Water Log: On the Lake
 

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...dd84e384c.html

"Much of our time is spent not enforcing boating laws or helping people, but refereeing people who can't get along." - Capt. Tim Dunleavy

In case you are wondering: "Where is the Marine Patrol?"

Water Log: On the Lake
 

Stayed mainly on the south side of the lake yesterday. I have no idea what chaos prevails on the 4th, but yesterday was intense.

As a visible entity as they are I did not see MP once. Expected to see some presence by the Dive over at West Alton, but did not. May have to plan some personal days during the week.

Can you say o-v-e-r-c-r-o-u-d-e-d, sure, I'll bet you can. Still can't get enough of it though!

I agree, Donzi. We used to see MP every day. I haven't seen them for at least three weeks.

I mentioned that in another thread a few week ago.

On weekends, MP use to have a boat ALWAYS hovering either the mouth of the Weirs Channel or at FL#2 ( Eagle Isl.). Haven't seen a one all season.

Spent the last 10 days vacationing/ teaching my grand daughter navigation & driving in all conditions (including busy Meredith Bay on a Saturday/Sunday), what we call "sporty" conditions in the broads, dealing with all the sailboats departing/returning to Fayes, etc.

Over that period, I think we logged something close to 20 engine hours ……….. and saw MAYBE 3 MP boats the entire period.

There is a definite change in MP patrolling practices this Season ---

and to add another note -- it is sad that there is no MP VHF monitoring at the new MP facility in Glendale …… raising a patrol boat via VHF is virtually impossible unless you are lucky enough to catch them idling somewhere -- This past weekend I listened to Tow Boat Us hailing them for 10 minutes as he was heading to a "reported" capsized boat ( fortunately was not the case in the end) …… I miss Mighty Mo !!


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I guess I don’t understand his (Capt) statement...are there so many “people that can’t get along” on the lake that it inhibits the MP’s ability to enforce the laws of the state of NH? That sounds like a giant cop out...pun intended!
And it’s true, we barely ever see them patrolling as we see infraction after infraction happening each time we go out...PS: I tried to read the article but the damned advertisements turned me off quickly.

Well, I guess it's not just this side of the lake then. I thought maybe they were concentrating more over at the Weirs area. Where are they? Are they even out in the boats anymore unless they are called? Do they have a new philosophy?

Nope...we valet out of the Wiers. No sign of MP but we don’t boat on weekends, usually.

I see them in the Barber Pole (northern end of the lake) at least once or twice a weekend.

I’ve been out about 13,14 times this season and the only time I had seen the MP was the week of July 4th


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There does seem to be a reduced Marine Patrol presence on the lake the last couple of years. The violations seem to be increasing but my thought is that many people just don't know the rules. An increased Marine Patrol presence would be good, if only from an educational purpose.

I am on the lake a minimum of 4 days a week for commercial purposes and many other days for personal use. In total, between 250 and 350 hours a season. This year, I have seen at least triple the number of blatant violations that I have seen in previous years. Yesterday, at about 10 AM, a jet ski at 30 to 40 MPH came from under the Weirs Bridge out of the no wake zone and directly in front of boats entering the Channel.

The number of boaters who either don't know, or don't care, seems to be increasing. I would welcome an increase in the number of patrols. I would hope that they would concentrate on safety violations and worry a lot less about the people rafting or anchored on a sandbar.

I see them occasionally coming and going from Lee's Mill in Moultonborough.

If I recall correctly, some 5-6(?) years ago the Marine Patrol had their budget cut significantly, which resulted in reduced staffing including patrol officers. Since that time there has been a noticeably lighter presence. (We've been boating on the lake for about 12 years.)

Here's a thread from 2013 that gets into some of the revenue source discussion. I don't know how things ended up.

I agree. I also have been on the lake for 12 years and this season I have only seen the MP on holidays, I have yet to see them during the week or non holiday weekends


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Why all the concern about "seeing" MP? I don't get that. I don't miss them when I don't see them, but I know they are ALWAYS out there somewhere, (and I see them more often than not). They're out there, and they're not going anywhere. No worries.

Hmmmm
 

We have seen the MP going past where we dock the boat in Alton Bay, down in the bay, and out at our favorite anchoring spot.

I tend to think of the MP like other LEO's; I may not see them but if I were to violate the rules, there is a high probability that they will be watching me. Call me paranoid, but... :rolleye1:

Dave

Invisible in Plain Sight? They're All In "Sensitivity-Training Class"?
 

The Non-Wal-Mart side? ;)

But you're right: I may see the NHMP perhaps once a week. (Maybe less!) :eek:

Maybe they're saving money now and patrolling in pontoon boats? :laugh:

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I see them going out from Glendale daily. They must be hiding behind the islands with their surveillance equipment.


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Water Log: On the Lake
 

Jeeeez, I didn't know that.
Do you think that includes the db meter?

Granted we boat out of Glendale, but we see MP all the time on the lake. Lots of presence around the Weirs and towards Meredith during the evenings, as we boat down to Meredith often for dinner. Lots of stops noted after dark as well. We always see a few stops between Meredith and the Weirs/Eagle.

And I used to see them every day, didn't you, APS? That's what I want to know, why things have changed.

If you're that worried about it, call them and ask, or, STOP THEM the next time you see them (on the water) and ask them what's changed, and report back to us on here so this thread can end. Remember, they work for us, shouldn't be a problem to get some answers... Good luck.

I'm not "that worried about it", just curious. For 35 years I have seen them at least once a day, but this summer, hardly at all. If you don't like the thread, don't read it. The rest of us seem to enjoy wondering.

It's not that I don't "like" the thread, it's just that it doesn't make sense to me to "wonder" about something that you could EASILY find out about, but yet, no one takes the initiative to pick up the phone and/or stop them out on the water to simply ask what's going on. Why is that? That's what I "wonder" about...

And you guys all drive down the highway wondering why you don't see enough Troopers? Nah. We're all doing 75-80. Imagine a 150 foot rule on the roads!!