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In 2011, the late President George H. W. Bush purchased a 38-ft., open-bow Fountain Powerboat with three 300 horsepower Mercury engines and a top speed of 75-mph.  Thirteen years later, that same boat is up for auction this Thursday (Feb. 15) during the 2024 Presidential Salute auction in Houston, Texas.

Proceeds from the sale of the sleek fishing boat will go to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum and the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas to expand their services.

The boat, called “Fidelity V,” is worth at least $300,000, based on online searches of similar 2011 Fountain 38 CC Tournament Edition fishing boats. The Presidential Seal is affixed to the side of the boat.

In 2008, the late President Bush purchased his third Fountain Powerboat of the same name, “Fidelity IV.” It featured the Presidential Seal on the side of the boat and has stitching of the Presidential Seal is on the front and back of the captain’s seats. The boat was kept at Bush’s vacation home in Kennebunkport, Maine, according to a Daily News article from 2008.

The same news article stated that Bush and Reggie Fountain, owner and founder of Fountain Powerboats were friends and went on many fishing excursions with the former president. Bush liked to fish for stripers or “rock fish,” as they are sometimes called in coastal areas of Maine.