Chris Craft Action Plan-NEW PICS!!!!!

Chris,
I did email you back with Ted Cartners email address for the engine. His phone incase you'd prefer to call is 847 395 8902 He does the engine rebuilding in his home shop and is probably the best person around on the Chris Craft engines. BTW, it's not a Chrysler. You are correct that Chris did start with the Hercules blocks. (Gray Marine used Continentals)

Don Dannenburg would get LOTS of pretty pennies for a bottom job!! Since you're in the midwest, I do know a couple of boat restorers that would give you a top job without the extreme cost. (still, sit down when they quote!!) I've got phone #'s at home and will get back to you.

The hull sides and deck you know will need to go down to bare wood and then bleached. Are the fastenings tight - from the looks of the pictures, you may have some loose ones because the bungs look "proud" (high) and have been hit with the sander. A loose screw will push the bungs out. Hard to tell from the pictures but how tight are the seams?

Chris,
My first choice would be Bottoms Up in Crandon Wi. Phone is 715 478 3186 The guys name is Steve Bunda. I've know him going back 25 years to the old MACBA (Midwest and Antique Classic Boating Association) and know he'd do a great job. He has the equipment to flip the hull which I feel is really required to do a bottom job.

My second choice would be Harrison Woodworking at 262 862 9423 and his name is Dean Morris. He's in Wilmot Wi. Closer to you but his only problem is he doesn't have a means of flipping the hull. He's done them on his back but I would question the method. I don't even like painting a bottom that way!!! If you had a means of flipping and then getting it to him, it would be a good choice. You'll need to pull the engine anyway for Ted.

Give both of them a call and see what they have to say.

Chris - There is a woodie boat restoration shop up at Lake Okoboji. Can't attest to their abilities other than they had several vintage boat in-process when I went by. I can help you contact them if you are interested.

Gary S wrote: Nice project Chris, but please tell me that those pictures are from last winter

Yes those are from last winter! We have gotten our first snow this year tho! Hopefully it continues to hold off for another couple weeks.

Found it in Yellow pages.


Blue Water Restoration 712-338-2557

check out www.markmcisaacinc.com as he does fantastic work. he's been restoring CC's for many years and has won several awards.

If you dig a couple pages back in this forum, you will find a pretty detailed log of what i have done to our ol Chris, give you an Idea of what you are in for. I have talked to Danenburg and Jack McCarthy at the woodedn boat shop in Cuinncinatti often during the project, every time i get ready to ship it off to them they remind we are looking at 10k ish for the bottom using my supplies or about $60k just to do it and send it back. Guess that is why I keep plugging along.

We finished the bottom last winter and are just getting ready to dig in and do the sides after thanksgiving. Hopefully this winter will see the bottom side finished and flipped back over... one week till winter kickoff!

Just FYI, I am probably $3-4k into it right now for all new mahagany, screws, 5200 and CPES. Another grand in the motor rebuild and a lot of hours.

I'll dig out the old thread on it and post you up a link to see what your in for. If you click on the boats link in the sig I believe that will take you to the pics themselves on photobucket

http://correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12380&PN=1&title=68-chris-craft

Sean

Well I thought I would update our thread here since there is finally some news regarding our 1955 Chris Craft Continental. After talking with Pete about finding a reputable restoration shop in the area we delivered the 55 to Steve Bunda of Bottoms Up Boat Restorations.

This required getting a trailer that would make the 8 hour journey to the far northern parts of Wisconsin. I ended up buying this old woody from Paul Morris at Cedar Tree Boat Co. here in Des Moines.



Despite it looking really rough, I was able to drag the Sea Skiff 30 miles to our farm where we pulled it off the trailer with a tractor. It now rests there for the winter and will possibly become a new piece of furniture or bar in the future.

Once the Skiff was at the farm I went through the trailer (bearings, hubs, bunks, wiring and new tires). It was sandblasted and a fresh coat of high gloss back paint gave it some new life. We did have to make a few modifications to fit the hull of the Continental. The front cross members were cut off and 2 new "v" braces were added to allow clearance. The trailer itself is a little long but fit the boat relatively well for not making too many adjustments.



Last weekend we finally got some free time (and good weather) to head north and meet Steve and his wife Laurie.

Their shop is simply amazing and any guys dream. Two of my buddies made the trip along with my 2 year old Golden Retriever, Katie. Steve's two Golden Retrievers played outside with Katie as we spent the better part of Sunday touring his facilities and soaking up as much information as possible. I'm sure he won't mind me sharing his website.

The pictures do not do justice as he has 2 more buildings on his property. One is mostly storage and full of boats of all vintages and a wall full of parts, blocks and misc boating stuff. The other is his storage facility for new wood waiting to be put on boats.

Upon arrival, we backed our entire rig into the shop, lifted the boat and pulled the Durango and trailer back outside. We inspected the hull and compared it to a 23' Continental which happened to be sitting next to our rig.




This was a very cool experience to see our hull in project condition and another opened up nearing completion. (like seeing a rotten Correct Craft and one being restrung) Steve was very impressed with the condition of the boat, mostly due to the bottom not being caulked by PO's. Hopefully we won't have too many braces broken and we didn't seem to find too much rot.





Steve will be doing a new 5200 bottom as well as replacing some deck boards. That is the plan for now, but I am guessing our list for him will continue to grow. I'm leaning towards him refastening the sides but we'll cross that bridge once the time comes.

Sorry for the novel, more to come soon for those interested.

Wow, what an amazing shop! Keep posting pics. What a great project!

I'll say!   Looks like the "Clean Zone"

Nuclear Science Lab and Boat Restorations.

The Continentals and Capri's were always my favorites.

Chris
If you find yourself in the Crandon area this summer check ahead to when Footstock is happening as that is just north of Crandon and quite entertaining! My son and I went last summer to watch Mark ( Laurel Lake Skier) compete, it was a blast.

Looks good. What a place!

Chris,
Have you gotten the engine guy lined up yet? I have the very best for the Hercules/Chris and in fact, does go up to Steve's shop in Crandon to pick up engines. Ted Cartner??

Chris,
Ask Ted about the carbs. He'll know off the top of his head the differences. I seem to think Cris did some other things when they went to the duals. Cam and maybe even a lighter flywheel?

Nice shop, thanks for the pictures Chris.

I do find it interesting how even the professionals don't agree on all the techniques for rebuilding these old boats. If a newby were to post a picture on Danenbergs site with painted glue surfaces on frame members he would rip him a new one.

Do you know what he used for paint? Looks to have no gloss and I like the color better than what I used on the Hurricane.