Lake Norman Sailors?
- Thread starter shemandr
- Start date
I lived on that lake all my growing up years. 540 miles of shoreline, it's a nice sailing place, at least then. Truth is though, we never got on the water on the weekends on account of the crowds, ie: idiots. That was well over thirty years ago, I can't imagine what it would be like now. I sorta doubt that is any different that any other lake, but that was our perception. If you're looking for any modicum of solitude, I think that will be hard to find there..
Lake Norman, is quite pricey, even compared to other high price areas - think Nascar racers, drag racers, and their bosses. Houses are really nice, but for a $1M you get more bang for your buck elsewhere. There is at least one restaurant of every chain you can think of, and quite a few one offs - if eating out is your bag. They have their own West Marine and most power boat dealers are well represented. There used to be a couple of sail boat brokers on the lake (4-5 years ago, not sure now), but it is a power boat/jet ski crowd for the most part.
If you live off the lake, not waterfront, there are many "yacht" clubs, most social in nature, but many have their quirks and you may or may not feel "at home". Some are fairly exclusive. They too can be pricey, depending on what you are used to.
While there is plenty of shoreline, sailing is OK - during the week and if the weather works with you. The weekends are a night mare to sail on, just too many people doing too many stupid things. The traffic in and out of the area can be a chore, so plan accordingly, you can sit for quite a while on weekends. The shoreline has receded some a few years back, not sure why as it is an impoundment for power generation and is the largest manmade body of water in NC.
I guess it boils down to how you want to spend your retirement. I would go to Smith Mtn Lake in VA, or where we will retire - the Northern Neck of VA - that puts you about 10-20 minutes from the bay and all the sailing you can handle.
You can visit and see most of the important stuff in a day or so. I would plan on a weekday and a weekend day...so you can see how things change.
If you live off the lake, not waterfront, there are many "yacht" clubs, most social in nature, but many have their quirks and you may or may not feel "at home". Some are fairly exclusive. They too can be pricey, depending on what you are used to.
While there is plenty of shoreline, sailing is OK - during the week and if the weather works with you. The weekends are a night mare to sail on, just too many people doing too many stupid things. The traffic in and out of the area can be a chore, so plan accordingly, you can sit for quite a while on weekends. The shoreline has receded some a few years back, not sure why as it is an impoundment for power generation and is the largest manmade body of water in NC.
I guess it boils down to how you want to spend your retirement. I would go to Smith Mtn Lake in VA, or where we will retire - the Northern Neck of VA - that puts you about 10-20 minutes from the bay and all the sailing you can handle.
You can visit and see most of the important stuff in a day or so. I would plan on a weekday and a weekend day...so you can see how things change.
I moved to Charlotte in 1989 and spent most of my weekends on Lake Norman. I didn't sail at the time but had a 24' power cruiser. It got so busy on the weekends that I sold my cruiser and bought a inboard ski boat and trailered it to Mountain Island Lake...the one above Norman on the Catawba River lake chain. Mountain Island is too small to sail though. Only time I went to Norman was if I took a day of vacation during the week. Really nice during the week. Weekends were insane with all the jet skis and speed boats. Not sure why Lake Norman would be a place to retire. Not unless you plan on buying a Lakefront home. The thing with Norman is people that lived in the rat race of Charlotte decided to move up to the lake to escape. Hunterville, Davidson and Mooresville are now as bad as Charlotte. Basically most of the lake towns off I77 are growing big time. Not sure what size sailboat you will have but basically Norman is a relatively narrow lake. The main body where most of the sailboats are is maybe a mile or 2 wide and around 10 miles long. Also, there is only one marina that has a travel lift to pull your sailboat out. Not sure of their rates but I know they charge $10 per day if put it on the hard in their yard. Have you considered the NC coastal area? Like the Neuse River/Pamlico Sound area. More options there over sailing in circles on a lake. That's were my H30 going when I get her finished.
Thanks for the information. I think we will move on looking. The specter of crazed power boaters and jet skis is not what we're after. Crowds on weekends is one of the reasons we're not staying here. People in the NY area can be so myopic in regard to what goes on in the rest of the country. I guess that's why I could assume that a recreational area would be uncrowded and pristine.
How about Smith Mountain Lake? Granger are you out there?
We have also considered Wilmington NC area. We are just starting this process and trying to find places worthy enough to visit. We only have so much time for visiting so learning that an area is not what we want is very valuable.
The Albemarle area wasn't to my taste.
How about Smith Mountain Lake? Granger are you out there?
We have also considered Wilmington NC area. We are just starting this process and trying to find places worthy enough to visit. We only have so much time for visiting so learning that an area is not what we want is very valuable.
The Albemarle area wasn't to my taste.
I'm not kidding about Wateree Lake. It's a nice lake with very little traffic except for 4th of July, Memorial Day and Labor Day. And a great fireworks display on the 4th.
That is exactly why I now 'live' in Wilmington. I've said this before, but I can live anywhere on this planet I like, and I am here. 22 countries, and 46 states later, and I've actually somewhat settled here. I would not go back to Lake Norman if someone gave me a new house there. The very epitome of chaos.
BTW, Smith Mountain, Wateree, Hartwell, all decent places. Norman just got overrun years ago, and is why I'll never be back..
BTW, Smith Mountain, Wateree, Hartwell, all decent places. Norman just got overrun years ago, and is why I'll never be back..
Do check Smith Mtn Lake, it too is a lake, ie smaller than the chesapeake, but has some decent sailing. The homes are a third of the cost of what Lake Norman homes are. There are a few clusters of condos, but it is no where near as crowded, ever as Lake Norman
It is quite nice and not too far off the beaten path. We had friends, he was a retired NYC FD Diver and he was just amazed how far his leaving NYC money went, and the people are so nice. There is a small airport next door, as well as Roanoke Regional 45-60 minutes away, greensboro, nc not too much further, just the other way.
It is quite nice and not too far off the beaten path. We had friends, he was a retired NYC FD Diver and he was just amazed how far his leaving NYC money went, and the people are so nice. There is a small airport next door, as well as Roanoke Regional 45-60 minutes away, greensboro, nc not too much further, just the other way.
shemandr;
I was a former dealer with dealerships on all locations except for Wilmington and that included Smith Mt. Lake and Oriental as well as Norman. I know Kermit and Lake Wateree too well. If from that perspective, feel free to email me with your phone number and location and I will be glad to give you some good imput. Also, many folks on this site to include Kito, Chris and Kermit are very will versed too.
By the way, I am retired so I am not selling anything.
crazy dave condon davecondon@mindspring.com
I was a former dealer with dealerships on all locations except for Wilmington and that included Smith Mt. Lake and Oriental as well as Norman. I know Kermit and Lake Wateree too well. If from that perspective, feel free to email me with your phone number and location and I will be glad to give you some good imput. Also, many folks on this site to include Kito, Chris and Kermit are very will versed too.
By the way, I am retired so I am not selling anything.
crazy dave condon davecondon@mindspring.com
During fall, winter and early spring, great place to sail but a lot of traffic too much for me during late spring and summer with all those big cigeratte butt boats.
You folks are breaking my heart. My earliest memories in 1980-1984 (I was probably 11) were on that lake. Learned to sail there (on a snark)... I DO recall having the lake to ourselves sailing in the dead of winter. One common theme of lakes is the over-abundance of power-boaters... Also since power-boaters are all about speed, they HATE wind... So generally speaking if the winds are up (good sailing) the power boaters are home sitting on their lawnchairs complaining about the weather.
I now live in PA, and sail on an unlimited HP lake, and it is EMPTY during the week.. but weekends all summer long (when the winds are light) the lake is filled with power-boats, jet skies, and floating boom-boxes.
I hate hearing that Lake Norman has turned into the same.
I now live in PA, and sail on an unlimited HP lake, and it is EMPTY during the week.. but weekends all summer long (when the winds are light) the lake is filled with power-boats, jet skies, and floating boom-boxes.
I hate hearing that Lake Norman has turned into the same.
I would think any lake within 50 miles of a large city is going to be pretty much packed on the weekends with powerboaters. The good thing about Norman is the powerboaters season is Memorial Day to Labor Day. By October I would say 75% of them have winterized their boats. That leaves the best months for the sailors. In my previous post in this thread I said I was moving my H30 to the coast. I am actually considering Norman now. It's 45 minutes to Norman vs 4 hours to the coast. That's the difference between once a month or every weekend. May move it to the coast after I retire. But I probably will change my mind again 
If you can handle the winters there is the possibility of looking at Western New York. Lake Ontario and Lake Erie offer big water thrills and the Finger Lakes offer glacial lakes that smaller boats are at home on. Thousand Islands on Ontario's east end and Toronto on the west. Sailing to a foreign country within a day is offered with Canada about 45 miles across. Fresh water which is easier on equipment is always a plus. Couple this with housing prices dirt cheap and the taxes up here are much less than the NYC area. First rate hospitals, good restaurants with low prices and wineries coming out the wahzoo gives many options for relocation especially when retired. Then there are the winters though but if you don't have to go out, enjoy the scenery while curling up and reading or something.