Foam
 

So every once in a while I get these bubbles/foam hanging around my shoreline. Don’t think it’s from my boat as it is often present when I arrive for the weekend and I turn the battery off so it does not even bilge while I’m away. The water quality is very good in the area and when this stuff does arrive, it seems to linger and not disperse. Where does this come from? I see it occasionally in what appears to be a recent wake from boats around the lake but can’t tell if it’s a normal occurrence of every boat, only those with issues and/or only 2 strokes. Possibly it comes to my shoreline when the wind is in a particular direction but hard to say.

Just like to better understand what it is and where it comes from as it lingers for hours and then sometimes disappears at what seems like the blink of an eye.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...s/IMG_0434.JPG

It is a known phenomenon. The foam is organic matter that has been agitated by wind, waves, etc. Attached below is a NH DES fact sheet on the subject.

http://des.nh.gov/organization/commi...ments/bb-5.pdf

Learn something new every day
 

I just learned something that I have been mildly curious about in the past but, I guess, not enough to investigate myself. Thanks.

Off topic I know. But, your bildge pump should be wired so it will still run if the battery or batteries are off. This is to prevent sinkings.

Foam Thanks
 

Thanks for the information FMGATE.

Isn’t it nice that just about any question about the lake and such can be answered here.

Regarding the bilge, I thought the same at one point but for some reason the boat was wired to be able to completely shut everything down. Not sure why but we bought it slightly used some years ago so maybe the original owner had some reason. I was concerned at one point about rain but we have a new cover with pitch poles that seem to work to disperse most of the rain.

Bilge pumps should always be powered up even if the battery switches are off.
Your insurance company can refuse a claim if it is proved your bilge pumps were non operational. I know this for a fact.:rolleye2:
I keep a solar battery charger plugged into my batteries while I am away from the boat.

Foam Spaghetti...
 

Wait until late September- or October's- strong winds: the foam will collect in continuous rolls on any windward shore.

On calm mornings at dawn, a red sunrise will make it glow pink! :laugh: (Somewhere here, I have a photo of one).

Scoop up a handful, and smell it: it smells of fresh soil, and nothing like the soapy-foam-smell you were expecting. :look: