Jim's Living Legacy
Celebrating a half century of lake-style houseboating
Houseboat Magazine (October 2003)

Houseboating would not be the same without him.  If you have ever followed the history of houseboating, there is one man who has been there from the beginning…James (Jim) Sharpe. He and his Somerset Company - followed closely by Stardust – is largely credited as the inventor of the lakestyle houseboat. Sharpe’s story is definitely on worth telling.

Sharpe knew that “only in America, could [his accomplishments] be possible.”

It all began back in 1949 when the Army Corp of Engineers began creating Lake Cumberland. Sharpe knew the new lake would be an emerging trend toward tourism, so he jumped on the bandwagon and began fulfilling the need for boats, creating Sharpe Marine that could supply them.

Lake Cumberland began as a beautiful water getaway for locals, but as word got out their secret was no longer safe – it started drawing tourism from all over the United States. The Lake Cumberland area is now known as the “houseboat capitol of the world’ with several manufacturers located in the same region.

Sharpe’s dream was to create a business that built the best boats possible out of the most current materials and technology. People began to recognize Sharpe’s boats were an answer to the “dream boats” they all wanted to own. In 1953, Sharpe changed the company name to Somerset Marine and his first houseboat was built – a 10 by 24-foot steel hull flat bottom with scow bow, which he sold to a man from Beattyville. (Sharpe changed the name of Somerset to Sumerset in 1973 when a printer made and error on a flyer and he decided he liked it.)   

Sharpe has witnessed a lot of changes to the houseboat industry over the years, but two stick out most in his mind. “Moving from a steel hull that required annual painting to an aluminum hull that has no maintenance is on of the biggest changes in the industry,” says Sharpe.

Another big adaptation was when they first installed home-style heat pump that provided cool air and heat. “It changed a short selling season to a long selling season,” he adds.  The houseboating season expanded from at most six months to an activity that can now be enjoyed year-round.

His houseboating success continued until 1996 when in August of that year, he sold his Sumerset stocks and signed a four-year no-compete clause. By the time the clause expired it would be the year 2000 and he would be 70, so he knew that wouldn’t be a problem.  When he sold his shares, the average size of 75 feet long by 16 wide – they had built boats up to 20 by 100 feet – was only slightly larger than the 10 by 24-foot model he started with nearly 50 years earlier.

As he looks to the future of houseboats, Sharpe doesn’t know exactly  what customers can expect, but he does know it will only get better. “I see [houseboating] going on and on as the population goes up,” he says. With houseboats up to 20 feet wide, the problem he sees with them getting bigger is finding marinas that have large enough slips. As houseboats became wider, the Sharpes also became involved in marinas to help meet those needs. 

They have built boats with a helicopter deck as well as two-story models.  One slogan they have used is “our boat is customer designed.”

“[We would build them] the way the customer wanted us to if it was possible,” says Sharpe. He has seen them become more and more sophisticated with all the comforts of home.

According to Chris Girdler, Sharpe’s grandson, it’s been said that luck is where hard work and opportunity meet and it took many hours of hard work to which Jim Sharpe was no stranger.  Sharpe is a self-made man, Girdler continued, who became a financial success in life and the advancements he has achieved are interesting to observe.

Not only did Sharpe have a love for houseboats, he also built runabout boats, purchased an auto dealership and owned a supermarket chain as well as a Kettle Fried Chicken restaurant. He also developed a passion for aviation. In fact, in his early 20s, he pursued his dream to fly and owned several planes throughout his business career.

Now 73 years old and retired, Sharpe has passed on his business traditions to his family. His two sons, Joe and Chip, his son-in-law, Brent Fothergill, and his grandson, Chris Girdler, now carry on his houseboat building success at the old Sumerset Houseboat location, but with the new name of Sharpe Houseboats, Inc.

Sharpe shares his success with his family, including his wife of 53 years, Mary Jo, and their four children: Joe and Debbie Sharpe, Chip and Sherre Sharpe, Sherry and Frankie Girdler and Jami and Brent Fothergill. They also have nine grand children.

Sharpe is trying hard to be retired but many times you can still find him at the Sharpe Houseboats manufacturing plant. He stops by for visits on a regular basis just to see what is going on.  “I give out advice on a limited basis and that’s only if I’m asked,” he says with a laugh. He also admits to being their errand boy when he’s around. According to Girdler, his grandfather is learning to play golf, and traveling the United States, which he so dearly loves (he’s catching up from all the travel he couldn’t do when he was working and succeeding).

The houseboat industry has evolved in a number of ways since Sharpe began his business adventures over 50 years ago, but seeing his face around a houseboat isn’t ever going to change. Even though he’s retired, there’s a chance you just might catch him hanging around Sharpe Houseboats and continuing to live his American dream.