TOPIC: Vintage Flotel Houseboat Sighted

Vintage Flotel Houseboat Sighted 14 years 3 months ago #17590

HandyAndy Topic Author Offline Moderator Posts: 1107 Karma: 102 Thank you received: 12	Sighted for sale on Craigslist. Not my boat. These were made by the Flotel Division of Gennett & Sons, Inc of Richmond, Indiana. They started sometime around 1959 with an aluminum model, this one is fiberglass. grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/1999348906.html Check this box to be notified of replies to this topic. Note: BBcode and smileys are still usable.
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Re:Vintage Flotel Houseboat Sighted 14 years 3 months ago #17670

darren nemeth Offline Junior Boarder Posts: 55 Karma: 1 Thank you received: 0	That is a short 2 hour drive from me. Too bad I plan to move next year or I'll buy it. Check this box to be notified of replies to this topic. Note: BBcode and smileys are still usable.
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Re:Vintage Flotel Houseboat Sighted 14 years 3 months ago #17684

Austinsailor Offline Junior Boarder Posts: 149 Karma: 4 Thank you received: 0	Looks like a Deckboat with a cabin. How long is it? It looks like an inboard of some sort. Check this box to be notified of replies to this topic. Note: BBcode and smileys are still usable.
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Re:Vintage Flotel Houseboat Sighted 14 years 3 months ago #17685

john-gibson Offline Contributing Member Posts: 4014 Karma: 324 Thank you received: 0	darn that looks top heavy,like it would just roll over as soon as it hit the water,or in a heavy wind.but it is cool. Check this box to be notified of replies to this topic. Note: BBcode and smileys are still usable.
	Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation. \"too soon old,too late smart\" my pap Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.“ ---Mark Twain

Re: Vintage Flotel Houseboat Sighted 14 years 3 months ago #17826

kensikora Offline Administrator Posts: 1084 Karma: 93 Thank you received: 12	That would make a great project boat for someone. I'm too far and have sworn to finish the ones I already have! Check this box to be notified of replies to this topic. Note: BBcode and smileys are still usable.
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Re:Vintage Flotel Houseboat Sighted 14 years 3 months ago #17854

Kerry Offline Gold Boarder Posts: 675 Karma: 51 Thank you received: 2	Saw that a few days ago. Looks like an early Deckbote hull with the obvious "house" added. I'm with John, that it looked topheavy, but most of that hull is pretty much flat and shouldn't move too fast with what looks like an early twin carb 4 cylinder Volvo for power. Check this box to be notified of replies to this topic. Note: BBcode and smileys are still usable.
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Re:Vintage Flotel Houseboat Sighted 14 years 2 months ago #17928

HandyAndy Topic Author Offline Moderator Posts: 1107 Karma: 102 Thank you received: 12	Found it still up for sale, now $500: grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/2008591559.html Check this box to be notified of replies to this topic. Note: BBcode and smileys are still usable.
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Re:Vintage Flotel Houseboat Sighted 14 years 2 months ago #17934

MadProps Offline Gold Boarder Posts: 703 Karma: 27 Thank you received: 0	I believe its an early model Floatel as posted this a newer model 1977 Floatel houseboat edit: this model is 40ft, real nice interior small 1 bedroom condo on the water Attachments: Check this box to be notified of replies to this topic. Note: BBcode and smileys are still usable.
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Re:Vintage Flotel Houseboat Sighted 14 years 2 months ago #17938

thetudor
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The boat has a lot of superstructure, but it is relatively narrow as opposed to the hull. A couple of points on the top heaviness:

1. This boat is not for open ocean. Nor should it be used to cross from Toronto to Rochester except on a very calm day and only to collect on a large bet.

2. The hull is pretty broad, which will add to the stability.

3. You will not be banking many turns at 30 knots with this.

If used as what it was designed for, it is probably fine. Park it at a marina on a lake and you'd have a nice get-away.