About Revisions Horseboat Barge Bear Island, Lake Winnipesaukee, NH More Info Max Depth: 36-40ft/11-12m Entry Type: Boat Bottom Composition: Clay/Muck Aquatic Life: Might See Something Spring: Under 50°F/10°C Summer: 50-55°F/10-13°C Winter: Under 50°F/10°C 8/17/2012 2:26 PM

Horseboat Barge is a boat accessible fresh water dive site, located at Bear Island, Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. The maximum depth is 36-40ft/11-12m.

Horseboat Barge - This flat-bottomed vessel was one of the earliest on the lake. Typical of Yankee ingenuity, the barge was powered by two horses on a treadmill with a large stern sweep for steering. It was used primarily to deliver coal and other goods to the islands in the 1850’s and 1860’s. This type of barge eventually became obsolete with the invention of the steam engine. There are only two known examples of this type of boat left in the United States. This 60 foot long wreck lies near the western end of Bear Island, just south of the mail boat dock. The bow rests in 22 feet of water while the stern slopes down to almost 40 feet. The hull remains mostly intact but there is no evidence of any decking left. The bottom and sides are still in good condition. Some tools and pieces of coal can be found around the area of the barge. This area was also a dump site for a prominent hotel located on Bear Island, so many artifacts can be found here as well.

History of island http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_Island_(Lake_Winnipesaukee)