Steamboat Week 2026

thinkxingu · 09-11-2026, 06:50 AM

Happy Friday, All!

Just a note that steamboat week starts tomorrow with the first parade Sunday the 13th at 2 and the closing parade Saturday the 19th at 10. There's no indicated day/time for the midweek "race" that I've found.

Info is at the link below, and, as I've mentioned in the past, just outside Lee's Mills is a great place to anchor out to take in the "action." Hopefully, the weather will cooperate for the week.

Cheers!

https://www.lakesregion.org/event/le...tonborough-nh/

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chachee52 · 09-11-2026, 08:23 AM

Will be heading over Sunday, maybe even tomorrow too depending on my mood. Love this week on the lake!!

tis · 09-11-2026, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Happy Friday, All!

Just a note that steamboat week starts tomorrow with the first parade Sunday the 13th at 2 and the closing parade Saturday the 19th at 10. There's no indicated day/time for the midweek "race" that I've found.

Info is at the link below, and, as I've mentioned in the past, just outside Lee's Mills is a great place to anchor out to take in the "action." Hopefully, the weather will cooperate for the week.

Cheers!

https://www.lakesregion.org/event/le...tonborough-nh/

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

If you happen to hear when they go to 19 Mile would you post as a reminder? (TBA) Thanks.

KPW · 09-11-2026, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

If you happen to hear when they go to 19 Mile would you post as a reminder? (TBA) Thanks.

They usually go on Wednesday.

webmaster · 09-11-2026, 05:02 PM

For anyone who hasn't seen them, here's a series of videos I made in 2010:

tis · 09-12-2026, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KPW

They usually go on Wednesday.

Yeah, wonder if they will this year.

garysanfran · 09-12-2026, 07:38 AM

I associate this event with rain. Every time I've attended, many times, it has rained.

I could stay home for the benefit of others, but I'll probably go, bring the rain and enjoy myself as always.

I remember a character in Lil' Abner that always had a cloud over his head...Joe Bftsplk. No relation.

ishoot308 · 09-13-2026, 10:35 AM

Yesterday was a great day to go Lee’s Mills to see the steamboats! Here’s a few pics….

Dan

Descant · 09-13-2026, 12:09 PM

In the last picture above, the boat is fairly sizeable, so I have to guess it is homeported on Winnipesaukee, but I haven't seen it other than at the regatta. Any input?
Operating questions: With a cold boiler how long doers it take to build enough steam to cruise?
When you return, do you just let the fire die out naturally? What do you do with that fire at the end of the regatta when it's time to load up and leave Winnipesaukee?

I'm amazed at how lttle freeboard some of the boats carry.

thinkxingu · 09-13-2026, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysanfran

I associate this event with rain. Every time I've attended, many times, it has rained.

I could stay home for the benefit of others, but I'll probably go, bring the rain and enjoy myself as always.

I remember a character in Lil' Abner that always had a cloud over his head...Joe Bftsplk. No relation.

Ummm...jinx much?!

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pondguy · 09-13-2026, 01:42 PM

I always go on Wednesday and it never rains that way I can park up close and don't have to do a lot of walking I don't move as fast as I used to.

chachee52 · 09-13-2026, 06:02 PM

Drove over today, not much going on, a couple boats went out but the general consensus from the captains was just hang out under the tent.
I'll try again next weekend, but long range forecast isn't looking too good so far.

ishoot308 · 09-13-2026, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chachee52

Drove over today, not much going on, a couple boats went out but the general consensus from the captains was just hang out under the tent.
I'll try again next weekend, but long range forecast isn't looking too good so far.

Yesterday was the day! It was gorgeous!

Dan

chachee52 · 09-13-2026, 08:02 PM

I know, had other things going on. Had a friend come up and went hiking. It was still nice to go chat with all the people at Lees Mills. One of the older ones that has been there for YEARS is for sale, that was sad to see. We got to jump onboard that one last year and was a great cruise.

LIforrelaxin · 09-14-2026, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

In the last picture above, the boat is fairly sizeable, so I have to guess it is homeported on Winnipesaukee, but I haven't seen it other than at the regatta. Any input?

Don't assume that just because of the size it home ports on Winnipesaukee.... several years back there where a couple of sizable steam boats that where trailered in.... In fact I was there as they where trying to pull one of them out.... and it ended up being a two truck effort, as the primary truck just kept loosing traction...

This rally, is quite big and pulls in people from all over at times...

thinkxingu · 09-19-2026, 10:17 AM

A reminder on today's parade starting NOW!

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chachee52 · 09-19-2026, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

In the last picture above, the boat is fairly sizeable, so I have to guess it is homeported on Winnipesaukee, but I haven't seen it other than at the regatta. Any input?
Operating questions: With a cold boiler how long doers it take to build enough steam to cruise?
When you return, do you just let the fire die out naturally? What do you do with that fire at the end of the regatta when it's time to load up and leave Winnipesaukee?

I'm amazed at how lttle freeboard some of the boats carry.

I took a good look today, looked like that boat was registered in Washington if the first couple letters WA were any indication
Great day for a cruise, a little chilly at 9am heading over but was very nice day. Followed the parade all the way into Green's basin after letting it pass at Lee's Mill. From there, cruised all the way to the other side of the lake to Alton Bay to try to grab some Pop's clams only to find out they were closed for the season already. Nice lunch at Shibly's is always a good time too.
Kid and my wife jumped out of the boat after the parade to walk around at Lee's Mills, kid convinced someone to bring him out for the 2nd year in a row after being rained out last Sunday when me and him took the car over.
I'll try to upload pics a little later.
Always a sad weekend, means that the boat gets put away soon now.

First Mate · 09-20-2026, 04:22 PM

FWIW, it seems Pops is NOT closed for the season, apparently it was just for this weekend. They told us previously they'd be open weekends through Columbus Day so we went looking for an update. I hate when Facebook is the vehicle for this kind of info, I don't have an account and thus it's largely blocked from viewing, but this was shared with me from FB - so here you go.

chachee52 · 09-20-2026, 05:05 PM

Here are a few pics that I took during Saturday's parade. Enjoy and can't wait until next year!

09-11-2026, 06:50 AM	#1
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 6,694 Thanks: 1,187 Thanked 2,222 Times in 1,381 Posts	Steamboat Week 2026 Happy Friday, All! Just a note that steamboat week starts tomorrow with the first parade Sunday the 13th at 2 and the closing parade Saturday the 19th at 10. There's no indicated day/time for the midweek "race" that I've found. Info is at the link below, and, as I've mentioned in the past, just outside Lee's Mills is a great place to anchor out to take in the "action." Hopefully, the weather will cooperate for the week. Cheers! https://www.lakesregion.org/event/le...tonborough-nh/ Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

09-12-2026, 07:38 AM	#7
garysanfran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Francisco/Meredith Posts: 1,658 Thanks: 752 Thanked 753 Times in 368 Posts	I associate this event with rain. Every time I've attended, many times, it has rained. I could stay home for the benefit of others, but I'll probably go, bring the rain and enjoy myself as always. I remember a character in Lil' Abner that always had a cloud over his head...Joe Bftsplk. No relation. __________________ Gary ~~~~_/) ~~~ ~~~~~~~~

09-13-2026, 10:35 AM	#8
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,604 Thanks: 2,477 Thanked 5,501 Times in 2,159 Posts	Yesterday was a great day to go Lee’s Mills to see the steamboats! Here’s a few pics…. Dan Attached Images __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

09-20-2026, 04:22 PM	#18
First Mate Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 44 Thanks: 15 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	FWIW, it seems Pops is NOT closed for the season, apparently it was just for this weekend. They told us previously they'd be open weekends through Columbus Day so we went looking for an update. I hate when Facebook is the vehicle for this kind of info, I don't have an account and thus it's largely blocked from viewing, but this was shared with me from FB - so here you go. Attached Images

09-20-2026, 05:05 PM	#19
chachee52 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 549 Thanks: 6 Thanked 108 Times in 85 Posts	Here are a few pics that I took during Saturday's parade. Enjoy and can't wait until next year! Attached Images

The Following User Says Thank You to thinkxingu For This Useful Post:
pondguy (09-11-2026)

09-11-2026, 08:23 AM	#2
chachee52 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 549 Thanks: 6 Thanked 108 Times in 85 Posts	Will be heading over Sunday, maybe even tomorrow too depending on my mood. Love this week on the lake!!

09-11-2026, 05:02 PM	#5
webmaster Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,519 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 474 Thanked 4,077 Times in 878 Posts	For anyone who hasn't seen them, here's a series of videos I made in 2010:

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to webmaster For This Useful Post:
garysanfran (09-12-2026), pondguy (09-13-2026)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
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09-13-2026, 12:09 PM	#9
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,656 Thanks: 1,448 Thanked 1,733 Times in 1,127 Posts	In the last picture above, the boat is fairly sizeable, so I have to guess it is homeported on Winnipesaukee, but I haven't seen it other than at the regatta. Any input? Operating questions: With a cold boiler how long doers it take to build enough steam to cruise? When you return, do you just let the fire die out naturally? What do you do with that fire at the end of the regatta when it's time to load up and leave Winnipesaukee? I'm amazed at how lttle freeboard some of the boats carry.

09-13-2026, 01:42 PM	#11
pondguy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Meredith Posts: 325 Thanks: 624 Thanked 222 Times in 140 Posts	I always go on Wednesday and it never rains that way I can park up close and don't have to do a lot of walking I don't move as fast as I used to.

09-13-2026, 06:02 PM	#12
chachee52 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 549 Thanks: 6 Thanked 108 Times in 85 Posts	Drove over today, not much going on, a couple boats went out but the general consensus from the captains was just hang out under the tent. I'll try again next weekend, but long range forecast isn't looking too good so far.

09-13-2026, 08:02 PM	#14
chachee52 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 549 Thanks: 6 Thanked 108 Times in 85 Posts	I know, had other things going on. Had a friend come up and went hiking. It was still nice to go chat with all the people at Lees Mills. One of the older ones that has been there for YEARS is for sale, that was sad to see. We got to jump onboard that one last year and was a great cruise.

09-19-2026, 10:17 AM	#16
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 6,694 Thanks: 1,187 Thanked 2,222 Times in 1,381 Posts	A reminder on today's parade starting NOW! Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk