The Dive

[XCR-700]

No real vested interest here, but I'm wondering why operating the dive is any more difficult than operating the MT Washington,,,

Both float and have the ability to move across the lake. Both serve food. Both serve customers.

Personally I think its not at all attractive to look at, but people have said good things about the food and service.

So why all the drama??? Its cant be just because its ugly.

Must be more to this saga than I'm seeing.

[chachee52]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

No real vested interest here, but I'm wondering why operating the dive is any more difficult than operating the MT Washington,,,

Both float and have the ability to move across the lake. Both serve food. Both serve customers.

Personally I think its not at all attractive to look at, but people have said good things about the food and service.

So why all the drama??? Its cant be just because its ugly.

Must be more to this saga than I'm seeing.

The only thing that I can think of with the Mount vs the Dive, and I truely have no idea. Is that the Mount owns all its dock spaces, has been operating for years so has all its legal aspects in order each year. I do think that the few other comments sound about right in that they are only going through the state and not the towns, that would make sense to me. This should have been looked at by the owners and lawyers before they started. Yes the water way is state, but the water is still in a town, and the docks are as well, so it only makes sense they would have to get the town license as well if they are going to operate in that town. I don't know?
I have only been on the Dive when LSP brought it over one year and had it tie up to Big Pier. I personally wasn't impressed but I can see why people who don't own places and just have a boat on the water would like it I guess.
Either way, If it has a good following, I do hope that they resolve it. Sounds like they have put a TON of money into it to fail. Personally the price of the boat seemed a lot to me for a seasonal good weather restaurant, But then again, I'm not a business person.

[GodSmile]

Either not doing homework, trying to shortcut or not meeting commitments (Weirs).

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by chachee52

The only thing that I can think of with the Mount vs the Dive, and I truely have no idea. Is that the Mount owns all its dock spaces, has been operating for years so has all its legal aspects in order each year. .

I am not sure if the Mount owns all of its Berthing spots or not. But it at least has long standing legal agreements to use them. The bigger point as you mention is the Mount, and more importantly the Winnipesaukee Flagship Corporation has its legal aspects understood and in order.

The dive has run into many road blocks, some of which where poor planning and others of which have been bad luck. Unfortunately what they want to do requires the ability to not only operate out on the lake, but also have land based operations as well, and I think partially because of the approaches they have taken to do so, have not won them any fans from local governments. At this point I hate to say it but the Dive has become its own worst enemy. I hope the find a place that they can operate out of, are able to chase their dream, but they seem to be ready to sling mud, and that is never a good sign....

[mowtorman]

Shared from Facebook as suggested in the posting.....by the Dive owner Betsy

June 10 at 6:15 PM ·
Lake friends - I've been sitting on something horrific that happened to me, Betsy, on Saturday night the 5th. I guess I'm still in shock as I was shaken up for a few days. I wasn't sure if I should share it - because I'm sure there will be more hateful comments aimed at us - but for some, you do not truly understand how hard it is just to run a legal business that we have put everything into - all for the love of being on this lake and bringing something new.
We have been finishing our construction on the Dive in Saunders bay - at our friends home/dock with permission. Completely legal and allowed - feel free to check with the police and marine patrol (for you Karen's that will comment). Our boat was between the beach and the house - so blocked the view of No one - just wetlands. Several of the houses to the far right - some 6 or so over - did not want us there. They complained and made up stories that had no truth - that we were "running our business". We actually would have been out of that place the week before Memorial Weekend - BUT they decided to call the town admin. He in turn swayed the fire inspection aka Permit of Assembly - to get cancelled - so we ended up having to stay an EXTRA 2 weeks until we figured out what to do. Ironic.
So Saturday evening at 8 pm, my dog and I went over to the dock to help Jamie as he was landing the Dive. In a matter of minutes - while I was standing alone on the dock, a MOB of people starting screaming at me - I'm surprised they didn't have pitchforks and torches - as it was pure VENOM. Swearing, booing, threatening me - I refused to engage - but it was me against 20-25 people? I did fear that some of them would come over and get in my face. As soon as Jamie landed - we went to the police in Gilford. They were awesome as always. We had 2 policemen escort us back to the dock so we could close up properly - and they couldn't believe what happened. Again, we were there legally and the police completely supported us. I was afraid to go back alone.
I just do not understand the amount of hatred on this lake and how much negative energy is directed at us. We are very good and kind people and follow all of the laws. I would never in a million years go out on a dock (4 docks away) and verbally assault another human with a gang of people. How can we rid this lake of such evil, vile people?
Please feel free to share.

[winni83]

And another viewpoint from the same thread. Author’s name deleted.

Well I'm going to put my 2 cents in and I usually don't respond to a business page like this but hear I go. Didn't you guys get kicked out of 3 places already??? A different location every summer. First was West Alton over by the marina. My buddy lives over there and says you're boat was always stuck in the channel Sideways or some other crazy maneuver. Maybe your boat captain can't drive a boat but who knows. You're second location at the end of Winnipesaukee Pier in front of Simpson Ave should of never happened in the first place. My Grandparents had a house on the water there for 50 years and I still know alot of people over there. Now I have nothing against your business but a commercial boat that size doesn't belong in front of residential houses blocking their view of the lake and the noise at night. It belongs on the other side where the Mt Washington and other commercial boats are. Have some consideration for other people and be a good neighbor and business man. You're 3 location last year at the Weirs public docks was the best place for you and you screwed that up. You didn't follow through with the city about building a dock for your boat, why was that??? You couldn't even take care of your trash properly and your propane tanks so the City of Laconia booted you out. Now I see your over by my house on Paugus bay. Please respond to me to answer my questions about being a poor neighbor and business man.

[FlyingScot]

Hard to believe there was an assembly of 25 people yelling...

But not so hard to believe that some neighbors were terrified that The Dive was going to set up shop a few houses down

[gillygirl]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Hard to believe there was an assembly of 25 people yelling...

But not so hard to believe that some neighbors were terrified that The Dive was going to set up shop a few houses down

It doesn’t take much these days to assemble people to get their collective panties in a bunch. Thanks, social media.


Sent from my iPad using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[ApS]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

No real vested interest here, but I'm wondering why operating the dive is any more difficult than operating the MT Washington,. Both float and have the ability to move across the lake. Both serve food. Both serve customers. Personally I think its not at all attractive to look at, but people have said good things about the food and service.

So why all the drama??? Its cant be just because its ugly.

Must be more to this saga than I'm seeing.

The Mt. Washington was a "venue" before most of us got here, in simpler and cleaner times.

The Dive (and Winnie Belle) have "citified" a lake previously renowned for Loon calls. The Winnie Belle plays "Mack the Knife" for us, followed by Wayne Newton singing "Danke Schoen".

(Plus, it needs to fly a Confederate flag to be in full costume).

On a lake known for rapid weather changes, The Dive, when it's not "spuds-down" safely next to your dock, still makes a good lightning rod around rafting boaters.

[TiltonBB]

Even the Winni Belle started out with problems.

The day it came to the lake the company transporting it misjudged the Alton ramp and landed it on top of the dock. It needed a large wrecker to lift it and move it over to get it floating.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

Even the Winni Belle started out with problems.

The day it came to the lake the company transporting it misjudged the Alton ramp and landed it on top of the dock. It needed a large wrecker to lift it and move it over to get it floating.

Why on earth did they launch it a Downings? I'm surprised that it didnt take out the dock just from bumping into it,,,

Wouldn't the actual Alton ramp have been better?

[TiltonBB]

The other ramp is steep and narrow with stone walls on both sides. Also, that parking lot may make it difficult for a long vehicle to get straight enough to back down the ramp.

Many years ago I launched a boat there and while backing down the ramp the weight of the boat pulling backwards kept causing the front tires of the towing vehicle to lock up. Surge brakes on the trailer don't help at all in reverse!

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by ApS

The Mt. Washington was a "venue" before most of us got here, in simpler and cleaner times.

The Dive (and Winnie Belle) have "citified" a lake previously renowned for Loon calls. The Winnie Belle plays "Mack the Knife" for us, followed by Wayne Newton singing "Danke Schoen".

(Plus, it needs to fly a Confederate flag to be in full costume).

On a lake known for rapid weather changes, The Dive, when it's not "spuds-down" safely next to your dock, still makes a good lightning rod around rafting boaters.

I think the Mount, like the small mail boats, and trains were not designed to originally be tourist attractions, but had primary uses that had to be adapted.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

I think the Mount, like the small mail boats, and trains were not designed to originally be tourist attractions, but had primary uses that had to be adapted.

The Mount I carried passengers and freight. Mount II was purchased and rebuilt for tourism. She had also done passenger service on Lake Champlain (as the Chateguay). Of course, most 19th century steamboats carried passengers and freight. Many other early steamboats were mostly freight, but when Mount II came to Winnipesaukee, it was for tourists. I'm not sure what a "smaller" mail boat is. The Tonimar was a private yacht converted to mail delivery and tourist rides. The Gray Ghost is basically a runabout that delivers mail and takes a few passengers. The "larger" mail boats, Sophie C and Doris E were built for tourist attractions and added mail service when the Uncle Sam(s) went out of service. The railroads, as one example, gave land at the Weirs to the NH Veterans to build the veteran's vacation homes at the Weirs as a means of building tourist and vacation traffic. In the winter, ski trains or snow trains were established to take skiers (tourists) to places like N. Conway. To me, these were all pretty much specifically aimed at tourist traffic, not adapted from some other use.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by Descant

The Mount I carried passengers and freight. Mount II was purchased and rebuilt for tourism. She had also done passenger service on Lake Champlain (as the Chateguay). Of course, most 19th century steamboats carried passengers and freight. Many other early steamboats were mostly freight, but when Mount II came to Winnipesaukee, it was for tourists. I'm not sure what a "smaller" mail boat is. The Tonimar was a private yacht converted to mail delivery and tourist rides. The Gray Ghost is basically a runabout that delivers mail and takes a few passengers. The "larger" mail boats, Sophie C and Doris E were built for tourist attractions and added mail service when the Uncle Sam(s) went out of service. The railroads, as one example, gave land at the Weirs to the NH Veterans to build the veteran's vacation homes at the Weirs as a means of building tourist and vacation traffic. In the winter, ski trains or snow trains were established to take skiers (tourists) to places like N. Conway. To me, these were all pretty much specifically aimed at tourist traffic, not adapted from some other use.

Nice t0 learn the history. I know NH has been receiving tourists in earnest for more than a century, but as a child remember that only Wolfeboro and the Laconia (Weirs) seemed to really draw any interest.

I always presumed it was due to the railroad making it easier for urban residents to reach the more rural areas at a speed fast enough to be able to enjoy the cooler mountain air and lack of noise/smell in the city at a time before AC and when horses were dominant.
I figured the Mount - as you stated - was originally moving freight and people to other parts of the lake that rail service did not exist.

Meredith, Center Harbor, and to some degree Alton, seem to have gotten more effect from the highway system. I presumed that after the highway replaced the railroad as the primary conduit, that the rail and ships/boats began to focus more on tourism rather than as the primary means of transport.