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Big Thompson retrieval

This is a general discussion area for those who are interested in Chris-Craft's connection with the legendary marque, Thompson.

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Thommyboy
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Big Thompson retrieval

Post by Thommyboy » Wed Mar 20, 2013 1:42 pm

Hitting the road Thursday before dawn. Heading to Boise, Idaho to pick up "Super Duper Big Thom", the 22 foot Thompson lapstrake inboard/outboard cabin cruiser. Hauling her back to the Midwest where she started her life at Peshtigo, WI in 1962.

1,400 miles from the western fringe of Minnepaolis to Boise. Prairie snow and wind in North Dakota, mountain climbs and descents in Montana and idaho and I imagine more snow. Empty hitch on the way west and the Big Thom on the way back following me. Should be a neato journey.

Will my 1/2 ton Dodge Ram 2 wheel drive be able to handle it??? I certainly hope so!

Andreas Jordahl Rhude

Follow my road trip on facebook

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boat_art
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Post by boat_art » Wed Mar 20, 2013 10:22 pm

Good luck Andreas! We just drove out to SFO area and hauled back a Chris. Your truck shouldnt have any problems. My truck is a standard 2012 Sierra with the V8. Loveland pass at 10k feet was a bit of a stretch but otherwise no problems. Looks like you get the I94 stretch so dont expect anything to look at until you get to western montana!
Worst part will be boredom. Hope you have a copilot.
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.

boat_art
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Post by boat_art » Wed Mar 20, 2013 10:24 pm

Oops..just noticed you have 2 wheel drive. Watch accuweather.com and keep track of snowstorms! Adds to the drama.
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.

Oberon01
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Post by Oberon01 » Thu Mar 21, 2013 5:09 am

Andreas - I don't expect you would have too many problems, though I am not sure how much this boat weighs. I have hauled a number of boats around with a '96 Chev 1/2 ton 4x4 without too much drama. I did burn the transmission out hauling my 24' Skiff which I think is quite a bit bigger than this boat. More than the weight, I think the wind resistance contributed to that. I now use a 3/4 ton more than the 1/2 ton which I still own because some of my boats are way to much for a half ton. Idaho and parts of MT are a nice drive, eastern MT and the Dakota's are terribly boing. I hope the weather holds and you get her home safely. I am very pleased that you stepped up to save this boat - great job! Pic's please!
1926 Mullins 16' Outboard Special
1940 CC 19'Custom
1946 Gar Wood 22' 6" Sedan
1946 16' Peterbrough Falcon
1947 CC 16' Special Runabout
1947 Chris Craft 22' Sportsman
1948 CC 25' Sportsman Sedan
1959 Feather Craft Islander Express Cruiser
1961 CC 21' Continental
1965 Glastron Futura 500 V -164
1965 CC Sea Skiff 24'

Thommyboy
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Post by Thommyboy » Tue Mar 26, 2013 3:50 pm

I'm home! 3,072 miles of driving in 5 days. I went alone, no co-pilot.

The boat, engine and trailer probably weigh 3,500 pounds. The mountain passes in Montana east of Butte, MT were the most intense. Floored I could barely maintain 32 MPH going up!!! I was nervous but made 'er OK.

Less than 10 miles per gallon on the trip back! The wind was a bugger. The boat is 9 ft. tall. She is 22 ft. long.

Apparently I was on the Montana Most Wanted list. Had three, yup three, state troppers pull me over west of Billings. A cop slowly walked up on each side of the rig. They claimed to have had a report that I was drinking a beer while driving and throwing trash out the window! Both are absolutley laughable. I am a recovering alcoholic and have not had a drink in 21 years 5 months and 25 days. And I go out of my way to pick up trash and litter. the tropper did say he was surprised to see a wooden boat and he wished me good luck with the restoration.

In the end they presented me with a fine/ticket of $85 for no license on the trailer.

I-94 in North Dakota is bumpy bumpy bumpy. Broke FOUR cable clamps that connect the winch hook to the boat bow eye! No damage to the boat or trailer. A day later and my teeth and kidneys still hurt! The fastest I could go in MT, ID and ND was 55 MPH. In Minnesota I could get up to 65 MPH. The pavement in MN is much smoother.

Had snow and ice on the drive out. Apparently they do not use salt/sand on the freeway in Montana and Idaho. Slippery like crazy. I saw two roll overs west of Pocatello, ID on Saturday morning just a minute in front of me. Both looked like major injury accidents.

I had never been to MT or ID. I was surprised at how barren it is. Little scrubby shrubs and tumble weeds for hundreds of miles.

The boat needs work. I will tell more about it later.

Cheerio!

Andreas

boat_art
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Post by boat_art » Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:02 pm

Welcome home! Glad you made it safe. Now do you see why taxes are so low in some of those states? They dont take care of the highways at all!
I had the same highway patrol issue in Colorado...ended up chatting with the cop for 45 min about wood boats...he had never seen one for real!
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.

Oberon01
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Location: Calgary, Alberta
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Post by Oberon01 » Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:38 pm

Nice job, but a bit of a trial by the sounds of it. I have rarely had any problems with troopers. In fact, last week the Sheriff in Palatka, FL. bought breakfast for my wife and I - just scooped up our bill from the table and said it was on him!

Idaho can be barren in spots but is very nice in the spring/summer. Montana - only parts of it. Dakota's - you can have them, just rough and boring. SD no better than ND.

Sounds like you had your truck a bit over matched, perhaps that boat weights a bit more than we thought. As you and I both noted, the wind resistance presented by these large boats is more of a problem than the weight.

Glad you got her home and I hope it is not too much of a project. My Skiff has been just perfect down here, and on Saturday I begin my 3000 mile return trip.
1926 Mullins 16' Outboard Special
1940 CC 19'Custom
1946 Gar Wood 22' 6" Sedan
1946 16' Peterbrough Falcon
1947 CC 16' Special Runabout
1947 Chris Craft 22' Sportsman
1948 CC 25' Sportsman Sedan
1959 Feather Craft Islander Express Cruiser
1961 CC 21' Continental
1965 Glastron Futura 500 V -164
1965 CC Sea Skiff 24'

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Don Vogt
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Post by Don Vogt » Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:20 pm

Unless some get the wrong idea, n. Idaho and western Montana are a completely different world from southern Idaho and eastern Montana. Beautiful mountains covered with evergreen trees and crystal clear lakes. Yes the rest is barren but you can forget these parts. Glad you made it safely home.
1938 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout "Jennifer II"

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Doug P
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Post by Doug P » Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:36 pm

Don


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jfrprops
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Post by jfrprops » Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:20 pm

Good lord what a trek! Better you than me....

Nice work....not get on the boat work and share pics with us all.

John in Va.
1980 Fairchild Scout 30
19?? custom Argentine Runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

Thommyboy
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Post by Thommyboy » Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:00 am

It's soooo big. Ready to hit the road at Boise, ID:
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Big rig parking at Motel 6 in Dillon, MT:
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She barely fits into my boathouse:
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Thommyboy
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Re: Big Thompson retrieval

Post by Thommyboy » Wed Apr 10, 2013 8:51 am

Helm
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V-berth
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Thommyboy
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Re: Big Thompson retrieval

Post by Thommyboy » Wed Apr 10, 2013 8:52 am

Cockpit
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1962 GM engine
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Thommyboy
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Re: Big Thompson retrieval

Post by Thommyboy » Wed Apr 10, 2013 8:55 am

Galley
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Ice chest
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Potable water storage
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Thommyboy
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Re: Big Thompson retrieval

Post by Thommyboy » Wed Apr 10, 2013 8:58 am

My boat is a 1962 model year. This image is from a 1963 model year Thompson Bros. Boat Mfg. Co. brochure, picturing the galley. Note the stove in the pull out drawer. My stove is AWOL:
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Empty drawer where stove is supposed to be stowed
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Thommyboy
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Re: Big Thompson retrieval

Post by Thommyboy » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:00 am

Door to the ice chest
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Enclosed head
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Thommyboy
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Re: Big Thompson retrieval

Post by Thommyboy » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:02 am

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1980s MerCruiser outdrive
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jfrprops
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Re: Big Thompson retrieval

Post by jfrprops » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:11 am

Great pics, neat boat, thanks for sharing!

John in Va.
1980 Fairchild Scout 30
19?? custom Argentine Runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

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mfine
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Re: Big Thompson retrieval

Post by mfine » Wed Apr 10, 2013 2:22 pm

Nice boat, my condolences on the Dakotas drive!

I am not sure where you came up with the 3500lb figure, but if you put that trailer on scales and it comes out under 4000 lbs I would be surprised.

Thommyboy
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Re: Big Thompson retrieval

Post by Thommyboy » Thu Apr 11, 2013 6:34 am

Regarding weight I used the listed weight of the boat in the brochure, just under 2,000 pounds. Added 500 pounds for the engine and outdrive and 1,000 pounds for the trailer. Just estimates. I did not weigh it.

Andreas

Thommyboy
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Re: Big Thompson retrieval

Post by Thommyboy » Thu Apr 11, 2013 6:37 am

Table
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The mahogany board is hinged and folds up under the deck when table is not in use. Brackets on table and folding support connect. Other end of table is supported by a pole (it's gone AWOL)
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Thommyboy
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Re: Big Thompson retrieval

Post by Thommyboy » Thu Apr 11, 2013 6:38 am

Dreaded ROT in cockpit combing cabin sides. Only on port side!
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