Great Machines: Boating: Life on the Mississippi
06/01/2006
Gone are the days when houseboats were square steel boxes painted aqua and furnished like a mobile home. As in the world of custom coaches, today’s houseboats bring comfort, luxury, and style to lake and river living.The oldest and largest manufacturer of aluminum hull houseboats in the world,
Sumerset Houseboats recently received an infusion of capital and enthusiasm from its unlikely new owners: a group of
former University of Kentucky basketball players. CEO Steve Lochmueller oversees the day-to-day operations, while his
partners—Jamal Mashburn of the Philadelphia 76ers and Ron Mercer of the New Jersey Nets—stay active in the NBA. “I’ve always been
interested in houses and in architecture,” says Mercer. “Then I also had the love for water and fishing. A houseboat just
makes perfect sense. You get the best of everything.” He christened his houseboat the Mary Swinger.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
The Erica Leigh II, built in 2005, is currently for sale. (Click image to enlarge)
Sumerset, which follows ABYC standards, turns out about 70 boats a year,
ranging in price from $400,000 to more than $1 million, and has had NMMA certification since 2000. Its houseboats are built
to the same quality high-quality interior materials and finish, as well.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
The Mary Swinger, with a hot tub on its upper deck, is owned by NBA
player and Sumerset partner Ron Mercer. Photograph by Kort Duce. (Click image to enlarge)
For example, the Erica Leigh II, at 20 feet wide and 119 feet long, is one of
the largest models. The floor plan includes three king staterooms with full baths and one double twin, for 1,800 square
feet of living space in the main cabin and 700 square feet of deck space front and rear. On the second level, a
2,250-square-foot covered entertainment area includes a three-piece, horseshoe-shaped bar complete with sink, ice maker, disposal,
and a flat-screen TV with surround sound. Other custom options, such as the hot tub aboard Mary Swinger are limited only by
your imagination.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
The Mary Swinger. Photograph by Kort Duce. (Click image to
enlarge)
Delivery takes approximately 12 weeks, and customers can monitor progress
online. “The Internet is the perfect venue for building relationships and keeping customers in tune with the progress on
their boats,” says Lochmueller. Customers log on to the company’s web site and can view a boat’s progress, right down to the
woodworking detail. And after testing is completed, Sumerset Transportation, an independent company, delivers and reassembles the
houseboat onsite.
Sumerset Houseboats
888.786.3773
www.sumerset.com