Marcelle Bellville

**MN1** · 11-30-2004

Ron,
I have an inboard hydro that may have built by Marcelle Bellville or Dale VanWierengen. Can you help me find out if it was?
http://hometown.aol.com/mnelson685/page1.html
Thanks,
Mark Nelson

**Ron Hill** · 12-01-2004

I talked to Marcel, about six months ago....but can't seem to find his numbers...Seems like a man named Roy Conklin gave me the phone number as they live in the same town of Newport Ritchey, Florida...

**MN1** · 12-01-2004

I also have information that it could be 1 of 5 prototype Karelson inboard hydros. But since I don't know anything about Inboards or any Inboard people it's been tuff for me to find out who made it. I do know it was made on the west coast and maybe in the mid to late 80s, but that's it.
I posted this same question at Vintage Hydroplanes and only got some of these tips, no firm answers. So, I was hoping you could help. Any phone numbers or contacts would be helpful.
Thanks,
Mark

**capnzee** · 12-03-2004

Post a picture and I bet I can tell you if "the frenchman" built it! If not I know someone who will Capnzee

**STEVE SCHLECT** · 12-03-2004

I owned a prototype 145 karelson hydro in the mid 70's, it was a Dave karelson, not his brother Ed however, post a picture, I'll know if it a Karelson or not.

**MN1** · 12-03-2004

Top Views of Hydro

**MN1** · 12-03-2004

Rear of Hydro

**MN1** · 12-03-2004

Top View again

**MN1** · 12-03-2004

Top View other side. Any ideas who built this hull?
Mark

**capnzee** · 12-03-2004

The boat pictured does not look like a Marcel Belleville design. Marcel almost always used hydraulic steering. His sponsons were usually about 3 to 4 inches deep and his prop shaft generally ran out the lower part of the transom rather than out the bottom like most hydros. Marcell's boats were a "take-off" from his outboard hydros and they ran quite well. He even built an unlimited which was around 30 feet long, powered by 8 mercury V-6's. It looked just like all the rest of his boats. I believe that a lot of the Karelsons were built along the outboard lines and that would be Dave Karelson's design. Ed Karelson designs were generally along the standard inboard designs. Of the three, I would GUESS Dave Karelson, but only guess. Capnzee