21' 6" MODEL 21A HULL NUMBER 124- "HURRAH"
Hull #124
Current Owner: Steven Martini
Previous Owner - Bill Harrah (Harrah's Casino), Ted and Joan Haynes, Howard M Day, George W. Day Jr
Power: Original 125 HP 8 Cyl Lycoming Engine
History: “Hurrah” was named after Bill Harrah of the famous Harrah’s Casino. Harrah previously owned the boat and used it regularly on Lake Tahoe’s Zephyr Cove since 1964. He later kept it on display in his Sparks Automotive Collection for over 20 years. The casino magnate set out to own the world's largest car collection and succeeded, with more than 1,400 collector vehicles (and boats) — many one-of-a-kind — before his untimely death. Bill Harrah collected cars of which only one was built or only one remained in existence, the first and last of a series, and cars that had notable engineering features, history, or owners. In less than 3-1/2 years, 250,000 people visited the collection. - The first 8 photos of the gallery were taken by Mark Mason in 1972 during a private tour to the Harrah Collection given by Ralph Dunwoodie.
The 1964 Nevada boat registration in the name of “Harrahs Club” is still attached to the underside of the starboard engine room hatch. Joan and Ted Haynes bought the boat in late 1983 or early 1984. They had just bought a residence on Lake Tahoe and wanted to buy a wooden boat reminiscent of the Garwood that Joan had ridden in many times during her childhood while visiting the Olivers in Hurricane Bay. John Mozart, a major collector of old cars and boats, recommended they look at the Dodge in storage at Sierra Boat. Steve Martini purchased the boat from Ted and Joan in 2005.
The following history of the boat was relayed to Ted and Joan Haynes by Dick Clark at Sierra Boat (however has never been confirmed). Horace Dodge gave the boat to his wife who owned it for many years. Bill Harrah (of Harrah’s Casino) bought it from the family to include in his boat collection (a relatively small adjunct to his famous car collection).
"Hurrah" has never been fully restored and is a very original example of this rare model.
John and Horace Dodge Sr. built a fortune in the early years of the automotive business. An early contract with Oldsmobile led to a relationship with Ford, which ultimately led to the establishment of the Dodge Brothers Motor Car Company in 1914.The brothers were on a roll, as they traveled to New York for the National Automobile Show in 1920. Both brothers fell ill with influenza; John died in his hotel suite on January 14. Horace Sr. recovered, though he passed later that year. While the Dodge's left the company in capable hands, the widows accepted an offer of $146 million for the company in 1924. It left the two Dodge families the wealthiest in the United States. Horace Elgin Dodge Jr. was a charming young man who displayed an aptitude for boat racing and the social scene but not for the automotive business. Horace was so passionate about boats and his ability to sell them that he convinced his mother to fund the Horace E. Dodge Boat Works in Detroit where he began selling the “Watercar" model powered by a marine version of the Dodge four cylinder automobile engine.
In 1930, Dodge moved into the new Horace E. Dodge Boat and Plane Corporation, a state of the art boat building plant in Newport News. Horace had the financials to buy whatever he needed, and this led to the partnership with Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg. Horace approached E.L. Cord to supply engines from Lycoming. As Dodge was one of the very few entities able to pay cash, Cord agreed. The results are seen in this Dodge boat, which features its original 125 horsepower straight eight engine, the original Duesenberg steering wheel and Cord shifter. This boat features the only “hood ornament” ever incorporated into a production boat and the Pass-a-Light cigar lighter by Stewart Warner. Commonly thought of as a “mermaid”, the figurehead is actually a water nymph designed by well known sculptor- Russell G. Crook. Dodge boats are one of the rarest of the major boat manufacturers; less than 15 of the 21A models exist.
The final photograph in the album is from the The Rosenfeld Collection, acquired in 1984 by Mystic Seaport, is one of the largest archives of maritime photographs in the United States.
Read MoreCurrent Owner: Steven Martini
Previous Owner - Bill Harrah (Harrah's Casino), Ted and Joan Haynes, Howard M Day, George W. Day Jr
Power: Original 125 HP 8 Cyl Lycoming Engine
History: “Hurrah” was named after Bill Harrah of the famous Harrah’s Casino. Harrah previously owned the boat and used it regularly on Lake Tahoe’s Zephyr Cove since 1964. He later kept it on display in his Sparks Automotive Collection for over 20 years. The casino magnate set out to own the world's largest car collection and succeeded, with more than 1,400 collector vehicles (and boats) — many one-of-a-kind — before his untimely death. Bill Harrah collected cars of which only one was built or only one remained in existence, the first and last of a series, and cars that had notable engineering features, history, or owners. In less than 3-1/2 years, 250,000 people visited the collection. - The first 8 photos of the gallery were taken by Mark Mason in 1972 during a private tour to the Harrah Collection given by Ralph Dunwoodie.
The 1964 Nevada boat registration in the name of “Harrahs Club” is still attached to the underside of the starboard engine room hatch. Joan and Ted Haynes bought the boat in late 1983 or early 1984. They had just bought a residence on Lake Tahoe and wanted to buy a wooden boat reminiscent of the Garwood that Joan had ridden in many times during her childhood while visiting the Olivers in Hurricane Bay. John Mozart, a major collector of old cars and boats, recommended they look at the Dodge in storage at Sierra Boat. Steve Martini purchased the boat from Ted and Joan in 2005.
The following history of the boat was relayed to Ted and Joan Haynes by Dick Clark at Sierra Boat (however has never been confirmed). Horace Dodge gave the boat to his wife who owned it for many years. Bill Harrah (of Harrah’s Casino) bought it from the family to include in his boat collection (a relatively small adjunct to his famous car collection).
"Hurrah" has never been fully restored and is a very original example of this rare model.
John and Horace Dodge Sr. built a fortune in the early years of the automotive business. An early contract with Oldsmobile led to a relationship with Ford, which ultimately led to the establishment of the Dodge Brothers Motor Car Company in 1914.The brothers were on a roll, as they traveled to New York for the National Automobile Show in 1920. Both brothers fell ill with influenza; John died in his hotel suite on January 14. Horace Sr. recovered, though he passed later that year. While the Dodge's left the company in capable hands, the widows accepted an offer of $146 million for the company in 1924. It left the two Dodge families the wealthiest in the United States. Horace Elgin Dodge Jr. was a charming young man who displayed an aptitude for boat racing and the social scene but not for the automotive business. Horace was so passionate about boats and his ability to sell them that he convinced his mother to fund the Horace E. Dodge Boat Works in Detroit where he began selling the “Watercar" model powered by a marine version of the Dodge four cylinder automobile engine.
In 1930, Dodge moved into the new Horace E. Dodge Boat and Plane Corporation, a state of the art boat building plant in Newport News. Horace had the financials to buy whatever he needed, and this led to the partnership with Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg. Horace approached E.L. Cord to supply engines from Lycoming. As Dodge was one of the very few entities able to pay cash, Cord agreed. The results are seen in this Dodge boat, which features its original 125 horsepower straight eight engine, the original Duesenberg steering wheel and Cord shifter. This boat features the only “hood ornament” ever incorporated into a production boat and the Pass-a-Light cigar lighter by Stewart Warner. Commonly thought of as a “mermaid”, the figurehead is actually a water nymph designed by well known sculptor- Russell G. Crook. Dodge boats are one of the rarest of the major boat manufacturers; less than 15 of the 21A models exist.
The final photograph in the album is from the The Rosenfeld Collection, acquired in 1984 by Mystic Seaport, is one of the largest archives of maritime photographs in the United States.
