Boating Time to the Main Lake?
 

Hi All,
I'm planning of using a dock in the Greens Basin Cove in Moultonboro and was wondering if anybody living in that general area could tell me how long it takes to boat out to the Main Lake past Cow Island? With all the No Wake zones it could be slow going...

Thank you much for your replay.
-Bill

Boating time to the Main Lake
 

Getting from Greene's Basin to the main lake is arduous at best and nerve-wracking at worst, however, many, many people do it regularly. I can't help you with time, but I can offer up a few of suggestions - 1), if possible, have a local guide with you, 2), go very slowly and obey the navigation markers, and 3), (maybe the most important) study a chart before you leave your dock and get some idea of what you are undertaking. Once on the main lake, enjoy yourself. Getting back to your dock is simple, just remember what you did getting out and do it all again, only backwards.

Probably 30-45 minutes depending on speed. Definitely study a chart.

Boating Time to the Main Lake?
 

I just measured one of my old track logs. We enjoy boating up to Greens Basin as it’s so quiet! Greens to the waters between Little Bear and Cow is a 9 mile trip. (See the pin point on my map) On this trip it took us 45 minutes. This is due to several No Wake Zones and the fact that I’m certainly not going full throttle. My max speed was 24mph but mostly I was running between 18-22mph. Not sure what you’re running but you could certainly shave some time off with higher speeds. The greatest delays will be the NWZ’s in the immediate area around Greens. Just follow your chart, pay attention to the markers, and make sure you know where you are and you’ll be fine.


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We have done this trip countless times. From the Greene's Basin to Cow allow about 25 to 30 minutes. Comments about being careful and looking at the chart are correct. But after a few trips, it will not be nerve wracking. I have done it once or twice at night and that was definitely a nail biter.

There are 2 NWZs to go through to get to Cow. Assuming you do not have oncoming traffic in Graveyard, it is 10-15 minutes. I generally cruise at 30-35.

I will gladly jump on your boat and make the run out with you. It looks worse on the chart than it really is!

There are THREE NWZs (Greene's to Hanson/Bryant's Point/Whaleback) and at least three places you will have to NW if boats are passing (example: Ambrose Cove would be less than 150').

If you follow all the rules, 25-30 minutes to the north of Cow.

That being said, some of the best of the lake is north of the Graveyard, especially in a $5+/gallon year!

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Wow! If you’re doing a 9 mile trip in 15 minutes including the NWZ’s you’re going alot faster than 30-35mph. You’d have to do the whole trip at 36mph with no slowing for the NWZs to make it in 15 minutes.


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Thanks everybody for the information!!
Another quick ?. Is there any "Goings On" sort-of-speak by boat up in the Mountonboro Bay area.. Restaurants, Beer, or entertainment?
Any +'s or -'s of living up that way.. Less boat traffic maybe??

thanks,
-Bill

The only restaurant is the store at 19 Mile Bay. Everything else is past the Graveyard and Cow (since you referenced it).

I think the North is the best part of the lake—we can paddle board, kayak, swim, fish, etc. in peace every day of the summer and, whenever we want, head to the "main" lake.

We also get more boating days as Moultonborough Neck shields a lot of the wind.

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Things to do?
In Lees Mills you can walk to the Loon Society for their displays and education. You can walk to the New Woodshed. It's about a mile, but I think they will send a car if you call. In September, there is the steamboat regatta. Basically a lot less commercial than the main lake-Wolfeboro, Center Harbor, Meredith. Weirs Beach and Alton Bay were popular 50 years ago, but I think have lost their luster.

Definitely less boat traffic! Enjoy it!


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I enjoy the north part of the lake, plus it is an excuse to take longer boat trips when you want to go to the other parts of the lake! 19 Mile bay does food and ice cream and we usually run there with the kids when staying on that part of the lake. We'll be staying in Alton again this year, but I'll probably make a run our two up there w the fam.

Yes- I should have been more clear and added the time to get all the way up into the Basin. Generally we are picking someone up at Balmoral or States Landing Beach. And yes, I am usually moving along (obeying the SL of course) and this was not even remotely possible on the lake weekends in 2021.

Enjoy your dock Targa Bill. I have boated out of that end of the lake for 17 years- great area! Lots of coves and rafting spots that are not over "used".

We gave up our slip at Ambrose this year- looking forward to trailering over to Squam and Sebago this summer.

How fast you can get to and from Greene's Basin to the Broads, is greatly dependent on boat traffic... I go up to Lee's Mills and Greene Basin quite often, looking for loons with my wife... (off course when she is with me I only need to look across the boat to see the loon..... ok don't tell her I said that).... back on task..... With my pontoon boat, which tops out at about 15 MPH, round trip is pretty lengthy... especially with any traffic... I would guess one way is around 50 mins.... With my speed boat going, getting up there take probably 30-35 mins......

So what really becomes important, is that your looking at 1 hour to 1 hour 40 mins, for the round trip.....

Interesting note about the loons—we see them daily, but they're probably not as numerous on the west and south sides of the lake? One more benefit of the North!

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