Conference vicki::boats

Ocean Pros and Cons

                Less Crowded
    		Rougher Seas
    		Colder Water
    		Skiing tough
    		Fishing requires fancier equipment, but no license
    		Salt Water tough on equipment
    		Tides and flaky currents to contend with
    		Weather more a factor
		More interesting scenery (usually)
    		More freedom of venue
		Some people find salt air more invigorating        

    Weigh each factor as important/not important on a scale from one
    to 10.   Add them up and take the average.  Over 5 go for the ocean,
    under 5 go for the lake.

    Hi Sue
    I suppose your choice depends on why you are boating. 
    Ocean Pro's: Just about unlimited water to explore, You can cruise to
    different ports and visit new & exciting places. You can anchor up in
    just about anywhere(except in main channels) and come & go as you
    please. There is constant change in the sea and that is one of it's
    allures. The marine life is different from place to place & tide to
    tide. I enjoy Scuba diving and fishing in the ocean and in this respect
    its far superior to freshwater. People Waterski, Sail, Canoe, & surf in
    the sea. Although the ocean can be very unforgiving, I find this adds
    to the challange and enjoyment of it. There are lots of places where
    you can be as secluded & privite as you could wish or ports with the
    bussel and activities of fellow boaters to share the fun with.
    
    Cons: As mentioned the sea has no mercy and to ignore safety is to pay
    the ultimate price. There are different and higher maintance cost's,
    but the season is much longer on the sea. True, around New England the
    water is colder (in Summer) but not so cold that one can't enjoy
    swimming and other water sports.
    
    Winni. Pro's : I have prehaps limited experiance with this lake but
    from what I have seen it's  very beautiful. The water is warm in summer
    and in general its clean. It's a nice place to relax and enjoy water
    sports. There are various resort facilites around the lake. I'm sure
    others will elaborate more thoroughly. Maintance cost's & corrosion
    problems are less.
    
    Con's: The lake has limited access and is very expensive when one
    consideres the limited season. For myself the trip up to the lake is a
    bit far to go for a cruise after work. I live in MA on the NH border
    between RT3 & RT 93. The rules and regulations are far too strigent for
    my tastes and I find the Marine Patrol tatics to be Gestapo Like ( I
    have a close friend on the Winni Patrol) It seens that the lake gets
    far to crowded with Yahoos to really enjoy a peaceful day. and the
    cruising range is very limited.
    
    
                                               Walt
    

One of my friends has had a boat and slip on Winni for about 15 years and is not
bored yet. Disgusted with what he calls "Massholes" -- yes.

Another friend has a house on an island on Winni. We've been going to this house
for about eight years now. I've gotten to see quite a bit of the lake -- nowhere
near all of it -- over three different seasons of the years. We open the 
house up around the end of April, close it in December.

In my humble opinion, the fishing is excellent, the boating is fine, outside
of the period from July 4 to Labor Day.

Your equipment can last forty years, if you're not run down and sunk by a
contractor from Revere's 17-year old son running more boat than knowledge.

The ocean offers limitless destinations, the widest imaginable range of 
conditions... probably more *adventure* than Winni. Your equipment will last in
proportion to the maintenance you choose to perform. I've found that maintenance 
actually exceeds use in the salt environment; but I've also concluded that 
polishing the brightwork and all the other maintenance is part of the pleasure
(that's right) of ocean boating. You might not be outside the breakwater, but 
you're on the boat; cleaning and spraying with WD-40, whatever. Lake boating 
consists much more of stepping aboard and driving.

[Philosophical note - maintaining the boat is indeed part of my enjoyment. I
also ride a motorcycle, and wash & wax & stroke it far more than my four-wheel
vehicles. Hunters clean, oil, rack, then re-clean, re-oil their guns all winter
long. Perhaps it's all foreplay and post-coital fondling.]

Saltwater fishing licensing is coming to New England. Boat operator licensing
has passed the state legislature in Connecticut, goes into effect 1/1/90 I 
believe. Watch for this to spread.

So, it's a mighty fine point, and a near-impossible decision to make, which
is "better" -- salt or fresh?

Art

    
    	Prepare for a reply from a "lake-boater"..... :-)
    
    	One other factor (not for you Sue, since your choice in
    boats is made, almost) is the initial $$$ outlay. Personally
    I would not venture out into the sea in anything less than a
    22 or 25 footer which was fitted with the proper electronics.
    However, on most lakes a 16 footer is more than enough boat
    to handle the conditions and electronic gear is not a necessity.
    
    	The price difference between these two types of boats can be
    anywhere from 10-15k on up to ???.
    
    Rick

    
    and don't forget little things like bottom painting for salt, replacing
    sacrificial zincs more frequently, sanding/repainting outdrives.
    
    and...boundless horizons (but how far can you wander in one weekend?)
    
    vs.
    
    hunting for boat slips, sitting in traffic jams on busy weekends,
    dodging 'drunkandstupids' in a finite area, noise/speed limits,
    etc.
    
    oddly enough - I've opted for Winni having been on small lakes and
    big oceans (figure a big lake was a good compromise)
    
    Mitchell
     

    Another consideration (for some) is that you are not allowed to anchor
    overnight on N.H. lakes, and by recently enforced law, you cannot
    sleep overnight on a mooring. You must be "attached to land" if you
    are going to sleep on your boat; presumably for sanitation reasons.
    
    Bill
    (a Winnipesaukee sailor)
    

    Just a tad curious, How much does it cost to "blow the shitter" up on
    winni? I have the option on my boat to pump thru hull >3nm out at sea
    or I can pump out at a holding tank on the dock( Anyone ever see one of
    these?) A friend up on winni looked like he was going to play the slots
    with quarters at the dock to pump out. Whats it cost??
    
                                     Walt
    
    P.S. My holding tank used biodegradable green stuff that anarobicly
    (sp) digests the holdings prior to blowout.
                

    
    re: .7
    		At the old Gilford Marine (now Mountain View Yacth Club)
    	holding tank pump outs are free if you buy $25.00 gas. I've
    	not had to pay in the past but I think it's around $5.00 if you don't
    	spend the $25 for fuel. 
    		At $1.30-$1.50 a gallon I'm willing to bet every boat with a
    	holding tank/porta potty qualified for a free pump out this year.
    
    	Mr.B 

    Re. > We had thought the ocean had more opportunities, but we had a
    couple go out on Lake Winni. with us who said the lake was more
    interesting than the ocean, and the ocean was boring.  They have been
    boating on the ocean for years.
    
    One thing to remember is that the lake was a change for them. Almost
    anything different at first appears better because it is new to us.
    That is why we travel to other people's back yards for vacations and
    they to ours.
    
    I don't know what your friend's ocean boating environment is like.
    It may be a relatively straight piece of coastline that they just
    cruise up and down while the lake offered a lot of nooks and crannies.
    The shoreline is usually something that can always be seen from
    a boat in a lake, and it is these boundary views that are interesting
    to our eyes. 
    
    Like everyone else says, it depends on why you are boating.
    
    john