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First time Chris Craft owner

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derekarms
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First time Chris Craft owner

Post by derekarms » Tue Sep 01, 2015 3:45 pm

I just purchased a 1949 18' Sportman Deluxe and I'm excited. I re-varnished and named her Betty Jane after my grandmother.

My wife wanted me to make the interior white instead of blue and I just purchased the correct flag. I was told that the flag that's in the picture is pre-war.

What is the best thing to wipe her down with after use?

Any advice from all of you experts would be greatly appreciated.
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boat_art
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by boat_art » Tue Sep 01, 2015 5:19 pm

Beautiful boat! Congrats and welcome!
Tom
http://www.boatartgallery.com
1956 CC Connie 47'
1959 Caulkins bartender
1965 Cheoy Lee Frisco Flyer
1953 Chris Craft Holiday
1941 Chris Craft Deluxe
Plus 8-12 customer boats at any time
God don't count the days spent messing around in wood boats.

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RRGadow
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by RRGadow » Tue Sep 01, 2015 5:57 pm

She looks good! That is a pre-war flag....Be careful with that white upholstery, its going to show everything!...I like to wipe the varnish down with a soft towel and a few shots of Windex.
www.Gadowguitars.com

Varnish addiction.

boat_art
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by boat_art » Tue Sep 01, 2015 6:00 pm

I forgot about wiping it....I never use anything but Windex like RRGadow said!
http://www.boatartgallery.com
1956 CC Connie 47'
1959 Caulkins bartender
1965 Cheoy Lee Frisco Flyer
1953 Chris Craft Holiday
1941 Chris Craft Deluxe
Plus 8-12 customer boats at any time
God don't count the days spent messing around in wood boats.

Howard Lehman
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by Howard Lehman » Tue Sep 01, 2015 6:08 pm

Hi, Congratulations on a very nice boat! If I'm near running water with a hose, I hose it down (including trailer), trying to get any sand or dirt particles off of the boat's surface first. If you wipe the surface of the boat without the "pre-wash", those sand particles can scratch the surface. Then I wash it with water in a pail with a soft cloth, or towel. Then, I wipe the surface down again using nice soft towels (of course, these have been pre approved for use by my wife). A chamois can be used, but not if its been dropped in dirt or sand etc. I start with the interior side planks, interior seats and motor box, then decks, and finally sides and transom. The last thing I do is the floor and trailer. There are probably better ways, but that's how I do it. Enjoy your boat. Those 18' Sportsmans are great boats.

dreed
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by dreed » Tue Sep 01, 2015 7:28 pm

I use a 50/50% solution of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. I spray it on and wipe it off, with a good towel. This eliminates the white calcium spots left by the water. Enjoy your boat, and don't use ethanol gas in your boat ever!!!
1953 CC Riviera 18-R-927

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Doug P
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by Doug P » Tue Sep 01, 2015 9:06 pm

dreed wrote:I use a 50/50% solution of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. I spray it on and wipe it off, with a good towel. This eliminates the white calcium spots left by the water. Enjoy your boat, and don't use ethanol gas in your boat ever!!!
yep... vinegar solution

Greg Wallace
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by Greg Wallace » Wed Sep 02, 2015 7:28 am

I really like Microfiber towels/rags.
Greg Wallace 23 Custom 22166 former Chris-Craft dealer Russells Point, Oh.

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Bilge Rat
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by Bilge Rat » Wed Sep 02, 2015 7:30 am

Beautiful Sportsman! I second the comment about white interior showing everything. When I restored my Lyman, I used and off-white almost beige marine upholstery and that has helped with the dirt that will get on it from guests.
1966 Lyman Cruisette 25 foot "Serenity Now!"
1953 Chris Craft Sportsman 22 foot "Summerwind"

Greg Wallace
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by Greg Wallace » Wed Sep 02, 2015 8:13 am

Boat looks great! You will really appreciate your white interior when the wife takes her seat on a sunny day!
Greg Wallace 23 Custom 22166 former Chris-Craft dealer Russells Point, Oh.

derekarms
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by derekarms » Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:05 am

Thanks for all of the amazing advice for cleaning after use

And YES the white does show everything but as some of you probably know.. "a happy wife is a ....."

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jfischer
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by jfischer » Tue Sep 08, 2015 10:52 pm

Hey Derekarms,

Congrats on your boat! She's a beaut!!! As for cleaning, yes... You will soon have the Mr Miyagi technique down pat for "wipe on... wipe off" after every day out on the water!

Of course I totally agree with everyone's vinegar and water solution using microfiber cloths as that really does cut the water spots but after that round,I spray a mix of water and "Food for Varnish" on all wood surfaces. This puts a nice shine back on the boat. It is also a great way to put the "show shine" just before shows...

Have fun!
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John "In the Dog House" Fischer
1936 16' Chris Craft Double Forward Cockpit.
Johnsburg, IL

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Chad Durren
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by Chad Durren » Tue Sep 08, 2015 11:21 pm

Welcome! Great looking U-18. I have the 1952 version.

I like to use a product called the "Absorber", it's a synthetic drying towel/chamois. The trick is to wipe the boat down while it's still wet with lake water. Go for ride, pull into dock and quickly wipe it down. Takes only a few minutes and keeps the water spots away. Dip it in the lake, wring it out and store it back in it's tube.

I know, I sound like the Sham Wow guy... but it really does work.
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1952 CC 18' Sportsman
1969 CC 19' Commander Super Sport

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drrot
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by drrot » Wed Sep 09, 2015 7:16 am

Chad,
Looks like Lily needs a booster seat. Can't see her and the boat is running.
Try your method in the "Chain o Lakes" Boat will turn darker brown and your majik rag will disintegrate in the tube.
Only works in clean water.
Jim Staib
www.finewoodboats.com


1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

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Chad Durren
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by Chad Durren » Wed Sep 09, 2015 11:39 am

Sorry Jim, I forgot to mention... the magic rag only works if you boat in the magic, blue waters of Michigan. If you live outside of Michigan, the magic rag is useless.

If you boat in the Fox River or Chain-O-Lakes I suggest you wipe the boat down with mixture of kerosene, bleach and sand. Apply with course steel wool (against the grain, of course).
1952 CC 18' Sportsman
1969 CC 19' Commander Super Sport

jnbailey71
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by jnbailey71 » Wed Sep 09, 2015 4:42 pm

Where is the "like" button for Chad's comment???
Josh Bailey
1958 15' Chris-Craft Cavalier Utility K95

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DennyDowning
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Re: First time Chris Craft owner

Post by DennyDowning » Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:25 am

Sweet Boat my friend.
I am kinda new myself and I do live in the beautiful waters of Michigan.
People always ask me what I use to clean with.
A good wipe down after running is always a good idea for me.
I did not see anybody mention "Murphys Oil Soap"
I have been using it since I put my woodie back in the water two years ago.
I have an old fiberglass boat and I noticed that when I used Windex that it stripped off the wax that I worked so hard to put on.
I think it was the amonia in the Windex that acted as the stripper.
Only varnish on the woodie but the Murphys Oil Soap is working very good for me on both boats.
I had an old bottle of concentrait and I mix it up in a used Windex spray bottle.
Spray and wipe.
Seems to work great on the chrome and glass as well.
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The pre war and post war Chris Craft emblems are different.
You do have the pre war flag.

Welcome to the old boater club.
It is wonderful keeping the sprit alive and sharing.
Get used to having your picture taken as well.

Denny

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