Is a PWC lift......

Newbiesaukee · 09-08-2009, 03:27 PM

We were having a friendly discusssion. Assuming that there is a legal dock of maximuxm size ( 8'x40') on 100' of waterfront and someone wants more space for a PWC; is a separate PWC lift which sits independently on the lake bottom and is separate from the dock considered part of the "dock" allowance for the property? Does it need a permit? Does it need to follow the same rules as a seasonal dock such as not being placed within 20' of abutters waterfront, etc.

My feeling is that it really can't be done as the existing dock already is at a maximum and the PWC is really a seasonal dock. At the least it would need a permit (which does not seem likely to be granted) and it should be counted as a slip and would also be over the limit. Is the 8x40 dock the max for the waterfront?

But, I have been wrong before, so what is the story?

Lakegeezer · 09-08-2009, 05:29 PM

Great question Newbisaukee. I'm wondering about it too, especially the 20' to the border rule. On one hand, the cradle takes up the same space as the PWC, but on the other hand, if its considered part of the dock, then the 20' rule may apply.

codeman671 · 09-08-2009, 07:01 PM

First off, the legal dock size assuming it is a liftout is 40' long and is 6' wide (on any lake greater than 1000 acres), not 8' wide. You are typically allowed 30' on a permanent dock unless you can prove shallow conditions. The legal definition of a slip is 25' of dock length from where the water depth hits 3 feet deep at full lake. On 100 feet of frontage you are allowed 2 slips, or one finger dock.

A pwc lift has to be removed during the off season and is handled by a permit by notification which is easy. As long as you follow the rules there is no reason to get denied. It does not count as used slip space. You are allowed 2 per lot. They still must meet the normal setbacks from your abutters which is 20 feet.

Watermark's web page has a great info page for permitting.

http://www.docksource.com/faqpermits.htm

Hope this clears things up!

Newbiesaukee · 09-08-2009, 08:09 PM

It almost clears it up. I did not want to confuse the original question, but the real discussion concerned 3 separate PWC lifts in the water perpendicular to the shoreline and lined up side by side. If I understand your answer, the owner would be allowed only 2 of these (for the 100' waterfront) and there must be no incursion into the 20' zone next to the abutter. The seasonal boat dock is then irrelevant to the discussion if I understand your answer.

Thank you

codeman671 · 09-08-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbiesaukee

It almost clears it up. I did not want to confuse the original question, but the real discussion concerned 3 separate PWC lifts in the water perpendicular to the shoreline and lined up side by side. If I understand your answer, the owner would be allowed only 2 of these (for the 100' waterfront) and there must be no incursion into the 20' zone next to the abutter. The seasonal boat dock is then irrelevant to the discussion if I understand your answer.

Thank you

No problem, your original post did not mention 3 lifts so I did not touch on that. You are allowed 2 max anyhow, it does not matter if you have more frontage. I have 289' and am allowed 2. It sounds like you understood everything else just fine.

It cracked me up last year to see the yellow house by Glendale that had 3 or 4 in a row in a very obvious spot...They went to 3 floating ports this year which have no regulations on them, but do take up dock space. I tried those before and found that you need very calm water, otherwise your machines just wash right off them.

townsde · 02-01-2010, 10:46 PM

I am looking at purchasing water front property. Where can I go to see what permits were obtained for the dock and beach fronts existing on this site?

Thanks

Long Pine · 02-01-2010, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by townsde

I am looking at purchasing water front property. Where can I go to see what permits were obtained for the dock and beach fronts existing on this site?

Thanks

Here is a NH Wetlands Bureau link you can use to check what permits have been pulled for your property in the past (since 1971 I believe).

http://www2.des.state.nh.us/OneStop/...its_Query.aspx

09-08-2009, 03:27 PM	#1
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,349 Thanks: 922 Thanked 569 Times in 295 Posts	Is a PWC lift...... We were having a friendly discusssion. Assuming that there is a legal dock of maximuxm size ( 8'x40') on 100' of waterfront and someone wants more space for a PWC; is a separate PWC lift which sits independently on the lake bottom and is separate from the dock considered part of the "dock" allowance for the property? Does it need a permit? Does it need to follow the same rules as a seasonal dock such as not being placed within 20' of abutters waterfront, etc. My feeling is that it really can't be done as the existing dock already is at a maximum and the PWC is really a seasonal dock. At the least it would need a permit (which does not seem likely to be granted) and it should be counted as a slip and would also be over the limit. Is the 8x40 dock the max for the waterfront? But, I have been wrong before, so what is the story?

09-08-2009, 05:29 PM	#2
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,657 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 342 Thanked 618 Times in 278 Posts	Great question Newbisaukee. I'm wondering about it too, especially the 20' to the border rule. On one hand, the cradle takes up the same space as the PWC, but on the other hand, if its considered part of the dock, then the 20' rule may apply. __________________ -lg

09-08-2009, 07:01 PM	#3
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,361 Thanks: 210 Thanked 764 Times in 448 Posts	First off, the legal dock size assuming it is a liftout is 40' long and is 6' wide (on any lake greater than 1000 acres), not 8' wide. You are typically allowed 30' on a permanent dock unless you can prove shallow conditions. The legal definition of a slip is 25' of dock length from where the water depth hits 3 feet deep at full lake. On 100 feet of frontage you are allowed 2 slips, or one finger dock. A pwc lift has to be removed during the off season and is handled by a permit by notification which is easy. As long as you follow the rules there is no reason to get denied. It does not count as used slip space. You are allowed 2 per lot. They still must meet the normal setbacks from your abutters which is 20 feet. Watermark's web page has a great info page for permitting. http://www.docksource.com/faqpermits.htm Hope this clears things up!

09-08-2009, 08:09 PM	#4
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,349 Thanks: 922 Thanked 569 Times in 295 Posts	It almost clears it up. I did not want to confuse the original question, but the real discussion concerned 3 separate PWC lifts in the water perpendicular to the shoreline and lined up side by side. If I understand your answer, the owner would be allowed only 2 of these (for the 100' waterfront) and there must be no incursion into the 20' zone next to the abutter. The seasonal boat dock is then irrelevant to the discussion if I understand your answer. Thank you

02-01-2010, 10:46 PM	#6
townsde Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hollis NH and Moultonborough Posts: 68 Thanks: 6 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	I am looking at purchasing water front property. Where can I go to see what permits were obtained for the dock and beach fronts existing on this site? Thanks