Whats up with the big boats.....

[glennsteely]

This past summer I was suprised to see boats of unimagineable size on the lake, one I saw in Meredith this summer had to be 70 feet long if it was an inch, an ocean going vessel type thing......I love the big ocean racer types, but the huge cabin cruiser types are just a little big, especially trying to dock a little 24 footer around one.......

[dpg]

Some people need to find something to do with all their money.

[JDeere]

IMHO the larger boats are in reality the cheap way to live on the lake. With land prices soaring and the taxes that accompany the valuation going nowhere but up. I would think a large boat that one can live on is cheaper the owning lake front.

[Merrymeeting]

Do we really need to resurrect this discussion again? You can find all the arguments, pro, con, and indifferent, in many, many other threads on this site.

How about we enjoy the holiday season and forgo the boat-bashing discussion for a few weeks?

[PROPELLER]

I doubt there was a 70' boat in Meredith or anywhere else on the lake that is privately owned. Only the Mt. Washington & maybe Doris E, Sophie C would be that large (not sure of the length of the latter 2). I think the largest boat on the lake that is privately owned is the one docked at Silver Sands (I forget the name) & if I recall it is in the 50' range.

[glennsteely]

Well I was just guessing 70' and I dont want to bash anything, I was just curious as to the larger and larger sizes of boats I have been seeing year after year. The good answer that I didnt think of is here and that is , its cheaper that lakefront property, I knew I could count on you guys. I would take that option if I had the money, instead of lakefront it is your own mobile island! I like it......AND.....I am a new guy here, no need to be so rude Merrymeeting, I want everyone to have a Happy holiday....big boat, small boat or no boat at all....just something to talk about......no harm intended.

[Merrymeeting]

Sorry that my post came across as rude. That was not my intention. I should nothave assumed as I did. Once you spend some time here you will see that there are some very strong opinions on boat sizes and types expressed here, lots of discussion, with not much position change after the noise is done.

I made the assumption that you were trying to fan the flames again, and that was wrong. For that I apologize.

Welcome to the forum, and happy holidays!

[glennsteely]

Thank you for the note, I can understand the flames, but I was not trying to start anything......I grew up on the lake and spend at least 2 to 3 weeks there every summer, spring or fall. It just seems that the watercraft are getting larger and larger, I know a lot of it comes with the richer and richer people that are visiting the lake and buying, or should I say, tearing down and building homes on the lake. I can remember the first time I saw a big off shore racer on the lake, it was an awesome sight. Before that it seemed to be mostly small runabouts and the occaisonal cabin cruiser. The first big, fast boat I saw on the lake when I was about 8 years old was called "hells bannana" it had triple outboards on it and was very exciting......I love boats and boating as much as the next guy and my passion for the lake is, in my opinion, unmatched by many, and I do not use the forum to bash. I am glad you responded and now we have gotten to understand each other better I look forward to another friend to share my experiences and questions with........Happy Holidays to you and yours and do me a favor........Try to stay warm.....Glenn

[Will]

FYI: its a 53' Carver , 530 Voyager. And it is usually docked at silver sands.

[Paugus Bay Resident]

One of the largest pleasure boats on the lake is the Chris Craft Conqueror that Jerry Harper (Harper Resorations) owns. Its a 1949, 53 foot (rare triple engine) and is moored by Grouse Point. Very nice boat.

[DLBIV]

I have had a place on the lake for 7 years now and yes I have seen the size of the boats increase. I think it's pretty exciting I now can go to a boat show all summer long by simply walking the docks at Meredith. Have a great holiday and before you know it the Feb boat show in Boston will be here with iceout not long after.

Later
DLB IV

[fatlazyless]

Anyone know the name and use of that big boat at the big dock at Big Beaver Island that is close to the Center Harbor-Meredith town line? Description: steel or aluminum hull & upper structure, large open main & upper deck, looks like a salt water sight seeing or whale watching type. Not a yacht with personal living areas. Set up for large groups. Not the Big Sandy from Sandy Island Camp and not the MV Bear from Camp Lawrence & Camp Nokomis. It's maybe 50-60-70 feet long and looks like a commercial, double deck tour guide boat, and it goes back and forth from the direction of Center Harbor to Meredith Bay in the late afternoon & evening. It is not the Doris E. or the Sophie C. or the Mount Washington(duh). It is a large boat and has been on the lake for more than ten years. What else? It has a white exterior and has groups of people on board who are sight-seeing or someting? It lives at Big Beaver Island and it once was bearing down on my right of way while I was sailing around in a little 12' Hobie Holder sailboat out by Buoy 3. What an outrage! Imagine that happening here on Lake Winnipesaukee, ahem!

[Will]

Beaver Island boat is called Manitou, its a 47' Bluewater.

Will

[Skipper of the Sea Que]

Originally Posted by PROPELLER

...I think the largest boat on the lake that is privately owned is the one docked at Silver Sands (I forget the name) & if I recall it is in the 50' range.

The 54' Carver at anchor in Sanders Bay Aug 2001. Name then, "My Utha Summa Humma".



The same boat under new owner, dockside at Silver Sands. Now called "Relentless". Sept 2004

[Senter Cove Guy]

Check it out. The boat in the first 2 pictures has 5 portholes while the boat in the third picture has 6. Similar boats though.

[Joe Kerr]

Originally Posted by Senter Cove Guy

Check it out. The boat in the first 2 pictures has 5 portholes while the boat in the third picture has 6. Similar boats though.

Sorry SCG, Skipper of the Sea Que is correct. The pictures are of the same boat. Guy, you are very observant about the portholes. Look closer though and you will see that the first 2 pictures of My Utha Summa Humma show only the port side of the ship. The picture of the Relentless shows 6 portholes but that's on the starboard side of the ship.

I've peeked in the portholes and It looks nicer on the inside than my house does . The owner certainly has his ship together.

Good holidays to all.

[gtxrider]

Who takes the jetski off the top or do they pull the plug until the jetski floats off?

Some of the BIG boats have thruster underneath that makes it easier to spin the boat around in tight spaces.


It must be nice to have that kind of disposable income.

[webmaster]

I took these shots in 2000 as a crew fitted out the brand new 53' "My Utha Summa Humma":

[Will]

There is actually a crane on the top deck that lowers the pwc. THis boat has a bow thruster and twin 450 Cummins.

[glennsteely]

That is the boat we saw in Meredith this summer.......I think it is the boat that prompted my question......it is BIG and beautiful.......ah, disposable income....

[gtxrider]

Yah, but I wouldn't want to slalom behind that boat. She may kick a great wake to the wakeboard set though.

But what ever floats your boat as they say.

[madrasahs]

Somebody mention Big Boat?

Stay away from between any two of these cruisers. Their combined wakes can be seen shooting 8-10 feet high on Lake Winnipesaukee! I have seen reports of 17-foot-high wakes at a Missouri lake site. Woo-Hoo!

This news story will have to do in the meantime:

OSAGE BEACH (AP) - Heavy boat traffic and bigger boats created wakes like the one that struck and sunk a 31-foot pleasure craft on Lake of the Ozarks, drowning a Barnhart woman over the weekend, officials said...At 5:50 p.m. Friday, the boat carrying Wendy Gott and others left the lake’s Party Cove...As wakes pounded the boat, more water crept in. The stern went under water and the bow went into the air, throwing the passengers. Within seconds, the boat sank 60 feet, with the 35-year-old Gott still inside, officials said.

One Osage Beach salvage company reported raising three sunken boats in 24 hours beginning Friday night. "It looks like the ocean out here," said Tim McNitt, who owns Atlantis Dive and Dock Salvage of Osage Beach...So far this year, he’s raised 15. He said he measured an 8-foot wave over the weekend at Grand Glaize Beach

He said the problem is the changing size of boats. When Lake of the Ozarks was created, 18- to 20-foot runabouts could safely pass each other. "Large boats need to be more aware of what they are doing," said water patrol officer Doug Kissinger.

There is no limit to the number of boats allowed on the lake at one time, making it difficult to regulate traffic, said Capt. Joe Hughes of the water patrol.

[Tyler]

I think you have been drinking to much eggnog. I am sure the wakes are quite large though. Just curious have you ever seen wakes this size between these two boats or are you assuming/guessing?

[rickstr66]

8' - 10' high wakes????? Think about that for a second..... nevermind 17' Seriously....... stop and think about that. Go up to a tree and measure 8-10' and then 17'.Thats open ocean stuff. I have been boating regularly on the lake for 15 years and have never come across an 8'-10' wake. People constantly over estimate boat wakes and wave heights. Many a time I have heard guys explain how the lake had "6 footers out there" or even higher. I was on the lake 2 years ago in July under the worse conditions I had ever experienced. There were ligit 4 footers out there. I have never seen 6 footers on the lake.

[fasttech]

I don't know when you people last priced a boat that size but let me tell you it is cheaper to purchase a waterfront home .

[madrasahs]

Originally Posted by rickstr66

8' - 10' high wakes????? Think about that for a second..... nevermind 17'. Seriously....... stop and think about that. Go up to a tree and measure 8-10' and then 17'. That's open ocean stuff.

OK, take it up with laker Tim McNitt:
"One Osage Beach salvage company reported raising three sunken boats in 24 hours beginning Friday night. "It looks like the ocean out here," said Tim McNitt, who owns Atlantis Dive and Dock Salvage of Osage Beach...So far this year, he’s raised 15. He said he measured an 8-foot wave over the weekend at Grand Glaize Beach."

Originally Posted by rickstr66

I have been boating regularly on the lake for 15 years and have never come across an 8'-10' wake. People constantly over estimate boat wakes and wave heights. Many a time I have heard guys explain how the lake had "6 footers out there" or even higher.

Go to Rattlenake Gal's concurrent post WRT the Old Mount. Here's what you'll find: "...Waves running from four to ten feet in height are seen each year..."

(There's three ways to measure waves -- I'm talkin' wakes, though).

Originally Posted by rickstr66

I was on the lake 2 years ago in July under the worse conditions I had ever experienced. There were legit 4 footers out there. I have never seen 6 footers on the lake.

"I was on the lake 2 years ago in July", too, and a combined wake had me thrown from my sailboat! (I realized later how it happened, and been watching for combined wakes ever since).
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/oldforu...mes;read=57548 Cruiser wakes that strike each other don't "travel" like waves...they collide...and shoot straight upwards. Fortunately, my boat can't be sunk easily.

Just dealing with a single Big Boat wake produced this "SeaTow" news item from this from three months ago:

A wake from a passing boat caused a 25-foot commercial salvage vessel to sink Monday evening on Lake Macatawa, Coast Guard officials said.

Chief petty officer Todd Stein said the boat, which belongs to St. Joseph-based Sea Tow, sank about 7:30 p.m. near Drake Point Light, which is across the lake from Big Bay.

According to Stein, Sea Tow employees were sitting in the boat completing paperwork when a 33-foot cabin cruiser passed about 30 yards away. The cruiser was traveling westbound at an estimated speed of 12 knots (or 13 miles an hour).

"The wake crashed over the stern, and it was swamped and subsequently capsized," Stein said. "We had a very busy weekend assisting other boaters, and we wrapped up the busy weekend by salvaging our own vessel."

The boat -- valued at $23,000 and based at Eldean Shipyard -- remains structurally intact, but could be a total loss because of damage to its engine and electronics. Pharisa said mechanics will inspect the boat to determine its fate.

The above account sounds like it was just a cruiser "mindlessly enjoying the lake".

Big Boats can create huge wakes -- much less combined-huge-wakes. I'd love to be at the helm to demonstrate -- for you -- how huge wakes can be crafted intentionally.

If you've started your boating career with a big inboard, fifteen years isn't many years.