long island

[jads32]

I'm looking to go for a boat ride with kids, (12/14) from Ames farm inn. We looking to trying to ride over to Long Island to see if there was docking/lunch and walking around.Is there anything to do around there or is there a better place to go for a couple hours? we' re looking for something different to do for the afternoon.

[Dave R]

For something "different", I suggest you take a ride to Lee's Mills and bring a picnic lunch (and a chart) and then tour the area around Green's Basin. It's like a completely different lake up there.

[LIforrelaxin]

If your going to come up to the north side of the lake, and especially if you would like some place to get of the boat and enjoy a little nature, lees mills is the place to go..... As for as Long island is concerned there really isn't any place to dock .... that would be pleasant for lunch.....unless you want to anchor down by the Moultonborough town beach......

[Old Hubbard Rd]

What's at Lee's Mill?? I've never been past Suissvale & Balmoral. Is there a place to dock and explore?? I always pictured it shallow, rocky and weedy so I always stayed away. Be honest now. I'm sure those that may feel they have a hidden jewell do not want the others to know;) It's ok to share:D

[Dave M]

Agree with Dave R on Green's Basin. Nice ride all the way up to there and to go into all the little coves on the way. You will need a map. In Green's Basin there's a large rock in the middle. Each year we have the Cub Scouts camp at our place to get a badge. Last year we took the Cub Scouts up there for a picnic and swimming. We had about 12-14 people(adults & kids) and had 2 boats. Anchored off the side and swam to rock, some had rafts. Took one boat(mine) and off loaded coolers,etc. One side of rock was deep enough to get to the rock. Some persons held the boat while others unloaded from the bow. We spent half the day there, was a total blast.

PS. If going there, go around the Graveyard by way of Chases Island. Very narrow and getting shallow especially this time of year.

PS2 Lee Mills is where the steamboat parade starts(in Sept). We have brought breakfast and anchored and watched the parade. awesome on a fall day.

Enjoy Dave M

[hazelnut]

;) Old Hubbard take the cruise up there it is worth it. Keep the chart in hand though.

[Dave R]

What's at Lee's Mill?? I've never been past Suissvale & Balmoral. Is there a place to dock and explore?? I always pictured it shallow, rocky and weedy so I always stayed away. Be honest now. I'm sure those that may feel they have a hidden jewell do not want the others to know;) It's ok to share:D

Not much there, but there are docks, a small beach, a portable outhouse that's usually clean, and places for kids to explore and look for frogs and such. There's a loon sanctuary up there too. The shallow parts are very well marked, and both Duncan and Bizer charts will get you there unscathed. I cannot imagine the area will ever become popular. I use about $20 worth of gas getting there and back from the main part of the lake...

Going in and out of Green's Basin reminds me of the Trent Severn Waterway between Lake Ontario and Lake Huron. It seems like it's miles from anything until you look closely at a map/chart and realize you could probably stroll to Center Harbor from there in 30 to 60 minutes...

Funny, while Dave M recommends the safe, Chase's Island route (good advice too); I was gonna recommend going the challenging, but very interesting, Dow, Whortelberry, Nine Acre, Pistol, and Spectacle islands route around the Grave yard. Other than the no-wake at Pistol and FL81 area, going through the markers at 25 to 30 MPH can be far more exciting than going accross the broads at 50 MPH...

[wildwoodfam]

:( It seems like it's miles from anything until you look closely at a map/chart and realize you could probably stroll to Center Harbor from there in 30 to 60 minutes.

It's a long, hot and dusty walk along a very busy and "unfriendly to pedestrian" Route 25. Off season might be better - but on a busy summer day, especially a weekend, I would not walk that road.:(

That said - I could see walking to the Old Country Store in Moultonboro for sure - that's not too challenging from Lees Mills and you could hike the Lees Mill Rd up to Blake Rd then Route 25 for maybe 1/2 mile or so to the store.;)

[wildwoodfam]

I completely overlooked the original questions which was about Long Island. If you anchor in the shallow's near the Moultonboro Public Dock at the LI Bridge, (not the Harilla launch) and wade ashore cross the road to the Town Beach there are trails that walk along the shore out on the point. Also picnic tables and lots of beach to play on and shade to relax under. There is a store at Trexlers where you can purchase some pricey soda and sundries. (The walk to Jo-Jo's is a bit too far to be fun!) Enjoy the final days of summer with the kids!! Some of us are ALREADY back to school!!:emb:

[Dave M]

Dave R, I'm sure your post about the Spectacle/Pistol route is in jest but beware of the rock(shows 4 on Bizer map) southeast of the Graveyard across from middle black bouy. If you make a wide enough sweep around the bouy, you'll be in for a surprise. I've seen it happen. I've sent Bizer a e-mail last year requesting putting channel makers there. They said to forward to Marine Patrol. Have not heard anything. Do they monitor this forum?

Wildwoodfam, beware of suggesting swimming on the west side on Long Island. That is a town beach and they check stickers. I believe they also monitor people crossing and check boat registrations. Anytime I've gone through there(which is a lot) boats are anchored(east side) and people are staying near the boats. Granted you may slip through. Don't know of any public docking there. There's a dock for launching. I live around the corner from there.

Dave M

[LIforrelaxin]

Wildwoodfam, beware of suggesting swimming on the west side on Long Island. That is a town beach and they check stickers. I believe they also monitor people crossing and check boat registrations. Anytime I've gone through there(which is a lot) boats are anchored(east side) and people are staying near the boats. Granted you may slip through. Don't know of any public docking there. There's a dock for launching. I live around the corner from there.

Dave M

Dave you are correct the only Dock is the one by the Boat ramp which is to be used, and I blieve posted as such, only for Boat lunching and retrieval. They do check the Cars for the town sticker if you park down there..... But I don't think there is anything they can do if you boat is anchored out in the lake.... and I can't imagine the town would get so particular as to not let someone who has the boat anchored on the east side cross over and walk out on the point.....

[Lakegeezer]

Wildwoodfam, beware of suggesting swimming on the west side on Long Island. That is a town beach and they check stickers. I believe they also monitor people crossing and check boat registrations. Anytime I've gone through there(which is a lot) boats are anchored(east side) and people are staying near the boats. Granted you may slip through. Don't know of any public docking there. There's a dock for launching. I live around the corner from there. Dave MWhile the town indeed checks parking stickers for cars during the summer, I don't think there are any restrictions about using the town beach. It would be news to me if there is any restriction about beaching your boat on the southern side (or anchoring) and walking across the road to the town beach.

[wildwoodfam]

Wildwoodfam, beware of suggesting swimming on the west side on Long Island. That is a town beach and they check stickers. I believe they also monitor people crossing and check boat registrations. Anytime I've gone through there(which is a lot) boats are anchored(east side) and people are staying near the boats. Granted you may slip through. Don't know of any public docking there. There's a dock for launching. I live around the corner from there. Dave M

I'll echo the others -They do not monitor "walk-ons" to the beach, can you imagine that argument ensuing at the beach! Talk about a set up for one of the 16 year old lifeguards! Indeed you do have to have a sticker to park at the lots and the MPD do check it frequently in summer - but you can park pre Mem Day and post Labor Day. There are renters who walk to and use this beach all season long as well as boaters across the road. As for the eastside - it's certainly shallow enough to anchor and walk to shore from your boat at that location, and if the family doesnt want to get wet they can dock then the skipper can anchor offshore. I live around the corner from there as well.;)

[Phantom]

Let me add my two cents in and agree with Dave M --

--if trying to take a "safe route" around the "graveyard" (appropriately named at the current lake level) -- the better choice is FL#49 -> FL#11 -> FL#59. Also, there is a neat little variety store where you can get sandwiches/sodas and such (and fairly clean Porta Potty's) deep in Nineteen Mile Bay's cove.

[Dave R]

Dave R, I'm sure your post about the Spectacle/Pistol route is in jest but beware of the rock(shows 4 on Bizer map) southeast of the Graveyard across from middle black bouy. If you make a wide enough sweep around the bouy, you'll be in for a surprise. I've seen it happen.
Dave M

Not really in jest, I like to boat through places like that, but, then again, I like a challenge and dislike crowds.

Not sure where you mean. Southeast of the Graveyard is FL 11 and there is no "middle black bouy" over there. Do you mean southwest by Whortelberry Island? Or perhaps south towards FL 49 and it's companion black topped spar between the two red topped spars at Chase Point (and hence the "middle black bouy")?

I have a wonderful C-MAP Max NT chip in my chart plotter that includes the Bizer chart (as well as Squam Lake, Lake George, The NY canal system, Hunson River and the entire coast from Barnegat Bay NJ to the Bay of Fundy) so I have been able to avoid rocks with ease. That said, I lightly touched one in the Weirs channel this year though when I was pushed a bit too far to the edge by an oncoming MP boat and 6 people were on my rear bench seat pushing the stern down quite a bit. No damage.

[jrc]

You are not the only one. The last time I went through the channel, I noticed a lot more rocks were scraped on top. They were nice and clean with fresh marks, I don't remember seeing that before.

[chaseisland]

Just to keep the traffic at the North end of the lake to a minimum; thought I'd let you know that the ice has already formed up here.

[Weirs guy]

Just to keep the traffic at the North end of the lake to a minimum; thought I'd let you know that the ice has already formed up here.


To late, we'll all be up this weekend along with the last of the crowd at the Weirs! :laugh:

[Dave M]

Sorry Dave R, I meant Southwest towards Whorleberry Island. Its narrow there between the middle black bouy and the rock that comes out from Graveyard. You really have to be near the black bouy to get by. Like I said I've seen it happen. My nephew left his mark also.
Is there somebody at Marine Patrol I can talk to since e-mails isn't working.

Dave M

[jeffk]

Just to keep the traffic at the North end of the lake to a minimum; thought I'd let you know that the ice has already formed up here.
We were dodging iceburgs on our PWCs in Lees Mills last Saturday. It was like a downscale version of Titanic. :D What global warming? :laugh: I guess I can go over to the "missing snowmobiling" thread now.

[secondcurve]

Dave M:

I had an "incident" in that area that cost me a prop and half a skeg! It happened last year and has been my only "incident" to date. I was coming through the Graveyard channel heading south on my way to Wolfeboro when I started to move right to get to the right side of the single red marker outside of the Graveyard (just before you get to float 49). Figuring I was through the Graveyard channel I gave her some gas and boom! I had 6 guys in the boat so I was sitting low, but it was quite unexpected. I still look at the chart and can't figure out what I did wrong. I think the whole area is tough and not all the rocks are marked. I haven't been back since. Has anyone else experienced a similar problem? This was in mid summer so the lake wasn't even that low!

[Dave R]

Sorry Dave R, I meant Southwest towards Whorleberry Island. Its narrow there between the middle black bouy and the rock that comes out from Graveyard. You really have to be near the black bouy to get by. Like I said I've seen it happen. My nephew left his mark also.
Is there somebody at Marine Patrol I can talk to since e-mails isn't working.

Dave M

Even though my charts show that area as navigable, I avoid it like the plague. I'm either on the other side of Whortleberry and Dow, or in the graveyard channel. I agree with you, there needs to be a marker or two to indicate where the graveyard ends, or a set of black and red pairs to indicate a channel through there.