Anchoring
 

So, where can one anchor and where can one not anchor? I seem to read and hear conflicting opinions.

thx

Not Anchoring/but Rafting
 

There are lake restrictions as to where one can raft, ie mooring two or more boats together. The best was to see where the "no rafting" areas are is the Bizer map.

yea, as far as I know this is outside those areas. How about about paddling / walking a 13' powerboat into knee deep water next to but outside of a town beach swim line and dropping a mushroom anchor. What are the restrictions?

Non that I know of as long as you are outside their swim lines.

You also can not anchor in a channel (as in front of a bridge)>

Agree on the bridge / channel areas. This is a public part of the beach as far as i know, outside the swim ropes. You are allowed to launch canoe / kayak etc there. A neighbor however thought they had rights to the area, which maybe they do. I'm trying to clarify for myself.

The lake is owned by the public and held in trust by the state. The lake is public property up to the mean high water line; that means you can legally stand (or anchor) in ankle-deep water right in front of someone's private property. They have no legal standing to force you to move.

That said, just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Not necessarily true...

While the public does own to the high water mark....

Waterfront/shoreline property owners have littoral rights to the water in front of their property. This allows then to put up docks/mooring/swim rafts/swim lines etc.

You cannot anchor and impede a property owners access or usage.

Woodsy

As far as I know.. two boats can tie together in a NRZ (No Rafting Zone), but three or more cannot.

Yes, it's confusing as after all it's called a "No" Rafting Zone. So two can raft, but three or more can not.

Also, in a NRZ, you can't anchor within 150 feet of shore, so this is in effect a sort of no-anchor zone too (perhaps it should be referenced as a limited anchor zone). Keep in mind that some NRZs have different 'no anchor' rules (such as the one in Braun bay).

Confusing, yes!

So if a homeowner's house is in a NRZ, then you're not supposed to anchor within 150 feet of the shoreline. If his home is not in a NRZ, then you can anchor anywhere you like, as long as you are not impeding navigation to anyone (such as access to his dock, mooring, etc.).

How do you know it's NRZ? I Don't see it on the list. If I'm a good 30' off a dock and probably a good 50' from shore, closer to the swim buoys, and see a boat travel in and out effortlessly multiple times. I don't see how that's impeding navigation. Especially in waist deep water where it's already impeded by lake level itself. Thx


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It would be easier if you gave us the specific location.

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Long Island town beach just over the bridge.


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I'm not aware of any anchoring restrictions over there. I believe there are grounding/beaching restrictions and a restriction against tying up to rocks and trees though.

I think this is the official list, I don't see any reference to Long Island or the beach.

source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rule.../saf-c400.html

the list below is only listing the areas from Lake Winnipesaukee:

(note that #7 in Winter Harbor is currently under debate as its description seems to be no longer valid)

Keep in mind that this list can be updated from time to time as new areas are approved or removed as a NRZ, so check via the link above.

Isn't that the section related related to rafting restricted areas? Not necessarily anchoring.

Yes, I find it confusing. Does an owner have any sort of 'buffer' other than we've discussed? I was told where I was, was private property. Marine Patrol said I could anchor wherever I wanted. Local PD said otherwise.

I pulled up to the beach to offload my 2 yo old son and a 15 yo to the rest of the family who was already there. I had done this a few weeks ago with lifeguards on duty, and I was not bothered by them or anyone else.

I moved the boat out some and put the anchor down because I didn't like how it was bouncing on the sand / rocks. I then watched as someone attempted to move my anchor. This is when I asked what the problem was and was told it was private property.

I moved the boat out further to the outer edge of the swim buoys, meaning facing the lake. Upon departing with the 15 yo (I was only there for about an hour) one of their boats was loaded with kids and adults about 10' in front of me to go tubing. This is when they trimmed their 200 hp outboard up about half way turned the prop to me and gunned the motor shooting spray at me. I believe they said 'we own the water, and the land and the sky and we will show you some water now'. I believe this act far outweighs any of the anchoring questions.

Needless to say.... that did not sit well with me or the onlookers on the beach.

Wow, you should have called Marine Patrol and reported it...then again, MP's don't seem to be bothered lately to do their job and would have told you to call someone else. True story.

Anyway, I just wanted to get some clarification.

We saw the Robalo shoot the water at someone on Sunday and then we saw the MP visiting with the owners on Monday morning, but I did not realize the incidents were related. Where is the property line between the town beach and the adjacent property? We always assumed it was where the homeowners have put the large rock on the shoreline.

Maybe they a trying to be a bully to keep you from coming back. A lot of people have been known to do that, as nice people will move along and not come back, as they don't want to deal with it.

So if you care to do something about it, call the marine patrol and wait for help. Perhaps get videos and pictures with your phone to help your 'case'.

If they have a history of being a bully, all the calls will add up.

Other than not to block navigation, I don't know any other 'no anchoring' rules other than at Weirs beach during bike week.

If he calls the local PD and they show up, call the MP and ask them to show up also.

I'm pretty sure you need to be a Moultonboro resident to use the beach which is maybe where the local PD would become involved. I believe the land next to the beach is owned by the association next to it on long island. I used to rent right next to it and they were pretty protective of their beach, but it sounds like they were out of line here. Why not just go under the bridge and anchor on the other side, no one should bother you there and you can walk across the street if you want to use the beach. Might be easier than dealing with aholes.

Anchoring
 

Yea, usually we do with the bigger boat. And in the future I will use the other side. We do have beach stickers. But I was bringing my 2 yo to the beach In a 13 whaler. A very beachable boat. And why anchor out of sight and then cross a busy road if I don't need to. The family was already at the beach. I only planned to be an hour. If anything I thought maybe I was too close to the swim buoys. We have never had a problem before. If it were a friendly 'you're blocking my view' conversation, I would have been more than happy to move.

I take care and time to ensure im not in someone's way. Most of my boating is on tidal salt water so I have to be very cautious where I drop a hook.


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Sounds like you just ran up against some entitled morons. Probably won't happen again, if you do it again and start getting aggravation have your cell ready to record. If they pull the crap with the boat again get a bow number and a video and call the MP, they usually deal quite effectively with that type of stuff.

If your boat and anchor were outside of the swim line, then you should be in the right.

Reading it again I wasn't sure if you had your anchor inside of the swim line or not.

Outside. Lol. As a lifelong swimmer and boater, I'd never anchor inside a swim line. I also walked the boat in with motor up. I did not run it in.


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