Goodhue Boat Company – Lake Winnipesaukee, Ossipee Lake and Lake Sunapee
Goodhue Boat Company – Lake Winnipesaukee, Ossipee Lake and Lake Sunapee
By Rosalie Triolo
Goodhue Boat Company, originally known as Goodhue & Hawkins Navy Yard on Sewall Road in Wolfeboro, is the oldest marina on Lake Winnipsaukee. The marina was established in 1903 by Nathaniel Goodhue and Chester Hawkins, and was known for making wooden boats, steamers and launches. Nathaniel H. Goodhue passed away in 1932, and five years later his nephew, Nathaniel W. Goodhue bought into the business. The Navy Yard was sold in 1972 to Peter Brown of Brookfield, who four years later in 1976, sold it to Earl Smith, Charles Smith and Richard Kourian. The new owners, keeping the name Goodhue and Hawkins Navy Yard expanded the marina’s product line of boats to include Donzi, Proline, Chrysler, Glastron, Marathon, Charger, Crestliner, and SmokerCraft. They also added the well-known and popular personal watercraft, the SeaDoo.
SeaDoo is a Canadian brand of PWC manufactured by Bombardier Recreational Products founded in 1942 by Joseph-Armand Bombardier. The first attempts at marketing a personal watercraft was back in 1968. All models of SeaDoo Personal Watercraft are driven by an impeller-driven waterjet. SeaDoo has been one of the most, if not the most popular brands of PWC since the mid-1990s.
In 1977 Charlie Rocknak introduced to Goodhue & Hawkins Navy Yard’s family of motor boats and personal watercraft, the Chrysler brand Sailboat. Steve Durgan, in 1984 purchased the Sailing Shop introducing the CAL line of sailboats, designed and constructed in southern California ranging in size from 22 feet to 33 feet. A smaller size sailboat, the Point Jude Daysailer, was added in 1987. Steve Durgan was the general manager at Goodhue & Hawkins Navy Yard until 1998.
Within the span of 101-years, Goodhue & Hawkins Navy Yard, Wolfeboro changed ownerships several times culminating in the 2004 sale to the Pratt family, who retained the name until 2018, when the marina’s name was changed to the Goodhue Boat Company. Brent and Camron Pratt have made major improvements to the marina, by removing some of the old structures, and replacing them with new service buildings, and “state-of-the-art” storage buildings. Boston Whalers and MasterCraft surf boats were added to their line of longstanding popular boats. New to this year’s inventory, the Sylvan Pontoon boats have replaced the Sweetwater Pontoon boats.
Since the 2004 acquisition of Goodhue & Hawkins Navy Yard in Wolfeboro, the Goodhue Boat Company has acquired three additional marinas. Shep Brown’s Boat Basin, a marina tucked into a 13-acre recess of Lake Winnipesaukee’s shoreline in Meredith, began its long history of servicing boats in 1919. It was previously owned by Shep Brown a local tradesman.
John A. Sargent together with his wife Priscilla in 1948 founded Sargent’s Marina in Georges Mills on Lake Sunapee. Prior to the marina’s purchase in 2019 by the Goodhue Boat Company, Sargent’s Marina was operated by Dorieann Sargent and the Sargent family.
Goodhue Boat Company’s fourth location is on Broad Bay on Ossipee Lake in Freedom.
Jeramiah Burke, General Manager of Goodhue Boat Company explained, “Rental boats are available at all four of the Goodhue locations: On Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro and Meredith, on Lake Ossipee in Freedom, and on Lake Sunapee at Georges Mills which is a ‘rental only’ location.” On Lake Sunapee all powerboat rentals are launched from Goodhue Boat Company’s headquarters in Georges Mills. This location also has a gas dock, and watersport equipment for sale or to rent. Paddle sport rentals and retail merchandise are available at Goodhue’s location in Sunapee Harbor where there is a full-service gas dock.
Burke went on to say, “Goodhue Boat Company in Wolfeboro and Meredith on Lake Winnipesaukee, and on Ossipee Lake are Full-Service Marinas – Boat Sales, Slips and Moorings (when available), Storage, Valet Service, Service and Parts Departments.” Goodhue sells all types of boats. There is a boat for every boater, from Fishing to Wake & Surf boats to Cruisers. Pontoon boats, for those folks who enjoy a living- room kind of comfort, yet has the power to pull a water skier, to Runabouts and Bowriders. Goodhue’s inventory of new boats consists of the Boston Whaler, Chaparral, Cobalt, and MasterCraft. Newly added is the Sylvan Pontoon boat. Goodhue’s website offers a look at their new boats, and a diverse inventory of pre-owned boats. The new 2022 boats are part of the rental fleet which includes; Chaparral, Cobalt, Sylvan Pontoons and MasterCraft. It is also noted on the website that “We are a pet-friendly marina, so feel free to bring your furry family members along for the ride!”
New to the family of motorized watercraft is the Fliteboard, a brand name for, E-Foil, the world’s smallest personal motorized watercraft is noise free, emission free and wake free. A concept which allows you to stand on a watercraft, much like a surfboard with an electric propeller. There is no relying on winds or waves. The board is powered by an almost silent electric motor and controlled by a handheld wireless remote that syncs the E-Foil via Bluetooth. The Fliteboard flies over the water’s surface due to the hydrofoil creating a lift similar to the wing of an airplane. More information on Fliteboard can be found on Goodhue’s website.
Lake Life Lessons L3 - Thomas Anderson’s passion for watersports gave inspiration to an idea which was followed by the founding of an incredibly successful business. A few years-ago Thomas Anderson and Lake Life Lessons L3 were invited to join the Goodhue Boat Company’s family. This pairing of a company which sells and rents boats, and watersports equipment with L3 was a natural fit. Anderson’s well-trained team of coaches share his enthusiasm, knowledge and experience in all types of watersports from waterskiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing, wakeskating, and the newly added Fliteboard, E-Foil an Electric Hydraulics Board. L3 offers E-Foil Demos. Events held this summer at Goodhue’s Lake Winnipesaukee marinas in Wolfeboro and Meredith include: Ladies Surf Night and Foil Fridays. Event dates and times can be found on the Goodhue Boat Company’s website.
Goodhue Boat Company offers On-Line Sites for requesting boat parts for boat repairs, maintenance, or if you want to customize your boat. They have a large selection of parts and accessories at the two Lake Winnipesaukee Marinas and the Ossipee Lake area Marina. Boat Storage – Why store your boat in your driveway, where it is more likely to experience winter storm damage, when you can store it safely and securely in a clean storage facility free of unwanted visitors and the harsh winds and snows of winter. Spring Launch – What sound could possibly be better than that of early spring when birds are chirping, and the call of the Loons? Springtime means ice-out, and signals the long-awaited launching of boats in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Goodhue has implemented a new process with SpeedyDock to make sure your Spring Launch is fast and easy. SpeedyDock should be used to schedule when you would like to pick up your boat, or have it launched in Spring. SpeedyDock may send you an email with a link to request your spring launch, or simply log on to your account from any browser or the app. There is a video providing a quick tutorial on the process. “The water is great – let’s get you out there.”
For information on any of the four Goodhue Boat Company marinas go to www.goodhueboat.com.
Goodhue Wolfeboro on Lake Winnipesaukee is located a 244 Sewall Rd., phone 603 569-2371.
Goodhue Meredith on Lake Winnipesaukee is located at 31 Lovejoy Sands Rd., phone 603 279-4573
Goodhue Lake Sunapee – Georges Mills is located at 19 Cooper St., phone 603 763-5036
Goodhue Ossipee Lake – Freedom is located at 65 Marina Rd., phone 603 539-8456
Hours for all four marinas are Monday – Sunday, 8AM – 6PM.