Cruise News

[fatlazyless]

Water skiing out back behind this new Winnipesaukee Spirit lunch cruise will be available at no additional charge as it moves along at 18-knots travelling around Mark, Mink, and Timber Islands!

Just try water skiing out behind The Dive and you'll never get up on even two skis ..... it just goes too slow at 2-mph! ...... ..... almost the right speed for trolling for lake trout ...... so's maybe The Dive could become a 2-mph charter fishing and drinking booze-cruise while trolling for trout .... ..... and get hooked on The Dive ...... cheers!

[GodSmile]

My original point from another angle. If the addition of the Spirit is accretive to overall ticket sales then I think it's great. If however it merely dilutes ticket sales on the other three vessels, I don't think it bodes well. I completely understand (and respect) the other points of view that have been made.

[AC2717]

I Think with the Spirit could start the end for the Mount, or just have it for large gatherings and celebrations.

Also I wonder If the Spirit could fit under the Channel Bridge once put back together

[Descant]

I see the Spirit fitting a niche that really isn't heavily served right now. As the smallest boat in their fleet, she'll be able to operate out of places presently not served meal/dinner cruises, e.g. Alton Bay, Meredith and Center Harbor events. I don't know how much the Winni Belle does in Wolfeboro. The Dive wanted to do some of this business, (events) but never had a good homeport or the ability to move around the lake.
I remember some good dinner cruises on the Aishling, a 54' Burger, but she too had little in the way of a good homeport. She also had a capacity of only 45 guests.
Capt Morash and his team showed some good flexibility and initiative in making the Mount a "restaurant" last year instead of an amusement ride, and covered their bases well during the pandemic. I have every confidence the Spirit will do well, and I highly doubt she will reduce anything the Mount Washington does.

Maybe it's time for another Forum Fest?

[Scott]

Originally Posted by AC2717

I Think with the Spirit could start the end for the Mount, or just have it for large gatherings and celebrations.

Also I wonder If the Spirit could fit under the Channel Bridge once put back together

Yeah, it's a little troubling that the mounts website still doesn't have a single thing scheduled for the mount all summer. No mentions of all the theme cruises. No mentions of "coming soon..."

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by Scott

Yeah, it's a little troubling that the mounts website still doesn't have a single thing scheduled for the mount all summer. No mentions of all the theme cruises. No mentions of "coming soon..."

Rumor (Not confirmed) is the Mount has a lot of delayed maintenance needed and will have to come out of the water soon. That may explain the purchase of a smaller vessel to keep the cash flow coming in, although it may appeal to a different clientele.

Times have changed. The large bus tours with 55 to 60 seniors aboard did not happen last year. They may not happen this year either.

I remember in the 70's and 80's seeing the Mount go by. The passengers were stacked two deep at the rail and the boat looked crowded. The last few years the small amount of passengers has made the boat look almost empty. The cash flow has to have dropped significantly.

[fatlazyless]

For the last ten-plus years, business has been very good for the Mount, looking at all the passengers on the big boat as it glides past Horse Island. They do weddings, private parties, business meeting plus the individual/family passengers and its a busy boat with a lot of different people on board.

In the fall there's the leaf peeper tour buses from all over the north east who go from bus to boat for a ride around the big lake.

With the good-riddance demise of the pandemic, business will definitely be picking up. Quietly and smoothly, it moves along at about 15-20-knots.

If anything, bringing this new Winnipesaukee Spirit on board is a sign of a very
strong business looking to expand what it already does very well. .....

[erick26]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

Rumor (Not confirmed) is the Mount has a lot of delayed maintenance needed and will have to come out of the water soon. That may explain the purchase of a smaller vessel to keep the cash flow coming in, although it may appeal to a different clientele.

Times have changed. The large bus tours with 55 to 60 seniors aboard did not happen last year. They may not happen this year either.

I remember in the 70's and 80's seeing the Mount go by. The passengers were stacked two deep at the rail and the boat looked crowded. The last few years the small amount of passengers has made the boat look almost empty. The cash flow has to have dropped significantly.

Heard the same “rumor” yesterday from a well informed local on the Mount maintenance. Was curious why it was still in CH. On a side note launched a JetSki yesterday from CH and there are a ton of loose boards from a broken dock or structure floating in the water that look like they are about to separate and float away. Not sure who to contact about that before they make their way in to CH bay?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Descant]

Call Marine Patrol they take care of hazards to navigation. 293-2037.

[TiltonBB]

The story says the maintenance to the Mount is being done and it needs new propellers. They have to haul it for the Prop installation and hope to get it into service this summer.

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...d321d13a5.html

[Bear Guy]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...d321d13a5.html

That story also ends by noting the Doris E will be prepared after the Winni Spirit and Mount Washington work are complete.
Sounds like addition of the Spirit brings the operating cruise fleet to two, at least for the early part of the season.

[Descant]

I hope somebody post pix, better yet, video, of the propeller replacement