The Dive?

[JADAQ]

Originally Posted by Descant

There are pictures of the barge under construction on the Dive website. No indication of where and I can't tell from the pix. www.thedive-NH.com

Being built in the Chanel at West Alton marina

[Patiently Watching]

I'm shocked this will be able to get necessary permits from the state and possibly towns. The Winni Bell does charters only, including the booze cruises and does not sell to the public other than those guests.
Looks like they have a long way to go...

[Biggd]

How did illegal immigration and politics come into this thread? Some people will just go through any means to push their agenda.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Biggd

How did illegal immigration a politics come into this thread? Some people will just go through any means to push their agenda.

The segue was obvious to me: Floating restaurant begets hiking complaint, hiking complaint begets illegal immigration rant. Obvious, no?

Anyway, my thoughts:

I doubt someone would go to the trouble of building this if they were unable to get permits to use it as intended.

It's not my scene, but I think it's pretty neat and I hope it's successful. It's a clever way to open a boat-to restaurant without needing to buy expensive real estate. For those that are concerned about the environmental impact should consider how this thing will NOT require more than a dock's width of waterfront property and won't require a paved parking lot right next to the lake.

Draft will be extremely shallow. There's just not that much mass:surface area there and it likely has an utterly flat hull.

It will blend nicely with the uglier homes on the lake, not so much the boats, but it will look better than some of them.

I don't think the post anchors will exclude it from overnight mooring laws and I'd be willing to bet it will return to a dock or mooring every night. Considering where it's being built and the slow cruising speed, I suspect it will typically be a short trip...

[dave603]

I wonder how they are going to move it around anywhere?
Tow it or stick a couple of LARGE outboards on it?

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by Dave R

The segue was obvious to me: Floating restaurant begets hiking complaint, hiking complaint begets illegal immigration rant. Obvious, no?

Anyway, my thoughts:

I doubt someone would go to the trouble of building this if they were unable to get permits to use it as intended.

It's not my scene, but I think it's pretty neat and I hope it's successful. It's a clever way to open a boat-to restaurant without needing to buy expensive real estate. For those that are concerned about the environmental impact should consider how this thing will NOT require more than a dock's width of waterfront property and won't require a paved parking lot right next to the lake.

Draft will be extremely shallow. There's just not that much mass:surface area there and it likely has an utterly flat hull.

It will blend nicely with the uglier homes on the lake, not so much the boats, but it will look better than some of them.

I don't think the post anchors will exclude it from overnight mooring laws and I'd be willing to bet it will return to a dock or mooring every night. Considering where it's being built and the slow cruising speed, I suspect it will typically be a short trip...

It's a long way from Alton (if that is were they are mooring in the evenings) to Braun Bay (where is suppose it will do a majority of its business). Do you think this hull design can handle that trip especially of busy weekends when there is a lot of boat traffic and wakes to handle?

[Phantom]

Who's saying that WAM will be it's home base ?

All we know at this point is that it is "Under Construction" in that Marina. Makes perfect sense for logistics & launch.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by Phantom

Who's saying that WAM will be it's home base ?

All we know at this point is that it is "Under Construction" in that Marina. Makes perfect sense for logistics & launch.

That is exactly why I said "If". But my question still stands. Can the hull and size handle a busy weekend on the lake to get from point A to Point B?

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by joey2665

That is exactly why I said "If". But my question still stands. Can the hull and size handle a busy weekend on the lake to get from point A to Point B?

Not to mention high winds and pop up storms!

[rsmlp]

A) I wish them success.

B) I've been wrong plenty of times.

C) For reasons already enumerated, I put the odds of them being back in'19 at 1/3.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by joey2665

It's a long way from Alton (if that is were they are mooring in the evenings) to Braun Bay (where is suppose it will do a majority of its business). Do you think this hull design can handle that trip especially of busy weekends when there is a lot of boat traffic and wakes to handle?

Oh yeah, it will have no trouble with rough water, it has a very low CG and can't go fast enough to pound in the waves. It's not a 17 foot bow rider.

[TiltonBB]

If I was building it my biggest concern would be what happens to the boat if it is not a financial success. The height and beam would seem to make it difficult or impossible to move it off of the lake and where would you go with it. Even a move to the coast would be a major undertaking.

There are a limited number of places that it can dock on the lake too so finding a suitable slip for the season would seem difficult. You would have to assume they have that covered.

Winter storage? Looks a little big for a travel lift? Someone has to have figured all of these things out but it should be interesting..

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

If I was building it my biggest concern would be what happens to the boat if it is not a financial success. The height and beam would seem to make it difficult or impossible to move it off of the lake and where would you go with it. Even a move to the coast would be a major undertaking.

There are a limited number of places that it can dock on the lake too so finding a suitable slip for the season would seem difficult. You would have to assume they have that covered.

Winter storage? Looks a little big for a travel lift? Someone has to have figured all of these things out but it should be interesting..

If it starts to sink financially then it will probably end up on fire, oops grease fire!
I wonder what kind of insurance policy can be written on that thing?

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

If I was building it my biggest concern would be what happens to the boat if it is not a financial success. The height and beam would seem to make it difficult or impossible to move it off of the lake and where would you go with it. Even a move to the coast would be a major undertaking.

There are a limited number of places that it can dock on the lake too so finding a suitable slip for the season would seem difficult. You would have to assume they have that covered.

Winter storage? Looks a little big for a travel lift? Someone has to have figured all of these things out but it should be interesting..

If they are building it in West Alton, they are probably keeping it there, probably near where the construction barge sits. It doesn't have to come out of the water in the winter, in there it is very sheltered. They could leave it in and run a circulator or two around it.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Dave R

Oh yeah, it will have no trouble with rough water, it has a very low CG and can't go fast enough to pound in the waves. It's not a 17 foot bow rider.

I’m not so sure about that Dave. Those big barges that you see crossing the lake with heavy equipment need absolute calm waters and no wind to make the journey. Even without a load, they still need no wind and calm water and they have the lowest center of gravity of anything out there.

I just don’t see it.

Dan

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I’m not so sure about that Dave. Those big barges that you see crossing the lake with heavy equipment need absolute calm waters and no wind to make the journey. Even without a load, they still need no wind and calm water and they have the lowest center of gravity of anything out there.

I just don’t see it.

Dan

I can see why an open barge with low freeboard would be an issue with a heavy load, and steep waves, but this contraption does not appear to be open. Looks like waves would just flow over the deck, like on a pontoon.

[noreast]

Though I'm sure the engineers have done the math, Somewhere here I read 80 people up top? That's 16,000 lbs give or take, Imagine that thing in rough water loaded to capacity. I'd like to take a look at it out of curiosity.

[Woodsy]

The answer is in the math.... but I would not be too worried about how seaworthy the Dive will be.... There are lots calcs to be made for sure, all of them involving the CG of the barge. No occupancy permits will be issued if the Coasties & MP don't sign off....

My guess is, the barge is/will be properly ballasted for a worse case scenario. IMHO that would be max capacity of people all rushing to one side. In other words a complete load shift/failure. Ballasted properly... nothing bad will happen.

Wind & waves are probably no issue either.... certainly, waves will have 0 effect on a properly ballasted barge on Winni. The wind will be an issue for the tugboat (for lack of a better term) that has to push/maneuver the barge around. But if they go early morning before the wind picks up and and come back after sunset when the wind dies down, I doubt they will have an issue.

Cheers to them for trying something new!

Woodsy

[Outdoorsman]

I look forward to reading this thread in September.

[webmaster]

Like others, I have lots of concerns and questions about this. I'm not an expert but when a ship is built for the ocean it has to pass a series of sea trials to verify its seaworthiness and ability to right itself in severe conditions. Wouldn't this commercial vessel that carries passengers have to have similar testing and certification to carry passengers?

I also have many questions about how the licensing would work as they pass in and out of the towns around the lake, especially if they sold liquor.

Also, the wood construction seems odd. It looks like they are building a condo. Not a ship.

It certainly will be interesting.

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by webmaster

Like others, I have lots of concerns and questions about this. I'm not an expert but when a ship is built for the ocean it has to pass a series of sea trials to verify its seaworthiness and ability to right itself in severe conditions. Wouldn't this commercial vessel that carries passengers have to have similar testing and certification to carry passengers?

I also have many questions about how the licensing would work as they pass in and out of the towns around the lake, especially if they sold liquor.

Also, the wood construction seems odd. It looks like they are building a condo. Not a ship.

It certainly will be interesting.

Wouldn't the licensing be at the same standards as the Mount? If so, it is not new territory for the state to be issuing any licenses for this vessel, be it food, liquor or "noise". Just wondering.

[ishoot308]

If you think about it, West Alton marina is the perfect place for “The Dive”! Considering they have no food or drink facilities at West Alton, this would fit the bill just perfect for all the people who Slip their boats to grab lunch, a cold beer and whatever else. If the weather is bad the Dive simply stays in at that sheltered Cove and sells food and drink to all the slipped boaters and those boats that want to stop by. Maybe they will even allow vehicles by road to go to West Alton for food and drink on the Dive. Maybe, just maybe, West Alton Marina owns the Dive and this is part of their expansion! This is all just conjecture on my part of course!

It will be interesting to say the least !

Dan

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by webmaster

Like others, I have lots of concerns and questions about this. I'm not an expert but when a ship is built for the ocean it has to pass a series of sea trials to verify its seaworthiness and ability to right itself in severe conditions. Wouldn't this commercial vessel that carries passengers have to have similar testing and certification to carry passengers?

I also have many questions about how the licensing would work as they pass in and out of the towns around the lake, especially if they sold liquor.

Also, the wood construction seems odd. It looks like they are building a condo. Not a ship.

It certainly will be interesting.

There are inspections of every commercial operation and vessel on the lake, every summer, prior to the start of the season. Just like the Mount Washington each "for hire" vessel must pass an inspection that covers a number of issues to insure that it is safe.

Even the jet ski rental rental operators must have all of their jet skis inspected and approved by the Marine Patrol prior to renting them out.

When you think of all of the rental boats and jet skis on the lake it takes a substantial amount of time for the Marine Patrol to visit and inspect each one. And that is before all of the summer help arrives.

[ursa minor]

Originally Posted by Woodsy

The answer is in the math.... but I would not be too worried about how seaworthy the Dive will be.... There are lots calcs to be made for sure, all of them involving the CG of the barge. No occupancy permits will be issued if the Coasties & MP don't sign off....

Woodsy

Yes to all of this plus a lot of other things. I'm pretty sure they'll need to have a sanitary tank, fresh water, a house generator / fuel storage for power, fuel for the propulsion engines, etc. You would want to get as many of those things as possible down into the hull to help get GC down as far as possible. There's no way this will be allowed to carry paying customers until a lot of state and federal inspections occur. I'm sure the insurance people will have a lot of input as well.

There are some impressive dollar signs adding up on this, hopefully they can make a go of it on 8-10 busy summer weekends. I'm glad there are entrepreneurs out there though, I'd just way over think the whole thing and never try it. I sure hope they picked the right naval architect though...

[MAXUM]

2) We have a first-of-its-kind boat drive through window (aka the Dive Thru). Customers can order food ahead on our mobile app or through our website - and they will receive a text when they can come to the window to get their order. No need to anchor or find dock space!

Taking bets on how long it will be before somebody t-bones that thing pulling up to the "dive thru"?

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

2) We have a first-of-its-kind boat drive through window (aka the Dive Thru). Customers can order food ahead on our mobile app or through our website - and they will receive a text when they can come to the window to get their order. No need to anchor or find dock space!

Taking bets on how long it will be before somebody t-bones that thing pulling up to the "dive thru"?

Lol 2 words come to mind...fuster cluck.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Taking bets on how long it will be before somebody t-bones that thing pulling up to the "dive thru"?

Originally Posted by Hillcountry

Lol 2 words come to mind...fuster cluck.

I'm confused, why would it be any more challenging than approaching a wide-open dock? I've seen some poor docking performances (my own included), but I have yet to see anyone t-bone one.

[Parker]

I am all in on this idea. Such a cool concept

[Phantom]

Still has some work to do from what we saw …………….. pic's from Saturday

.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Phantom

Still has some work to do from what we saw …………….. pic's from Saturday

.

Thanks for the photos.

Maybe it's just me, but in the spirit of armchair reviews, if I was designing something like that with twin engines, I would have them placed as far apart as possible to help with control of the boat.

I'm looking forward to seeing it on the water, and will plan on stopping by.

[Phantom]

The one thing we took note of immediately is IF ( and no one knows for sure yet) WAM is it's home base -- watch out when the Dive heads in/out of the Smalls Cove channel ………………..



.

[The Real BigGuy]

Originally Posted by Rich

Thanks for the photos.



Maybe it's just me, but in the spirit of armchair reviews, if I was designing something like that with twin engines, I would have them placed as far apart as possible to help with control of the boat.



I'm looking forward to seeing it on the water, and will plan on stopping by.

I had the same thought!


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[chasedawg]

Originally Posted by Rich

Thanks for the photos.

Maybe it's just me, but in the spirit of armchair reviews, if I was designing something like that with twin engines, I would have them placed as far apart as possible to help with control of the boat.

I'm looking forward to seeing it on the water, and will plan on stopping by.

Agree! It would be much better for control. With this engine spacing and the high freeboard it will be difficult to adjust pivoting 180 degrees or in any tight spacing. I just don't see a barge like this will do well in any waters. I drove the Winnie Bell and it has two I/O's and control was very difficult.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Parker

I am all in on this idea. Such a cool concept

"Dive" is a good name, but if I'd opened a bar, I'd name it "Night School".

See ya' later, honey, I'm going to Night School.

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by Dave R

I'm confused, why would it be any more challenging than approaching a wide-open dock? I've seen some poor docking performances (my own included), but I have yet to see anyone t-bone one.

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

[ApS]

Reading the news-aggregating websites, I'm seeing a lot of incidental advertising for waterborne group activities. (Cruising, weddings, etc.) Presently, Google-ads are displaying Maine schooners and medium-sized cruise boats plying the Hawaiian island of Maui.

Originally Posted by jazzman

Seems like The Dive will have to anchor. It's one big sail

"The Dive" crew is going to learn a lot about sailing.

Originally Posted by Dave R

The segue was obvious to me: Floating restaurant begets hiking complaint, hiking complaint begets illegal immigration rant. Obvious, no? Anyway, my thoughts: I doubt someone would go to the trouble of building this if they were unable to get permits to use it as intended. It's not my scene, but I think it's pretty neat and I hope it's successful. It's a clever way to open a boat-to restaurant without needing to buy expensive real estate. For those that are concerned about the environmental impact should consider how this thing will NOT require more than a dock's width of waterfront property and won't require a paved parking lot right next to the lake. Draft will be extremely shallow. There's just not that much mass: surface area there and it likely has an utterly flat hull. It will blend nicely with the uglier homes on the lake, not so much the boats, but it will look better than some of them.
I don't think the post anchors will exclude it from overnight mooring laws and I'd be willing to bet it will return to a dock or mooring every night. Considering where it's being built and the slow cruising speed, I suspect it will typically be a short trip...

Any "post anchors" (called "spuds") appearing in earlier photos, apparently were attached to something adjacent, but I think they should have been equipped with at least one.

.

[fatlazyless]

Yes, it is a boat, and yes, it does look like a house, but is it a house boat?

Who knows ...... only the NH Marine Patrol really knows, obviously, but just maybe it qualifies to be considered a houseboat at least on a very temporary basis.....like a one night anchor back in a cove somewhere.....after a busy busy night ...... with one or more sleeping bags unrolled across the deck, or on top of a sitting bench, or somewhere ..... like, in the steering room .......aka......the pilot room?

270-A:1 Definitions: Use of houseboats

"Houseboat" means any ship, boat, raft, float, catamaran or marine craft of any description upon or within which are located sleeping and toilet facilities, regardless of whether such facilities are of a permanent or temporary nature.

Does that mean that it needs to be docked, or moored, every night, as opposed to remaining anchored out on the big water, somewhere, under the stars on the big beautiful blue big lake, from April to November?

Oh well, Ming Cove in Alton, or wherever the heck it is, is a long, long, long way from south Bear Island, so's it's probably not gonna be my problem .... big money risk .....big money reward .... will be interesting to see what happens .....where it goes .....what's the plan etc ....time will tell?

[strum]

looks Like two spuds on starboard side..

[strum]

looks like they are on the port side .

[JADAQ]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Yes, it is a boat, and yes, it does look like a house, but is it a house boat?

Who knows ...... only the NH Marine Patrol really knows, obviously, but just maybe it qualifies to be considered a houseboat at least on a very temporary basis.....like a one night anchor back in a cove somewhere.....after a busy busy night ...... with one or more sleeping bags unrolled across the deck, or on top of a sitting bench, or somewhere ..... like, in the steering room .......aka......the pilot room?

270-A:1 Definitions: Use of houseboats

"Houseboat" means any ship, boat, raft, float, catamaran or marine craft of any description upon or within which are located sleeping and toilet facilities, regardless of whether such facilities are of a permanent or temporary nature.

Does that mean that it needs to be docked, or moored, every night, as opposed to remaining anchored out on the big water, somewhere, under the stars on the big beautiful blue big lake, from April to November?

Oh well, Ming Cove in Alton, or wherever the heck it is, is a long, long, long way from south Bear Island, so's it's probably not gonna be my problem .... big money risk .....big money reward .... will be interesting to see what happens .....where it goes .....what's the plan etc ....time will tell?

Seriously, how do you think this crap up anyway?

[Phantom]

JADAQ - I see you've only been a member for two years ………… trust me ( and my 13 years on this Forum)- FLL does NOT "think this stuff up" ………………. it flows quite naturally from his keyboard...

No thought required !

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Phantom

JADAQ - I see you've only been a member for two years ………… trust me ( and my 13 years on this Forum)- FLL does NOT "think this stuff up" ………………. it flows quite naturally from his keyboard...

No thought required !

I equate it to a very lucky ape pounding on a keyboard.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

[GBGX2]

See more here:

https://www.facebook.com/thedivelake...type=3&theater

[Hillcountry]

Cool, if you're into this sort of thing...I would rather be on my own boat enjoying the lake on my terms...I wish them luck!

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by JADAQ

Being built in the Chanel at West Alton marina

Now it makes sense !!

JADAQ is correct !

When we went into WAM a week ago, we saw this building "construction" behind where Winnipesaukee Marine parks their barges/ rocks/poles/supplies and thought it was a new WAM building going up ............... at the time never gave it a second thought as the owners of WAM are always improving the grounds.

[JADAQ]

Originally Posted by Phantom

Now it makes sense !!

JADAQ is correct !

When we went into WAM a week ago, we saw this building "construction" behind where Winnipesaukee Marine parks their barges/ rocks/poles/supplies and thought it was a new WAM building going up ............... at the time never gave it a second thought as the owners of WAM are always improving the grounds.

They also took delivery of twin evinrude 250’s last week for it.

[BoatHouse]

Originally Posted by JADAQ

They also took delivery of twin evinrude 250’s last week for it.

I think they are going to need larger engines or a Tugboat...

[codeman671]

They are certainly spending enough, they are easily in to this for $150-200k, maybe more I am guessing, with the 2 engines, barge cost, build and fitup.

[Biggd]

I've been to a lot of dive bars in my life time. This is one that I think I will avoid.

[ursa minor]

Originally Posted by BoatHouse

I think they are going to need larger engines or a Tugboat...

That's plenty of power, it's not going to be fast regardless of how much they hang on the back. There's a contractor in our area that has a large barge with similar power, it will do about 10-12 mph with the engines pushing hard.

The amount of windage or "sail" area would be my concern with a flat bottomed vessel that this appears to be. Even with two engines it will be a handful in a cross wind.

I wish them luck and hope they've done their "due diligence", I'm guessing this will be bringing up some discussions of lake usage vs. property owner's rights before too long.