The New Hampshire Boat Museum
Making it work without water

by Linda DaBica

Many years ago, at the New England Chapter Weir’s Boat Show on Lake Winnipesaukee, talk on the dock would often turn to the possibility of starting a boat museum. All that it finally took was one person sending out invitations to attend the organizational meeting of The New Hampshire Boat Museum. As anyone knows who has been involved with bringing an idea to life, it’s a very tedious and drawn out process – the groundwork alone has defeated many a dream. If the Museum was to gather support, a location that said, “we are here” was crucial. An area developer came to the rescue by donating a prime waterfront space in Meredith for one summer season. This was a fairly new building that had been used as a bank and office space and the developer had plans to convert it to a hotel and restaurant. This hardy band, with the help of a very creative director, turned the space into a one-season success. They changed the exhibits three times that summer, an amazing feat, and an indication of the wealth of beautiful boats and memorabilia that owners were more than happy to share. And so the Museum got its first taste of success.
 

Over the course of the next seven years the Museum moved twice. First into a leased retail space at the Weir’s, then three years ago moving to another leased space, the former Allen A Resort’s theater and dance hall located in Wolfeboro. This location was to be a trial to gauge volunteer and community support. Both have been very receptive to the Museum and its programs during the past three seasons.
 

Now, the one thing that immediately stands out about The New Hampshire Boat Museum is the fact that we are not a waterfront facility. Ten years down the road we are still having site assessment and strategic planning meetings. We have come to the conclusion that with the restrictive zoning regulations and current waterfront property values being so expensive, it is wiser for us to operate at a proven site that is within our financial means. We are involved in negotiations to purchase the current location, since we believe it can accommodate future expansion.
 

Having said that we are not on the waterfront, we still have been able to conduct Vintage Race Boat Regattas, No Octane Regatta, children’s sailing classes, adult boating instruction, membership boat rides and this year we will begin involvement with Radio Control Model Yacht Racing. We have been able to manage these events through cooperation with the Board of Selectmen of the town. We have used the town docks on Lake Winnipesaukee, the Back Bay and the town beach area on Lake Wentworth, and we have available both large deep-water areas and more quiet waters that lend themselves to the varied events that we sponsor.
 

The Museum took its first steps last year in children’s programs with a Boat Building and Sailing Class. Students, along with their mentors, built a fleet of four Optimists sailboats and launched them without a hitch. The boatbuilding program will continue this year at the Museum and will expand by sponsoring sailing classes through the town recreation department. We have also contracted with a published local historian to write a curriculum for fourth-grade on boating and local history that will be offered to New Hampshire school children.
 

The Museum exhibit space of a little less than 5000 square feet is in a funky, wood-laminated Quonset shaped building with wood floors and with a large lake mural at the entrance. The interior lends itself well to the boats and has the feel on times gone by. The current collection of twenty-five boats dates 1900 to 1959 and ranges in size from a Garwood Limousine to a Tunnel of Love Boat and everything in between; everything has been cleverly arranged so that you can maneuver your way among them. Also on display are extensive collections of early original powered models, photos, motors, engines and marine memorabilia. There is also a mock wooden boat shop set up and memorabilia from around the Lakes Region. Going back to that first season in Meredith, the Museum is still in the enviable position of having some of the greatest boats and related artifacts available on loan from our membership. We are able to rotate many of the displays, with lack of space being our biggest challenge.
 

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the 2003 Museum season and plans have been worked on all winter. Our first event will be the Third Annual Lakes Region Car Show. Held at the Museum in conjunction with a local radio station, this event has been popular with spectators and participants alike. The spectator fee includes admission to the Museum.
 

The Sixth Vintage Boat Auction will be held June 28th at the Museum. We’ve been fine-tuning this event over the years. The quality of the boats has become more consistent and a greater variety is coming on the block. Boats sold are either seller consigned or donated outright to the Museum with the donor receiving the write-off. Preview is 9:00 AM and the auction begins at 11:00 AM.
 

Alton Bay is the location for the Museum sponsored Boat Show held the same weekend as Alton Old Home Week. The show is on August 9th, from 9:00 AM to noon and has become sort of an old home week for boating friends to meet and have breakfast on the docks.
 

The season finale will see Wolfeboro Bay come alive with forty-plus race craft as the Museum hosts the Third New Hampshire Vintage Race Boat Regatta. The events scheduled are September 25th and 26th registrations and warm-ups; September 27th, regatta heats and September 28th, race boat rides for new members.
 

Summer Activities will also feature four lectures: Water-Skiing (coordinated with a new exhibit), Allen A Remembrances, Canoe Building and Race Boat History. The summer membership cookout and auction is another popular event.
 

The Board of Trustees is proud of the accomplishments over the last ten years. We are still in our infancy and know there is a lot more to learn. The Museum is a volunteer organization that depends on the goodwill of so many; without the town, volunteers, our 500 members, boat owners and visitors we would not exist
Plan a visit this summer and let us know what you think. We are open Memorial Day through Columbus Day seven days a week; Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and on Sunday from noon until 4:00 PM. For an update on events and programs go to: www.nhbm.org or call 603-569-4554.