Homeowner: Keep 150 ft away from my dock!

[brc]

Most boaters are courteous, when they drop anchor they stay a distance away from homes on the water. Some however, will drop anchor directly in front of your house a short distance from shore not realizing that everything they say and any noise they make gets somehow magnified by the water and carried to the homeowner. This is annoying and totally unnecessary. Using common sense and the amount of open space on the water should keep this from happening. The area Rich refers to is in fact a no rafting zone. It has been for the last 15 years. Unfortunately,for some reason this was only noted on the marine maps for the first few years. Consequently boaters coming in to the western most section of Winter Harbor are not aware that it is a no rafting zone. This is another cause of tension between homeowners and boaters and usually ends with the Marine Patrol coming to notify the boaters regarding no rafting. If Bizor would correct their map to show that there is a no rafting zone from The Winnimir Condominiums west to the Tuftonboro Neck road, there would be fewer issues.
brc

[HellRaZoR004]

Originally Posted by brc

Most boaters are courteous, when they drop anchor they stay a distance away from homes on the water. Some however, will drop anchor directly in front of your house a short distance from shore not realizing that everything they say and any noise they make gets somehow magnified by the water and carried to the homeowner. This is annoying and totally unnecessary. Using common sense and the amount of open space on the water should keep this from happening. The area Rich refers to is in fact a no rafting zone. It has been for the last 15 years. Unfortunately,for some reason this was only noted on the marine maps for the first few years. Consequently boaters coming in to the western most section of Winter Harbor are not aware that it is a no rafting zone. This is another cause of tension between homeowners and boaters and usually ends with the Marine Patrol coming to notify the boaters regarding no rafting. If Bizor would correct their map to show that there is a no rafting zone from The Winnimir Condominiums west to the Tuftonboro Neck road, there would be fewer issues.
brc

Understandably this may have been the case all along - however, is it NECESSARY? Why do we need all these regulations? Sounds like a power trip from the homeowners. [/end rant]

[ApS]

Originally Posted by NH_boater

I do think it is flawed logic for a homeowner to think that the lake is large and boaters should anchor elsewhere. I choose not to anchor off someone’s dock. The lake is still public property, not an extension of their property. The homeowner, including myself, choose to buy property adjacent to what is essentially a seasonally active, crowded and noisy state park. One should not attempt to love the lake while hating all others enjoying it. Homeowners seeking NRZ's should also realize that many folks use the identified NRZ's as target destinations to go to because they must be nice places to anchor and spend the day. Many boats can still squeeze into NRZ's and anchoring attracts anchoring.

I'm answering from the perspective that Lake Winnipesaukee wasn't always a "seasonally active, crowded and noisy state park." The Big Lake does return somewhat to normal after weekends. (Fireworks start Friday evening).



The trend, however, is clear...

Originally Posted by HellRaZoR004

Understandably this may have been the case all along - however, is it NECESSARY? Why do we need all these regulations? Sounds like a power trip from the homeowners. [/end rant]

According to Soundings magazine, Lake Winnipesaukee homeowners have it easy compared to the US' eastern seacoast.

[Rich]

Seasonally active: Summer to early fall

Crowded: On peak weekends

Noisy: Maybe during some daylight, weekend hours when the GFBL boats are running, or some inconsiderate person is running their music too loud, or you consider the delight of kids playing in the water noisy, or during fireworks displays from about dark to about 1 AM.

The rest of the time, the lake is very quiet and almost deserted.

[Winnisquamer]

I had boaters anchor about 20-30 feet off my dock this weekend for maybe 3-5 hours. I waved and one gentleman swam over and asked if they were disturbing me. I told them no that's what the lakes for, to enjoy.

If you want to complain about every sight and sound during the weekends in a primarily tourist region then move to MA. Thought this state was live free or die? Now every old man who comes out disgruntled a boater must cater to do everything they say? There is a line between a boater being disrespectful and a landowner just being ridiculous all laws aside in my opinion.

[hd333]

Originally Posted by Winnisquamer

I had boaters anchor about 20-30 feet off my dock this weekend for maybe 3-5 hours. I waved and one gentleman swam over and asked if they were disturbing me. I told them no that's what the lakes for, to enjoy.



If you want to complain about every sight and sound during the weekends in a primarily tourist region then move to MA. Thought this state was live free or die? Now every old man who comes out disgruntled a boater must cater to do everything they say? There is a line between a boater being disrespectful and a landowner just being ridiculous all laws aside in my opinion.

Quoted for truth.

If someone is anchored in front of your place not being obnoxious, give them a quick wave and a hello, then go about your normal activities.
If they become obnoxious then say something.

Starting out on the defensive usually doesn't get you anywhere.

In the words of George Costsnza " You know we are living in a society! We're supposed to act in a civilized way"



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dave603]

Just playing Devils advocate on this one:
Looking at his user name I'll assume he's on Winnisquam.

There are parts of that lake where if you anchor you have no choice but to be within 20 or 30 feet of someone's dock or your blocking passage way for other boaters. North end of the lake and south end before the island for example.
I have anchored at both places with no problems, but there's not too many million dollar plus homes on that lake. Some are at the north end, and I tend to go in that area, again no problems, but I hardly ever even turn on the radio.
And most people up there usually just wave at you.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by dave603

...but there's not too many million dollar plus homes on that lake.

What does the value of one's property matter? What's right is right, lawfully AND respectfully--as mentioned above, there's a balance here to be had.

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[dave603]

Bigger houses and land tend to have larger dock space. Did not mean it as a reflection on money. The million plus houses on Winnisquam have bigger lots and larger dock/beach area. You can't be less than 30 feet from some of them with out blocking passage way.

[Winnisquamer]

Originally Posted by dave603

Bigger houses and land tend to have larger dock space. Did not mean it as a reflection on money. The million plus houses on Winnisquam have bigger lots and larger dock/beach area. You can't be less than 30 feet from some of them with out blocking passage way.

I agree those parts of the lake are the nicest for doing just that. Relaxing anchored not in the path of boats tubing/skiing/surfing/wakeboarding. So every time you want to do that the homeowner should comes out pissed off because you and your family are quietly enjoying them selves on a Sunday morning.

Kind of makes me angry to think people expect total silence. Few more years and people will be complaining the Loon calls are too loud for them to enjoy their morning coffee.

[The Real BigGuy]

Rich,

It is funny you should mention the noise issue.

I was sitting down by the lake over the weekend reading a book and noticed that there is a constant thrum of noise. Boats running up and down the lake, wind in the trees, people laughing, etc. but, during the day it is constant. Not overbearing but constant

I never noticed it before but, like the guy who builds a house next to a highway and whenever he is asked how he can live with it he says "What noise?", I think we all become desensitized after a while.

Once i stopped paying attention to it, it seemed to fade away. I'm sure it is always there (at least during the weekends) but I never noticed it.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

Rich,

It is funny you should mention the noise issue.

I was sitting down by the lake over the weekend reading a book and noticed that there is a constant thrum of noise. Boats running up and down the lake, wind in the trees, people laughing, etc. but, during the day it is constant. Not overbearing but constant

I never noticed it before but, like the guy who builds a house next to a highway and whenever he is asked how he can live with it he says "What noise?", I think we all become desensitized after a while.

Once i stopped paying attention to it, it seemed to fade away. I'm sure it is always there (at least during the weekends) but I never noticed it.

I agree... on the peak Summer weekends, there always is the hum of activity.

It can be boats, planes (yes I hear them too), cars and motorcycles on the roads, etc.

I think the geometry of the lake echos, and contains these sounds since the lake is basically a valley surrounded by hills. I could be wrong, but I think it contributes to the hum of fun (the sound of people having fun in and around the lake).

Some people hate the sounds of others enjoying themselves.

I'm more like Winnisquamer, when I see people near the dock I live on every weekend, I smile, wave and say hi.

Being happy is contagious! How can you not be happy, when you are surrounded by happy people that are enjoying themselves?

[Bizer]

Last week, I wrote the Commissioner of Safety regarding the ambiguity of the NRZ regulation. I am awaiting his reply.

[Rich]

It's been a month, did you ever get any kind of an answer to this? Just wondering, thanks!

[Bizer]

The Department of Safety intends to hold hearings to clarify the matter. Here is a letter from them on the subject.

http://www.bizer.com/DeptSafety151207_Page1.jpg
http://www.bizer.com/DeptSafety151207_Page2.jpg

[CTYankee]

Originally Posted by Bizer

The Department of Safety intends to hold hearings to clarify the matter. Here is a letter from them on the subject.

http://www.bizer.com/DeptSafety151207_Page1.jpg
http://www.bizer.com/DeptSafety151207_Page2.jpg

Until a properly defined rule is promulgated the current one is unenforceable. As written, it allows the enforcer to define what the rule prohibits.

[Rich]

Bizer, thanks for following through with this.

If they had the tax maps from back when this NRZ was originally implemented and documented, perhaps the proper location could easily be determined. It's hard to know now if the block numbers existed on the maps back then and were simply not documented on the original NRZ declaration. Maybe it's too hard to find the tax maps from that time period?

However, since they are now saying that a new hearing will be needed, I wonder if the new hearing could jeopardize this NRZ, or is it possible that the hearing could be limited to only clarifying its proper position?

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by brc

Most boaters are courteous, when they drop anchor they stay a distance away from homes on the water. Some however, will drop anchor directly in front of your house a short distance from shore not realizing that everything they say and any noise they make gets somehow magnified by the water and carried to the homeowner. This is annoying and totally unnecessary. Using common sense and the amount of open space on the water should keep this from happening. The area Rich refers to is in fact a no rafting zone. It has been for the last 15 years. Unfortunately,for some reason this was only noted on the marine maps for the first few years. Consequently boaters coming in to the western most section of Winter Harbor are not aware that it is a no rafting zone. This is another cause of tension between homeowners and boaters and usually ends with the Marine Patrol coming to notify the boaters regarding no rafting. If Bizor would correct their map to show that there is a no rafting zone from The Winnimir Condominiums west to the Tuftonboro Neck road, there would be fewer issues.
brc

Please read this entire thread before telling Bizer what he should do. The official government information is clear as mud (and looks incorrect).