Ice Cream Barge

MAXUM · 08-23-2010, 11:02 AM

I'm sure plenty of folks out there have seen the ice cream barge running around the lake. I've never seen him around before a year or so ago. Darn good idea and he seems to get plenty of business. Pretty cool business idea, cruse the lake and make money at the same time. Not bad, why didn't I think of that!

Anyone know what his prices are like?

VitaBene · 08-23-2010, 11:09 AM

He is reasonable. When he started 2 years or so ago he was cheap but I think he realized that the overhead was killing him (gas prices for his boat and gen set).

He does a banner business- you should see the line at Suissevale when he shows up. I catch him on the water frequently, a wave will bring him right over.

MAXUM · 08-23-2010, 11:09 AM

I think he and the hot dog guy (Bob?) in Wolfeboro should do a combined effort. Good grief they could just anchor out and have a drive through window

VitaBene · 08-23-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAXUM

I think he and the hot dog guy (Bob?) in Wolfeboro should do a combined effort. Good grief they could just anchor out and have a drive through window

Throw a good pizza oven out there and they will be all set! Trifecta

Chaos · 08-23-2010, 11:55 AM

About 5 years ago there was a pontoon boat painted with black and white cow spots that would hit the popular anchoring spots like the sand bar at Smalls Cove. I only saw them that year. They had the basic ice cream products in coolers, no refridgeration. Never had a soft ice cream though. I have not seen the barge you are referring to.

jrc · 08-23-2010, 11:56 AM

I bought three ice cream sandwiches for $9 total last week near Timber. Not a bargain but it's OK for the novelty of it.

In the past there was a pontoon boat painted with spots like a cow. He sold pints of ice cream.

Mom tells of the old days at Braun Bay, a boat sold mixed drinks without the alcohol. So you could buy like a pina colada or strawberry daquari and just add you own booze.

I think someone could make some easy summer cash by loading up like a convenience store. Bottles of Coke and Pepsi, drink mixers, chips and salty snacks, maybe even hotdogs and rolls. Then of course add some ice cream and maybe cooked dogs.

SIKSUKR · 08-23-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

Mom tells of the old days at Braun Bay, a boat sold mixed drinks without the alcohol. So you could buy like a pina colada or strawberry daquari and just add you own booze.

.

I know that guy very well.He's a regular on this forum.He sells something quite different now though he still has the same items at his camp on land.They just are not for sale now.Thanks buddy!

TomC · 08-23-2010, 01:27 PM

than the ol' pontoon boat, too!

nj2nh · 08-23-2010, 02:54 PM

I remember an ice cream boat on Alton Bay from when I was a kid many, many years ago - 1970's or thereabouts.

phoenix · 08-23-2010, 04:16 PM

he is based in Green's basin and prices a couple of dollars for an ice cream. Kids love when the song comes by

robmac · 08-23-2010, 05:09 PM

I know I always make sure that I have cash when I go out with my daughter and niece just in case the ice cream barge arrives at the sand bar, they love it and I think it's a wonderful experience for them as well. Hope they keep it going,in FL we have a former nurse that comes to the sandbar Thurs.-Sun. selling hotdogs tacos and burritos and makes a killing. She quit nursing when she saw how much she was making. I seem to remember several years back the ice cream barge from Alton was featured in the news paper I think the sunday Globe.

Sal · 08-23-2010, 07:23 PM

Taken July 16, Moultonborough Bay.

rick35 · 08-23-2010, 08:28 PM

Great idea but that extension cord sitting on the deck would make me a little uneasy. Look like a little generator next to the outboard.

Greene's Basin Girl · 08-24-2010, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

I bought three ice cream sandwiches for $9 total last week near Timber. Not a bargain but it's OK for the novelty of it.

In the past there was a pontoon boat painted with spots like a cow. He sold pints of ice cream.

Mom tells of the old days at Braun Bay, a boat sold mixed drinks without the alcohol. So you could buy like a pina colada or strawberry daquari and just add you own booze.

I think someone could make some easy summer cash by loading up like a convenience store. Bottles of Coke and Pepsi, drink mixers, chips and salty snacks, maybe even hotdogs and rolls. Then of course add some ice cream and maybe cooked dogs.

I have known the ice cream guy since he was a toddler. I use to babysit him along with his brothers and sisters when I was a young teenager. I was his mother's helper on day trips to Storyland etc. Our day trips were always an adventure. His mother's car broke down several times as we traveled about. He lives on an island going into Green's Basin.

VitaBene · 08-24-2010, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick35

Great idea but that extension cord sitting on the deck would make me a little uneasy. Look like a little generator next to the outboard.

He runs a little Honda genset, nice and quiet.

codeman671 · 08-24-2010, 08:50 AM

We pulled up alongside that boat about a month ago near Sandy Island. The kids were psyched, and it saved me a trip to Paugus Bay for ice cream although the cleanup from melting frozen treats probably took longer than the boat ride to Lilioukalani's would have.

The old painted up ice cream boat was the S.S. Creamer. I seem to recall someone in another post mentioned that they bought it.

Wolfeboro_Baja · 08-24-2010, 09:52 AM

Thanks, codeman, for the name of the older ice cream boat, S.S. Creamer! I remember seeing that one a few years back now. Saw them at Braun Bay and the sandbar outside West Alton Marina. They had great ice cream (from the Sandwich Creamery, I think?)!

I wonder if the new ice cream boat owner considered dry ice to keep the product cold? I'm pretty sure it would work but I have no idea how it would compare in cost to buying a generator and feeding it.

ApS · 08-24-2010, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfeboro_Baja

"...Thanks, codeman, for the name of the older ice cream boat, S.S. Creamer! I remember seeing that one a few years back now. Saw them at Braun Bay and the sandbar outside West Alton Marina. They had great ice cream (from the Sandwich Creamery, I think?)!

I don't think I've ever seen the ice cream boat

and don't remember the S.S. Creamer.

Now, my diet is, of medical necessity, restricted to non-chocolate anythings—so vanilla became my specialty. (Not a bad "diet", at all!)

A new forum member gave me a container of vanilla ice cream from the Sandwich Creamery. Yummy!

The best around, and I know some.

codeman671 · 08-24-2010, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfeboro_Baja

Thanks, codeman, for the name of the older ice cream boat, S.S. Creamer! I remember seeing that one a few years back now. Saw them at Braun Bay and the sandbar outside West Alton Marina. They had great ice cream (from the Sandwich Creamery, I think?)!

I wonder if the new ice cream boat owner considered dry ice to keep the product cold? I'm pretty sure it would work but I have no idea how it would compare in cost to buying a generator and feeding it.

That little Honda won't cost much to run. Probably a gallon a day at most. Certainly less than dealing with dry ice.

Greene's Basin Girl · 08-24-2010, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

That little Honda won't cost much to run. Probably a gallon a day at most. Certainly less than dealing with dry ice.

The ice cream man's family has a house on an island and on the mainland. Last year one night when the ice cream boat was parked on the mainland someone cut the wiring on the compressor's and stole them. What a JERK and THIEF!

NHKathy · 08-24-2010, 08:35 PM

The correct name is.....The Ice Cream Float!

it's a play on words...

He usually stops by the dock of our place in Moultonborough, and all the kids love it! A few weeks ago when I was up there, my hubby and I decided on ice cream for lunch - yummo

I got a Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia bar - I think it was $5.00 - not bad at all when you consider how convenient it is. He always does a great job docking too, even with all the kids running down the dock toward him

jrc · 08-25-2010, 10:32 PM

This is the old drink hut barge from 1988 or 89. Mom found the picture, she says it's Braun Bay.

beachgal · 09-01-2010, 08:43 PM

I know my kids will have great memories of the"ice cream boat" pulling up to the dock!!! (I wished he did start selling frozen drinks for the adults!!)

codeman671 · 09-01-2010, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHKathy

The correct name is.....The Ice Cream Float!

it's a play on words...

He usually stops by the dock of our place in Moultonborough, and all the kids love it! A few weeks ago when I was up there, my hubby and I decided on ice cream for lunch - yummo

I got a Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia bar - I think it was $5.00 - not bad at all when you consider how convenient it is. He always does a great job docking too, even with all the kids running down the dock toward him

We flagged him down coming by Mark last Saturday. He pulled up to the dock and again saved me a trip to Paugus Bay. This guy has impeccable timing!

Mr. V · 09-01-2010, 09:12 PM

Braun bay, early August 2010.

HUH · 09-06-2010, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

This is the old drink hut barge from 1988 or 89. Mom found the picture, she says it's Braun Bay.

Braun bay was such fun back then..I tell people about the drink boat.. Not sure if its the same one..one of them had the grills going as well

08-23-2010, 11:02 AM	#1
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	Ice Cream Barge I'm sure plenty of folks out there have seen the ice cream barge running around the lake. I've never seen him around before a year or so ago. Darn good idea and he seems to get plenty of business. Pretty cool business idea, cruse the lake and make money at the same time. Not bad, why didn't I think of that! Anyone know what his prices are like?

08-23-2010, 11:55 AM	#5
Chaos Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Danville, NH and West Alton Marina Posts: 134 Thanks: 111 Thanked 32 Times in 20 Posts	Ice cream boat About 5 years ago there was a pontoon boat painted with black and white cow spots that would hit the popular anchoring spots like the sand bar at Smalls Cove. I only saw them that year. They had the basic ice cream products in coolers, no refridgeration. Never had a soft ice cream though. I have not seen the barge you are referring to.

08-23-2010, 01:27 PM	#8
TomC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 547 Thanks: 9 Thanked 29 Times in 20 Posts	his new boat is a little fancier.. than the ol' pontoon boat, too!

08-23-2010, 02:54 PM	#9
nj2nh Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 518 Thanks: 62 Thanked 42 Times in 23 Posts	I remember an ice cream boat on Alton Bay from when I was a kid many, many years ago - 1970's or thereabouts. __________________

08-23-2010, 04:16 PM	#10
phoenix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: phoenix and moultonboro Posts: 1,520 Thanks: 58 Thanked 266 Times in 187 Posts	he is based in Green's basin and prices a couple of dollars for an ice cream. Kids love when the song comes by __________________ it's tough to make predictions specially about the future

08-23-2010, 11:09 AM	#2
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,532 Thanks: 1,574 Thanked 1,608 Times in 823 Posts	He is reasonable. When he started 2 years or so ago he was cheap but I think he realized that the overhead was killing him (gas prices for his boat and gen set). He does a banner business- you should see the line at Suissevale when he shows up. I catch him on the water frequently, a wave will bring him right over.

08-23-2010, 11:56 AM	#6
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	I bought three ice cream sandwiches for $9 total last week near Timber. Not a bargain but it's OK for the novelty of it. In the past there was a pontoon boat painted with spots like a cow. He sold pints of ice cream. Mom tells of the old days at Braun Bay, a boat sold mixed drinks without the alcohol. So you could buy like a pina colada or strawberry daquari and just add you own booze. I think someone could make some easy summer cash by loading up like a convenience store. Bottles of Coke and Pepsi, drink mixers, chips and salty snacks, maybe even hotdogs and rolls. Then of course add some ice cream and maybe cooked dogs.

08-23-2010, 05:09 PM	#11
robmac Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashua,Meredith Posts: 951 Thanks: 213 Thanked 106 Times in 81 Posts	I know I always make sure that I have cash when I go out with my daughter and niece just in case the ice cream barge arrives at the sand bar, they love it and I think it's a wonderful experience for them as well. Hope they keep it going,in FL we have a former nurse that comes to the sandbar Thurs.-Sun. selling hotdogs tacos and burritos and makes a killing. She quit nursing when she saw how much she was making. I seem to remember several years back the ice cream barge from Alton was featured in the news paper I think the sunday Globe.

08-23-2010, 07:23 PM	#12
Sal Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 311 Thanks: 103 Thanked 169 Times in 53 Posts	Here it is .... Taken July 16, Moultonborough Bay. Attached Images

The Following User Says Thank You to Sal For This Useful Post:
RI Swamp Yankee (08-23-2010)

08-23-2010, 08:28 PM	#13
rick35 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bear Island/Merrimack Posts: 710 Thanks: 56 Thanked 170 Times in 104 Posts	Great idea but that extension cord sitting on the deck would make me a little uneasy. Look like a little generator next to the outboard.

08-24-2010, 08:50 AM	#16
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,360 Thanks: 210 Thanked 764 Times in 448 Posts	We pulled up alongside that boat about a month ago near Sandy Island. The kids were psyched, and it saved me a trip to Paugus Bay for ice cream although the cleanup from melting frozen treats probably took longer than the boat ride to Lilioukalani's would have. The old painted up ice cream boat was the S.S. Creamer. I seem to recall someone in another post mentioned that they bought it.

08-24-2010, 09:52 AM	#17
Wolfeboro_Baja Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hopkinton NH Posts: 395 Thanks: 88 Thanked 80 Times in 46 Posts	Thanks, codeman, for the name of the older ice cream boat, S.S. Creamer! I remember seeing that one a few years back now. Saw them at Braun Bay and the sandbar outside West Alton Marina. They had great ice cream (from the Sandwich Creamery, I think?)! I wonder if the new ice cream boat owner considered dry ice to keep the product cold? I'm pretty sure it would work but I have no idea how it would compare in cost to buying a generator and feeding it. __________________ Cancer SUCKS!

08-24-2010, 08:35 PM	#21
NHKathy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moultonborough when I can / RI Posts: 699 Thanks: 180 Thanked 38 Times in 22 Posts	I'm not trying to be picky but ... The correct name is.....The Ice Cream Float! it's a play on words... He usually stops by the dock of our place in Moultonborough, and all the kids love it! A few weeks ago when I was up there, my hubby and I decided on ice cream for lunch - yummo I got a Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia bar - I think it was $5.00 - not bad at all when you consider how convenient it is. He always does a great job docking too, even with all the kids running down the dock toward him

08-25-2010, 10:32 PM	#22
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	This is the old drink hut barge from 1988 or 89. Mom found the picture, she says it's Braun Bay. Attached Images

The Following User Says Thank You to jrc For This Useful Post:
HUH (09-06-2010)

09-01-2010, 08:43 PM	#23
beachgal Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: boston Posts: 5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I know my kids will have great memories of the"ice cream boat" pulling up to the dock!!! (I wished he did start selling frozen drinks for the adults!!)

09-01-2010, 09:12 PM	#25
Mr. V Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: the left coast (Portland)and West Alton Posts: 1,326 Thanks: 61 Thanked 235 Times in 159 Posts	Braun bay, early August 2010. Attached Images