Recommended reading for a prospective Chris Craft owner

[nyholku]

Hi,

I'm going to buy a few books while trying to find a boat.

Any recommendations?

While I hope I'm not going to buy a 'project' I think I might want read about doing it, one never knows...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760334889/ref=s9_simi_gw_p14_i4?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=15FNF7PQRKC77C3A15SX&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

This title sounds promising:

http://www.amazon.com/Chris-Craft-Essential-Guide-Jerry-Conrad/dp/0917376536/ref=pd_sim_b_4

And hopefully this might provide some history information as I need to be able to prove that the boat was designed before 1950

http://www.amazon.com/Chris-Craft-Boats-Anthony-Mollica-Jr/dp/0760336318/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

br Kusti

[cenger]

Both Conrad’s and Mollica’s books are excellent and highly recommended. You may also want to consider How to Restore Your Wooden Runabout Vol 1&2 by Don Danenberg. Danenberg’s books tell you what to look for when buying a boat and give you an idea of what it would take to fix potential problems. For giggles there is also a great book on varnishing called The Art of Finishing Wood by Rebecca Wittman.

[NSJA]

Welcome to Boat Buzz. 2 other books to consider are:

"The Legend of Chris Craft" by Jeffrey Rodengen and "Chris Craft Enthusiast Color Series" by Jack Savage. I have enjoyed both of these titles immensely over the years.
_________________
1942 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe, 71906

[Charles Wilson]

Dear fellow club members,
I am dismayed that you would not give our new member the information he really needs and mislead him in such a fashon- it's downright appaling. How can you treat our new friend this way. Start his library collection at the beginning- don't assume he has even the basics;

Marriage 101
Care and Proper Feeding of your Wife
Marriage and the Family
Economics 210 (notice an advanced course)

When does the ice melt!

Regards,
Charles
_________________
"The fender guy" in Idaho.

[nyholku]

[BrokenRule2]

Smart guy; I got the boat then bought the books!

It would all depend on what type of boat, I found the restoring the runabout type books not very helpful for a Connie owner.

Here is what I picked up that are very helpful.
http://www.amazon.com/Wooden-Boat-Renovation-Modern-Methods/dp/0070652392/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265568108&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/Boatowners-Mechanical-Electrical-Manual-Essential/dp/0071432388/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265568197&sr=1-8

http://www.amazon.com/Brightwork-Rebecca-Wittman/dp/0071486577/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265568326&sr=1-2

Not so bad if you get them used:
http://www.amazon.com/Boat-Maintenance-Essential-Cleaning-Cosmetics/dp/0071357033/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265568251&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Quick-Easy-Boat-Maintenance-Time-Saving/dp/0071343253/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265568251&sr=1-3

I also picked up a 1960 Chapman's as this would be "the book" for a 1961 wooden boat. It proved to have many small insights that the newer version does not have.

The biggest resource is this form and the club's data base.

If you are looking for a stock and mostly original boat or cruiser then I would recommend getting some back issues of the magazines of the day. I pick-up a complete set of the Rudder 1961 and most of the 1961 - 1963 Yachting issues.

just reading the stories and looking at the photos and advertisement on these winter days is relief while waiting for the Brass Bell and the spring.

And with out a doubt, visit the shows and chat with people.

As to the added work of the research for the significant other... I took a short cut and allowed her to pick out the boat. Now all I have to do is keep the boat running and clean so she can fish.

Find a woman that can fish and you will have a happy skipper!

Mike

[Wood Commander]

One of my favorite descriptions for our antique boat hobby/addiction/way of life is- "Boat Husbandry".

Both forms of marriage can be very demanding.
_________________
Bret

1953 35' Commander "Adonis III"

1970 23' lancer project

[tom king]

Here is the first book you want to buy. Suggest it be read from cover to cover.



_________________
Tom King
http://www.ccmanuals.com

[Al Benton]

Tom, I agree. I still get this one out when I can't remember the time line of certain parts of the history and legend. It's pretty much all there, decade by decade. A good companion to The Legend of Chris-Craft would be Chris-Craft Boats by Mollica and Savage. Of course I couldn't do without Chris-Craft - The Essential Guide by Jerry Conrad.

All three of these books are worn out and in need of replacement from constantly using them, however, I can't retire them, there's too many notes in the margins.

Charles, I also agree with your suggestions, they're very important prerequisites to Antique Boating 101.

Al

[nyholku]

Thanks Guys,

for all the suggestions, I just bought them all, cost about 200 EUR but I guess I won't be able to even fill the tank of my future runabout with that amount!

br Kusti