“Jr.” won the most original trophy at The Dixieland Chapter’s 2016 Joe Wheeler Rendezvous.
The boat is owned by 91 years old Norman Blackley and being dutifully maintained today by Anthony Davison.
The boat is a 1927 Chris Craft, Model 300. It is 15′ 6″ long and powered by a 4 cylinder gasoline motor. The Model 300 was Chris Craft’s first entry into the high paced and low cost boat line that helped keep Chris Craft a viable company at the time. This boat was not intended to last long.
Some bottom work was done last year after 84 years of use. This is remarkable considering the 1000’s of miles this boat has journeyed on the Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, St. John’s and many other rivers. The secret of the bottom’s longevity is the “bath tub” and lift system Norm built to keep the boat in water even through the winter.
If you get the chance, ask Norm to relay some of the great stories he has about his river travels.
The boat has been in Norm’s family since it was new and always garners a lot of interest at the Dixieland Chapter‘s shows.
