21' 6" MODEL 21A HULL NUMBER 131 "D'LOUISE"
Owned in partnership with Dr. Bob Johnson of Minneapolis and Mike and Sue Favilla of Houlton, WI. Johnson and Favilla have been great friends and boating partners for over 30 years. The boat was formally owned by Todd Warner, this is an extremely original example of a 21A model Dodge Split Cockpit Runabout which is currently undergoing a refinishing at Mikes shop (2015-2016)
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.
(photos donated by Mike F)
Read MoreJohn 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.
(photos donated by Mike F)
