| You should get in touch with a semi-frequent BOATS noter (who I'm surprised
hasn't chimed in yet ... maybe he's on vacation?) ... Mike BINKLY::SMITH works
in Hudson and lives on the lake. Another frequent noter, Reg ULTRA::BURGESS,
may also have some additional information for you.
From what I remember, there's a public launch at the boathouse near the Rt. 85
entrance to the causeway, but it's only open certain hours. I'm pretty sure
that is the only public access. I have no idea if a launch fee is charged
during those hours. The other side of the causeway (where the slalom course is)
has no public access. The course is setup, owned, and maintained by the Ft.
Meadow Water Ski club, and they are content to keep it on that side of the lake
where only members can go to use the course. Maybe Mike and/or Reg can offer
some additional tidbits of information.
...Roger...
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RE: 391.4
yes, Roger I had been away from the file for a couple days,
and P.S. , FYI, and all that stuff. I have a new node now.
it is ROCK::SMITH. BINKLY:: will be forwarding my mail for
a while but probably not for ever. please update your
Christmas lists with my new address :-)
RE: 391.3 (aka 890.0)
Scott,
As Roger had said Fort Meadow is not strictly private BUT I do believe
you have to be a resident of either Marlboro, Hudson, or Stowe?
not sure about Stow, sure about Marlboro and Hudson and know there is
one other town. Reason is due to tax $ going to upkeep and "policing".
BUT, You may be able to just drive up and say you are from Marlboro
or Hudson (make up an address) and convieniently not have your wallet.
(But you did not hear that from me). It is basically a crap shoot.
I do not necessarily want to promote this activity because one thing
that the restricted access does is to keep the safety factor of too
many boats on weekends down from completely dangerous to just
extremely crazy. The ramp access has been very strange this year
with the construction on the causeway. The ramp is buy the boat
house just off RT. 85, just past Ollies Restaurant on the left,
coming from Hudson. On weekends you can generally innore the
road closed signs up on RT. 85 and drive down to the launch.
This is as far as I know the ONLY "public" access to the lake.
On weekends it should be open from about 10 AM to 8 PM. Weekdays
historically it was open something like 2 or 3 to 8 PM, but with
the construction I really do not believe it is open before 5 PM
if at all. I do not use the ramp but once or twice a year so
I am not real familiar with its hours this year.
If you do get on the lake, the water level is down about 10 -12 inches
do to no rain. Things to watch for are:
It is an accepted rule that everyone will travel in a counter-clockwise
direction around the lake.
Generally shallow (2-3 ft) along the edges, ie: within 100 ft.
If you put in at the Rt 85 ramp as you head out, with closest land to
your right, about halfway across/along this first basin you will see
two separate bouys about 50 - 75 yds off the land. They seem to be out
in the middle of the lake. They are there for a reason, they are
marking two separate submerged islands. At normal water levels they
are not a big deal, right now they are about 3 ft below the surface
and coming up more each week. You CAN go between the bouys and the
land if you want and I generally do. I would advise triming up your
motor (if not an inboard) and just taking a look at what is there.
Get out and walk around on them, they extend a good 50 ft around
the bouys. When I say you can go inbetween the bouy and the land
*** PLEASE *** do not mistake this for the bouy in the "narrows".
(I will mention the narrows in a moment). There will be houses
directly across from the bouys and you are still in the large
part of the basin.
The Narrows come as you continue down the lake. The lake will
narrow to about maybe 75 yds wide. On your right about half
way thru the narrows you will see a red bouy. DO NOT go between it
and the land. There is an old stone wall extending in two directions
off the little point there. I would advise staying as close to the
center of the narrows as possible. Until you become more familiar
where the rocks are. The rocks extend from the bouy back into the
small cove, just stay out of that cove. I live directly across
from the rock bouy in the narrows. I have a blue-gray house with
a U-shaped dock.
After the narrows you will come to a second basin.
This basin is basically hazard free. The only really shallow
areas are in the in cove-like area to the left (in the basin) as you
exit the narrows. The shallows can be avoided by staying about 100ft
off shore. So that is about it, really only 2 major hazards to
watch out for.
I also work in Hudson, I see from your node you are in ASD. I work
on the same floor in AFL. (if you are acronym literate).
If you would like a crude map, I would be more than happy to
scratch something up for you.
Mike Smith ROCK::SMITH 225-7237.
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