anchoring overnight

[KeepItSimple]

Is this technically anchoring overnight? I would love to be able to do this, though with my 2 small children the space might be an issue.

http://www.laconiadailysun.com/index...-solarboat-2-3

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by KeepItSimple

Is this technically anchoring overnight? I would love to be able to do this, though with my 2 small children the space might be an issue.

http://www.laconiadailysun.com/index...-solarboat-2-3

A day or two after this article appeared in the Sun, a correction appeared in the Sun stating that to absolutely correct, the houseboat will be docked at a private dock on Bear Island, not anchored.

[polarisman14]

So if you're able to find a place that you can legally dock overnight somewhere on the lake you can do that, but you can't drop anchor and do so? Just trying to iron out the legalities, thinking a mid to large bowrider with a cuddy underneath would be ideal if docking overnight is legal.

[Happy Gourmand]

Tied up to a dock, I think you would be good. You cannot just drop your anchor anyplace on the lake and sleep. Now, if somebody stayed awake and stood watch while others slept and you were displaying your anchor light, there might be some gray area there.
That brings up another situation. Can you "overnight" on a boat that is tied up to an approved mooring?

[Dave R]

270-A:1 Definitions. – The following words and phrases as used in this chapter shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
I. "Person'' means any individual, firm, co-partnership, company, association or joint-stock association, including any trustee, administrator, executor, receiver, assignee or other personal representative thereof.
II. "Houseboat'' means any ship, boat, raft, float, catamaran or marine craft of any description upon or within which are located sleeping and toilet facilities, regardless of whether such facilities are of a permanent or temporary nature.
III. "Overnight period'' means the period of time between the termination of daylight in the evening to the earliest dawn in the next morning.
IV. "Mooring'' means beaching, grounding, or tying of a houseboat to the shore of any of the inland surface waters of the state, and the anchoring of a houseboat on any of the inland surface waters of the state.

Source. 1967, 412:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1968.
Section 270-A:2
270-A:2 Where Overnight Mooring Permitted. – A houseboat may be beached or grounded, or tied to the shore of any of the inland surface waters of the state for an overnight period, or any part of an overnight period, only when on or at a location owned, leased, or otherwise under the control of the owner or operator of the houseboat or by permission of the owner, lessee, or person otherwise in control of such location. An unoccupied houseboat may be anchored on the inland surface waters of the state for an overnight period, or any part of an overnight period, only in an area reasonably adjacent to a location owned, leased, or otherwise under the control of the owner or operator of the houseboat or by permission of the owner, lessee, or person otherwise in control of such location.

Source. 1967, 412:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1968.
Section 270-A:3
270-A:3 Where Overnight Mooring Prohibited. – No houseboat shall be beached or grounded, or tied to the shore of any of the inland surface waters of the state for an overnight period or any part of an overnight period, except as permitted in RSA 270-A:2 or in cases of emergency. No houseboat shall be anchored on any of the inland surface waters of the state for an overnight period or any part of an overnight period except as permitted in RSA 270-A:2 or in cases of emergency.

Source. 1967, 412:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1968.
Section 270-A:4
270-A:4 Notification of Mooring of Houseboats Required. – The owner, lessee, or person otherwise in control of a location at or adjacent to which one or more houseboats are anchored, beached, grounded or tied to the shore for an overnight period, or for any part of an overnight period, shall promptly thereafter give notice of this fact, in writing, to the New Hampshire department of environmental services, stating the number of houseboats moored at such location and the dates of such mooring. Any person who owns or controls a location at which spaces are rented or leased to the general public for the purpose of mooring houseboats at such location, shall keep a log of all houseboats moored at such locations, the name of the owner or other person in control of such houseboats, the registration number of the houseboat, and the dates of such mooring, which log shall be available for inspection at all reasonable times by any agent of the New Hampshire department of environmental services. When a houseboat is to be moored at the same location for an extended period of time, one written notification of such fact stating the period of time the houseboat will be so moored to the New Hampshire department of environmental services shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this section. Such written notification shall not be required if the owner of the houseboat furnishes such information on his application for registration of the houseboat to the director of the division of motor vehicles in accordance with the provisions of RSA 270:4.

Source. 1967, 412:1. 1986, 202:6, I(a). 1996, 228:108, eff. July 1, 1996.
Section 270-A:5
270-A:5 Penalty for Overnight Mooring at a Prohibited Location. – If any person shall violate any provision of this chapter relative to mooring a houseboat overnight in a prohibited location, he shall be guilty of a violation. Each night of mooring a houseboat in a prohibited location shall be considered a separate violation.

Source. 1967, 412:1. 1973, 531:90, eff. Oct. 31, 1973 at 11:59 p.m.
Section 270-A:6
270-A:6 Penalty for Failure to Give Required Notification of Mooring. – If any person shall violate any provision of this chapter relative to giving the required notification of mooring to the New Hampshire department of environmental services, upon conviction thereof, he shall be guilty of a violation.

Source. 1967, 412:1. 1973, 531:91. 1986, 202:6, I(a). 1996, 228:108, eff. July 1, 1996.
Section 270-A:7
270-A:7 Additional Penalty. – In addition to the penalties provided in RSA 270-A:5 and 6, the court may revoke the New Hampshire registration certificate and the right to obtain such a certificate for any houseboat or motor used for propelling such houseboat in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, for a period not to exceed one year from the date of conviction.

Source. 1967, 412:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1968.

[upthesaukee]

http://www.lawserver.com/law/state/new-hampshire/nh-statutes/new_hampshire_revised_statutes_270-a_2

New Amendment is pending (I think, or perhaps just passed) to be effective 1-1-2014 that changes this from houseboat to boat, and perhaps a few other changes.

I post the link, and the new amendment info, as information. I will now back out, as I don't want to be picked apart by the jailhouse, or houseboat, lawyers.

[jrc]

Awake or not, you can't anchor overnight. The laws can be interpreted differently but what matters is enforcement. The MP will enforce the no anchoring law then you can talk to a judge.

Of course they have to find you to cite you...

[NoBozo]

I have an alternative to ALL the little regulations on the lake.

Come On Down to Narragansett Bay. Most of you on Winni have trailerable boats. On Narragansett Bay you can anchor anywhere there is enough water for the draft of your boat, (Don't forget we have tides). Anchor Overnight.. or just for an hour...anywhere you want. You can RAFT anywhere and anytime. We don't have a 150' rule. There is NO Speed Limit.

I like the lake just as all of you... But We on Narragansett Bay don't seem to have ANY of the problems that we Hear About on the lake. Maybe the lakers are just whiners..


Let the flames begin.. NB

[BroadHopper]

Is a great place to anchor! I was told RI is very boater friendly and I believe it. I don't see the boneheads when I cruise RI. Did RI send them all up here?

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

I have an alternative to ALL the little regulations on the lake.

Come On Down to Narragansett Bay. Most of you on Winni have trailerable boats. On Narragansett Bay you can anchor anywhere there is enough water for the draft of your boat, (Don't forget we have tides). Anchor Overnight.. or just for an hour...anywhere you want. You can RAFT anywhere and anytime. We don't have a 150' rule. There is NO Speed Limit.

I like the lake just as all of you... But We on Narragansett Bay don't seem to have ANY of the problems that we Hear About on the lake. Maybe the lakers are just whiners..


Let the flames begin.. NB

We did that last year. Had a great time and will do it again. I highly recommend this trip. The Bay is substantially larger than Winni, but similar in feel. There's excellent public docks at the different ports and plenty to see ashore. The Newport mansions are pretty cool by boat. None of the navigation is even half as challenging as Winnipesaukee. Some of the private vessels there rival the Mount. There's an excellent free ramp in Fall River MA that gives full access to the bay. It's just north of the battleship.

I love Winnipesaukee and will continue to boat there a few times per year, but there's plenty of other awesome places to boat around New England, NY and Canada. Most don't have all those absurdly restrictive snob laws either. MA does have a speed limit, but it does not seem to be enforced at all.

[Knomad]

There are 2 bills pending related to boating:
HB545 relative to rafting and SB103 relative to beaching, grounding, and tying a boat to shore.

You can see more detail and track these bills through this link (just type in "boat" under Title Search):
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/

[Resident 2B]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Is a great place to anchor! I was told RI is very boater friendly and I believe it. I don't see the boneheads when I cruise RI. Did RI send them all up here?

Gee, fewer rules and fewer boneheads. Maybe if we did not have all the rules, we would not have all the boneheads!

I sold my boat on the lake a year ago and I am back on saltwater. Happy is an understatement! It does drive me crazy looking out at an empty 30' breakwater dock while I am at the lake, but I am having better boating days and that is important to me.

R2B

[BroadHopper]

behind all the rules and regulation is too eliminate boating on the lake. A group of folks with money and free time on their hands are loving it when they here folks are boating elsewhere.

Not me! I'm not leaving. I bought a bigger boat and now they are p.o. that there are bigger wakes to contend with. I do my boating during the week and off season. I love disturbing the quietness and there is not a thing they can do about it!

[NHBUOY]

Look at BH. Defiantly Boating, for spite.

[NH_boater]

No interest in boating anywhere else...

[BroadHopper]

If you look up all the regulations, if the boat is technically a houseboat with galley, head, and berth, you cannot anchor overnight in a spot away from navigation traffic. There is no regulation written that a day cruiser with no galley or head can anchor overnight. I do know from time to time there were talk of appending the rules all watercraft and I haven't seen it happen.

I hear that the marine patrol will not allow anchoring overnight period. The last time I anchor overnight on the lake was about six years ago. I had always benn able to find a nice spot away from most light pollution and be able to enjoy falling asleep watching the constellation.

I posted elsewhere the only time MP approach me staying overnight is when a young cadet argued with me about anchor light vs navigation light. The young pup insist that I have the navigation lights on when anchoring. Because he was steamed I got a ticket. The next morining I presented the ticket to his supervisor and it was taking care of.

[HellRaZoR004]

As I read this it looks to me that if you own the adjacent property you can anchor. That there my friend is complete BS. Why should a property owner have more of a right to anchor in a public space than someone else.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by HellRaZoR004

As I read this it looks to me that if you own the adjacent property you can anchor. That there my friend is complete BS. Why should a property owner have more of a right to anchor in a public space than someone else.

I am not a proponent of the law by any means; I think it's complete BS as well, but I can see where this particular provision is necessary. If you own waterfront property and don't have a dock, you should still be able to tie a boat up for the night. OR If you have overnights guests and insufficient dock space, you should be able to let them tie up for the night.

[HellRaZoR004]

Originally Posted by Dave R

I am not a proponent of the law by any means; I think it's complete BS as well, but I can see where this particular provision is necessary. If you own waterfront property and don't have a dock, you should still be able to tie a boat up for the night. OR If you have overnights guests and insufficient dock space, you should be able to let them tie up for the night.

Now lets address sleeping on the boat instead then.

[NoBozo]

Sleeping on the boat: Let's try this. If you anchor in Salt water (Tidewater)..and you dump overboard..the stuff just flushes out to sea for the most part. Food for the lobsters and crabs. Remember that the next time you order Lobster.

In the Lake..Not so much. The lake is essentially a closed system.. NB

PS: IF you could TRUST people to do the right thing and Retain their sewage in a holding tank and pump it out later at a marina...everything would be fine. Trouble is.....

[HellRaZoR004]

People that both do and don't have heads still use the drink to do their business. What do you think happens after all that drinking...That's never going to change.

Now requiring boats to have pumping heads and better awareness seems more reasonable. For instance, I know some marinas have pumpouts - which ones, and any idea what one costs?

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by HellRaZoR004

People that both do and don't have heads still use the drink to do their business. What do you think happens after all that drinking...That's never going to change.

Now requiring boats to have pumping heads and better awareness seems more reasonable. For instance, I know some marinas have pumpouts - which ones, and any idea what one costs?

There's two free pump outs in Meredith. I use them all the time. I think you'd have a very tough time finding a boat on the lake with a functioning discharge.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by HellRaZoR004

Now lets address sleeping on the boat instead then.

Why does that matter? You can sleep in the boat at your own dock; think of it as the same as a dock.

The real reason for the law is that waterfront property owners don't want to listen to people partying on the water late at night. Rather than try to enforce laws against disturbing the peace, this is easier.

For a short time in the 70s, anchoring overnight was legal in NH. I recall some great nights on my parent's boat rafted up with a friend's boat for the night. We were quiet and anchored far from any homes. It was awesome. I still do it on my own boat now, and it's still awesome, just not in NH.

[jrc]

It fries me whenever this comes up because the state is really strict about discharge. No black water (poop) and no gray water (showers). The huge majority of the boats on the lake have been checked by the DES for functioning holding tanks. I paid $1000 extra for my boat to add a gray water capture system.

The DES boat used to dock in my club. They have a list of hull number and if you're not on the list they inspect. They walk the docks all the time. Now yes a few trailer boats sneak through but how many people trailer boats with toilets?

All the big marinas have pumpouts, most will pumpout for free with a gas purchase or if you just ask nicely. There is a free one in Meredith, my personal favorite, wicked strong, never a line.

Do people swim off boats and pee in the water, of course, but so do swimmers from shore.

The anti-overnight anchoring drive is not water quality, it's privacy. Land owners don't want to look a someone else's boat in front of their beach. They don't want a loud party at 2AM. They don't want people coming ashore at 6AM to "walk" their dog.

Like usual instead of dealing with each real problem, they pass a law banning all overnight anchoring.

[HellRaZoR004]

Originally Posted by jrc

It fries me whenever this comes up because the state is really strict about discharge. No black water (poop) and no gray water (showers). The huge majority of the boats on the lake have been checked by the DES for functioning holding tanks. I paid $1000 extra for my boat to add a gray water capture system.

The DES boat used to dock in my club. They have a list of hull number and if you're not on the list they inspect. They walk the docks all the time. Now yes a few trailer boats sneak through but how many people trailer boats with toilets?

All the big marinas have pumpouts, most will pumpout for free with a gas purchase or if you just ask nicely. There is a free one in Meredith, my personal favorite, wicked strong, never a line.

Do people swim off boats and pee in the water, of course, but so do swimmers from shore.

The anti-overnight anchoring drive is not water quality, it's privacy. Land owners don't want to look a someone else's boat in front of their beach. They don't want a loud party at 2AM. They don't want people coming ashore at 6AM to "walk" their dog.

Like usual instead of dealing with each real problem, they pass a law banning all overnight anchoring.

Then ban it for everyone, not just people that don't own property. This double standard is ridiculous.

[WeirsBeachBoater]

I just see a post regarding a Fundraiser, to be held in Meredith. Where they plan on spending 44hrs in a life raft anchored off Hesky park from what I can tell from the description. How is that legal?

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Dave R

"...For a short time in the 70s, anchoring overnight was legal in NH...

In the 70's the New Hampshire Legislature declared Lake Winnipesaukee to be a "Class A" lake--no longer.

Originally Posted by NoBozo

I have an alternative to ALL the little regulations on the lake...But We on Narragansett Bay don't seem to have ANY of the problems that we Hear About on the lake. Maybe the lakers are just whiners...

Let the flames begin.. NB

...Okay...



On Narragansett Bay, how many homes are 50 feet from the water?

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by ApS

In the 70's the New Hampshire Legislature declared Lake Winnipesaukee to be a "Class A" lake--no longer.





...Okay...



On Narragansett Bay, how many homes are 50 feet from the water?

Quite a few, actually. This is one of my favorites:


Note the homes in the background

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by ApS

On Narragansett Bay, how many homes are 50 feet from the water?

Obviously you never been on the Bay. Because of flooding and tides houses are more than 200' from the water. I will see if I can find a photo of my cousin's home on the bay.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by WeirsBeachBoater

I just see a post regarding a Fundraiser, to be held in Meredith. Where they plan on spending 44hrs in a life raft anchored off Hesky park from what I can tell from the description. How is that legal?

It's not technically a houseboat or a motorized boat so it may pass. I'm sure the organizers receive permission.

[WeirsBeachBoater]

Found out they indeed have permits, and have to hire MP details for the event.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Dave R

Quite a few, actually. This is one of my favorites:

I believe you have just made my point.

Nothing compares to the closeness of residents' homes to the water—just in Moultonborough Bay.

• Would you walk barefoot along the Narragansett Bay shoreline?

• Would you wade there, with so much as a paper cut?

• Would you allow Narragansett Bay waters to make contact with your nasal passages?

Originally Posted by Broadhopper

Obviously you never been on the Bay. Because of flooding and tides houses are more than 200' from the water.

I once lived at 17 Champlain Street in Wickford, RI—Narragansett Bay. I recall my telephone number as REgent 7-3773... .
_________________________

It's New Hampshire's many RSAs that have saved Lake Winnipesaukee as a continuous "draw" for New England visitors. Altering them for the worse, like newly allowing open exhaust, or changing overnight boating, or proposing the doubling of rafters—will change that wholesome experience for the renters of Winnipesaukee's many cottages, and the revenue that enriches the lakes region.

Perhaps you didn't live here when the Big Lake had its own Innocence.