Mt. Washington Cruises acquires Winni Belle

NHskier · 03-30-2023, 03:54 PM

Press release from the cruise line.

tis · 03-30-2023, 04:26 PM

Yup, Wolfeboro loses another one.

Descant · 03-30-2023, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

Yup, Wolfeboro loses another one.

The press release doesn't say the Belle won't return to Wolfeboro. If she needs two years refurbishment, she likely wasn't going to stay active anyway. Remember when the Judge Sewall sank at her dock?

tis · 03-30-2023, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

The press release doesn't say the Belle won't return to Wolfeboro. If she needs two years refurbishment, she likely wasn't going to stay active anyway. Remember when the Judge Sewall sank at her dock?

It doesn't but I will be very surprised if they keep her exclusively on the east side of the lake as she has been. It was one commercial vessel that we had to ourselves. You are right, I don't think the Inn would have put more money into her. Poor Judge Sewall. And then she sat half sunk by Wolfeboro Neck while they waited for state permission to sink her forever. It didn't happen so the cut her up. Sad.

TiltonBB · 03-30-2023, 08:12 PM

When it was delivered to the lake the transport company misjudged and it landed on top of the dock at the ramp in Alton.

A hydraulic wrecker was used to lift it and get it into the water.

It has spent the winter on land in Gilford having repairs done but still needs more work.

I wonder how many people go out on a cruise and think they are on a paddle wheel boat?

Descant · 03-31-2023, 11:00 AM

So, at 65' she's about the same length as the Dive, and is also shallow draft. Wouldn't it be fun to have two boats competing at the sandbars? Can't imagine all the online screamers going crazy over that.

LIforrelaxin · 03-31-2023, 01:56 PM

Overall this is not that surprising. Mount Washington Cruises is trying to expand its operations which overall I believe is a good thing. With the number of vessels they have now, it will not be as difficult on them to have a boat sitting out for a year to do serious maintenance. The exception to that will be the Mount of course, for which Maintenance will remain a winter project.

Slickcraft · 04-03-2023, 03:54 PM

Currently at Fay's.

codeman671 · 04-07-2023, 03:12 PM

I always assumed it was inboard powered. Surprised to see it has outdrives

ApS · 04-09-2023, 04:14 AM

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

The press release doesn't say the Belle won't return to Wolfeboro. If she needs two years refurbishment, she likely wasn't going to stay active anyway. Remember when the Judge Sewall sank at her dock?

Judge Sewall must have sunk more than one time. She sank once a few hundred feet from my dock. Did it drift there or was intentionally run-aground?

IDK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

It doesn't but I will be very surprised if they keep her exclusively on the east side of the lake as she has been. It was one commercial vessel that we had to ourselves. You are right, I don't think the Inn would have put more money into her. Poor Judge Sewall. And then she sat half sunk by Wolfeboro Neck while they waited for state permission to sink her forever. It didn't happen so the cut her up. Sad.

The Belle will need work underneath to operate on anything bur calm waters. Under power, it would stagger and "crab" from one course to another. The side wheels (mostly) turned, but provided no propulsion. They were passive in "operation"--if you could call it that.

Usually, it would pass by on quiet Friday evenings loudly playing "Mack the Knife", but rap "music" was a specialty in later years.

tis · 04-09-2023, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApS

.

Judge Sewall must have sunk more than one time. She sank once a few hundred feet from my dock. Did it drift there or was intentionally run-aground?

IDK.

The Belle will need work underneath to operate on anything bur calm waters. Under power, it would stagger and "crab" from one course to another. The side wheels (mostly) turned, but provided no propulsion. They were passive in "operation"--if you could call it that.

Usually, it would pass by on quiet Friday evenings loudly playing "Mack the Knife", but rap "music" was a specialty in later years.

That is one thing I liked, that it would occasionally come to our neck of the woods since we don't see big commercial vehicles. If I remember correctly, they put the Judge by your house while they awaited permission from the state to sink it but she didn't want to wait for the state. They were not given permission to sink her.

03-30-2023, 03:54 PM	#1
NHskier Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 291 Thanks: 43 Thanked 36 Times in 33 Posts	Mt. Washington Cruises acquires Winni Belle Press release from the cruise line. __________________ NHskier

03-30-2023, 08:12 PM	#5
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 2,992 Thanks: 696 Thanked 2,196 Times in 931 Posts	When it was delivered to the lake the transport company misjudged and it landed on top of the dock at the ramp in Alton. A hydraulic wrecker was used to lift it and get it into the water. It has spent the winter on land in Gilford having repairs done but still needs more work. I wonder how many people go out on a cruise and think they are on a paddle wheel boat? Attached Images

03-31-2023, 01:56 PM	#7
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,871 Thanks: 1,037 Thanked 892 Times in 524 Posts	Overall this is not that surprising. Mount Washington Cruises is trying to expand its operations which overall I believe is a good thing. With the number of vessels they have now, it will not be as difficult on them to have a boat sitting out for a year to do serious maintenance. The exception to that will be the Mount of course, for which Maintenance will remain a winter project. __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

04-03-2023, 03:54 PM	#8
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,296 Thanks: 1,222 Thanked 2,081 Times in 953 Posts	Currently at Fay's. Attached Images

03-30-2023, 04:26 PM	#2
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,716 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,457 Times in 1,014 Posts	Yup, Wolfeboro loses another one.

03-31-2023, 11:00 AM	#6
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,350 Thanks: 1,341 Thanked 1,622 Times in 1,054 Posts	So, at 65' she's about the same length as the Dive, and is also shallow draft. Wouldn't it be fun to have two boats competing at the sandbars? Can't imagine all the online screamers going crazy over that.

The Following User Says Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
Descant (04-04-2023)

04-07-2023, 03:12 PM	#9
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,489 Thanks: 221 Thanked 810 Times in 486 Posts	I always assumed it was inboard powered. Surprised to see it has outdrives