Many more boats at swimming spots

[pitosalas]

Has any one else noticed (or think they noticed) that this year there seems to be more crowding at popular (and even previously not popular) swimming spots on the lake? (For example the shallow area near half mile island / Center Harbor, or near Wallace Island in Moultonborough and many other spots?)

I wonder why; what's different? My first guess would be 'the recession' but I don't see how that would make any sense...

[jrc]

The recession or money in general may be part of it. A few years ago gas went to $5.00 a gallon at the lake. So instead of driving around to public docks for lunch or just exploring the lake, a lot of boaters took a picnic lunch and just anchored somewhere. Now it's a habit.

Plus a lot of the popular spots are "no rafting", limiting their capacity, so they find new spots.

[boat_guy64]

I've noticed it as well but I think it is because the water has been so warm this year. We've never done this much swimming in the lake as this year. It has been very comfortable since the first week of July and even today it is still warm. On the few cool days that we've had, the water has been warmer than the air. It has been a great summer at the lake.

[MAXUM]

Has any one else noticed (or think they noticed) that this year there seems to be more crowding at popular (and even previously not popular) swimming spots on the lake? (For example the shallow area near half mile island / Center Harbor, or near Wallace Island in Moultonborough and many other spots?)

I wonder why; what's different? My first guess would be 'the recession' but I don't see how that would make any sense...

Maybe it just as simple as there are more folks that have figured out that taking the time to stop someplace out on the lake is every bit as enjoyable as joy riding. Hey I get as much if not more enjoyment at anchor as I do cruising from port to port.

I actually think traffic overall has been down the past couple of years.

[MJM]

I've definitely noticed the sand bar behind Sleeper's has seemed busier this year. I suspect it's just simply due to better weather, and that the forecasts have been able to be made well in advance (i.e. stating on Monday that the weekend looks good, as opposed to 'won't know until Thursday how the weekend will be').

[webmaster]

I actually think traffic overall has been down the past couple of years.I shot this video last Thursday morning around 10 am. There is not another boat in sight until one appears far off in the distance towards the end. It seemed like I had the lake to myself on what couldn't have been a more perfect day. The absence of any other boats made it seem more like October than the middle of August.

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[LIforrelaxin]

Gas Prices, boat sizes, water temperatures, etc etc etc.... have all made anchoring out for the afternoon much more attractive to a great many boaters...

When most people had smaller boats that didn't have potty facilities or a place to get out of the sun staying out on the water wasn't so attractive. But now even most of the larger bow riders have a potty cubby, and Bimini tops are the norm, it is easier to spend an after noon out on the boat. This year with warm water temperatures it makes it even more attractive. Add that into combination with many of the more popular anchoring spots falling under the scrutiny of the MP, of course people have spread out and now the once hidden areas are no longer hidden treasures.

[jrc]

I love the lake mid-week, feels like you own the place. I'm taking the week off after Labor day. Should be great.

I guess I missed the obvious answer for the crowded swimming spots, great weather!

[GsChinadoll]

The people that live at the lake year round or can be there during the weekdays are truly blessed!

[SIKSUKR]

Oh,so you were the guy in the rental boat that was shooting video while operating.:laugh:

[webmaster]

Oh,so you were the guy in the rental boat that was shooting video while operating.:laugh:That may have been me but my camera and tripod were doing the shooting while I drove. Notice that the camera was almost always stationary and pointed forward. I also had assistants on board much of the time.

[DEJ]

I don't know Don it looked to me like you were going about 48mph!!! :laugh: LOL, surprised no one else tweeked you on that one. Great video, thanks for it.

[VtSteve]

For us, and a lot of this lake, anchoring has been a way of life boating for twenty years. The usual beach and sandy spots are crowded, but a number of other areas offer peace and solitude. The water this year was much better than last. Many people head out in larger boats for weekend getaways. We do that sometimes, but mostly day trips.

It's an instant campground on the water. Bring the grill, load the music, and you have a day on the water. I didn't have my GPS on during many stops this year, but I think at last look it read 25 hours at rest. I'd estimate probably 60 hours while at anchor, at bare minimum. That's just weekends. Yet another reason I will never buy another boat that doesn't have an enclosed head.

[ApS]

"...I shot this video last Thursday morning around 10 am. There is not another boat in sight until one appears far off in the distance towards the end..."
Boating on weekdays doesn't pick up until after 10-AM. (Much less-so on weekends).

As a kid, my folks would let sleep-away the mornings... :yawn: ...they weren't doing me any favors! :eek2:

For sailing on this lake, the wind picks up at 9-AM. It changes to 8-AM with daylight-savings-time. How does it know? :confused: Summer winds often drop to "calm" around lunch time. (Bring a snack along).

On calm days, you're not going to see any sailboats :cool: and sailboats are often out-there where you can see them. :look: Those without engines can be out there for hours and hours and hours. :o

It's a scenic lake and still "all-good"! :)

[VitaBene]

For us, and a lot of this lake, anchoring has been a way of life boating for twenty years. The usual beach and sandy spots are crowded, but a number of other areas offer peace and solitude. The water this year was much better than last. Many people head out in larger boats for weekend getaways. We do that sometimes, but mostly day trips.

It's an instant campground on the water. Bring the grill, load the music, and you have a day on the water. I didn't have my GPS on during many stops this year, but I think at last look it read 25 hours at rest. I'd estimate probably 60 hours while at anchor, at bare minimum. That's just weekends. Yet another reason I will never buy another boat that doesn't have an enclosed head.

Agreed on the head, my next boat will be another bowrider, a bit bigger with an enclosed head.

We love to drop anchor and hang with friends on the lake. Like you, our 50 engine hours this year do not tell the true story of how many hours we spend on the lake!

[VtSteve]

What I find simply amazing is that there are now so many bowriders and deck boats with enclosed heads, and some of them are quite large. Yet, there are very few cuddy cabins, of the same size, with enclosed heads. There used to be more, now there are very few. I asked one of the manufacturer reps why this was so at a boat show. He replied, "That is odd isn't it?"

So my list of boats to look at got pretty small.

[Rattlesnake Guy]

We were recently talking to the rattlesnake kids and they were recounting how much they enjoyed and missed when we used to have little choice but to hang out on the boat all day. Swimming, tubing, playing cards and having a picnic. The lake is a magic place all by itself.

[trfour]

While hanging out at our favorite place on this planet, boat or back at the camp, was 'winniminimonopoly that consumed us from wake-to-wake 365-24-7!
The game was fun too! :) :liplick: :look: :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_(game)



Terry
__________________________________

[nvmbr9]

As someone who lives near one of these popular spots I have a suggestion. Unless you like duck itch quit feeding ducks. I just recovered from a case. There are about ten ducks whom hang here waiting to be fed from boats. Thus the duck itch. They would likely leave if not fed on a regular basis by boaters.

[BroadHopper]

Agreed on the head, my next boat will be another bowrider, a bit bigger with an enclosed head.

We love to drop anchor and hang with friends on the lake. Like you, our 50 engine hours this year do not tell the true story of how many hours we spend on the lake!

Just hit the 70 hours mark. What a wonderfull summer we have! ;)

[robmac]

My hour meter for the season is 94 and with the weather these next few days she'll be well over 100. So here I go off to get more fuel. Does anyone else get fuel like I do most of the time to save alot of money? I put the boat on the trailer and go to Irving in Meredith fill up with gas and add my own Startron, getting premium rather than mid grade and saving from 40-60 cents per gallon. I do get some gas from the marina but with that savings I don't mind a couple of miles drive and can visit the Winning butcher at the same time.

[upthesaukee]

I don't keep my boat at West Alton any longer, but I buy my gas there. Far easier than hooking up the trailer, dragging the boat out, getting the step ladder out of the car so I can reach the gas fill, bring the boat back and launch it, bring the trailer back home and park it, and go back down to Parker's, get out in the boat, go out Alton Bay and be within 5 minutes of West Alton. :D
Also, I live in Alton and West Alton is one of the largest taxpayers in Alton, so it is a small way to say Thanks to them and support them. (thanks also to Minge Cove -Andrew's- and Roberts Cove as well).

And I am off topic, so back to our regualarly scheduled program: I have used the boat far more than in past two years, and we have had had the lake pretty much to ourselves sometimes, and others, well, where the heck did they all come from!