living on an island year round

CAVU · 03-05-2014, 10:02 PM

I feel the only realistic waterfront property I could afford is an island property. However, I am a year round resident so I would want to live there year round. Does anyone know if people live on some of the islands year round?? It would be great, ultimate solitude in the winter.. My only thoughts would be that i would need to have a mainland slip with deeded parking and a hovercraft for the off season..

MikeF-NH · 03-06-2014, 07:47 AM

there would be a few months each year where the only safe way you could get back to the mainland would be via hovercraft when the ice is too much for a boat and too little to walk/ride on. Some islands have bridges to the main land such as: Long Island, Governors, and Black Cat.

Bizer · 03-06-2014, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAVU

I feel the only realistic waterfront property I could afford is an island property. However, I am a year round resident so I would want to live there year round. Does anyone know if people live on some of the islands year round?? It would be great, ultimate solitude in the winter.. My only thoughts would be that i would need to have a mainland slip with deeded parking and a hovercraft for the off season..

I once met a teacher who lived on Whortleberry Island year-round. He walked to the mainland in the winter. In December and April, he lived in a motel for three weeks during ice-in/ice-out.

Winnisquamguy · 03-06-2014, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAVU

I feel the only realistic waterfront property I could afford is an island property. However, I am a year round resident so I would want to live there year round. Does anyone know if people live on some of the islands year round?? It would be great, ultimate solitude in the winter.. My only thoughts would be that i would need to have a mainland slip with deeded parking and a hovercraft for the off season..

Here is a story about an island resident http://lakewinnipesaukee.wordpress.c...by-hovercraft/

CTYankee · 03-06-2014, 09:22 AM

Beginning in the 80's, and for fifteen years, friends of mine lived on Lockes Island year round. Their "driveway" was at Glendale and they had a snowmobile, a hovercraft, and, of course, a boat for transportation. During that time I visited several times and even house-sat a couple of times in the winter. It was great! As a summer resident used to the islands being inhabited it sure was, as you observe, the ultimate in solitude. My advice: Do it while you are young enough to really enjoy the seasons on the lake and while you are up to the demands of island living in the winter. Best of luck!

Smith Point · 03-06-2014, 09:39 AM

check this out!

http://youtu.be/fbYBJx1GmL4

ishoot308 · 03-06-2014, 09:49 AM

The biggest obstacle to overcome is water and Septic... For me because I have a pump up septic system and my septic lines are not deep enough in the ground it was a no go for septic. Without Septic there's no sense getting a heated water supply line from the lake because you have no place to send the waste water.

I still use my place quite often in the winter, mostly on weekends. I just had to improvise and overcome the septic and water issue which I did...

Dan

CAVU · 03-06-2014, 10:10 AM

Thanks for the replies, great stories!!!

codeman671 · 03-06-2014, 10:43 AM

We had a 1000 Islands Airboat at one point and could access the island year round. I found the airboat to be much safer and reliable than hovercrafts. A quick search on this site for airboat in the forums or gallery will bring up pictures of our yellow boat. It was featured in Airboating Magazine at one point.

As long as your place is set up for winter use (proper heat, water, backup generator, etc) the transportation side is not that hard. All it takes is $$$.

If I did not have 3 younger kids with lots of commitments I would live on the islands year round. I am sure I will be back to it at some point.

Orion · 03-06-2014, 11:16 AM

I have accessed our island place during the marginal months with a hovercraft which I owned for 5 years. I have to vote for the snowmobile conversion shown by Smith Point in post #6 as likely being the best solution. With a 4-stroke snowmobile, it would be by far the quietest approach, and one key consideration is keeping it from getting stuck (frozen to the ground) when you are done in the evening. Seems like this would be easier to drive up on some logs or improvised rack to keep it off the ground and also be able to manhandle it around if needed. Plus, you get to detach the snowmobile and go trail riding if you want (assuming it's a relatively easy process).

As others have said, winter water and septic are key. But you can't match the total quiet and solitude of an island place in winter.....you can hear your heartbeat.

steve c · 03-06-2014, 11:17 AM

a fairly recent incident to keep in mind

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/...t-capsize.html

codeman671 · 03-06-2014, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smith Point

check this out!

http://youtu.be/fbYBJx1GmL4

That's pretty slick...Locally made too.

I wonder what the cost of it is not including the machine.

DEJ · 03-06-2014, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

The biggest obstacle to overcome is water and Septic... For me because I have a pump up septic system and my septic lines are not deep enough in the ground it was a no go for septic. Without Septic there's no sense getting a heated water supply line from the lake because you have no place to send the waste water.

I still use my place quite often in the winter, mostly on weekends. I just had to improvise and overcome the septic and water issue which I did...

Dan

There is an alternative to a septic for islanders, it is called an Incinolet electric toilet. Check out their web site.

http://incinolet.com/

I have used one at a friends place and they work very well.

ishoot308 · 03-06-2014, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEJ

There is an alternative to a septic for islanders, it is called an Incinolet electric toilet. Check out their web site.

http://incinolet.com/

I have used one at a friends place and they work very well.

Thanks... know all about them.

For me "bag it and tag it" works better!

http://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Produ.../dp/B0024O0W94 Being able to use your regular toilet in the warmth of my house was key to this decision!

For water, I have an outdoor shower with an on demand water heater that pumps water from the lake through heated hoses that stay in year round. The outdoor shower gets warm like a sauna in the winter. It's literally 3 steps from my side door so no long runs in the cold!. Nice and toasty warm even when below zero outside!!

Dan

fatlazyless · 03-07-2014, 10:47 AM

www.wisetechco.com/ from the youtube in post #6..... a 7' x 15' platform that fits around a snowmobile which weighs 650-lbs without the snowmobile....made in Gilford.....no mention on what it costs and seems like it could be an answer to the slushy unsafe ice problem for getting to a Winnipesaukee island

Oblio13 · 03-08-2014, 09:47 AM

Indians had a way of pushing canoes over and through thin and broken ice. It would be an aerobic workout, but perhaps a low-tech option for an island not too far off the mainland. I'd dress for a dunking just in case, though.

IslandRadio · 03-12-2014, 07:40 AM

I don't know about this year, but in the past there have been couples who have stayed on Rattlesnake Island during the winter. I might be able to put you in touch with a couple of them if you're really interested. This is an adventure that's definitely not for the faint of heart.

I've heard that the wind can be relentless, and the wintertime conditions are very harsh at times.

My guess is the people who did stay on the Island are getting older and staying on the Island all the time is probably becoming more of a challenge because of the aging factor.

Isolation and "cabin fever" might be a problem unless you have a LOT to do (or are a newly minted couple

).

You would also need a very reliable source of alternate power, as the power has been known to go out (at least on Rattlesnake) for as long as a month in the winter.

The most practical solution would probably to get a not-too-expensive condo somewhere reasonably nearby (or make some other similar arrangement) - a place to stay if all else fails on the Island (like very bad conditions, etc.) and otherwise stay on the Island.

The same thought has crossed my mind, so you're not alone in these sorts of wild thoughts

fatlazyless · 03-12-2014, 10:58 AM

For example, me-thinks that something like a condo in Key West, Florida could be an excellent off-season choice to compliment a Rattlesnake Island cottage for the winter off-season months. The ice fishing in Key West is not too hot.....but you gotta love all those tiny bikinis! Rattlesnake & Key West ....not tooo shabby!

IslandRadio · 03-12-2014, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

For example, me-thinks that something like a condo in Key West, Florida could be an excellent off-season choice to compliment a Rattlesnake Island cottage for the winter off-season months. The ice fishing in Key West is not too hot.....but you gotta love all those tiny bikinis! Rattlesnake & Key West ....not tooo shabby!

Yup, couldn't agree more! Was in FL for a long weekend this past weekend (3/6 - 3/10). Wow was it ever nice to be in 80 degree weather and sunshine! This was on the West Coast of FL in Fort Myers (yes, we did see a couple of Red Sox spring training games, too!).

I would live there (in FL) at least half the year - sell the main house and just keep the Island up here in N.E., but the IslandPrincess has other ideas about that sort of thing (isn't thrilled about FL except for an occasional visit).

Cost of living there seems a whole lot less than around here, and house prices are reasonably attractive.

Breakwater · 03-16-2014, 10:43 AM

I saw this thing in action in Glendale this winter. Watched them one afternoon and its not that impressive. Watched the sole operator have to get in the water several times when ice was thin because it would break through and get "hung up" on the chunks.

Worked well on solid ice...but so does a snowmobile. Didn't see it on open water. Seemed to struggle in conditions when you would need it most, the in between seasons.

polarisman14 · 03-16-2014, 11:01 AM

Black Cat, Governors, Long, Oak, and Worcester are the islands that are connected to land via a bridge, per Wikipedia. I would start there though the houses on Governor's are out of the price range for most people.

EDIT: Can't seem to find Worcester island. What's up with that, Wiki?

Jeanzb1 · 03-16-2014, 11:41 AM

To Island Radio:

I totally agree with Island Princess! Florida is GREAT to visit for a few weeks in the winter, but we sold our place down there in October and bought a year-round house up here! Florida lacks charm, history, rolling hills and mountains, quaint villages, etc. IMHO, the only things it has are nice weather (most of the time) in the winter and nice beaches. It's filled with shopping malls, tract housing everywhere, highways, sinkholes, snakes, hurricanes, alligators, billboard signs for bail bondsmen and lawyers, ugly concrete-block houses, drive-thru liquor stores, ratty-looking palm trees, etc. My advice would be to stay up here as long as possible and then go down and rent for two months!

tis · 03-16-2014, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polarisman14

Black Cat, Governors, Long, Oak, and Worcester are the islands that are connected to land via a bridge, per Wikipedia. I would start there though the houses on Governor's are out of the price range for most people.

EDIT: Can't seem to find Worcester island. What's up with that, Wiki?

Look for Springfield Point in Wolfeboro (just before Alton) and you will see Worcester Island.

03-05-2014, 10:02 PM	#1
CAVU Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 98 Thanks: 0 Thanked 41 Times in 19 Posts	living on an island year round I feel the only realistic waterfront property I could afford is an island property. However, I am a year round resident so I would want to live there year round. Does anyone know if people live on some of the islands year round?? It would be great, ultimate solitude in the winter.. My only thoughts would be that i would need to have a mainland slip with deeded parking and a hovercraft for the off season..

03-06-2014, 09:22 AM	#5
CTYankee Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Guilford, CT and Bear Island, NH Posts: 28 Thanks: 429 Thanked 19 Times in 8 Posts	Year-Round Island Residents Beginning in the 80's, and for fifteen years, friends of mine lived on Lockes Island year round. Their "driveway" was at Glendale and they had a snowmobile, a hovercraft, and, of course, a boat for transportation. During that time I visited several times and even house-sat a couple of times in the winter. It was great! As a summer resident used to the islands being inhabited it sure was, as you observe, the ultimate in solitude. My advice: Do it while you are young enough to really enjoy the seasons on the lake and while you are up to the demands of island living in the winter. Best of luck!

03-06-2014, 09:49 AM	#7
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 5,928 Thanks: 2,285 Thanked 4,939 Times in 1,915 Posts	The biggest obstacle to overcome is water and Septic... For me because I have a pump up septic system and my septic lines are not deep enough in the ground it was a no go for septic. Without Septic there's no sense getting a heated water supply line from the lake because you have no place to send the waste water. I still use my place quite often in the winter, mostly on weekends. I just had to improvise and overcome the septic and water issue which I did... Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

03-06-2014, 11:16 AM	#10
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	ice/slush access I have accessed our island place during the marginal months with a hovercraft which I owned for 5 years. I have to vote for the snowmobile conversion shown by Smith Point in post #6 as likely being the best solution. With a 4-stroke snowmobile, it would be by far the quietest approach, and one key consideration is keeping it from getting stuck (frozen to the ground) when you are done in the evening. Seems like this would be easier to drive up on some logs or improvised rack to keep it off the ground and also be able to manhandle it around if needed. Plus, you get to detach the snowmobile and go trail riding if you want (assuming it's a relatively easy process). As others have said, winter water and septic are key. But you can't match the total quiet and solitude of an island place in winter.....you can hear your heartbeat.

03-07-2014, 10:47 AM	#15
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	www.wisetechco.com/ from the youtube in post #6..... a 7' x 15' platform that fits around a snowmobile which weighs 650-lbs without the snowmobile....made in Gilford.....no mention on what it costs and seems like it could be an answer to the slushy unsafe ice problem for getting to a Winnipesaukee island __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

03-06-2014, 07:47 AM	#2
MikeF-NH Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 317 Thanks: 2 Thanked 120 Times in 80 Posts	there would be a few months each year where the only safe way you could get back to the mainland would be via hovercraft when the ice is too much for a boat and too little to walk/ride on. Some islands have bridges to the main land such as: Long Island, Governors, and Black Cat.

The Following User Says Thank You to Winnisquamguy For This Useful Post:
Jeanzb1 (03-06-2014)

03-06-2014, 09:39 AM	#6
Smith Point Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Smith Point/ Bangor ME Posts: 193 Thanks: 196 Thanked 35 Times in 18 Posts	check this out! http://youtu.be/fbYBJx1GmL4

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Smith Point For This Useful Post:
DBreskin (03-07-2014), moose tracks (03-06-2014), sum-r breeze (03-06-2014)

03-06-2014, 10:10 AM	#8
CAVU Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 98 Thanks: 0 Thanked 41 Times in 19 Posts	Thanks for the replies, great stories!!!

03-06-2014, 10:43 AM	#9
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,360 Thanks: 209 Thanked 764 Times in 448 Posts	We had a 1000 Islands Airboat at one point and could access the island year round. I found the airboat to be much safer and reliable than hovercrafts. A quick search on this site for airboat in the forums or gallery will bring up pictures of our yellow boat. It was featured in Airboating Magazine at one point. As long as your place is set up for winter use (proper heat, water, backup generator, etc) the transportation side is not that hard. All it takes is $$$. If I did not have 3 younger kids with lots of commitments I would live on the islands year round. I am sure I will be back to it at some point.

03-06-2014, 11:17 AM	#11
steve c Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cow Isl Posts: 46 Thanks: 84 Thanked 40 Times in 14 Posts	a fairly recent incident to keep in mind http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/...t-capsize.html

The Following User Says Thank You to fatlazyless For This Useful Post:
Smith Point (03-08-2014)

03-08-2014, 09:47 AM	#16
Oblio13 Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Lighthouse Point Posts: 23 Thanks: 2 Thanked 19 Times in 7 Posts	Indians had a way of pushing canoes over and through thin and broken ice. It would be an aerobic workout, but perhaps a low-tech option for an island not too far off the mainland. I'd dress for a dunking just in case, though.

03-12-2014, 07:40 AM	#17
IslandRadio Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mirror Lake - Full time resident Posts: 398 Thanks: 70 Thanked 156 Times in 61 Posts	I don't know about this year, but in the past there have been couples who have stayed on Rattlesnake Island during the winter. I might be able to put you in touch with a couple of them if you're really interested. This is an adventure that's definitely not for the faint of heart. I've heard that the wind can be relentless, and the wintertime conditions are very harsh at times. My guess is the people who did stay on the Island are getting older and staying on the Island all the time is probably becoming more of a challenge because of the aging factor. Isolation and "cabin fever" might be a problem unless you have a LOT to do (or are a newly minted couple ). You would also need a very reliable source of alternate power, as the power has been known to go out (at least on Rattlesnake) for as long as a month in the winter. The most practical solution would probably to get a not-too-expensive condo somewhere reasonably nearby (or make some other similar arrangement) - a place to stay if all else fails on the Island (like very bad conditions, etc.) and otherwise stay on the Island. The same thought has crossed my mind, so you're not alone in these sorts of wild thoughts

03-12-2014, 10:58 AM	#18
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	For example, me-thinks that something like a condo in Key West, Florida could be an excellent off-season choice to compliment a Rattlesnake Island cottage for the winter off-season months. The ice fishing in Key West is not too hot.....but you gotta love all those tiny bikinis! Rattlesnake & Key West ....not tooo shabby! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

03-16-2014, 10:43 AM	#20
Breakwater Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 43 Thanks: 0 Thanked 57 Times in 16 Posts	Amphibious Ice Rescue Vehicle...see it before buying I saw this thing in action in Glendale this winter. Watched them one afternoon and its not that impressive. Watched the sole operator have to get in the water several times when ice was thin because it would break through and get "hung up" on the chunks. Worked well on solid ice...but so does a snowmobile. Didn't see it on open water. Seemed to struggle in conditions when you would need it most, the in between seasons.

03-16-2014, 11:01 AM	#21
polarisman14 Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Gilmanton, NH Posts: 139 Thanks: 37 Thanked 23 Times in 20 Posts	Black Cat, Governors, Long, Oak, and Worcester are the islands that are connected to land via a bridge, per Wikipedia. I would start there though the houses on Governor's are out of the price range for most people. EDIT: Can't seem to find Worcester island. What's up with that, Wiki? __________________ >>>Matt<<< To Tow: 2007 Honda Ridgeline RTL To Float: 1977 MFG Gypsy Star 17 O/B

03-16-2014, 11:41 AM	#22
Jeanzb1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 546 Thanks: 614 Thanked 173 Times in 94 Posts	To Island Radio: I totally agree with Island Princess! Florida is GREAT to visit for a few weeks in the winter, but we sold our place down there in October and bought a year-round house up here! Florida lacks charm, history, rolling hills and mountains, quaint villages, etc. IMHO, the only things it has are nice weather (most of the time) in the winter and nice beaches. It's filled with shopping malls, tract housing everywhere, highways, sinkholes, snakes, hurricanes, alligators, billboard signs for bail bondsmen and lawyers, ugly concrete-block houses, drive-thru liquor stores, ratty-looking palm trees, etc. My advice would be to stay up here as long as possible and then go down and rent for two months!