Ice Out on Winnipesaukee: A New England Tradition and the Start of the Boating Season

As winter loosens its grip on New England, there's one phrase that brings excitement to lake lovers across New Hampshire: Ice Out on Lake Winnipesaukee. For locals and visitors alike, Ice Out isn’t just a sign of spring—it’s a milestone that marks the unofficial start of boating season, a long-standing tradition, and a time of renewed connection with the water.

At Goodhue Boat Company, we wait for Ice Out with as much anticipation as anyone, because for us, it’s more than just the melting of lake ice—it’s the green light to get our docks in, tune up engines, and welcome back the community of boaters we’ve served for generations.

“Ice Out” is declared when the M/S Mount Washington—the famous cruise ship of Lake Winnipesaukee—can safely navigate to all its ports of call: Center Harbor, Wolfeboro, Alton Bay, Weirs Beach, and Meredith. This isn’t determined with fancy sensors or satellite imagery. True to New England form, it’s done by observation—often from a small plane or vantage points around the lake—by an appointed Ice Out judge, a role held for years by Dave Emerson and now by his family.

This tradition goes back as far as 1887, making it one of the oldest recorded Ice Outs in the country. And while the methods have evolved a bit, the spirit of Ice Out remains a reliable seasonal marker and a beloved part of Lakes Region culture.

For decades, people have placed friendly bets on the Ice Out date. Schools, offices, and families across the region have made it an annual guessing game, with some even logging predictions down to the hour. The average Ice Out date typically falls in mid-April, but it has ranged from as early as March 18 (2016) to as late as May 12 (1888).

At Goodhue Boat Company’s Wolfeboro and Meredith locations, we track it closely. Ice Out is when the pace picks up—our service team springs into action, our rental docks start taking shape, and our Boat Club members start counting down the days until their first cruise of the year.

Since 1903, Goodhue Boat Company has been part of the rhythm of life on Lake Winnipesaukee. Ice Out has always signaled a change in gears for us. From wooden launches to modern pontoons and center consoles, every generation of Goodhue staff has marked the season’s beginning the same way: by listening for the announcement, then getting to work on the water.

It’s more than tradition—it’s a legacy of being ready for the season the moment the lake is. Our team knows that once Ice Out is declared, it’s only a matter of days before eager boaters return to their favorite coves, fishing spots, and sandbars. We take pride in making sure every boat is launched, tuned, and ready to go with that first splash of open water!

Want to be the first on the water this year? Reach out to your nearest Goodhue location to schedule your spring service, enroll in Boat Club, or book a rental for opening weekend.

Here’s to another unforgettable boating season!