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Besotes Boat F.A.Q.
Where were Besotes boats built?
Who built Besotes boats?
Who was George Besotes?
Who was Charlie Besotes?
How many boats were built?
How many boats are still around?
What materials were used to build the boats?
What engines powered Besotes boats?
Where is the best place to see these boats?
Where were Besotes boats built?
Besotes Boats were manufactured in Stockton, California. They were first built in a shop on Wilson Way, before the operation was moved to a larger building on Waterloo Road.Who built Besotes boats?
Besotes boats were manufactured by two brothers, George and Charlie Besotes. The brothers owned and operated a manufacturing plant where they made bodies for pickup trucks. After World War 2, their hobby became boats and water skiing and their manufacturing skills enabled them to build their own personal boats. They were so good at boat building that customers insisted on having George and Charlie build boats to sell.Who was George Besotes?
George Besotes(1914-2002), was one of two brothers who manufactured speed boats in Stockton, California. George is credited with much of the creativity behind the design of the Besotes Boats. Not only was George a builder of boats, he was also a champion boat racer. George crafted many things, not limiting his skills to boats, a list of which includes Greek musical instruments, motor homes, car parts, and much more. He was a charter member of the Stockton Water Ski Club and a member of St. Basil's Greek Orthodox Church.Who was Charlie Besotes?
Charles Besotes(1917-2002), was one of two brothers who manufactured speed boats in Stockton, California. Charlie was a champion water skier and it is said that the Besotes brothers originally began to build boats so that Charlie would have the perfect vehicle to ski behind. Charles story is almost identical to his brother George's, the two were inseparable. He was a charter member of the Stockton Water Ski Club and a member of St. Basil's Greek Orthodox Church.How many boats were built?
From about 1950 to 1973 roughly 200 Besotes speedboats were produced.How many boats are still around?
The answer to this question is a mystery, even to us. There are approximately 44 boats that our known to exist, one as far away as New York.What materials were used to build the boats?
Besotes boats were constructed many different ways. The hull was most commonly constructed out of plywood and then fiber glassed over. However, there were some boats that had hulls constructed entirely out of fiberglass, and one boat was built of aluminum. The decks were usually mahogany , minus those fiberglass and aluminum boats. The frame structures varied from steel to wood construction.What engines powered Besotes boats?
The Besotes boats were built for fun and speed. It was for these reasons that the brothers took engines out of high end luxury cars at the time that were notorious for their powerful V8 engines. Because each boat was built specifically for a buyer, the customer had complete control over which motor was in their boat. Many Besotes boats have Cadillac horsepower, however the boats were manufactured with Ford's, Chevy's, and Chrysler motors. No matter what power plant was used in the boat, they were all fast.Where is the best place to see these boats?
The majority of known Besotes boats still reside in the California Delta area. You can often catch a glimpse of a Besotes speeding down Stockton's Deep Water channel. If sightings of chance aren't for you, a few boats actively participate in boat shows sponsored by the Northern California chapter of the ACBS. To get more information about these shows please check the events page.© 2005 Chad Bosworth