Historic Bama Belle riverboat listed online for $99,000

Five years after shutting down public rides during the COVID-19 pandemic, the famous Bama Belle riverboat has been listed on Facebook marketplace in search of a new owner.

According to the listing, the riverboat has been on the market for 11 weeks with an asking price of $99,000. It was listed by Craig Dodson, who used to operate a business that would take rides down the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa.

However, since the pandemic, that business needed to be shut down and never returned. Now, he’s hoping someone else can make better use of the boat moving forward.

“…all I can say is when this old girl is thumping up the river she is poetry in motion. Its a beautiful thing in a beautiful world. If its out of your scope of imagination that’s on you. River life is not for everyone it’s stunning beauty. Its Boredom interrupted by floods and chaos with occasional terror . But the river is alive and going somewhere maybe I’ll just keep her until I need that viking funeral.”

Craig Dodson on Facebook

Bama Belle riverboat

Dodson uses the listing to describe the boat as an “authentic paddlewheel riverboat twin Detroit, twin Cummins” with “34kw generators” in used but good condition. It’s 90 feet by 27 feet by 26 feet.

The listing said the riverboat was valued at $250,000 back in 2018 and a previous social media post had an asking price of $160,000 back in 2020.

Dodson also said most of the bottom level of the boat has been redone since 2011. But the listing also mentions that the hull and mechanics should be the main concern for any new buyers.

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