Trailerable Combo Cruiser Houseboats - 22' Combo-Cruiser--"Bubbles"

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Trailerable Combo Cruiser Houseboats - 22' Combo-Cruiser--"Bubbles"

by James Reed
(Perkins, OK, USA)

The rare trailerable Combo Cruiser houseboats.

The trailerable Combo Cruiser houseboats were an innovation far ahead of it's time. This house boat was built in Mishawaka, IN in the late sixties utilizing Goodyear Royal-Lite similar to ABS. We purchased her used for $7500 in 1974.

She was totally self contained with a 17' long cabin. Marine head, shower, refrigerator, three burner stove with oven, and a closet. She slept 4 adults, plus more on the upper deck.

The draft was 8". Starboard helm and instrument console. Upper deck area was reached by a portable ladder on the Port-side which also doubled as swim ladder and boarding ladder--when on the Trailer.

In-board Power was a 1500 CC English Ford OHV 90HP Engine which used 2 Gals/hour at 8 to 10 MPH. It had an OMC Outdrive. (The old "knuckle" drive.)

We lived in Southern California and kept the boat on Lake Powell at Bullfrog Marina. We not only used her for vacations but also Thansgiving and other times during the winter.

On one trip in late November we boated the entire upper portion of the lake to Hite Marina and return. During that time we saw only three boats.
Real Solitude!!

Lake Powell is Very Special in the winter time as the Lake surface is just like Glass, with very little wind and lots of sunshine and no traffic!

We sold her in late 1995 for $6500.

----------James Reed

Reply - Answer
Well James, thanks for posting your article about the Combo Cruiser houseboat. I just love seeing these rare trailerable house boats.

It sounds like you were able to get a lot of great use out of her, especially on world famous Lake Powell. She seems to have been very well equipped, and it looks like you had her for 21 years, and only lost $1,000 from the original purchase price.

I wish I could buy a houseboat today for $7,500 dollars and use her for 20 plus years, and sell her for basically the same price. Than again, the money is irrelevant considering all of the cherished memories that you probably have of her. I'm sure thinking about her puts a smile on your face :)

Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their Combo-Cruiser 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

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Comments for
Trailerable Combo Cruiser Houseboats - 22' Combo-Cruiser--"Bubbles"

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Answers
by: traderrob

My Dad was DeMeyer, President of the Co. He still resides in South Bend.

When the Co. shut the doors that was it, they all went separate ways. I think your uncle went back to concentrating on running Redi-Froz. The others no clue.

No, not my website, just happened to stumble on it looking for some info on Ship-a-Shore. I think all of the designs etc. just were lost or thrown out. My father has hardly anything left except some articles written about him or the Co.

I live on a small lake (1000 acres) in Southern Illinois and have a pontoon mostly for the kids and a small fishing boat for myself.

You're quite welcome, brings back a flood of memories. We came within an eyelash of becoming multi-millionaires but as most CEOs will tell you, the difference between success or failure is most often measured in inches not yards.

Regards, Mike

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Traderrob - combo cruiser
by: Adrian

Hi Mike -
Which partner are you? Is your Dad in South Bend, did the guys continue to invent things, what happened to the original design drawings?

The internet sure has made our 'fish bowl' small. Is this your web site? Do you have a boat? Thanks for all your responses!
Adrian

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Houseboat Plant Closing - a very sad day
by: traderrob

"I do remember how disappointing the demise of the project was."

Adrian, my Dad still reminisces that when he locked up the plant front door for the last time it was one of the saddest days of his life.

Mike

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New Photo/Article from Popular Mechanics
by: traderrob

Scott, there's a new photo/article above. I wasn't sure if you had seen. It's from Popular Mechanics magazine dated Sept. 1970. I'm not savvy enough to know how to download it here.

Regards, Mike

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Traderrob - combo cruiser
by: Adrian

Hi Mike - as I read through your information, a lot comes back to me. I heard bits and pieces from my Dad and Uncle Sam when they got together.

I do remember how disappointing the demise of the project was. As I recall, my Dad participated somewhat financially and spent time trying to market the boat at RV/boat shows, etc.

He was in sales with Samsonite and traveled many states in the southeast - therefore could call on prospects for the Combo-Cruiser. I remember the excitement they shared and the vision.

I'm a Pisces that really doesn't like water (LOL) - my thing has always been horses - still is.

Are the few that are still around salvageable? Are the other inventors still living? I really appreciate your taking the time to answer - brings back lots of memories. Have a great new years! Adrian

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Background continued
by: traderrob

They tried everything and then some to cure the problem but could never get it licked. With that
major issue unresolved the entire project was unobtainable. I believe that somewhat less than 150
were ever produced.

Royalex was a revolutionary material that held so much promise, the talk was that they may even
build cars out of the material. It appears that to this day the molding problem was never solved
as the only thing they use the material for now is canoes.

I'll answer any specific questions you may have if I can.

Regards, Mike.

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Background
by: traderrob

I wrote this for Scott of Lima Bean fame on another site so my apologies to him for repeating it.

I 'll give you a bit of background...

They started the Co in early 1970. My father and three other fellows. The original idea came from a man name Wasserman and the 3rd partner was Sam Bailin. Their was also an engineer named Schwartz that had some money in the project. All knew they had a real winner so most of the investment was from them.

There was a feature story on the craft in Business Week in July of 1971. You can check the archives. I believe the title of the article was "Ship-a-Shore, Where Women Man the Boats". The reason being that a full 80% of the employees were women, quite progressive for that era.

The Hull and Topper were made from Royalex, a composite material, comprising an outer layer of Vinyl and hard ABS and an inner layer of ABS foam. A truely revolutionary material that was highly resistant to UV rays and possessed terrific structural memory. It would have had countless
applications if it wasn't for a problem that I'll go into later.

The two sections were fabricated in a Uniroyal plant in Warsaw, Ind and then shipped separately to the Ship-a-Shore plant in Mishawauka for assembly. The fabrication of the two component parts entailed a thermo/vacuum-forming process over a rigid mold.

The plant was set up in a true mass production fashion, Henry Ford would have been proud. Also Royalex was significantly cheaper than fiberglass or aluminum. This allowed the craft to be sold at far lower cost than houseboats of that period (approx $10,500). At peak production they could
put out 3 per week. For a small plant that was extraordinary.

Early on the problems hit. The first one being that they couldn't get the boat to consistently "plane", a real issue. It was being advertized to be able to pull 2 skiers so they needed to do something. Some minor modifications in the hull and a beefed up inboard cured the problem.

Then the real issue hit and it's what led to the ultimate demise of the Co....uniformity (or lack thereof) of standardized parts ie. the Hull and Topper. In the process of vacuum forming those two components there were inconsistences in the thickness (especially at the bends) of the
finished sections.

Not a lot but enough to throw everything else out of whack. When you have to install Ranges, Refrigerators, Cabinets etc etc. and you even millimetres off it can be a nightmare and it was. Some of the "shells" came in pretty good many did not and they sent untold numbers
back to Uniroyal for not meeting spec. That didn't help their business relationship either.

Rest of story on next post....

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Houseboat builders
by: Adrian

Hi Mike - my Dad was Bob Begner. We lived in Atlanta. Bailin was my uncle (my mother's brother). I'd love to have more information on their venture. I remember bits and pieces as I was not living at home then.
Regards, Adrian

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Houseboat Builders - which partners?
by: traderrob

Adrian, I remember all the partners involved in the project (Balin, Wasserman, Swartz, and Peterson an engineer, and Hutchison an engineer) and my father.

Which one were you related to?

Thanks, Mike

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Lima Bean combo cruiser
by: Adrian

Hi Scott -
Thanks for your comments about restoring your Combo Cruiser. I really wish I could help you with your quest for paint information, etc. My Dad and Uncle designed, developed, and tried to market it.

My Dad passed away in 1983 and my Uncle died in 2007. I was 23 at the time, away from home, etc. and have minimal recall of their project. I recall that it was the first of it's type - a boat and camper all in one. The market was not ready for it.

Plus, Dad and Uncle had full time careers/families, etc. and did not have the funds or expertise in marketing to push it to any level of success. I just really remember the name - Combo Cruiser" and a vague mental picture of the design.

Sorry I'm not helpful. I do wish you well in the restoration. Regards, Adrian

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Houseboat Builder Stories - the Combo Cruiser
by: traderrob

Adrian, talk about memories. My father was the President of Ship-a-Shore.

Man could I tell you stories. A great ahead of it's time product but manufacturing challenges that just couldn't be overcome.

Mike

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Combo Cruiser houseboat restoration
by: Scott Fishburn

Adrian, I am the proud owner of a 1971 Combo Cruiser, "Lima Bean," that I bought off ebay in a boat angel auction. I rescued her from behind a garage in Ft. Lauderdale where she sat for 25 years! After rebuilding the framework and floor, I adapted a Subaru engine inboard and have been cruising around for a couple of years now. We draw a crowd wherever we go!

I would really love to get any information on her builders and history. I am also having a hard time finding out what kind of paint to use on the Royalex hull. Any leads you could give would be appreciated greatly!
Thanks, Scott

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Houseboat History - the combo cruiser
by: adrian

In an idle moment, I googled the Combo Cruiser - flash back of my childhood just to see if they still exist. My father and my uncle created and tried to market them. My uncle was a resident of South Bend - Mishawaka and my father lived in Atlanta. It was their adventure in life.

It was a houseboat 'before its time.' I am glad that you have enjoyed it. My father died in 1983 and my uncle died 2 years ago. I think they would have enjoyed your comments. I certainly have enjoyed the memory. Thanks.
Adrian

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Houseboats For Sale - just bought a Combo Cruiser
by: Lisa

I recently purchased a Combo Cruiser like this one, in "rough" original condition.

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Trailerable Combo Cruiser Houseboats - 22' Combo-Cruiser--"Bubbles"