in 532 Posts	Big lake, Wentworth, Mirror, Crystal ? Hands down, Lake Wentworth is the best choice for a 12' sailboat constructed of Styrofoam™. There are two ramps to Lake Wentworth: one is at the State Park on the Northwest corner of the lake. Another is at Mast Landing on Route 28, which is actually on Crescent Lake—with access to Wentworth via Smith River. Consider Crescent Lake itself, if you want to get your "sea legs" on a small quiet lake. Mirror Lake has some limited trailer parking near Libby Museum's Lang Pond Road. I don't think there's a public ramp that leads to Mirror Lake directly, but there may be access off Lang Pond Road (with a very short carry). As Mirror Lake is a relatively warm lake, check for water quality issues before you launch. Fog could hinder sightlines. Toxic algae turn up there periodically. We have members here from Mirror Lake, who should be able to give more detailed help. A ramp is located across the street from Libby Museum into Lake Winnipesaukee. Although the immediate area has waters protected from strong winds for 270º, power boats make it a heavily-trafficked area. I wouldn't consider sailing a Snark in that vicinity—especially on weekends. Even launching at Libby Museum has risk, as getting a trailer turned to the ramp is troublesome due to motor traffic negotiating Route 109's adjacent tight curves. Try an early AM-launch. BTW: A Snark sailboat, at under 12' of hull length, doesn't require a NH "Wind-Tax" sticker.

06-09-2015, 10:35 AM	#6
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,526 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	......Meredith's Leavitt Beach park area About one mile down a side road off Route 25 in Meredith on Lake Winnipesaukee, close to the Center Harbor-Meredith town line, and close to Saint Charles Borromeo Church, you fill find the kayak/canoe launching spot at the Town of Meredith-Leavitt Beach recreation area. Watch for the small green road name sign 'Leavitt Beach' at the curve in the road on Route 25 just a wee bit north of the granite sign for Saint Charles Borromeo Church. Price to park on the dirt parking lot at Meredith's Leavitt Beach; no charge! In the back of the dirt parking lot, there is a sign showing the way to the canoe/kayak launching area, and a 12' Snark sailboat is pretty similar to a kayak/canoe. A single lane, dirt road runs for about 1/10-mile through a swampy wetlands and takes you to the waters edge, un-loading spot. Happy sailing on the north end of Lake Winnipesaukee which has a lot of shallow water and is much more protected from the wind than the area known as the broads, about five miles away. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 06-10-2015 at 10:43 AM.

06-10-2015, 07:32 AM	#7
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,526 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	....another Winni Meredith public put-in spot And, here's another Lake Winnipesaukee, Town of Meredith property that could be used to launch a 12' Snark sailboat or a kayak or canoe. About six miles or so from the big Meredith intersection of Route 3 and 25, way down Meredith Neck, down Pleasant St, down Meredith Neck Rd, about a mile past the big sign for Shep Brown's Boat Basin, down Cattle Landing Rd .... you will find the Cattle Landing-Meredith Town Dock and public parking lot, a dirt lot across Cattle Landing Rd from the Cattle Landing Town Dock. There is no sign there that identifies this town facility as the Cattle Landing Town Dock maybe because they wish to keep it a secret? Anyway, the blue wood fence there, atop the grassy embankment that decends down a short grassy slope to the sandy Winnipesaukee lake floor has an opening of 60" of open space in the fence. And, 60" or 5-feet, should be enough to fit a 12' Snark. In the winter, this 60" opening is used by snowmobiles, and even for launching bob houses out onto the frozen lake. Parking here is not regulated so it is 'no charge' and no restrictions, and open to the public. If you sail to the right from the Cattle Landing Town Dock, or to the south west, you will very soon enter the area bordered by South Bear Island, Mark Isl, Timber Isl, Governor's Isl, and the Meredith Neck mainland which is a good spot for sailing with some good wind and views of Gunstock and Belknap peaks. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 06-10-2015 at 10:46 AM.

06-08-2015, 06:09 AM	#2
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,408 Thanks: 719 Thanked 1,381 Times in 957 Posts	If you want to put it in Winter Harbor, go to the Libby Museum and put it in there. There is parking up Lang Road just in back of the Museum.

06-08-2015, 07:39 AM	#4
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,009 Thanks: 61 Thanked 701 Times in 455 Posts	Ahern State Park in Laconia has access to Winnesquam. It has two sandy beaches where you can put in without a bunch of boats stacking up behind you. Take 106 north out of downtown then left on "The Right Path" and then left again to the park. It may be a dawn to dusk facility so do get locked out! I had a Snark. It was cool, so cool that the sail said "KOOL" on it which was a popular brand of smokes back in the day.

06-08-2015, 12:07 PM	#5
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,408 Thanks: 719 Thanked 1,381 Times in 957 Posts	APS, I am pretty sure that the area where the water comes into view on Mirror Lake beside Rte. 109 (on the right after you go by Tuftonboro Neck Road) is a public launch area.