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by Howard Lehman
Sat Apr 10, 2021 8:58 am
Forum: Odds & Ends
Topic: staining blonde insert on transom
Replies: 2
Views: 4819

Re: staining blonde insert on transom

I can't speak for this area on the Capri, but I can for the Riviera which pre-dated the Capri. The Riviera's aft deck blond area extends down the "waterfall" of covering board into part of the top plank of the transom. This area is grooved. As I had to replace all decks, covering boards and transom ...
by Howard Lehman
Mon Jul 15, 2019 10:06 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Stain color opinion?
Replies: 2
Views: 5684

Re: Stain color opinion?

As you stated, opinions will vary. If you have any intentions of showing your boat at judged events, varying from "original" will result is loss of some points. Some will say varying from original color stain, upholstery color and pattern, bottom paint etc., especially in the more "collectible model...
by Howard Lehman
Mon Oct 09, 2017 8:46 pm
Forum: How to Use Boat Buzz
Topic: Short block (350) installation in our '59 Ski Utility
Replies: 10
Views: 5593

Re: Short block (350) installation in our '59 Ski Utility

Hi, what is the diameter of the hole? Is it @ 3" or a little larger? If it is, might it be for holding the exhaust hose down to a frame aft of the engine? I have several boats with V8 engines, and they have some type of bracket, much simpler than these, but the exhaust hose needs to be anchored down...
by Howard Lehman
Thu Aug 17, 2017 4:37 pm
Forum: Hardware & Rigging
Topic: Anyone got a Riviera breastplate off?
Replies: 2
Views: 2432

Re: Anyone got a Riviera breastplate off?

Hi Jim, I have a 20' Chris Craft Riviera. The number on the breastplate is 4615. I hope this is helpful for you. Regards, Howard
by Howard Lehman
Sun Jul 30, 2017 8:46 pm
Forum: Research Related
Topic: 1954 Riviera 20'
Replies: 11
Views: 6502

Re: 1954 Riviera 20'

Sorry, I missed one letter in the address. I'll try again. Best, Howard
by Howard Lehman
Sun Jul 30, 2017 5:29 pm
Forum: Research Related
Topic: 1954 Riviera 20'
Replies: 11
Views: 6502

Re: 1954 Riviera 20'

Hi David, Welcome. I sent you an email concerning your boat. I also own this model and size Riviera, and am restoring it myself. I'd be happy to assist you in any way. This is a great forum, with lots of great and knowledgeable people willing to help. I type too slow, easier to converse via phone. G...
by Howard Lehman
Sun Jul 16, 2017 2:14 pm
Forum: Cockpit and Cabin Interiors
Topic: Windshield pattern
Replies: 2
Views: 5270

Re: Windshield pattern

Doug, I'm not sure my response will be much help to you. When I had my 1941 17' barrel stern, the boat had different looking glass windshield panes than most others that I saw. However, I realized the originals were long gone, and a former owner had new glass shaped differently, and it didn't look r...
by Howard Lehman
Sat May 27, 2017 11:52 am
Forum: Hull Construction
Topic: Riviera Engine Space Floor
Replies: 3
Views: 2985

Re: Riviera Engine Space Floor

Hi. A couple of weeks back on Woody Boater, there was a feature story about a Riviera that is completely original. I suggest you contact Dave Bortner of Freedom Boat Services in Minnesota. His website has a gallery of boats for sale, and there are quite a few photos of that boat. A very good guy. I'...
by Howard Lehman
Tue May 23, 2017 11:41 pm
Forum: Hardware & Rigging
Topic: proper front lift ring removal
Replies: 2
Views: 2297

Re: proper front lift ring removal

I've just used a hard wood handle of a hammer, or similar, that can fit in the ring. Then I turn to loosen. If it's hard to move, I may put a little penetrating oil (not silicone) into the threads of the rod down by the lifting bracket, wait a bit and try again. Keep track of where the nuts are loca...
by Howard Lehman
Wed May 03, 2017 10:30 pm
Forum: Engines & Powertrain
Topic: 327 flagship bell adaptor housing
Replies: 6
Views: 3681

Re: 327 flagship bell adaptor housing

There is a complete 327 Owens Flagship engine listed on ebay motors.
by Howard Lehman
Sun Jan 29, 2017 2:20 pm
Forum: Hardware & Rigging
Topic: CC Riviera Water Ski Tow Rope Hook-Up?
Replies: 4
Views: 3681

Re: CC Riviera Water Ski Tow Rope Hook-Up?

Steve, I restored two boats for two guys who said they wanted to waterski behind their boats, one a '55 17' Chris Craft Sportsman, the other a '47 17' Chris Craft Deluxe Runabout. I cautioned them about this and the stresses this puts on the transom if they wanted to use the aft lifting ring for thi...
by Howard Lehman
Thu Oct 06, 2016 2:44 pm
Forum: Fiberglass - Odds & Ends
Topic: I'm the new owner of a 38' Commander Sportfisher!
Replies: 15
Views: 11419

Re: I'm the new owner of a 38' Commander Sportfisher!

I found a 1967 38' Commander Sportfish on the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Craigslist site that you may like to look at to compare. Both look like very nice boats. Good luck, and Happy Boating.
by Howard Lehman
Wed Sep 07, 2016 2:26 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: 1958 Cavalier Bottom Paint Color
Replies: 7
Views: 4196

Re: 1958 Cavalier Bottom Paint Color

Hi, I'm late to the party here, but I'm looking at an original 1958 Chris Craft Cavalier brochure. The color in the photo for the 17' Cavalier Utility and Runabout is definitely copper bronze. Of course exceptions and special orders may have been done by the factory to suit the buyer. An "approved a...
by Howard Lehman
Mon Jun 27, 2016 8:27 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Dock Rash
Replies: 17
Views: 8132

Re: Dock Rash

Ditto what Tom says on the scratches. But I believe you said there were dents and scratches into the surface of the wood also. If true, and the dent isn't a deep puncture but rather a more broad dent, you can try this: get a wet-ish towel which you place on the surface of the damaged area. Then take...
by Howard Lehman
Wed May 04, 2016 10:02 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Sportsman Bottom Paint Questions
Replies: 10
Views: 9832

Re: Sportsman Bottom Paint Questions

Last year I had 2 17' Sportsmans here in the water at my dock. Both had original bottoms, which I stated in an earlier post, they came with marine plywood inner bottoms. With my 1954 Sportsman, which was given a very good cosmetic restoration in 1991, it had very little use at the time and wasn't pu...
by Howard Lehman
Mon May 02, 2016 11:50 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Sportsman Bottom Paint Questions
Replies: 10
Views: 9832

Re: Sportsman Bottom Paint Questions

Hi, the 17' Sportsman model from 1954-1958 (the '59-'61 hull is a little different) have similar bottom construction. The inner bottom is 1/4" marine Fir plywood, and holds water really quite well, even with an original bottom, as long as its in good shape. They really are great boats and, with thei...
by Howard Lehman
Sat Apr 30, 2016 8:19 am
Forum: Hardware & Rigging
Topic: Towing tubes/skiers. 1961 CC Ski Boat
Replies: 11
Views: 6465

Re: Towing tubes/skiers. 1961 CC Ski Boat

Hi, as others have stated, the lifting ring apparatus is designed for lifting up, and when used to pull skiers the stress of the pull can crack the wood decking that the hole for the lifting ring apparatus fits into. However, I have had a steel plate fabricated for several boats that attached to the...
by Howard Lehman
Fri Apr 15, 2016 7:20 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Riviera Boot Stripe Widths
Replies: 5
Views: 3677

Re: Riviera Boot Stripe Widths

Hi, I have a 20' 1953 Riviera in my shop. The original chine strakes still show the scribed lines and are white on top of red. I looked at a number of places under the cockpit area that still show the original paint color into the grain of the wood. The red stripe is 13/16" wide , and the white stri...
by Howard Lehman
Sun Mar 13, 2016 5:25 pm
Forum: How to Use Boat Buzz
Topic: where to find info about my 1953 sportsman deluxe
Replies: 13
Views: 7574

Re: where to find info about my 1953 sportsman deluxe

Hi and welcome to the wood boating world. John is correct, it is very important to contact the Chris Craft Archives of the Mariners Museum right away. The Archives phone number is 800-565-6846, their web site is chriscraft@mariner.org. In looking at your hull/serial number that you provided, I belie...
by Howard Lehman
Mon Feb 29, 2016 9:46 am
Forum: Engines & Powertrain
Topic: 'Miss Dot's" Gray Marine Model 70
Replies: 8
Views: 3768

Re: 'Miss Dot's" Gray Marine Model 70

Several years ago I had two boats, a 1954 Riviera and a 1941 Deluxe Runabout, each with the thee down draft carb KBL engine. I had the engine of the Riviera rebuilt, and the other boat's engine was to have been rebuilt and completely "gone through" by a very competent shop before I bought the boat, ...
by Howard Lehman
Tue Dec 22, 2015 10:15 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Riviera Refinish Material Quatities
Replies: 7
Views: 4708

Re: Riviera Refinish Material Quatities

Mike's post gives great advice on the gel stain, and not adding another stain on top of it. If you look on several of the web sites of places selling and or restoring boats that are listed in the far right column of Woody Boater and other sites like Antique Boat Center etc you can see lots of exampl...
by Howard Lehman
Sun Dec 13, 2015 8:33 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Riviera Refinish Material Quatities
Replies: 7
Views: 4708

Re: Riviera Refinish Material Quatities

I did purchase Dave Jerome's red/brown mahogany colored stain, and hope to apply it to the 20' Riviera I have in my shop now. The owner of the boat I used the blond gel stain on, a 1955 17' CC Sportsman (he wanted a number of special coloring things done to the boat), requested I use Interlux #573 o...
by Howard Lehman
Sun Dec 13, 2015 5:10 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Riviera Refinish Material Quatities
Replies: 7
Views: 4708

Re: Riviera Refinish Material Quatities

Hi, I'll try to answer your questions based on the way I apply the finish to my boats. Others could have different and better ways of doing this. I like Interlux #573 Chris Craft Mahogany stain. One pint (@ $30 per pint) can usually last for the entire "red/brown" color on an 18' Riviera as the ceil...
by Howard Lehman
Sat Dec 05, 2015 12:28 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: '52 Riviera King Plank Finish
Replies: 8
Views: 7715

Re: '52 Riviera King Plank Finish

Hi. You can find this information via the Dave Jerome Classic Boats website: http://www.davesclassicboats.com. Regards, Howard
by Howard Lehman
Fri Dec 04, 2015 10:01 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: '52 Riviera King Plank Finish
Replies: 8
Views: 7715

Re: '52 Riviera King Plank Finish

I contacted Wood Kote concerning the gel stains formulated by Dave Jerome and whether they were still available. Today I received an email from Susan Jerome. She stated that the gel stain is still available through her shop, Dave Jerome's Classic Boats. Later in the day the Wood Kote Customer Servic...
by Howard Lehman
Fri Nov 27, 2015 3:59 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: '52 Riviera King Plank Finish
Replies: 8
Views: 7715

Re: '52 Riviera King Plank Finish

Hi, I've restored two Rivieras and am working on the third one now. I'll be happy to provide my 2 cents worth, but others opinions could be worth much more than mine. You state you are finishing the king plank on the Riviera. I'm sure you know that much more than the king plank is blond on these mod...
by Howard Lehman
Fri Sep 11, 2015 11:10 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Original colors
Replies: 6
Views: 4960

Re: Original colors

Welcome to the wonderful world of wooden boats. The 17' Sportsman is an excellent boat. I am completing the restoration of a '55 17' Sportsman. The original interior sides, decks and bilge paint color is a type of green. I wouldn't say the color is mint green, but its not a dark green. The owner of ...
by Howard Lehman
Tue Sep 01, 2015 6:08 pm
Forum: Odds & Ends
Topic: First time Chris Craft owner
Replies: 16
Views: 7029

Re: First time Chris Craft owner

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...
by Howard Lehman
Sat Aug 29, 2015 10:15 am
Forum: How to Use Boat Buzz
Topic: Shore station for wooden hull boat
Replies: 6
Views: 4308

Re: Shore station for wooden hull boat

The lifts offer great protective services for our wood boats, from rough water to persistent wakes from other boaters, but as the previous post states, the hull starts to dry out as soon as it is out of the water if it has the original, or original-type bottom. Here's an example. Years ago I discove...
by Howard Lehman
Mon Jul 20, 2015 7:21 am
Forum: Electrical Systems
Topic: Generator Removal
Replies: 3
Views: 2102

Re: Generator Removal

I just removed a generator yesterday on a K engine in a '47 DeLuxe Runabout. I was mindful that the pulley can be easily damaged, so any holding or gripping of that could present bigger problems. I found an open end wrench (socket works too) that is the correct size for the nut, and used a channel w...