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Help me become a Chris Craft owner, or not ;-)

If it doesn't pertain to metal, wood, wire or fabric—but it is about vintage Chris-Crafts, ask your question or give your advice here.

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Chrisnov
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Help me become a Chris Craft owner, or not ;-)

Post by Chrisnov » Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:02 am

Some background: I’ve renovated houses (down to studs and back, etc.) and have taken cars down to the shell and back (no welding), so I’m handy with tools and familiar with getting down to business. I’ve never sailed before, and all of my boating experience is limited to going out on my uncle’s ski boat. So all up, I’m a complete boating newbie.

I adore the design and attention to detail on Chris Craft, and really took note of them about a year ago. I’ve got all the books, etc. and attended the rendezvous in Seattle last weekend. I love “making things better” by working on them and then enjoying the final result.

I’m quite interested in becoming a Chris Craft owner, but the entry curve is quite steep and frankly I’m trying to figure out where to start.

First up, boating in general seems like a very “in or out” activity, where it’s difficult to get involved unless you are brought in by someone who’s already into it. Even if someone wanted to give me a boat for free, it’s not like a car where I know how to just get in and take it away. There’s a whole slew of logistics (finding a slip, piloting the boat there, etc.) that I don’t yet understand.

Second, there’s the whole “oh my, don’t get near an antique boat – especially a wood one!” note that everyone talks about, but I have no idea how to judge just how big of a whole you can bury yourself in. I know what it’s like in cars ;-) But all the talk about “Rich Craft,” the two best days of boat ownership (buying, selling…), the fact that “the best boat is your friend’s boat,” how seriously is that to be taken compared to something like racing cars? About the same? Order of magnitude higher? Etc..

So help me out here… Here’s my general plan, and some direct questions. And please tell me what I don’t even know to ask ;-)

• Safety: So obviously I’m reading up on basic boating, safety, etc as much as I can. (I’m a racing instructor so I don’t screw around with this type of thing) But there’s no substitute for hands-on experience; where’s the best place to come up to speed on boating 101?

• Determining boat quality: Lots of questions here! Let’s start with a “perfect” boat as a baseline just for discussion purposes…
o Just as background, say an all wooden boat (1950-64) came out of the factory – what’s the timeline for when it needs to be taken for a total refit? 5 years, 10, 20? I’m trying to judge what the “ticking time bomb” factor is, and if they decay in a linear fashion or just fall all apart rapidly once a trigger condition is met.
o What amount of time/money would one expect to spend on a “perfect” boat every year on normal maintenance?
o Asked another way, how many hours of use does one get for an hour of maintenance? I understand this very well with cars ;-)
o Once the boat is “up to snuff” what’s considered normal maintenance for the year?
o Is the jump to a fiberglass boat a huge decrease in “major, it needs to be re-hulled” maintenance?
o Etc.

• What’s the best way to find a slip (assuming a covered one for a CC)? What things does a slip need vs. what’s just nice to have?

• Are there any specialists in the Seattle area one can recommend to inspect a CC, or to purchase from directly? Can one be rented, with instruction? ;-)

I’ve already written enough, and am eager to see responses. I’m trying to determine if it’s simply insane to try to take it all in at once, or if I need to step up through some very small boats (skiboat and smaller) first.

Consider the question: How steep is the cliff to take on something like a 27’-31’ wood-hulled boat, say 1950-64, as one’s first boat? Learning curve, time investment, financial investment… Tell me I’m an idiot, or tell me it’s exactly what you did ;-)

Thanks

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Post by 57 chris » Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:45 am

Hi Chris,
Welcome to the buzz and to the world of boating.
You're in the right place to get info about boats and boating, this place is full of people (myself included) who like you started at the beginning.
You are asking many interesting and very valid questions about boating that cover a vast area which makes it almost impossible to give you short answers but I along with other members can offer our experiences and guidance to help you make informed decisions.
You will learn as you go along as we all do what's most interesting to you about boating and what you want to get out of this sport, for instance;
Are you interested in just being out on the water in a boat or are you more interested in restoring an old boat and if so because you're handy and enjoy working on old things or because you want to preserve a piece of history or both?
If you decide to restore an old boat your best resource for information is people that have done it before, there are very good books written on the subject but they have been written on the basis of just one person's experiences.
I hope others jump in and give their opinions because this sport is as diverse as the people that are active in it. The important thing is that you choose something that really interests you because generally speaking, restorations are a time (and money) consuming proposition and a lot of people find themselves head over heels in love with the prospect of having a beautifully restored boat but find out once into it that it's a bigger project than they anticipated and they lose interest. Having said that, there's no better feeling in the world that cruising in a boat that you have restored to health and beauty.

Your first project is to try to figure out what kind of boating you want to do and we'll support you every step of the way. Don't stop asking questions.

Craig
1957 18' SeaSkiff #SK 18675 "Knot Sure!"
1958 18' SeaSkiff #SK18722 "Wreckreation"

Past projects: 1972 19' Lancer with 307 Volvo drive-Great Blue, 1968 23' Lancer Offshore with 283 Volvo drive-Narwahl
1988 FourWinns 245 Vista - Blue Ayes.

It's good to have wood!

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Chad Durren
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Post by Chad Durren » Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:37 am

Jump right in (or step off that cliff), we all did at some point. Looks like you have legitimate concerns and are asking all the right questions. The hobby needs ambitious folks like you to save another wooden boat.

They require a lot of work. They are often expensive to maintain and restore. But what you put into them does not even come close to what they give back in enjoyment.

You'll make friends, you'll learn something new, and you'll own a piece of history.

...and chicks will dig you.
1952 CC 18' Sportsman
1969 CC 19' Commander Super Sport

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NSJA
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Post by NSJA » Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:51 am

Chrisnov,

Welcome to the Buzz. We have similar interests it seems, so I may be able to help you in your decision-making. I recently purchased my first C-C runabout, although, I did grow up being around them since both my Grandfather and Father owned them. I too race cars and am a racing instructor (PCA), so we have that in common as well.

To answer some of your questions I need to ask you several first: What type of C-C are we talking about; a small runabout or a 38' cruiser?

What type of cars do you race, and, how much of the maintenance do you perform yourself?

How much time vs money do you wish to spend on your new hobby?

The answers to these questions will help establish baseline expectations.

NSJA

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Chris Hall
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Post by Chris Hall » Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:40 am

I never owned a boat or even piloted one before I got my 59 CC 18' Continental in 2007. I did as much research as I could, then jumped in. Spent 500 hours on the restoration in 4-1/2 months and enjoyed most every minute.

I had a lot of fun with it on the water after figuring out how to dock and that sort of thing...nothing like getting thumbs-up from the pricy boat guys at the dock and the people on the shore. The engine sounds awesome, too...nothing like a V8 on the water.

I'm the kind of guy who likes projects, but I get bored with things quickly, so it's up for sale. You would be money ahead if you bought one ready to go like mine, I promise...unless you are a glutton for punishment like me. I actually liked the restoration more than taking it out on the water.
Chris Hall

1959 18' Continental

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Al Benton
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Post by Al Benton » Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:01 pm

Hey Chris,

First, welcome aboard!!!

I'll throw in my experience with my 1960, 27' Chris-Craft Constellation. It may help you decide at what level you may want to start at.

I've had her for about 8 years now. My son-in-law introduced me to classic boating about 4 years prior to that. He taught me the ropes, so to speak.

We're on the Mississippi River which throws in a different set of safety rules than on other bodies of water. We share the marked channel water with 1000' long by 105' wide barges, we navigate in areas that have hidden wing dams that must be avoided, we have other obsticals and large modern cruisers to navigate around. So the first point is to "be familiar with the waters, the hazards and any special rules that may apply."

My cruiser was in good working order when I obtained her but needed a quite a bit of refinishing. My first project was to strip the mahogany, then stain, fill and varnish, a project I rather enjoyed doing. The cost was nominal and she was looking much better. The caution here is "Maintaining the varnish, UV protection does ware away in the best varnish available on cruisers that live outdoors. Plan to spread new varnish at least once a year. Nominal cost."

The forward deck had issues and had to be partially replaced. This required removing the toe rails (varnished mahogany with bungs) and the old plywood decking. When Chris-Craft built these this decking was installed and finished before the cabin roof and windshield being installed, creating a problem requiring some inovation. The new decking was vinyl covered. "This is an area to be mindful of when searching for one. Cost was nominal."

My cruiser had painted canvas covering on the cabin roof which was replaced about 4 years ago now. I think 1960 may have marked the end of this and later models were covered with vinyl. Replacing the canvas was an interesting project but was time consuming (a full week) The cost wasn't much. "Cruisers earlier than 1960 used canvas cabin top covering, later models used vinyl".

Last fall we replaced the engine, a project that had been pushed back much longer than should have been. The engine had almost 2500 hours on her, was using oil and had low compression. "The project only took a couple of days but the cost was about 2,500.00."

While she was out for the engine work we inspected the bottom and found the port chine and adjoining planks needed to be replaced. "Project time: 5 days, Cost: 2,500.00"

This spring she developed a leak on the starboard side. Again, she was pulled and this chine along with adjoining planks were replaced. Damaged frames were repaired as well. "Project time: 21 days, Cost: 4,200.00"

We keep her at Palisades Yacht Club in Portage des Sioux, MO which has new covered docks, concrete walkways, swimming pool, club house, bar & grill and great neighbors. "Annual slip fees: 2,500.00"

Being on the Mississippi River, our playground is practically limitless via the Inland Waterways to the Great Lakes to the north, the Gulf Coast to the south and several states to the east via the Ohio River System.

Other things to consider are Cruisers vs. Runabouts. Cruisers can't be trailered around whereas smaller ones can. Cruisers require annual storage fees (slip or "on the hard" storage). Long term value may be a determining factor. Cruisers generally don't appreciate much (if any) in value, Most restored runabouts and sportsman models have a tendancy to increase in value, depending on make and model.

I also have a 1948, 17' Deluxe Runabout being totally restored to very close to original. She may be worth as much as the total cost of restoration will be if I were to sell her. A more collectable runabout would be a better investment. Restoration of my cruiser probably will not see a return on my investment. "So if you're looking for value in your investment it's not likely to happen with a cruiser. It's more of a fun factor than an investment"

Learning the "ropes" in boating aren't that difficult. Piloting a large twin screw cruiser is actually easier than my small single screw one when it comes to backing into a slip. These things (twin screws) can turn on a dime. Mine is moody and doesn't steer at all in reverse (but can be overcome with practice).

Enough for now. Best of luck to you, you've been bitten by the wood boat bug for which there is no cure, so throw caution to the wind, get some old wood and dive in head-first.

Al

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Post by Chrisnov » Wed Jul 15, 2009 5:45 pm

Answering a few questions from above:


To answer some of your questions I need to ask you several first: What type of C-C are we talking about; a small runabout or a 38' cruiser?
Initially I was attracted by the runabouts, but after seeing more and thinking about how I'd like to use a boat, a cruiser is much more in line with my needs. I'd like to be able to go and spend a nice day out with my family, and perhaps another couple or two. Some protection from sun and space to "lounge about" seems perfect, and something a bit difficult to do on a runabout ;-). Touring the boats at the rendezvous it seemed like a 30' is well more than enough, and I was thinking 27'-30'. I've never seen the 24' up close, and the 35's and above are awesome, but seem intimidating!

What type of cars do you race, and, how much of the maintenance do you perform yourself?
I've raced everything from miata's to noble's to porche's over the years, and have always done my own work. Engines down to the block, conversions from street cars to race cars, building cages, etc. I don't like electrical work much, but have done a decent amount. The only thing I don't do is weld.

How much time vs money do you wish to spend on your new hobby?
I'd prefer to be in the position where I'm "ahead" of the boat, where I can spend time and money on it because I want to, not because I'm trying to keep up with "the current nightmare." It's like being at the track and being the guy *always* working on the car between sessions, but the car still breaks - that's not who I want to be. I want to be able to enjoy it when I want and not worry about it, and then invest time and money when I want to in order to stay ahead of the curve. I tend to overmaintain... But I don't really understand just how deep of a whole one can dig even with a small craft. For instance, it's got to be a chunk of money to "5200 re-bottom" even a 24' boat, and if it's 20k to do that versus 25 to do it on a 30' then I'd like to understand that relationship. And if that means you're good to go for ten years on the bottom, or two ;-)



How different would you all rate the overall maintenance difference between the fiberglass, marine plywood, and traditional hull styles? The whole sinking thing is what freaks me out more than anything, as if you have a problem with the hull it seems like a major investment to redo it right, and it's an activity you can't put off. You'll wind up on the bottom... From what I've read it seems like something like a 1964 Cavalier would be much wiser for me than a 1950 Sedan Cruiser - even though I absolutely adore the look and feel of the 1950...

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Al Benton
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Post by Al Benton » Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:43 pm

Chris,

You mentioned having several books, is one of them the "Chris-Craft - The Essential Guide"? It represents every Chirs-Craft model built from 1922 thru 1977.

Another great source for looking at features on various models is the Archive feature on the Club Home page. Go to Archive, Brouse Entire Archive, then to Marketing Literature, scroll down to the year models you're interested in take a look at some of the original brochures. When you find one you like you can print a copy.

The Archive Search feature works well if you know a certain model name. It searches through the entire Archive and thumbnails brochures and old articles that include things about it.

TradingDock.org is another good source for finding what's available on the market. Most ads include pricing, photos, location and condition.

Two other Club resources that are coming along are the Hull Registry and the Classic Boat Wiki. They presently have limited information as they are in early stages of development.

Al

PS I forgot about your questions. Old wood boats are surprisingly durable, much more so than their builders thought possible. Many 50 to 80 year old planked boats are still in use with original bottoms. The same holds true for the the plywood boats, such as the Cavaliers. Early CC fiberglass boats were more or less trial & error but some are still around. Chris-Craft began the Corsair fiberglass line in 1963 and the Commander line in 1966 with many still in great shape. Chris-Craft also built steel hull boats (Roamers) beginning in 1955 and added aluminum hulls in 1962.

Any old boat may require serious fixes at some point. Wood rots and breaks, fiberglass cracks and blisters, steel rusts and aluminum corrodes. Most original planked bottoms leak, at least initially, until the wood swells and seals.

The thing to look for when considering any classic boat is a good professional surveyer who knows what he's looking for and has experience in the type of material the boat is built from, i.e. an expert fiberglass surveyer may not have a clue about what's good, bad or indifferent on a wood boat.

Al

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Post by Wood Commander » Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:31 pm

If you are in the Seattle area, check us out at the Northwest Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society. We usually meet the second Wednesday of each month at The Center for Wooden Boats at South Lake Union in Seattle at about 6:30 PM.
HOWEVER, the August meeting will almost certainly be a non- formal boating outing that Wednesday evening at Coulon Park in Renton, WA near the Boeing 737 plant. You are welcome to stop by the park, just look for all the woody's and ask for Bret. I don't think they'll throw you off the dock for that!

We have many very knowledgeable and helpfull members that own a wide variety of antique Chris Craft and other classic boats both large and small. We even have a "geezer" class for the cruiser owners!
If you were at the Chris Craft Rendezvous you probably saw member's boats, "Itchin", a 1953 35' Commander, and "Bluejay", a 1941 33' Enclosed Cruiser, along with "Red Head", Rob Dapron's gorgeous, newly restored, 24' Upswept Triple Cockpit and many others.

Our guys love to talk boats!

ACBS-PNW.org

Check out my other postings under "The Wet Edge" about the antique motorboating symposium we put on this last April. We had many great speakers covering many old boat topics including powering old boats, staining and varnishing, rechroming, guages and instrument restoration and repair, and we were fortunate enough to have Herb Pocklington, the oldest surviving Chris Craft executive and originally an Algonac resident, as our keynote speaker.
Bret

1953 35' Commander "Adonis III"

1970 23' lancer project

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lnewcom2
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Post by lnewcom2 » Thu Jul 16, 2009 8:50 am

Welcome to the club Chrisnov. In an effort to answer some of your questions I will relate my relatively brief experience in the wooden boat arena.

I purchased a 1962 36' Constellation 4 years ago as my first boat. Up to that point my only "wood working" experience had been home improvement projects.

To be honest I was flat out lucky when I bought this boat. The boat had been maintained at the same marina for at least 10-15 years before I purchased it, and in that time there were only two owners (one was my Dad). The more you know about how a boat was maintained and repaired over time really gives you important insight into what you can or should expect in the future. To this day I still call back to that marina for advice on how to repair or rebuild something. Knowing what I know now I would never buy another wood boat without very good intelligence into a specific boat's history. I think your best opportunity would be to follow Wood Commander's advice to start developing a network through your local antique boating chapter. One thing about wood boat owners is that we are always keeping track of other wood boats in our neighborhood, and a lot of times we can point you to good opportunities.

The boat I purchased had been very well cared for and was considered to be in good condition. That being said, in the last 4 years I have replaced the foredeck, installed 7 boards in the hull, refinished and repainted all topsides, painted the hull, replaced the refrigerator, added electronic ignition to the engines, rebuilt both carbs, replaced all fuel lines, and made numerous upgrades to the electrical system. This didn't all happen at once but it is something you chip away at each and every year. I have easily put more money into her than what I paid for her, but some of this maintenance would have been required on any boat (fiberglass or wood).

I spend a lot of time in the winter (Oct - April) working on boat stuff. In the dead of winter I bring things home from the boat to work on and refinish. In the spring once the temp gets above 50 degrees I will spend the better part of two weeks getting her ready to go into the water (see the project list above). If you love it like I do then it really isn't work, and it helps me to keep my sanity through the long dark Michigan winters.

I don't think I would ever go any bigger than a 36 foot woodie because I don't think I could keep up with it and still stay married. If you get much bigger then you will likely need some professional assistance which costs a lot of money.

My last bit of advice if you do go the cruiser route would be to get yourself a covered well in the summer. They usually cost a little more but the benefits far outweigh the costs. The covered well keeps the sun and rain off the boat which extends the life of your varnish, paint, canvass, and wood.

Good luck!
Regards,

Lee Newcombe
1962 36' Constellation
"Family Tree"

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Al Benton
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Post by Al Benton » Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:18 am

Great post, Lee,

Just another thought on covered slips (wells). Mine is situated east-west which means I get morning sun on the aft decks and evening sun on the forward decks. I wish I had thought about this earlier as all this sun exposure could have been eliminated by facing the other direction. I love the sun but the varnished mahogany on the cruiser doesn't. Sun is the #1 enemy which adds up to more maintenance.

A neighbor slip installed roll-up screens to help eliminate the problem but wind and winters are not kind to them. They're only 3 years old and already need repairs or replacement.

Al

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Post by jahearne » Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:11 pm

Welcome!

My experience is similar to Lee's except I bought off of a total stranger on Craigslist, but not without asking a lot of questions here first... and I don't write as well as him either. My backgound is cars from the '60s, so a '65 cruiser with twin V8s was right up my alley. I worked autobody shop, carpenter, bartender and now computers in data recovery/forensics.

http://www.chris-craft.org/discussion/v ... php?t=3053

That's my post. It took a bit to sink in... to get someone that actually works on wood boats to look over your purchase not a just any boat surveyor. Surveys are for insurance, but they're totally helpful especially safety items.

I lucked out too. The boat was very well taken care of and in good shape. The survey cost $440, haul-out about $300, bottom paint, hull thru's, bad coupler, reattach cutwater about $2400 on top of the original purchase price. Since then... a lot of cleaning, new manifolds & risers, electronic ignition, sanding and varnishing & chrome.

http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e318/ ... =slideshow

Next is wiring. But we've been able to enjoy her while fixing her up, which I think is key to having your first boat! Now we're looking at an 18 foot Super Sport, the same year, to go with our Connie. After the runabout, I think we can handle a more serious wood boat project after this - no problem.

Our marina is a little run down, but at $150 month there's coin left over for varnish, sand paper and beer. We'll look for a nicer place here in the near future. You'll need insurance before most marina's will take you in. I got a quote from Heritage at $535/year. Nobody else would touch me because the age of the wooden boat and my zero experience, but now I got classes and almost a year under my belt.

My wife, Wendy, and I took several boating classes from Coast Guard Auxillary and plan to take more. Learn how to read charts in your area! I was cruising along nice and happy, my wife noticed the depth sounder getting shallow, I looked at the chart and saw a number 2 in my area. I freaked! thought I was about to ground it. Turns out it was 2 meters not 2 feet. Could have saved me a pair of clean boxers had I known the units of measurement.


But this is the place! Take pictures, post them here and ask a lot of questions. You can't go wrong; there's a lot of great folks and information here.

Good luck and keep us posted,
John
John & Wendy

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Post by NSJA » Thu Jul 16, 2009 7:52 pm

Chrisnov,

You are getting a lot of good advice here, as I have since joining the club about a year ago. To steer the conversation back to your original comparisons between auto racing and wooden boating, I would expect that if it's a cruiser that you desire, then the costs of upkeep will far exceed the costs associated with amateur auto racing. That being said, of course, no 2 boats will be the same, so the advice about getting a thorough marine survey is paramount.

I went the runabout path, and I was lucky enough to purchase a fully-restored boat from a very good ACBS-associated restorer. My runabout, while not without issues, has cost me a fraction of what a season of racing costs in a 911. Perhaps a nice utility might be a good compromise between family-friendly and cost-effective. Food for thought anyway.

NSJA

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Post by BrokenRule2 » Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:42 pm

Chrisnov,

I am kinda like you but was into the 60's muscle cars then out... I was going to get back into them but the wife did not want to lose me to the garage so i said let's get that old wooden boat I always wanted and you can fish off the back while I tinker... few weeks of looking I have been the proud owner of a 1961 32' Connie. our last boat was 10 years ago - 24' 1993 Four Winn with a 454 - go fast type.

I just hit the right boat after looking around - the key was finding an owner that took care of it and had the documents showing what was done and when... don't trust it was hauled and painted every two years - show me the receipts!

Get a good surveyor because the idea is a boat is a hole in the water you toss money - your mission is to find out where the bottom is to the hole. In some cases it is not deep - just wide. Budget the cost of the boat plus 50% and you should be ok.

The big key to all this is the hole. I know it is there because it is 50 years in the making to I budget that it will cost $8K every two years to haul it and do something. For the most part whatever boat you get will need mech or paint - unless you get a total restro - then your paying upfront.

If you plan something like this then you will have something safe, that looks good and should be of value to another down the road when you have to sell it.

Just think, there is no grid lock on the water, that is what gets me through the week!

32' is about the right size for cruising and you can handle it with two people (one if needed) and remember most things cost per foot - berth, hauling, paint and wood!

Jump in the water is fine.

Mike

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Post by Chrisnov » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:19 am

Thanks for all the discussion so far ;-). I do have "The essential guide" and have been whipping through that and all of the online marketing materials here for awhile. There are a few boats I really, really like.

I shot a bunch of pics at the rendezvous, and Itchin' was one. I particularly liked Mudshark.

The note about the Antique boat society out here in Seattle is great, I'll have to come down and take a closer peek.

Hearing people's stories and seeing the posts about purchase and then maintenance over the years is exactly what's helpful to me. I've been searching through the forums looking for more posts like the ones added to the thread so far, and really that and spending time around the boats is fantastic.


Prices that I've seen obviously have a huge range, and I haven't seen enough to peg what one would expect a "solid" boat to go for. There's obviously "what it's worth to you" but can anyone chime in with some stakes in the ground for say a 1950 30' Sedan Cruiser or express cruiser? Just trying to get some bookends on value...

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Post by Al Benton » Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:10 am

Chris,

Speaking of 30' Chris-Craft Sedans, here's one that's close. This cruiser was restored last year by its owner, Mark Epperson, a member of our ACBS Mississippi Valley Chapter. This one's not for sale (well, anything's for sale) but I thought you may enjoy the photo.

Image
This one is a 1953, 31' Sedan with twin K engines.

Al

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Post by Wood Commander » Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:05 am

Chrisnov, you should check out the 3rd Annual Maritime Heritage Festival being held at the Riverplace Marina and Docks this weekend in Portland, Or. Mike M. has some info posted in the section heading- "Shows and Events".

Several of our Seattle area Pacific Northwest ACBS Chapter members will be towing runabouts and such down to the show in support of our Columbia- Williamette, Oregon ACBS Chapter members putting on the show.

I think I might be heading down either in the late afternoon Friday or early Saturday morning. It should be a great show with some gret boats and people. I know that they have a running World War II P.T. Boat down there that will almost certainly be in the festival.

This would be a great opportunity to check out some antique boats and mee the owners/restorers.
Bret

1953 35' Commander "Adonis III"

1970 23' lancer project

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Post by Wood Commander » Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:10 am

Chrisnov, you should check out the 3rd Annual Maritime Heritage Festival being held at the Riverplace Marina and Docks this weekend in Portland, Or. Mike M. has some info posted in the section heading- "Shows and Events".

Several of our Seattle area Pacific Northwest ACBS Chapter members will be towing runabouts and such down to the show in support of our Columbia- Williamette, Oregon ACBS Chapter members putting on the show.

I think I might be heading down either in the late afternoon Friday or early Saturday morning. It should be a great show with some gret boats and people. I know that they have a running World War II P.T. Boat down there that will almost certainly be in the festival.

This would be a great opportunity to check out some antique boats and mee the owners/restorers.
Bret

1953 35' Commander "Adonis III"

1970 23' lancer project

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