..... a Lincoln Park public dock?

[fatlazyless]

....for starters....to give this discussion some better definition......suggest you go see Slickcraft's excellent photograph of Lincoln Park, Lake Winnipesaukee, and the Ossipee Mountains beyond in the nearby 'Ice Out Progress' thread ....... post #133 .... thanks!

Looking at this one acre sized Lincoln Park, Town of Gilford property ..... shown above in an excellent photo .... one has to wonder how come the town does not have a wood staircase of about ten feet height going down the steep embankment, and a town public dock out on the water here to give the public access to the water?

Could be a totally excellent improvement?

Young sail boaters from the nearby www.lwsa.org, about 1/3-mile up Saunders Bay, next to Fay's Boat Yard could use it for a sailboat access point. Ditto that for motor boaters, and ditto that for kayakers, and sup stand up paddleboards. Maybe the nearby NH Marine Patrol and Gilford Fire Dept could use it for picking up/dropping someone or some item to a waiting boat?

Instead of having a staircase and a public dock, what the town has is that no trespassing sign atop the embankment intended to keep people away from the water.

Just something to think about while winter continues to hang around, and ice out seems to be a long ways out there?

I know there's always ten different reasons why something cannot be done, so how about some support for why it would be a good thing to give Gilford residents a place to access the water here!

Lincoln Park has flat, level parking space for about 8-cars at the top of the sloping, one acre, park land, and is located in a residential shoreline area.

[chachee52]

First thought of that proposal would be LIABILITY. If you open up access to water than there would probably have to liability issues to go along with it. It is horrible that that's the first thing that comes to my head, but in today's day and age people are always looking for "the town shoul have done something better to prevent the accident".
As a kayaker in Gilford, there is no way I would put in there. Way too steep to walk my kayak or SUP up/down, when just around the corner at the Glendale docks or the town beach or Elycoya is flat and easier to access.
Extra maintenance of a dock on the Boards for the town is probably another con for the proposal as well.
I'm not saying it can't be done, but with all the other access points in Gilford for the community to get on the lake and enjoy it, that point just seems like extra $$ that might not be needed.
And I am one that will stop and sit there, especially this time of year to watch the ice out and the snow covered mountains.

[fatlazyless]

There's one photograph of beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee that's just a doozy of a photo; it shows the lake, islands, and big water view with the Ossipee Mtn's in the back; shot from Town of Gilford's 1-acre public Lincoln Park, and the town has a 'no trespassing' sign at the water's edge, blocking access to the water.

To see it, go to the Ice Out Progress thread, post #133. That tall, skinny sign, between the trees there, down by the Lincoln Park-Lake Winnipesaukee embankment ...... it says No Trespassing!

So, the public can park their car, use the 1-acre moderately sloping, waterfront park, and look at the lake, but cannot access the water in the lake ..... not from Gilford's Lincoln Park. It could be a totally super-duper location for sup stand up paddle boarding if only Gilford built a ten foot set of wood steps down the embankment, and a dock for launching paddle boards and kayaks. Lake Winnipesaukee belongs to the people of the State of New Hampshire?

There's quite a number of different paddle boards and kayaks sold locally from the Gilford Walmart for $400 and less, and all these less expensive-big lake capable-paddle vessels could definitely use more Lake Winnipesaukee access venues than what's now available ..... namely Gilford's Lincoln Park, and Laconia's lakeport, on Paugus Bay, unused tourist information cabin area with parking space for 15-cars, on Weirs Blvd next to Lillilukalani's ice cream.

These two local town locations could give water access for hand carry, car roof top carry, paddle sports vessels as opposed to trailer boats with motors which usually need a launching ramp.

[Ms Molly McKever]

GREAT VIEW !!! Small lot with 8 parking spots. Great place to have lunch,Read a book, have some down time, or just look a the lake. Small lot, it is what it is.

[ishoot308]

I like it just the way it is! Small, beautiful, serene place that needs to be left alone!

Dan

[fatlazyless]

Carrying a sup stand up paddle board is made easier than what you may imagine thanks to the center located, recessed, carry handle which almost all sup's have. An 11'6" sup can be tucked under one arm, and carried about.

An inflatable 11' sup, which is surprisingly rigid, weighs just 20-lbs, and the more expensive, fiberglass, better quality 10'6'-11'6" sups weigh from 30-40-lbs. The less expensive, 11'6" polypropylene sups weigh about 40-60-lbs.

While the slope at Lincoln Park is somewhat steep, it is just a brief walk of maybe 60-seconds, 2-minutes tops, from your car parked up at the road, to the top of the steep embankment, close to the water there. While I haven't done it yet, it sure looks to be great location for sup'n with its' big water swells, and wide open views.

Gett'n down that steep, eroded, rocky-sandy embankment while carrying a sup, paddle, pfd, whistle, and water bottle will be a challenge, but on a sunny, warm day, it seems like it is definitely doable if you is motivated to do it?

We will see?

Could be is best to not be having the town build wood steps down the embankment and a dock? By not having them, it will deter most would be sup paddlers, and others, and just the most determined will go there, because you cannot describe the incredible location, views, and big water swells. If enough people crawl up 'n down that steep 10' embankment, while carry'n a sup, a path like a hiking trail, will get worn into the sandy, rocky slope, and a trail to the water will be there.

[Rusty]

I hope this sign never gets removed:

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Carrying a sup stand up paddle board is made easier than what you may imagine thanks to the center located, recessed, carry handle which almost all sup's have. An 11'6" sup can be tucked under one arm, and carried about.

An inflatable 11' sup, which is surprisingly rigid, weighs just 20-lbs, and the more expensive, fiberglass, better quality 10'6'-11'6" sups weigh from 30-40-lbs. The less expensive, 11'6" polypropylene sups weigh about 40-60-lbs.

While the slope at Lincoln Park is somewhat steep, it is just a brief walk of maybe 60-seconds, 2-minutes tops, from your car parked up at the road, to the top of the steep embankment, close to the water there. While I haven't done it yet, it sure looks to be great location for sup'n with its' big water swells, and wide open views.

Gett'n down that steep, eroded, rocky-sandy embankment while carrying a sup, paddle, pfd, whistle, and water bottle will be a challenge, but on a sunny, warm day, it seems like it is definitely doable if you is motivated to do it?

We will see?

Could be is best to not be having the town build wood steps down the embankment and a dock? By not having them, it will deter most would be sup paddlers, and others, and just the most determined will go there, because you cannot describe the incredible location, views, and big water swells. If enough people crawl up 'n down that steep 10' embankment, while carry'n a sup, a path like a hiking trail, will get worn into the sandy, rocky slope, and a trail to the water will be there.

Only a moron would attempt to put in a SUP at Lincoln Park when 1 mile down the road there is a beautiful public launch at Ellacoya with a simple and shallow walk in or drive in type ramp with plenty of parking that is perfect for a SUP and other small boats...

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Only a moron would attempt to put in a SUP at Lincoln Park when 1 mile down the road there is a beautiful public launch at Ellacoya with a simple and shallow walk in or drive in type ramp that is perfect for a SUP and other small boats...

What you suggest is a highly, highly, highly congested and crowded boating area, home to the Marine Patrol, Gilford fire boat, islander's parking, Winni Sailing School, Fay's Boat Yard, local home owners, visitors, and business boats like Island Svce Corp as opposed to the wide open water area immediately off shore from the Lincoln Park which makes it a dramatically different location even though they are located about 1/2-mile away from one, another, down the bay.

Plus, the parking at the islander's-MP town lot is so restricted and regulated to town residents, Gilford has a parking supervisor roaming the area in a golf cart.

.....oopsie....just reread your post and see you are talk'n 'bout Ellacoya.......oh well.....gotta run.....later!

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

What you suggest is a highly, highly, highly congested and crowded boating area, home to the Marine Patrol, Gilford fire boat, islander's parking, Winni Sailing School, Fay's Boat Yard, local home owners, visitors, and business boats like Island Svce Corp as opposed to the wide open water area immediately off shore from the Lincoln Park which makes it a dramatically different location even though they are located about 1/2-mile away from one, another, down the bay.

Plus, the parking at the islander's-MP town lot is so restricted and regulated to town residents, Gilford has a parking supervisor roaming the area in a golf cart.

.....oopsie....just reread your post and see you are talk'n 'bout Ellacoya.......oh well.....gotta run.....later!

Just a thought... if you realize your post was not about the subject at hand, rather than saying "oopsie", just delete the post. Oh well..... gotta run..... later!

Dave

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Just a thought... if you realize your post was not about the subject at hand, rather than saying "oopsie", just delete the post. Oh well..... gotta run..... later!

Dave

Because it adds to his post total. He wants to be #1 at something.

[Doobs41378]

My guess is he knew all along what he was going to end with....


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[fatlazyless]

.....ok, so maybe Ellacoya State Beach & RV Park could be an excellent place to park, unload, and launch a sup? It has big water that's similar to the water at Lincoln Park, both in Gilford, and maybe more exposed with bigger water, and bigger wind conditions. Years ago, like in the 1970's or early 1980's I recall seeing Hobie catamaran sailboats parked on the rv side of the sandbar and Poor Farm Brook and sailing out from that spot.

Ellacoya: Wa-wa-wa-wonder if management lets you unload a sup in the parking lot, hand carry it to the sand bar area which is just to the right and outside of the roped swim area, and launch it from the sand bar area? Is this ok to do? Do not know, but something tells me their state beach answer will probably be "no way, buddy!".

Believe it costs $5 for a lone adult to park a car and access the swim area. Will this state beach allow me to launch a hand carry, 32" x 11'6", 30-lb sup and paddle from just to the right of the swim area, and paddle out?

Are they good with this? What's their policy? The U.S. Coast Guard usually considers a sup to be a vessel.

Ellacoya State Beach is open from something like June 25 to Sept 3, or so, so what happens there in the shoulder seasons in May, June, Sept, & Oct when a wet suit or dry suit could make paddle boarding doable?

Who kn-kn-kn-knows ...... maybe it will turn out to be a better sup venue in the off-shoulder seasons .....when there's no one there to say "no" ....... and the big brown entry gate is closed ....... time will tell? Is probably best to just not ask ...... and just go hit the water there!
........

Looking for a quality dry suit at a relatively low price for paddling a kayak, or stand up paddle board in cold water, suggest you look at www.mythicdrysuits.com , starting at $295, a high quality-low price, from Rockport, Maine ..... and wear some long underwear and socks under your dry suit ....

... paddle-paddle-paddle-paddle! ........ .. eek .....ya know that cold feeling just gets into everything .... the paddle, the sup, the kayak, the dry suit, and the person ...... is cold! ....... cold is cold! .....