Detroit Hydroplane Museum?

**douglasm** · October-26-14, 01:50 PM

Can anyone tell me anything about the "Detroit Hydroplane Museum" operated by Dave Bartush? I don't know if he is a boat restoration guy, but in doing a little research on the Pride Of Pay 'N Pac hydroplane, his name came up.

Thanks in advance.

**DetroitPlanner** · October-26-14, 11:05 PM

I am guessing this is different than the Dossin that has some Hydroplane collections?
http://detroithistorical.org/dossin-...al-information

**douglasm** · October-27-14, 07:04 AM

Correct. Dossins has a Miss Pepsi stuffed and mounted. In doing a little more polking around, Dave at one point a couple of years ago had the "Winged Wonder [[Pay'N Pac/Holset Miss Madison) and one of the Circus Circus hulls and does [[or did) own the Gale V. The first 2 hulls went back to Seattle for restoration at the Hydroplane and Race Boat Museum for restoration, but if the Gale hull is out there, it really should be saved.

**DetroitPlanner** · October-27-14, 08:54 AM

LOL @ Stuffed and Mounted! Going to have a big $h!t-eating grin on my face all day.

How about this?
http://www.yelp.com/biz/detroit-hydr...museum-detroit

Google also returned this one in Washington:
http://thunderboats.ning.com/

**Smirnoff** · October-27-14, 10:52 AM

Been several years since I was at the museum.....several vintage boats from the 1960-80's that required total restoration. Not sure if any of them were ever restored back to running condition, don't believe so.....I think this is the Gale in the museum:

Attachment 24768

**Hermod** · October-27-14, 01:24 PM

Old hydroplanes, old ships, old trains, old streetcars, and old tanks are too large to be conveniently stored indoors and the maintenance on stuff outdoors is horrendous.

**EastsideAl** · October-27-14, 02:12 PM

I've been to the museum in Seattle. It's smallish, and kind of remote [[in a suburban industrial park), but exceptionally cool. It was a big thrill for me, coming from several generations of east side fans going back to the Harmsworth Trophy days, to see so many beautiful historic hydros in one place. It would be really great if we could do something like this in Detroit.

**douglasm** · October-27-14, 04:49 PM

The nice thing about the Seattle museum is that it's an operating museum. When "The Blue Blaster" ran in Detroit, it came from the Hydroplane and Race Boat Museum. We see their boats at the Tri-Cities Water Follies and Seafair, and every year they show up in my neck of the woods on Lake Chelan for their old boat show and sail.

**douglasm** · October-27-14, 05:02 PM

I'm wondering if Bartush sold his collection. The Gale V ran at this years Detroit race, as did the 1968 Budweiser.

**Smirnoff** · October-27-14, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by douglasm

I'm wondering if Bartush sold his collection. The Gale V ran at this years Detroit race, as did the 1968 Budweiser.

The Gale V that ran this year was a "brand-new" replica boat. The owner & his brother are real nice guys.....quality job in building the replica!

**douglasm** · October-28-14, 07:01 AM

This is the type of stuff the Seattle museum rebuilds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdZODJ2Qnxc

**downtownguy** · October-28-14, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by douglasm

Can anyone tell me anything about the "Detroit Hydroplane Museum" operated by Dave Bartush? I don't know if he is a boat restoration guy, but in doing a little research on the Pride Of Pay 'N Pac hydroplane, his name came up.

Thanks in advance.

Since it seems most posts here have been about the Seattle museum, I'll chime in with the little I know.

The first time I heard about this museum was at least a decade ago, maybe more. As my poor memory struggles for details, I seem to recall he had a space in the Rivertown area where, I think, he was storing some boats with the bigger goal of making his collection into a museum.

I can't recall hearing any more about it in years. Perhaps — in the spirit of research — you should spend an evening bellying up to the bar at Andrew's on the Corner and see if any of the locals know about it.

**Smirnoff** · October-28-14, 05:47 PM

Your memory is correct.....several boats have been listed on eBay the past couple of years. Below is a photo of the Gale V in the museum, along with 1973 Sunny Jim that was listed for sale:

Attachment 24795
Attachment 24796

**douglasm** · October-28-14, 08:30 PM

I've just gotten an new computer with Windows 8.1 that I'm still trying to figure out posting pictures, but here's the Sunny Jim in better days.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/332703491193244924/

**douglasm** · October-28-14, 08:36 PM

BTW, The Sunny Jim [[a long gone Seattle peanut-butter.....think Velvet of the Pacific North-West......which started as the Breathless II, was rebuilt at the Seattle museum and now runs as the Hawaii Kai III. Here's a list of restored or new "vintage" boats at the museum.

http://thunderboats.ning.com/page/restorations-1