Winnipesaukee Belle sails back to lake after 3 years

MEREDITH — The beloved Winnipesaukee Belle is back on the lake under new ownership. After three years of refurbishment, she is now docked at the Meredith Town Docks.

In March 2023, Mountain Washington Cruises, operated by the Winnipesaukee Flagship Corporation, took ownership of the vessel from the Wolfeboro Inn, which previously owned and operated it since its launch in 1985.

Mount Washington Cruises staff were in discussion with the Wolfeboro Inn leaders about acquiring the boat, as they could no longer sustain the vessel due to staffing and maintenance issues following the COVID-19 pandemic. The Winni Belle needs a crew specializing in cruise vessels.

When Mount Washington Cruises first bought the boat, General Manager Jared Maraio said they toured the Belle to see what areas could be improved. The vessel was restored by crew at the Mount Washington Cruises shipyard in Center Harbor.

Maraio said they quickly found it would be easiest to bring the vessel back to its “studs,” which presented a lot of opportunity for layout and design. On the lower deck, the Belle offers a lounge environment, which Maraio described as having a “speakeasy vibe.” Long, velvet couches wrap around the lower deck, with a buffet area on one end, and a bar on the other, and windows allowing passengers to see the sights of Winnipesaukee.

“The original windows were actually shut in place, so you couldn’t open them. So, now there’s the airflow in here, that’s one area we wanted to make an improvement on,” Maraio said. “The new windows open two-thirds, to maximize air flow and make it much more comfortable.”

Maraio said the upper deck is more traditional, serving as an observation area with high stools and chairs lining the outskirts. At the back of the boat are couches.

Maraio said they were very fortunate through the transition of ownership to have John Howard, one of the captains of the Belle when it was docked in Wolfeboro. Maraio said Howard spoke with them throughout the renovation process.

Howard said the Belle is a difficult vessel to maneuver, and takes a great deal of training. Being 65 feet long with a flat bottom, it creates more friction against the water and more difficulty steering. The constant air flow through the lower deck and even slight winds can “hinder your approach” in docking the boat, according to Howard.

Overall, Howard is happy to see the Winni Belle out on the lake again. He said it was seemingly in disrepair, but the refurbishments by Mount Washington Cruises has given her a nice “face lift.”

The vessel was originally planned to be completed at the start of the summer, but took longer to complete then expected. Maraio said they consider mid-August to be a lucky time, as the Mount Washington launched on Aug. 12, and the Belle re-launched on Aug. 14, on Lake Winnipesaukee Day.

Now, the vessel will be docked at Meredith Town Docks.

“I’m thrilled to have the Winnipesaukee Belle call Meredith home. The Belle has long been an iconic part of Lake Winnipesaukee, and I’m excited to see its next chapter continue here," said Meredith Town Manager Judie Milner.

Maraio said the Belle will continue to host private events, as well as cocktail cruises in the summer. This fall, the Belle will host 90-minute Haunted Winnipesaukee cruises, previously held on the Winnipesaukee Spirit, where it sold out every night. Maraio said the Belle holds more guests, with a capacity of 120, and will allow them to welcome more people for these events.

Maraio said since the Belle has been docked in Meredith, people come down to the docks to take pictures and ask questions about new interior and cruises out on the lake.

“We’ve been so busy this summer that a lot of the crew haven’t had a chance to get on board the Belle yet,” Maraio said. “So, this will be their first opportunity.”

The Mount Washington Cruises crew gathered for an intimate re-dedication of the vessel Tuesday night.

Maraio promoted a new captain Tuesday: Evan Clinton, who is now the 26th captain of the M/S Mount Washington.

In a blog post Wednesday about Clinton's promotion, Maraio said, "Too many of us face adversity or criticism and our first impulse is to retreat. Evan's is to overcome. And year by year, from deck officer to small boat captain to pilot, you overcame. Your journey from the wheelhouse mirrors the story of our company: taking on the hard work, overcoming doubts, and coming out stronger on the other side. You have earned every one of those stripes."

Clinton's parents, Stu and Sue Clinton, are former crew members themselves, and met on the ship many years ago. Clinton was presented with his stripes from his mom, Sue, and his aunt, Etta.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in honoring the 26th aptain of the M/S Mount Washington, Captain Evan Clinton," Maraio wrote on the company's website Wednesday.