Houseboat Hull ID Number History - is it a River Queen or a Drifter Craft boat?

[?] Subscribe To This Site

Houseboat Hull ID Number History - is it a River Queen or a Drifter Craft boat?

by Pete Regula
(Forsyth, Georgia)

Houseboat History - is it a River Queen or a Drifter Craft boat?

When it comes to a houseboat hull ID number history, we wonder if it's a River Queen or a Drifter Craft boat?

Was the RiverQueen made by Drifter Craft? I'm totaly confused as I purchased a 1964 houseboat in which "River Queen" was on the side of the cabin. Not knowing exactly what I had, I started researching and it gets worst.

The houseboat is a 1964 "Drifter Craft" 30' in length X 11.5' wide, "fiberglass hull" 20 X 8 cabin, and driven by two Johnson 88 HP outboards. Rather than roasting marshmallows over it, my wife loved the boat so I took it down to the bare hull and started upward.

For research purposes the hull ID No. is 430827. Do I have a classic or a floating scrap pile?

Thanks for any help, Pete.

Reply - Answer
Well Pete, welcome to the forums, and on the major houseboat rebuild project. From what I can tell, I would say that it's a Drifter Craft.

If you're inclined to learn more about your boats history, there's a website that can give you the boats history by entering the Hull ID Number (HIN), MIC, or serial number.

You may find the following article of interest to you since it looks at deciphering a houseboat track record.

Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their Drifter Craft houseboat experiences. Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

If you're still looking for information, you can try our search function, found at the bottom of the left Nav bar.

Free Bonus Offer

To show our appreciation to all of our readers and visitors, here is the link to our free Houseboat Insider magazine.

Go ahead and sign-up, it's free and filled with great articles, tips, and information.
Don't worry, your email is safe with us.

free Houseboat Magazine - The Houseboat Insider

Comments for
Houseboat Hull ID Number History - is it a River Queen or a Drifter Craft boat?

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Rating

River Queen houseboat history
by: Ray

R.J. Peterson and his crew started building RQ's back in '61, I believe, with the first one being a paddle wheeler that R.J. says he still has. It was all steel.

R.J. continues to build custom steel boat yet today but the RQ, backed by US Industries, ceased in late '73 or '74.

To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Peterson nor his company ever built anything but steel hulled boats and I just talked with him a month ago.

I had a '72 40' Star Stream Mark II that I lived aboard for over 6 years. One of the worst mistakes of my life was selling her. I am now looking for another.

Rating

Houseboat Manufacturing Locations
by: Old Houseboater

River Queens originated in Douglas, Michigan. They lasted until the early/mid 70s. We owned a 66, a 69 and a 73 Star Stream. Some years after they went down there was a short lived rebuilding operation.

Drifter went out of business in the early 70's, it was built in Gallatin Tennessee, just outside of Nashville. Clyde Head who runs Harbormaster was a principle.

They were a steel bottom boat. I suspect your fiberglass bottom boat wasn't one of them.

Reply - Answer
Old Houseboater, you're a walking encyclopedia when it comes to houseboat history and locations. Thanks for helping out with the great information :)

IAN from www.all-about-houseboats.com

Rating

River Queen houseboats
by: Old houseboater

River Queens were steel hulled. Until 1969 they had vinyl cloth covered plywood cabins.

1969 and later models all had metal cabins with the exception of Star Stream models. Star Stream's had metal cabins with the salon roof being made of fiberglass.

In their day they were some of the toughest houseboats built and were very seaworthy.

Rating

Houseboat Hull ID Numbers
by: Bill V

The River Queen model was made by Drifter Craft until 1967. Drifter Craft went out of business, and the former workers and office personnel took over and named their vessels River Queen Corp.

Rating

River Queen Mark II
by: gsp974

Well I found a River Queen houseboat and I love it... The problem is I am being told to stay away... It is nicer than my house and from the water line up, it looks brand new.

I can't get anyone, who don't want a grand to tell me anything about it, what is it really worth.. One surveyor even told me he owned it, but without basically hiring him, he got amnesia and could tell me nothing about the house boat.

I am lost, and don't trust anyone... I just don't want to buy a boat and in 2-3 years find out I have the prettiest sunk fish boat in north GA...

Reply - Answer
Well GSP974, you may be interested in reading the following article on older steel houseboats.

IAN from www.all-about-houseboats.com

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Review of Houseboat Manufacturers

Houseboat Hull ID Number History - is it a River Queen or a Drifter Craft boat?

Free Bonus Offer

Comments for Houseboat Hull ID Number History - is it a River Queen or a Drifter Craft boat?

Comments for
Houseboat Hull ID Number History - is it a River Queen or a Drifter Craft boat?