www.iFourWinns.com

This is how obstructions are marked in NH lakes. Shallow water isn't an obstruction though so it's good to be careful or know the lake.

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2010 H190 4.3VP
Tow Vehicle:
2007 F150
Previous boats:
2009 H180 3.0VP
1996 Horizon QX 3.0VP

These markers were in the center of the lake, and were more specifically 5 buoys in a roughly circular arrangement about 25 yards in diameter. I know this area well. Always pass on the same side, which is the south side of these markers. They are white with words shallow water on them, and "warning" or similar as well written on them. One can now see mud in the center of this island. It was definitely my fault, and should have stayed further away. When then levels are at their usual summer pool level these markers are fine where they are, but since it is lower I think they ought to widen the warnings appropriately. Someone is going to get thrown out of their boat. I have the standard depth finder in the dash and I think it is pretty accurate. Saw it drop rapidly before hitting bottom, where the depth read 0.0 and the engine died as I was frantically trying to raise the trim and move away from the area. Just happened so fast.

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2005 Horizon 250

I agree "Technologic80" Lake St.Clair would certainly be considered shallow compared to the other great lakes.

A group of us (7 boats) from the Canadian side of Lake St. Clair cruised up into Anchor Bay to Bouvier Bridge Marina and spent this past weekend there.

A lot a great sandy swimming areas outlining most of the shore line over there, but you sure are not travelling in much water anywhere within 1/4 mile or so off the shorline.

Took the inflatable up into the North Channel from Bouvier to Deckers and actually got out once to pull the inflatable before we got into the cut to run up to Deckers.

At our own sandbar, where we typically anchor for an afternoon (about 8 miles out into Lake St. Clair) I noticed the keel at the front of our 328 was only about 6 inches off the bottom. Seems the water level in Lake St.Clair is now really on the low side. By the middle of September I will need to be carefull entering and exiting our marina basin due to low water levels.

Lots of fun anyways.....

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

In the commonwealth at least in some lakes its a liability issue to put up buoys marking rocks or shallow water. Ridiculous.. Yes but some people are very litigious.
It's also illegal to mow your lawn here without a permit..... Just kidding.... At least for now....

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2011 Bennington 2075 GLi
2012 Key West 211 DC
2005 Four winns 180 Horizon LE
1997 Horizon QXsold
2000 248 Vistasold
2002 Key West 2020WA sold

Another thing you want to watch out for in shallow water is sucking sand into the circulation pump. The sand will eat away at the brass pump. The previous owner of my boat spend the first 9 years of my boats life in the river & the sand took its toll on my pump. Just picked the boat up tonight - $389 pump.

Place that did the work told me they seen motors completely full of sand. They said one guy didn't know what happened. Temperature gauge never got hot or overheat alarm. Everything seem good until everything went bad & steam & smoke poured out of the engine. Too late for the motor. Under dis assembly they found the block almost 100% full of sand. Reason the alarms never went off was the sand in the motor didn't get out. Customer had to replace the engine.

The water where I ramp at has dropped a good 1 1/2 feet this summer, just enough to make me very nervous as I putt-putt slowly away from the docks. Luckily, about 40 feet out from the dock the water level drops to about a 60 foot depth and its no worries the rest of the day.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

I do my best to keep out of shallow areas with the H-200, if I want to get into them for fishing I have a 10' Walker Bay Dinghy with a Suzuki DF 2.5 outboard....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II