Although odd sounding, to me -it looked like the engines were mounted on the same bracket which appeared to have the ability to raise & lower.

Again, we did not get in close to her (and I may be wrong on the above) but could this be a reason for the close spacing ……………… although I cannot conceive of why they would want this function- unless they expect to be underway with a "Heavy" load and need to adjust the propulsion ??

We are in & out of WAM and weather permitting will take a closer look this coming weekend.



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I would not want to try and pilot this thing on a windy day! Between the shortness of the season, and the number of days when the wind is blowing down the lake, it will be interesting to see how many useful days they get out of this thing.

Benefit of Doubt
 

My first post!?!? After a long time lurking. I like the novelty of this idea being on the lake. Just another option when out on the lake to have fun and do something different. After reading the info. on their web. It seems the Captain Jamison has a ton of experience on the water as a Captain as well as with barges. I would think with all that experience he must have some knowledge when building his own barge from scratch what he needs to pilot the barge on this specific lake. So I give him the benefit of doubt until I see him going sideways out in the broads.

Diversified Marine’s barge has a similar setup. Dave Farley maneuvers it like a sports car.


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Unfortunately it looks like they won't be launching imminently. Their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/thedivelakewinni/) shows a video from two weeks ago which makes it look like they have a lot to do.

I guess mid-August.

What do you think?

I agree, if they were just welding the stairs two week ago I would say a minimum of August 1st if they get moving.

I guess next year, or at best, a short trial run this year. It's going to take some time to staff up and train as well. It is (obviously?) a very seasonal thing, what kind of help are you going to be able to hire in August for what would then be an ~4 week "season"?

Something like this needs to be able to do its "shakedown cruise" by May 1st to be fully operational to capture the seasonal revenue, IMO.

sub contractors?
 

I get the impression from their website that they have a chef lined up and for larger events they have a group of caterers/vendors lined up. Many DJ's and Bands are available, so there isn't a lot of training/hiring needed as I see it. The business issue is working capital from Columbus Day to My 1, 2019 when there may be no revenue. It is possible, depending on home port, to heat the interior spaces and operate without actually cruising. If they have AC, they probably have heat, yes?

I was at WAM over the weekend and took a morning stroll with my daughter around the property. We meandered over to see the progress at The Dive and I was surprised at the considerable amount of work still to be completed.

Even with my curiosity meter pegging at 12, we did not board the vessel however I'd estimate there is a solid month's worth of work for a crew of 8+.

While this establishment isn't necessarily up my alley, I hope the owners at least get their maiden voyage in this season.

Thanks for the update and photos. Awesome!!


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Doesn t look like much finish work has been done?

Long way to go!!

Ice fishing
 

This looks like its on track to be the fanciest bob house on the lake. Anchor over a winter hotspot, let it freeze in place, drill a series of 6" to 8" holes & rent jiggin poles. Serve hot chocolate....

I am speeding up my 3 year estimate of its sale to a shorefront restaurant to that happening within a year.

Thanks for the updated pictures. I have a feeling we will likely not see the dive out and about this year. While they may have secured help and a chef with ambitious hopes. Getting through all the regulatory issues, permitting etc. generally takes longer then planned. In fact it sinks many business every year. They also may have run into funding issues, investors pulling out etc. When things didn't happen as planned.

Bottom line is pulling off a venture like this is no small task. There is heart and soul being put into this venture I am sure. But heart and soul don't by much in the business world.

I hope that these people are able to succeed. I think it would be a neat business on the lake.... Although not to this scale, we have seen similar businesses tried to take advantage of the Party spots, by providing food over the years. This venture will show if scale was the issue in the past, or if there just isn't a workable model that will succeed.

Now I don't mean to imply past attempts have failed financially. What I am implying is that past attempts have not been successful enough to warrant continued service.

Timing
 

I think the solid money is in weddings and events, not selling hot dogs on sand bars. If they get out on the water in 2018 with a few ticketed events, bands etc. they will book big events for 2019 and be very successful. In the meantime, as mentioned above, if there is a homeport where they can just be a dockside night club in the fall, there can be some good cash flow and add to interest for 2019 event bookings. Tied to the right dock for Bike Week 2019 could be a great money maker, if they aren't already wedding/event booked. I see a lot of options here just because people want some thing unique.

I picture multiple boats trying to get into one spot for pickup...

Am I the only one who looks at that and has visions of it capsized with a load of people in it? I'm wondering if stability tests are required for it?

Its built on barge... similar to the Winni Belle. I am sure before it gets a permit to operate the MP will do a shakedown cruise and inspection. Just like they do on the Mount and the Belle every year.

Wooodsy

What surprises me most is that the new owners have been totally "mute" on the forum ………. a great platform for them to address these "speculations", update their progress & intents, etc., etc...………..


Surprises me that they are (apparently) oblivious to a great marketing opportunity or simply choose not to participate - which is a shame unto itself !


Just an observation -- not a criticism or judgement



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As we know this forum can be a double edged sword so maybe they have decided to opt out to avoid criticism and skeptics before they are even up and running. As with any business on the lake a truly hope they succeed.


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There are a couple of ways to look at this.... I think they are doing the right thing, which is staying quiet until the can announce a launch date, and maidan voyage...

Someone else mention safety concerns with capsizing. As Woody pointed out they will have to go through inspection I am sure, just like other commercial vessels on the lake. I don't know what this entails on an inland waterway like winnipesaukee. But on lake Champlain under Coast Guard jurisdiction it was an undertaking, including the boats having to come out of the water every so many years....... Having been build upon a barge, and presumably with adjustable ballast, I would have to believe that it will be fairly stable.....

As with anything... there are many what ifs.... What if the vessel looses steerage... whoops the mount did that and almost took out a boat house in Center Harbor... Whoops lake is low and the mail boat got suck on a rock.... Come on folks, this business is going to be insured... the insurance company is going to dictate safety standards to maintain coverage, and presumably there will be some kind of business loan, and the bank will not let the company operate with out insurance... There may be days where she can't leave port because the Captain will not believe it is safe to do so... But I believe we should give these people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to safety of the vessel, until proven otherwise.... The could have thrown something together and been out on the water by now.... instead they appear to be doing everything right, hoping for a successful launch....

Well said! For some reason, every time somebody comes up with an idea we all assume they haven’t done their due diligence and start pointing out potential problems/errors/loopholes. We search for the negative. (I’m guilty as charged). We need to give them a chance to provide a product/service we can evaluate then provide an analysis based on experience.


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Check their Facebook page
 

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=the%20dive

They were advertising insulated mugs on their Facebook page yesterday

I wonder if the top deck will be high enough to parachute off of? :D

Bungee Jumping!

I have been looking at the pictures, thinking a nice water slide from the top deck along the side would be cool.

I vote for human slingshot

Oh ya... the insurance premiums would be prohibitive, no doubt.

Or better yet,Naked jumping from the top like the Willy T in the BVI's.

Looks like she has her keepsemfromfloppin in her hand.

Oh, be careful for what you wish, that could be a frightening experience.

I'm guessing that they named it "The DIVE" to subliminally encourage people to dive off the top?

I guess naming it "The Naked Dive" would have been too obvious!

I think the owner is a SCUBA diver. Also striking some irony between a dive type bar and what I expect will be very upscale.

Having been to Willy T's, I can certify that this would be a concern. :eek:

Willy t's
 

Also experienced Willy T. 1st time in 2006 and it was wild! Fun too! Our whole crew took the naked plunge. Next time 2009 was a different story. Was not very busy and no jumping from the upper deck. Story I heard someone was seriously injured. Next experience 2013. Much busier but not nearly as much fun, very toned down, there was some jumping from upper deck again but was never the same as the 1st experience.

The upper deck jumping would never happen here.

The Dive
 

Anybody know where it will call its home base? I assume it has to be docked somewhere and call it home. Will it take on passengers at its home location? Will there be parking for groups?
if it has a wedding or a party in Gilford or Laconia will it be able to dock at the Glendale docks or Wiers for 1/2 hour to pick up the group? Where will members of the group park?
Will it require town or state permission as a commercial vessel to retrieve passengers from Glendale, Weirs, Meredith docks?
When it does not have a charter will it be at Braun or another popular gathering spot for the entire day or ride from spot to spot? May take a while to get from one spot to another.
While it will sell alcohol I believe the laws require the beverages to be consumed on the premises. While the novelty is great, how many times will people spend $10+for a drink before just staying in their own boat at the sandbar and mixing their own much cheaper cocktail?

Not trying to be negative but this has been tried before and the above were not ironed out beforehand. Hopefully it does wel!

Dive
 

Haven't seen it and if it's not out now it never will be. Crazy busy on the lake the last two days...

All good questions I suggest you post them
on their Facebook page and hopefully you’ll get your answers


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Loons, rumbling boat motors, kids shrieking as they enjoy the water . . . all of those are enjoyable sounds. TVs and loud music would totally ruin the ambiance of the lake for me if I lived either on shore or on an island close to where the Dive could be anchored. Comparisons were made to the Winnipesaukee Belle, but when the Belle cruises by, the lights and music are fleeting. That makes it fun to see - maybe not so if someone were subjected to it for hours. Hope all of the pros and cons have been considered . . .

I think, perhaps, besides making all the permit requirements, the driving factor is pursuance of the almighty dollar...noise pollution is probably low on the consideration list...
There is a cross section of the lake populous that will love it, however.
To each his own.

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