New member here

hilltopper · 04-04-2007, 03:17 PM

Hey folks, new member here. My wife and I are moving to Meredith in a month, so now that I was becoming part of the Lakes Region community I've decided to stop lurking and start posting! I'm sure I'll have a few questions as we settle in....

We're looking forward to the move, but for now we will continue to work in / commute to Nashua. Sometimes sacrifices need to be made (but hopefully not for long) and I am sick of living in this area (no offense to the area, but I grew up in northern VT and enjoy a slower pace).

Anyways....first question. Does being a resident of Meredith allow you free access to a town boat launch? If so, is this launch right in the area of the town docks? In mid Summer would you be better of paying to launch at Shep Brown's launch rather than dealing with crowds? Growing up in VT the idea of paying to launch is totally foreign to me...there was ALWAYS public launches with parking. I love to fish and boat, but don't want to be "committed" to one body of water and will therefore trailer versus look for a slip.

Thanks for your help and I look forward to being a memeber of the site!

hilltopper

Parker Island Fun · 04-04-2007, 03:27 PM

The state maintains free boat access to every large lake in NH. the one in down town Meridith is free and open to all. sorry for the typo in the title.

Alton Mumma · 04-04-2007, 04:49 PM

Looks like PIF has taken care of your question. So I just wanted to welcome you to the lakes region and to the forum

I've been up here in Alton for about 5 years now and loving it, I too like the slower pace.

jrc · 04-04-2007, 06:39 PM

Actually I'm pretty sure it's the other way around. The state launch next to Shep Brown's is free and the town launch next to the town dock has a fee. I don't know if town residents get a break, but they do collect money at the downtown Meredith launch. I'm an eye witness.

Pineedles · 04-04-2007, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parker Island Fun

The state maintains free boat access to every large lake in NH. the one in down town Meridith is free and open to all. sorry for the typo in the title.

Center harbor charges for each launch. Do I need to show my tax bill to launch free? Can't show DL as it is out of state.

hilltopper · 04-05-2007, 07:50 AM

My understanding from reading some info is that Shep's launch is pay-to-launch with free public parking very near by. I've often been told that residents of the towns surrounding the lake were able to launch for free. Do I need to go down to the town docks and get some type of sticker?

gwood · 04-06-2007, 12:44 PM

Last year I vacationed twice in Meredith and used the boat launch at the town docks. No one ever asked me to pay anything. I launched and retrieved during the week and virtually nobody was around. Perhaps the weekends are different.

Woodsy · 04-06-2007, 01:13 PM

One side of Shep's belongs to the marina... the other side is public. Most towns charge an access fee to use thier boat launch if you are not a resident. I have been charged to use Meredith's launch.

Another note is how big is your boat... or more appropriately, how long is your tow vehicle/boat trailer combo. The Meredith town launch is pretty tight.

Woodsy

PS: Welcome to the area!

hilltopper · 04-06-2007, 01:39 PM

Thanks for the welcome Woodsy. Nothing crazy as far as boat size...17' boat towed by a Chevy 1500 series truck.

MaidenCove07 · 04-06-2007, 03:34 PM

I've been to both Shep's and Meredith to launch my Jet Ski.
When I've launched on Saturday, I've had to pay $10 at each spot. A college kid with a clip-board took my info (boat reg. # and car license plate and my name) and collected the money.
When I launched on a weekday, there was no one collecting.

SAMIAM · 04-07-2007, 08:50 AM

If you ever feel like fishing Winnisquam......big lakers,bass,salmon and rainbows.......don't pay $20 in Laconia.Go to Ahern park and back right over the beach.The sand is firm on the beach and in the water and if you have 4 wheel drive,it's not a problem at all.There is also ample parking for truck and trailer.

Sunrise Point · 04-07-2007, 05:52 PM

Welcome to Meredith. If you want a slower pace, please do try Winnisquam (but don't tell anyone how much you like it!).

fatlazyless · 04-07-2007, 06:51 PM

Probably it is the long term goal of the state to have free access at all large lakes. In the past ten years, free access facilities including bathrooms, double ramps, docks for loading-unloading and fairly large parking lots have been built by the state at Newfound and Squam Lakes. Both facilities are as good as can be. A similar facility is now under construction for Winnisquam.

As far as I know Winnipesaukee doesn't have a free state ramp. Maybe they thought it's not a priority what with all the existing town and marina ramps. For this reason building an RV Campground at Ellacoya State Park in Gilford was maybe a better use of limited space than a launch ramp.

Maybe, if enough new people start smoking cigarettes, then the state will have enough tax money to build a free public double-ramp over on Governor's Island, somewhere. Ho-ho-ho, ha-ha-ha, ho-ho-ho!

TomC · 04-08-2007, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

As far as I know Winnipesaukee doesn't have a free state ramp.

Harilla Landing (not to be confused with private Yacht Club of the same name immediately adjacent to it) in Moultonboro is a free state ramp on Winni. Parking is a challenge, allowed only along state right-of-way...

hilltopper · 04-08-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunrise Point

Welcome to Meredith. If you want a slower pace, please do try Winnisquam (but don't tell anyone how much you like it!).

I'm actually much more familiar with Winnisquam as we have friends with a camp on the lake. Love salmon and trout fishing south of Pot Island in the morning and heading to the sandbar in the afternoon. When we were looking at houses I was torn between wanting waterfront or land. We looked at a couple of places on Winnisquam. There was a place we liked on the canal, however in the end we went with land and bought a house that has 35 acres but is still only 5 minutes from the Meredith Town Docks. I will definitely be trailering to Winnisquam often to avoid the Winni weekend crowds. SAMIAM, I've heard of folks launching at Ahern but was never clear whether it was frowned upon or not. Was thinking I'd have to wait until the state launch got built. Thanks for the info everyone!

hilltopper

JimD · 04-08-2007, 03:09 PM

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/News...ing_033007.htm

hilltopper · 04-13-2007, 03:13 PM

The story I got from a Bear Island seasonal resident is that he was launching by Shep's last year and got charged. He asked the young lady collecting the money why he was being charged and was told that without the Meredith dump sticker, you will get charged. Hopefully this is fact because living in town I will obviously need the sticker anyway.

04-04-2007, 03:17 PM	#1
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 725 Thanks: 25 Thanked 107 Times in 68 Posts	New member here Hey folks, new member here. My wife and I are moving to Meredith in a month, so now that I was becoming part of the Lakes Region community I've decided to stop lurking and start posting! I'm sure I'll have a few questions as we settle in.... We're looking forward to the move, but for now we will continue to work in / commute to Nashua. Sometimes sacrifices need to be made (but hopefully not for long) and I am sick of living in this area (no offense to the area, but I grew up in northern VT and enjoy a slower pace). Anyways....first question. Does being a resident of Meredith allow you free access to a town boat launch? If so, is this launch right in the area of the town docks? In mid Summer would you be better of paying to launch at Shep Brown's launch rather than dealing with crowds? Growing up in VT the idea of paying to launch is totally foreign to me...there was ALWAYS public launches with parking. I love to fish and boat, but don't want to be "committed" to one body of water and will therefore trailer versus look for a slip. Thanks for your help and I look forward to being a memeber of the site! hilltopper

04-04-2007, 03:27 PM	#2
Parker Island Fun Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 32 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	the state maintains fee boat access to every large lake in NH The state maintains free boat access to every large lake in NH. the one in down town Meridith is free and open to all. sorry for the typo in the title.

04-04-2007, 04:49 PM	#3
Alton Mumma Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Alton NH Posts: 41 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Welome Looks like PIF has taken care of your question. So I just wanted to welcome you to the lakes region and to the forum I've been up here in Alton for about 5 years now and loving it, I too like the slower pace. __________________ Alton Mumma "Living with a toddler is like using a blender without the cover."

04-06-2007, 01:13 PM	#8
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,965 Thanks: 80 Thanked 979 Times in 440 Posts	One side of Shep's belongs to the marina... the other side is public. Most towns charge an access fee to use thier boat launch if you are not a resident. I have been charged to use Meredith's launch. Another note is how big is your boat... or more appropriately, how long is your tow vehicle/boat trailer combo. The Meredith town launch is pretty tight. Woodsy PS: Welcome to the area! __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.

04-06-2007, 03:34 PM	#10
MaidenCove07 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Manchester in Winter, Weirs Beach in Summer & Fall Posts: 132 Thanks: 29 Thanked 17 Times in 7 Posts	I paid to launch I've been to both Shep's and Meredith to launch my Jet Ski. When I've launched on Saturday, I've had to pay $10 at each spot. A college kid with a clip-board took my info (boat reg. # and car license plate and my name) and collected the money. When I launched on a weekday, there was no one collecting.

04-04-2007, 06:39 PM	#4
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	Actually I'm pretty sure it's the other way around. The state launch next to Shep Brown's is free and the town launch next to the town dock has a fee. I don't know if town residents get a break, but they do collect money at the downtown Meredith launch. I'm an eye witness.

04-05-2007, 07:50 AM	#6
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 725 Thanks: 25 Thanked 107 Times in 68 Posts	My understanding from reading some info is that Shep's launch is pay-to-launch with free public parking very near by. I've often been told that residents of the towns surrounding the lake were able to launch for free. Do I need to go down to the town docks and get some type of sticker?

04-06-2007, 12:44 PM	#7
gwood Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Last year I vacationed twice in Meredith and used the boat launch at the town docks. No one ever asked me to pay anything. I launched and retrieved during the week and virtually nobody was around. Perhaps the weekends are different.

04-06-2007, 01:39 PM	#9
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 725 Thanks: 25 Thanked 107 Times in 68 Posts	Thanks for the welcome Woodsy. Nothing crazy as far as boat size...17' boat towed by a Chevy 1500 series truck.

04-07-2007, 08:50 AM	#11
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,891 Thanks: 334 Thanked 1,673 Times in 584 Posts	If you ever feel like fishing Winnisquam......big lakers,bass,salmon and rainbows.......don't pay $20 in Laconia.Go to Ahern park and back right over the beach.The sand is firm on the beach and in the water and if you have 4 wheel drive,it's not a problem at all.There is also ample parking for truck and trailer.

04-07-2007, 05:52 PM	#12
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	Welcome! Welcome to Meredith. If you want a slower pace, please do try Winnisquam (but don't tell anyone how much you like it!).

04-07-2007, 06:51 PM	#13
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,738 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	Probably it is the long term goal of the state to have free access at all large lakes. In the past ten years, free access facilities including bathrooms, double ramps, docks for loading-unloading and fairly large parking lots have been built by the state at Newfound and Squam Lakes. Both facilities are as good as can be. A similar facility is now under construction for Winnisquam. As far as I know Winnipesaukee doesn't have a free state ramp. Maybe they thought it's not a priority what with all the existing town and marina ramps. For this reason building an RV Campground at Ellacoya State Park in Gilford was maybe a better use of limited space than a launch ramp. Maybe, if enough new people start smoking cigarettes, then the state will have enough tax money to build a free public double-ramp over on Governor's Island, somewhere. Ho-ho-ho, ha-ha-ha, ho-ho-ho!

04-08-2007, 03:09 PM	#16
JimD Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 25 Thanks: 9 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Fish and Game rented a lot near Martels http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/News...ing_033007.htm

04-13-2007, 03:13 PM	#17
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 725 Thanks: 25 Thanked 107 Times in 68 Posts	The story I got from a Bear Island seasonal resident is that he was launching by Shep's last year and got charged. He asked the young lady collecting the money why he was being charged and was told that without the Meredith dump sticker, you will get charged. Hopefully this is fact because living in town I will obviously need the sticker anyway.