1955 CC Hurricane Restoration

Dreaming wrote: looks fantastic Alan! Mold and mildew are a huge issue in our climate (welcome to Seattle, here's your alottment of penecilin ), with such a tight and thick cover, are you mitigating trapping water and condensation some how?

I assume this material is made to breathe and let moisture out while keeping moisture from getting in.

Gary S wrote: kytom2 wrote: Seeing that last pic, I now know where CC got the idea for the sloped transon on the Nautiques from the ninties. First class job from start to finish, Alan. I had already made this comment back on page 26 and got no responce. Glad someone else see's it too.

I saw it also, but like what I said I assumed since they only made 3 of these and not a very popular boat that they wouldn't have done it because of this boat, i assumed there has to be something else.

Just a note i'm not in all knocking this boat, i would take this boat in a heart beat over a chris craft of equal quality, it's simply amazing.

Well, clearly Joel should have done more research.

Nothing creative for ventilation on the cover, it really is for protection when traveling. The wife plans to make a lightweight breathable fabric dust cover for when it's in the garage at home.

Yeah only thing the boat is missing a teak swim platform, when ya installing that?

TRBenj wrote: Alan, have you confirmed that the Sunbrella Supreme doesnt breathe like the regular sunbrella? Ive never had any mold or mildew issues with the regular stuff, even when the boat is put away wet. The trailer is looking great too... Im digging those steelies! It always towed great, Im sure it will treat you well. I think you have some of the "good" Marathons on there too- all the ones I have from that vintage have held up well.

To be honest with you Tim I'm not really concerned with the cover, I think it just came up in the discussion. Take a look at it when you get to GL, I don't think the lining will prevent it from breathing at all. It was only a small premium over regular Sunbrella so if you ever have a custom built it's a good option.

yes the Marathons you put on there are the "older" ones, when I had them mounted on the steelies they commented about the raised white letters. Unfortunately they will probably age out soon though as they are circa 2005 so I'm hoping to get at least a season or two on them.

Well we dropped the Hurricane in the water yesterday for her shakedown cruise. To my dismay we didn't get very far from the trailer. She started and ran fine but we had a cooling issue. After priming the water pump several times we were able to get some water flowing through it but once I slowed the idle down she would lose prime and heat up. After a few attempts we figured we should put her back on the trailer and do some homework. I'm going to pull the pump tonight and take a look inside. Hopefully it's something simple because I'm pretty busy these next 10 day before GL, there is a chance she'll be a trailer queen but I'm going to do my best.

A few pictures of our morning.

"Dude how did we both end up wearing blue, good thing our wives love us because we look like a couple of dorks"





getting a little good luck from the boats namesake. Although I never got out to listen to it reports are it sounds awesome from behind.


I really love where the exhaust pipes sit at rest.


Our trusty boat crew, Todd, Renee and Evan. Thanks for the help guys.

It is good to see it wet. I am sure you know but not much makes a pump loose prime other than an air leak on the "suction" side. Hopefully its just a hose clamp in need of snugging down. Take a picture of the pump if you get a chance (its probably visible in some pic back in the last 40 pages but I am lazy, might be something that Reid, or perhaps myself have lying around waiting to loan out for just such an occasion.

Looking awesome as always Alan but I gotta ask...... Where's the Champaign bottle and glasses?

Here's the plumbing detail. Intake is pretty straight forward run to the pick up, tightened everything up but no difference. Once I pull it tonight I'll have an indication of what to do. I can get it rebuilt by Van Ness engineering and back in time for GL with the help of some overnight shipping if I need to go that route. It's not a typical rubber impeller style but instead has 4 meshing rubber gears.

After talking to another Hemi owner and scrounging over his spare parts bucket we both think the rebuild will be the way to go.

It's a real odd ball pump Joe I doubt there's one laying around but thanks for the offer.

Looks soooo cool in the water! Can't wait to see it in person.

I think the trailer needs a couple of these decals.

89Martinique wrote: So the exhaust only gets water when the t-stat opens. Strange.

I dont think thats what he said or implied... manifolds should always be cooled. Chrysler did some extra plumbing to dump warm water back to the intake so it could be recirculated. If its anything like their later motors, there are several cooling hoses attached to the manifolds.

Alan, Im sure you know this, but be sure to check every path between the RWP and where it could potentially draw water from (including back to the stat housing) for leaks. Also check the tightness of the through hull fittings... really hoping its a simple fix!

65 'cuda wrote: Isn't the pump gear driven, between the block and the transmission? Is the pump itself easily accessed? Hopefully an air leak.

Pretty easy to get at Gary. Van ness said as the hard rubber gear wears that the pump will slowly lose efficiency to the point where it will do what mine is doing. Unlike a rubber impeller that even when worn will still create suction until the vanes break off this style slowly dies. We cracked open a petcock on the intake manifold when we did have it pumping and there was very little pressure. I sent them the above photo and he says it is plumbed correctly. I'm just going to pull it and send it out.

Your raw water pump may well be similar to my old Chrysler flathead eight....Im sure its just a small thing that needs work.

Very similar Tim, I have a good drawing at home and will post it later.

Roger that's the concept right there although it's a split system so there are two sets of gears.