who owns?
 

As noted above, the Flagship Corp claims ownership of the ramp and the dock. Apparently, the city agrees with that and does not (cannot?) bother them for whatever they sell onboard.

Love to see the Mt pushing back. Totally different customer base. Limited parking and unruly customers will destroy their business


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Does seem surprising. The underpowered engines should have at least been a known issue, from what I know the guy does marine construction or barges or something.

I would guess they figured it was better to wing it and hope for the best. If they had approached every possible government agency up front with all concerns they would still be waiting to build the thing.

The Winni Flagship Corp owns the RR station.... They do not however own the handicap ramps or the docks... they belong to the City! At least according to the tax maps anyway!

I think it would be in the Flagships best interest to play nice..... If I were on the City Council, I would be thinking about redoing the MT lease to fair market value.... just like they want to do to the Dive!

Woodsy

So you are advocating for the city to battle a 100 plus year old tradition in the lakes region to please new comers.


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Totally Agree
 

The Mount brings families to the Weirs who will spend dollars in the area at the many attractions not only in Laconia but at the other ports of call. The Mount has a many decades long history of running a "tight ship" and they are a great asset to the entire Lakes Region community.

The Dive will most likely attract only people who want to drink and raise hell, one would think they may not be the ideal neighbor, especially if you want to improve the area.

If the city ever wants to better the Weirs they need to support business's like the Mount Washington Co. who bring something long term to the table.

The age of the business or any tradition have nothing to do with it. Our society runs on laws and regulations. You either comply or you don't. If there is a dispute the courts will settle it.

If you reject new comers who attempt to follow the rules, growth will stagnate. You cannot take sides or play favorites, just make any new business comply with the existing regulations.

In the event that the laws in place need to be changed the appropriate party, in this case the Laconia City Council, can consider if it is in the public's best interest to change those regulations.

Using your logic every building and home must be brought up to current code before it can be occupied. If you disagree you are welcomed to hire a lawyer to fight it


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I am not sure how you came to that conclusion. The existing buildings follow the regulations in place for them that do not require them to upgrade to today's laws and standards. They are complying with the laws that regulate them, which was my point.

New businesses should also comply with the regulations, and yes, today's regulations are different than those of years past.

No decisions are, or can be, made based upon tradition. That is open to such vague interpretation that it would generate thousands of court cases.

Example: When my house was built in the 1940's they drove a backhoe into the lake to bury the water line 50 feet out from the shoreline. That was the custom or tradition then, but certainly not now. I wouldn't want to try that today!

I am glad to see the Mount Washington go by and I don't have any problem with the Dive. I am not advocating for either. But, everyone must follow the rules and regulations in place today.

No... I am advocating that the old tradition play nice with the newcomers! It is in the best interests of everyone. The Dive could actually compliment the Mounts business giving folks a place to hang out before they cruise on the Doris or Sophie.

The City wants the Dive to pay fair market value for the dock lease. I am a Weirs taxpayer and I am OK with that. The Winni Flagship Corp. should be worried that the City is going to do the same to their lease! IMHO, they too should be paying fair market value!

As for the drinking on the dock laws.... maybe the city should make sure the Mount doesn't serve a drink until they are underway, or during Bike Week when they don't go out and open as a floating bar! I say change the laws and let the businesses thrive or fail on their own merits!

Woodsy

That's cool. But as noted in the LDS article, the Dive does not want to "comply with the existing regulations". So it's a fair debate as to whether it's in the public's interest to change them.

I think it's generally accepted that the Mount is already in the public's interest. This is the advantage of tradition

The new normal is "Social Distancing" so I am not sure if opening a newly located, seasonal operation such as The Dive will be financially viable for the current owners (or any subsequent owner for that matter).

Based upon the financials I wouldn't be surprised The Dive gives everything a serious second thought prior to continuing going forward in 2020.

Of course the passage of time will actually tell what really happens and discussing everything at this point is pure speculation. It will be interesting to see how things play out for everyone.

Everyone please stay safe and healthy!

So back to the Dive. The city gave them permission and then the council rescinded it? Who knows the story?

Approved
 

Last night the Laconia City Council approved the Dive lease 4-3! They will soon be at the Weirs Docks!


Woodsy

Great News!!
 

SO SO very happy for Jamie and Betsy!!! They are bringing something truly different and exciting to the Weirs and we will definitely be a frequent flyer on the Dive. Best of luck on their next endeavor at the Weirs Dock

The Breeze
(Paulie from Good Fellas)

Have they been restricted at all from doing their normal sand bar business? I haven't seen or heard of it being out.

Last I heard they were having one of their outboards worked on.... I suspect with all this Covid crap it has been a slow process.

No sandbar restrictions that I know of.

Hopefully we will see them in the Weirs soon!

Woodsy

Weirs
 

So now that the Dive can serve food and alcohol at an extension of the Weirs public dock, does that mean the MT. Washington can also? Wasn't the MT not allowed to serve food or alcohol until underway, except for bike week?

The Mount has always served liquor while waiting to get underway.... and when docked for Bike Week. It was just never really an issue or enforced.

Woodsy

Public dock vs. private?
 

I always thought the Mount owned her dock, storage building, ramp and ticket office (RR Station). Isn't that why the Flagship Corp said the Dive couldn't use their ramp for ADA access?

So it's been quite a while since there's been any discussion about the Dive. Does anyone know where things stand with their operation these days? Are they currently up and operating with social distancing? Have they received approval to build a new dock at the Weirs?

My guess is that Covid-19 must have a huge impact on their business.

Over the last month or so I have only seen it at the beach end of the Weirs dock.

I have not attempted to dock on the back side in many years otherwise I might not be thrilled by that location, but others who do use the back side of the docks may not be too happy by its seemingly permanent status at the end of the docks.

Well that and its possibly the ugliest thing I have seen there since the last time a construction barge was docked at Weirs.

As for business, then seem to have a steady business, and people seem to say good things about them.

No real skin in this matter myself except I suspect if I tried squat on a public dock indefinitely I would likely have a problem, and it really is a super eyesore.

By comparison the Tiki boats are a brilliant concept, and in truth they make me smile ear to ear every time I see one of them crossing in front of the Weirs or anchored somewhere. And their customers always seem to be having a great time! But I never see them using up public dock space.

Again, not personally spending much time thinking about the Dive, but there is something a little off-putting when you see them on the public dock forever and its overall less than attractive appearance.

But if being butt ugly is their marketing concept and its working for them I'm not loosing any sleep over it, and at the same time not feeling any desire to see the inside, as opposed to the Tiki boats which I keep trying to come up with an excuse to try out :rolleye2:

See, I kinda like The Dive where it is—seems like one of those Mississippi River gambling boats, and I think it fits in for the most part.

And for those who pay attention, I've been very critical of The Dive in the past because I thought it was the zenith of private capitalism destroying public space—I have had few Winni experiences more frustrating than showing up at a sandbar, early, with my family only to find it usurped by The Dive and its (often annoying) occupants. Not only did it monopolize huge amounts of space, but we often had to deal with the people's vessels who left for hours that would often slip with crappy anchors (when we actually stayed rather than altering our plans completely). I actually had a bro get mad at me and another guy for being upset that we had to reset his anchor for an hour lest his boat hit ours.

In any case, I've friends who have docked in the back with skis and they said it wasn't that big an obstruction, so I think overall it's a good place to be for The Dive and wish them well—nobody wants to see a small business fail, so I'm hoping it becomes a win-win for them, the town, and their customers.

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Glad the Dive has found a home. It can still be mobile, but having a spot that does not generate 7x24 angst is great.

It is also great that they are helping Laconia remodel and extend the docks. I live at Weirs and the current layout can be frustrating as hell, especially when you have a few Jet Skis taking up large spots instead of weaving in between.

Only tip/hint to the Dive, if your listening/reading, if you are staying on that end in the end, please move about 6 feet further out. :)

I am one of those who routinely ties up on the backside of the docks when it is busy (having a 1.5ft draft comes in handy), and when folks start sitting on the backside of the Dive, you have to go real wide to get to the backside and lets just say I have skag bumped a few times this season. :eek:

Also a small roped off area would be nice. Folks on those back seats tend to think they can roam around and up to the shorline. You need some 'no achohol beyond this point' signs in the water.

Beyond that, I look forward to the changes happing at the docks, finally! Maybe someday we will get dock hands?... Naaaa now I'm dreaming... :D

Tried it
 

Have never been a real fan of The Dive, esp when the business model was just to be every day in Smalls Cove. That said, to went to the Weirs by boat last evening. Decided to give it a try. Friendly and attentive wait staff. The facility itself seemed a bit grungy. Food on the expensive side. We just had a couple of appetizers and drinks, nothing too challenging.

My understanding is a dock was supposed to be built for them, but as has been stated, it is merely on the end of the pre-existing dock. I'm assuming if something is to be built, it will be done this off season.

Having it more or less permanently docked at the Weirs may be the best option for the business and it does not detract from anyone's experience on the lake.

It's a much better spot than where it was last season.

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Behind the Winnipesaukee Pier??? Thats where I saw it last year.

Not sure I agree the current location is better.

My understanding is,,

The plan that has been initially approved is to remove every other finger of the docks and increase the length of the remaining fingers by 40ft.

Much like Merideth. Supposed to start work this fall.

Doesnt seem like the math works out to the same number of dock spaces, is it?

If you were one of the home owners that had to look out at it attached to the pier, I'm sure you would be happy it moved.

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Dive - Meredith?
 

Thought I saw it docked in Meredith today. 9/5
Maybe over where the Mt Washington sometimes pulls in...

You mean the Weirs? That’s its regular mooring.


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There are pump out stations at that dock.

From behind the Winnipesaukee Pier to the end of the docks??? If, so I guess, but it woudnt seem like a big improvement if I did not like seeing it at all. It would seem like a bandaid solution.

Someone else likened it to a river gambling boat, cant say I see it. Maybe if it looked nicer, something like the Mount or the Doris or Sophie, then it might have more appeal, but currently the name Dive is well suited.

Dive - Meredith?
 

I could have sworn on my way for a coffee this AM ~ 9 I saw the Dive tied up on the Meredith Docks where the Mt used to frequent. I will say it was not there later on in the day/afternoon when I returned by boat... Maybe I'm seeing things in my older age.

Would it go there for a pump out?
I would have guessed the docks at the Weirs had this ability...

The Laconia public docks at the Weirs do not have pump out facilities.

Down the other end of the boardwalk from The Dive, doesn't the Citgo gasoline station have a sewerage pump-out hose on the dock, there. You can see it in the webcam?

Who knows .... maybe The Dive just wanted to go for a ride .... or something .... just for a test run?

Saw it in Meredith several times fairly early in the morning ...pumping out and loading supplies

Had a great afternoon at the Dive yesterday. I noticed right away that it is moved about 20ft further out on the finger dock. Yay! I'd like to think it was due to my note, but my guess is with the lake drop it was bumping bottom and at risk of grounding. :)

Oh and I got to meet Joyce! /wave