The Belknap

KTO · 08-24-2004, 08:19 PM

This past week we went to snorkel along the shores of Steamboat. I knew there was a wreck there, and yes, I knew it was the Belknap. The map said that the wreck was in 20-25 feet of water. Someone else told me there was nothing left of the wreck, but it was in 8-10 feet of water. That was MUCH closer. (Thank you whoever told me that from this forum!

) We went there on Wednesday, searched all over, but found nothing! Ack!

How sad! I talked to someone and they told me the wreck was just off of shore. . . heh! Well we found it on Sunday, and if you are just a snorkeler, and would be interested in this wreck, it is well worth it! All that was left was teh outline of the hull, but boy was it cool! it was all still there, but it was only the hull. . .REALLY COOL STILL!! Thank you to whoever recommended it!

________
buy no2 vaporizer

KTO · 08-24-2004, 08:21 PM

Does anyone know the story of the Belknap???
________
buy no2 vaporizer

dpg · 08-25-2004, 05:37 AM

Ya, it sunk!

Rattlesnake Gal · 08-25-2004, 12:10 PM

Excerpt from Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society:

Shipwrecks were the distinguishing feature in the life of Winnipesaukee’s first steamboat, the Belknap. Two years in the building, the Belknap was a prodigious effort for the Lakes Region shipbuilders —ninety-six feet long and thirty-three feet wide on the decks —and was powered by a steam engine salvaged from an old saw mill Her first misadventure happened the day she was launched at Lakeport in 1833. Full-ahead was located where reverse should have been in her crazy-quilt pilot house, and the proud ship plowed backwards into a raft of logs instead of sailing majestically out into Paugus Bay. The trouble was soon located, however; the Belknap finished her maiden voyage on schedule and continued to operate on the lake for eight more years, until another raft of logs again caused an accident that finished her career for good. On that cold October day in 1841, the lake witnessed its first serious shipwreck, and another one of its 365 islands received a name.

It was late in the season, when the nor’easters make boating hazardous on Winnipesaukee just as they do for seamen everywhere. The Belknap was sailing out of Center Harbor that day, towing a raft of logs that slowed the ship down to a speed of about three miles an hour. Somewhere between Six Mile Island and Birch Island a gale struck the steamer. Unable to make any headway with her heavy burden, the Belknap swung onto the point of a small island, smashed against submerged rocks and sank almost immediately. Although the machinery was later salvaged, the hull still remains on the lake-bottom near “Steamboat Island,” as it has been called ever since.

During the eight years of the Belknap’s service, other steamers were put into service on the lake, all of them powered by old locomotive or sawmill engines. About eight were built altogether, fashioned along the scow lines of the Belknap; they were noisy and clumsy, but they proved that scheduled steamboat transportation was a practical and profitable business. Population was growing, the railroads were coming and businessmen recognized the need for inter-town transportation. But by the time that the Belknap made her last voyage, all the early sidewheelers had been either worn out or destroyed, and steamboating on Winnipesaukee came to a standstill for several years while the region waited for a newer type of common carrier.
Steamboats of Lake Winnipesaukee

mcdude · 08-25-2004, 12:46 PM

Another informative post from RG. I notice she has quietly "sailed" over the 500 mark in her postings....KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!! .....but let the rest of us get a word in edge-wise!! Thanks!

KTO · 08-25-2004, 01:07 PM

The Belknap sunk? Who woulda known?!?
________
Honda RC211V

Rattlesnake Gal · 08-25-2004, 02:28 PM

McDude, you are such a wise guy! Take a look in the mirror. You're running a close second!

Guess we are a couple helpful blabber mouths.

Sorry folks.

Grant · 08-25-2004, 06:54 PM

Great link to the LWHS, RG! Can't wait for that site to get more content.

GTO · 08-26-2004, 09:55 AM

I had heard the Ship was carrying Caribus to a traveling zoo on the other side of the lake and all the animals went down with the ship.

KTO · 09-01-2004, 05:50 PM

Don't know what a caribu is. . . hmm. . never heard of one before. I have however heard of a caribou. That's ok,GTO doesn't seem very wise to me. .

________
XL185

08-24-2004, 08:19 PM	#1
KTO Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 391 Thanks: 30 Thanked 117 Times in 26 Posts	The Belknap This past week we went to snorkel along the shores of Steamboat. I knew there was a wreck there, and yes, I knew it was the Belknap. The map said that the wreck was in 20-25 feet of water. Someone else told me there was nothing left of the wreck, but it was in 8-10 feet of water. That was MUCH closer. (Thank you whoever told me that from this forum! ) We went there on Wednesday, searched all over, but found nothing! Ack! How sad! I talked to someone and they told me the wreck was just off of shore. . . heh! Well we found it on Sunday, and if you are just a snorkeler, and would be interested in this wreck, it is well worth it! All that was left was teh outline of the hull, but boy was it cool! it was all still there, but it was only the hull. . .REALLY COOL STILL!! Thank you to whoever recommended it! ________ buy no2 vaporizer Last edited by KTO; 01-22-2011 at 05:07 AM.

08-24-2004, 08:21 PM	#2
KTO Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 391 Thanks: 30 Thanked 117 Times in 26 Posts	Belknap Question Does anyone know the story of the Belknap??? ________ buy no2 vaporizer Last edited by KTO; 01-22-2011 at 05:07 AM.

08-25-2004, 12:10 PM	#4
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	History of the Belknap Excerpt from Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society: Shipwrecks were the distinguishing feature in the life of Winnipesaukee’s first steamboat, the Belknap. Two years in the building, the Belknap was a prodigious effort for the Lakes Region shipbuilders —ninety-six feet long and thirty-three feet wide on the decks —and was powered by a steam engine salvaged from an old saw mill Her first misadventure happened the day she was launched at Lakeport in 1833. Full-ahead was located where reverse should have been in her crazy-quilt pilot house, and the proud ship plowed backwards into a raft of logs instead of sailing majestically out into Paugus Bay. The trouble was soon located, however; the Belknap finished her maiden voyage on schedule and continued to operate on the lake for eight more years, until another raft of logs again caused an accident that finished her career for good. On that cold October day in 1841, the lake witnessed its first serious shipwreck, and another one of its 365 islands received a name. It was late in the season, when the nor’easters make boating hazardous on Winnipesaukee just as they do for seamen everywhere. The Belknap was sailing out of Center Harbor that day, towing a raft of logs that slowed the ship down to a speed of about three miles an hour. Somewhere between Six Mile Island and Birch Island a gale struck the steamer. Unable to make any headway with her heavy burden, the Belknap swung onto the point of a small island, smashed against submerged rocks and sank almost immediately. Although the machinery was later salvaged, the hull still remains on the lake-bottom near “Steamboat Island,” as it has been called ever since. During the eight years of the Belknap’s service, other steamers were put into service on the lake, all of them powered by old locomotive or sawmill engines. About eight were built altogether, fashioned along the scow lines of the Belknap; they were noisy and clumsy, but they proved that scheduled steamboat transportation was a practical and profitable business. Population was growing, the railroads were coming and businessmen recognized the need for inter-town transportation. But by the time that the Belknap made her last voyage, all the early sidewheelers had been either worn out or destroyed, and steamboating on Winnipesaukee came to a standstill for several years while the region waited for a newer type of common carrier. Steamboats of Lake Winnipesaukee

08-25-2004, 12:46 PM	#5
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	Over 500 posts!! Another informative post from RG. I notice she has quietly "sailed" over the 500 mark in her postings....KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!! .....but let the rest of us get a word in edge-wise!! Thanks!

08-25-2004, 01:07 PM	#6
KTO Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 391 Thanks: 30 Thanked 117 Times in 26 Posts	You're Kidding The Belknap sunk? Who woulda known?!? ________ Honda RC211V Last edited by KTO; 01-22-2011 at 05:08 AM.

08-25-2004, 05:37 AM	#3
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,591 Thanks: 150 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Ya, it sunk!

08-25-2004, 02:28 PM	#7
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	McDude, you are such a wise guy! Take a look in the mirror. You're running a close second! Guess we are a couple helpful blabber mouths. Sorry folks.

08-25-2004, 06:54 PM	#8
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,499 Thanks: 374 Thanked 229 Times in 123 Posts	Great link to the LWHS, RG! Can't wait for that site to get more content.

08-26-2004, 09:55 AM	#9
GTO Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,085 Thanks: 338 Thanked 349 Times in 161 Posts	Belknap I had heard the Ship was carrying Caribus to a traveling zoo on the other side of the lake and all the animals went down with the ship.

09-01-2004, 05:50 PM	#10
KTO Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 391 Thanks: 30 Thanked 117 Times in 26 Posts	What the. .. Don't know what a caribu is. . . hmm. . never heard of one before. I have however heard of a caribou. That's ok,GTO doesn't seem very wise to me. . ________ XL185 Last edited by KTO; 01-22-2011 at 05:08 AM.