Island living - Transportation for you and guests?

Slickcraft · 07-30-2016, 02:12 PM

On Welch internet is phone co DSL, about 1.5 Mbps down and 0.4 up. Only other option is satellite and that is not a good option. I suspect other islands are about the same.

Many (maybe most) island camps have modern septic. Most use lake water, fine for seasonal. Sediment and taste filters and UV purifier. Many threads on this, Do an advanced search of the home cottage maintenance forum. Also threads on island internet.

Orion · 07-30-2016, 02:18 PM

Some islands (i.e. Cow) get 3 Mbps to 10 Mbps DSL depending on which side of the island you're on (proximity to incoming underwater cable). Other islands have better wireless broadband access available. I imagine there are some with none, but if there is phone service, you should be able to get something.

RyanDe · 08-01-2016, 03:05 PM

I guess I missed an important question. How are island for kids? What's the average age on the islands, we have three kids <5 so ideally there would be other kids for them to play with. I heard rattlesnake has two "public" beaches which I would assume attached people even though they might have their own beach? My wife is worried about "dragging" three kids out to an island every weekend.

RyanDe · 08-01-2016, 03:15 PM

Some more questions:

Are the building/renovation requirements more strict on the islands?
Do owners visit in the winter or do you lock it up until spring? We're unsure if we'll want to use it in the winter but having the option to use it would be nice. Since there are no roads I'm assuming the only way out there would be snow mobile?

codeman671 · 08-01-2016, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanDe

I guess I missed an important question. How are island for kids? What's the average age on the islands, we have three kids <5 so ideally there would be other kids for them to play with. I heard rattlesnake has two "public" beaches which I would assume attached people even though they might have their own beach? My wife is worried about "dragging" three kids out to an island every weekend.

2 public beaches? Never heard that....

There are plenty of kids on the islands, as far as average age I don't think that can be answered. It all depends on where you buy. Some islands are more kid-friendly than others. I would not suggest the broads side of Rattlesnake for small kids for instance.

Building codes are the same as on the mainland. I think on the islands you can get away with doing a bit more work without it going noticed.

Most islanders lock up and shut down. A few hearty souls do get year round use. Travel over the lake in the winter can be dangerous if you do not know where to go, what to look for, etc. Some winters you can put a truck on the ice, other years you cant even walk it- again, depending on where you are headed.

Island Girl · 08-01-2016, 05:14 PM

There are no public beaches on Rattlesnake. There are some island owned lots that may look like beaches. If you buy a house that has close neighbors you may get other kids. An island As steep as Rattlesnake means a lot of people are somewhat isolated. Little kids on the Broads side of Rattlesnake will need a kiddie pool and a heap of sand as it is often too windy to play shoreside. There are some properties with perched beaches that would be good for them.

Some of the flatter islands would be more kid friendly. I have no issues when our grandkids come. They play with a hose and large buckets of water. We keep tons of craft supplies available. They love to go out on the jetskiis with us. Our teenage grandkids don't mind the waves. They fish a lot.

The serenity on this side of Rattlesnake is second to none! Nothing like it.

I rented for two years and bought late summer the second year. We only sort of knew what we were getting into. I strongly suggest doing that. You can cruise arounfpd the lake and find areas you like. Often we go for long rides and discover a new area. Many time I think... This would be great for little kids.

Septic is a blessing. Well water much rarer. We pull from the lake and carry in drinking water.

Good luck
IG

07-30-2016, 02:18 PM	#2
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	Variable Internet. Some islands (i.e. Cow) get 3 Mbps to 10 Mbps DSL depending on which side of the island you're on (proximity to incoming underwater cable). Other islands have better wireless broadband access available. I imagine there are some with none, but if there is phone service, you should be able to get something.

08-01-2016, 03:15 PM	#4
RyanDe Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 47 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Some more questions: Are the building/renovation requirements more strict on the islands? Do owners visit in the winter or do you lock it up until spring? We're unsure if we'll want to use it in the winter but having the option to use it would be nice. Since there are no roads I'm assuming the only way out there would be snow mobile?

08-01-2016, 05:14 PM	#6
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Island life There are no public beaches on Rattlesnake. There are some island owned lots that may look like beaches. If you buy a house that has close neighbors you may get other kids. An island As steep as Rattlesnake means a lot of people are somewhat isolated. Little kids on the Broads side of Rattlesnake will need a kiddie pool and a heap of sand as it is often too windy to play shoreside. There are some properties with perched beaches that would be good for them. Some of the flatter islands would be more kid friendly. I have no issues when our grandkids come. They play with a hose and large buckets of water. We keep tons of craft supplies available. They love to go out on the jetskiis with us. Our teenage grandkids don't mind the waves. They fish a lot. The serenity on this side of Rattlesnake is second to none! Nothing like it. I rented for two years and bought late summer the second year. We only sort of knew what we were getting into. I strongly suggest doing that. You can cruise arounfpd the lake and find areas you like. Often we go for long rides and discover a new area. Many time I think... This would be great for little kids. Septic is a blessing. Well water much rarer. We pull from the lake and carry in drinking water. Good luck IG __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

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07-30-2016, 02:12 PM	#1
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,304 Thanks: 1,223 Thanked 2,098 Times in 957 Posts	On Welch internet is phone co DSL, about 1.5 Mbps down and 0.4 up. Only other option is satellite and that is not a good option. I suspect other islands are about the same. Many (maybe most) island camps have modern septic. Most use lake water, fine for seasonal. Sediment and taste filters and UV purifier. Many threads on this, Do an advanced search of the home cottage maintenance forum. Also threads on island internet.

08-01-2016, 03:05 PM	#3
RyanDe Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 47 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I guess I missed an important question. How are island for kids? What's the average age on the islands, we have three kids <5 so ideally there would be other kids for them to play with. I heard rattlesnake has two "public" beaches which I would assume attached people even though they might have their own beach? My wife is worried about "dragging" three kids out to an island every weekend.