boat traffic

Descant · 06-07-2026, 02:36 PM

I see more than one sequence, but my thought starts 75 years ago, not 50. Looking mostly at boat traffic, since that is the theme of this thread. In 1950, few people owned boats. Commercial rides were popular--at the Weirs, there still was no Weirs Beach--airplane hangars. Uncle Sam, Foxy Boats, Miss Winnipesaukee (8) Sophie C and the Mount . Jim Irwin Sr. was selling CC cabin cruisers, and runabouts. Channel Marine and others were selling some smaller boats, but island residents, of which there were few, took taxi boats to/from and some rowed. So, some boating growth from 1950 to 1975, along with cabins. motels, marinas etc. To me, the next transition started in 1980. People who built cabins wanted to retire and the cash flow in these cabins wasn't enough to justify upgrades. Remember Jimmy Carter gave us 18% mortgages. People started selling their cabins and marinas as condo's. More "permanent" boat traffic. By 2000 those owners were retiring and the condo cabins started a transition to VRBO. Each time we had one of these transitions, people wanted to get out on the water. {Recall, Goodhue Boat Yard built the first(?) fork lift operation on the lake (~1957?) and now they're all over the place.} The next transition was Covid, when MP reported 30,000 newly certified safe boaters in one year. That was probably a peak with over 100,000 registered boats and over 40,000 estimated as being primarily operated on Winnipesaukee. My guess is, those who rushed into boating during the pandemic are now slowing down. In spring, 2025 we had 12 weekends in a row with rain. By Labor Day, the lake was too low for many boaters. Their boating habits changed. We'll have to see how 2026 works out, but summer boating, in my lifetime, really starts after Bike Week, Father's Day and school closing. So, just enjoy less boat traffic for awhile.

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06-07-2026, 02:36 PM	#32
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,598 Thanks: 1,418 Thanked 1,705 Times in 1,109 Posts	I see more than one sequence, but my thought starts 75 years ago, not 50. Looking mostly at boat traffic, since that is the theme of this thread. In 1950, few people owned boats. Commercial rides were popular--at the Weirs, there still was no Weirs Beach--airplane hangars. Uncle Sam, Foxy Boats, Miss Winnipesaukee (8) Sophie C and the Mount . Jim Irwin Sr. was selling CC cabin cruisers, and runabouts. Channel Marine and others were selling some smaller boats, but island residents, of which there were few, took taxi boats to/from and some rowed. So, some boating growth from 1950 to 1975, along with cabins. motels, marinas etc. To me, the next transition started in 1980. People who built cabins wanted to retire and the cash flow in these cabins wasn't enough to justify upgrades. Remember Jimmy Carter gave us 18% mortgages. People started selling their cabins and marinas as condo's. More "permanent" boat traffic. By 2000 those owners were retiring and the condo cabins started a transition to VRBO. Each time we had one of these transitions, people wanted to get out on the water. {Recall, Goodhue Boat Yard built the first(?) fork lift operation on the lake (~1957?) and now they're all over the place.} The next transition was Covid, when MP reported 30,000 newly certified safe boaters in one year. That was probably a peak with over 100,000 registered boats and over 40,000 estimated as being primarily operated on Winnipesaukee. My guess is, those who rushed into boating during the pandemic are now slowing down. In spring, 2025 we had 12 weekends in a row with rain. By Labor Day, the lake was too low for many boaters. Their boating habits changed. We'll have to see how 2026 works out, but summer boating, in my lifetime, really starts after Bike Week, Father's Day and school closing. So, just enjoy less boat traffic for awhile.