A 1978 Chris-Craft Sportsman

By Bill Berger, Michigan Chapter

In March 2004, my home phone rang. “Hello,” I said. 

The answer: “Do you still want to buy my boat?”

I did not understand, so the caller tried again. “This Don Diem. Do you still want to buy my boat?” I still did not know who this was and what boat he was talking about. He continued, explaining the boat he was referring to was Unique, a 30-foot Chris-Craft. Yes, I definitely wanted to buy his boat.

I have lived on the St. Clair River all my life and have owned several Chris-Crafts, all wooden. But this 30-foot Sportsman was my dream boat. I had been admiring Unique for 11 years as Mr. Diem traveled down Pine River. Every time I saw it, I would tell the captain that his boat was the best-looking boat on the St. Clair River and that if he ever wanted to sell it, I would love to buy it.

Mr. Diem explained over the phone that his wife had passed away and that boating without her was not the same. He was going to sell Unique. He spoke to a friend of both of ours, Bill Shunk, and asked Bill if I would be interested in purchasing the boat and whether I would take as good care of it as he had. Bill assured him I lived on the St. Clair River, owned several Chris-Crafts and would take as good care of his boat as he did. Mr. Diem then explained that a broker had offered to purchase the Chris-Craft and that if I met the broker’s offer, he would sell me the boat instead.

I swallowed hard. I had a good idea what 1976, 1977 and 1978 30-foot Chris-Craft Sportsmands in excellent condition, like Unique, were worth. Mr. Diem told me the broker’s offer, and it was less than I was expecting, so I yelled through the phone, “Yes!”

I then asked Mr. Diem where he lived and said I would bring a deposit check. He asked if I wanted to inspect the boat or go for a ride first. But I told him I’d been admiring his boat for over 11 years and knew how good he kept it. An inspection wasn’t necessary. I purchased the boat on July 16, 2004.

The Sportsman model was a design collaboration between Chris-Craft marine engineers and C. Raymond Hunt & Associates, originator of the deep-V concept. The fiberglass was constructed in a lay-up method, then buffed, inspected, polished, rubbed and inspected again. its gel coat was a isothalic resin. 

For being 47 years old, our Chris-Craft Sportsman is still in excellent running and operating condition. My son David and I have done some upgrading over the 20 years that we’ve owned it, trying to keep as close to the original as possible. We’ve stripped the bottom paint, applied a new epoxy white coating, added a swim platform, removed the fresh water tank, sink and faucet, replaced an outdated looking counter, and installed a new Garmin GPS unit and spotlight. We also recovered the seats and added more cushions. Over the years we’ve had to replace the starboard transmission and transmission oil pump, starboard engine starter, port side exhaust pipes and toilet system parts.

The whole family, including the grandchildren, loves the Chris-Craft. Being 30-feet long with a 12-foot beam and deep beam and high side walls, it is extremely safe and seaworthy. Going out into Lake Huron, under the Blue Water Bridge and St. Clair River can be very treacherous in weather and with large boat traffic.

We can package a whole day’s meals, drinks and take 10-15 people out comfortably for a full day of boating. The Chris-Craft Sportsman is not a speedboat. We operate the dual original 350 engines cruising between 2,800 and 3,000 RPMs at approximately 20-25 MPH.

The family had many discussions about changing the boat’s name. After considering many ideas, my son David came up with the best of naming the boat the year it was built, 1978. 

In the spring, summer and early fall months, the boat is in a hoist dock at our home on the St. Clair River. In the winter months, we store the boat in heated storage at Desmond Marine in Port Huron, where I can do any repairs, upgrades and a full wax for the coming season. 

1978 has been the boat of our dreams for the Berger family and will remain with us for many years to come. I am extremely grateful to Don Diem for remembering me and allowing me the privilege of owning a once in a lifetime, one in a million, beautiful Chris-Craft!