Navy Blue

by Richard Stout member of Thousand Islands chapter It’s not an antique or classic. It is FRP with a lot of exterior wood. We ordered Navy Blue from a Seattle broker and it was custom built to our specifications in China. I had previously owned a 1962 Chris-Craft Constellation and loved the layout and functionality…

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A Promise Is A Promise

Karen Birch member of Blackhawk chapter This boat was purchased new in February 1957 by Karen’s late parents, Robert and Maxine Birch, of Griggsville, IL. Her dad became a Chris-Craft dealer in 1956 and Karen has his original franchise certificate. The boat is all original and Karen has the original prop, fenders, hand spot light,…

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SPK IV

By Steve Karstaedt member of Blackhawk chapter I’m just an old Beloiter that’s family had a second home on Delavan Lake back in the 40’s and 50’s. Our U-22 Chris Craft my Dad sold to our friend and neighbor in the late 50’s, but I swore at 16 I’d have another “Woody”. I bought my…

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White Knuckles

By Randy Fletcher & Heidi Szonn members of the Thousand Islands chapter The adventure started in 2006 as a volunteer at the Antique Boat Museum Boat shows and Race Regattas, meeting many wood boat enthusiast along the way. Conversations ensued through the next three years as to the upkeep, maintenance and storage of these beautiful…

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Falling in love with Miss Laurie Ann

By Dale Crochet member of ACBS My fascination with the classic Chris-Craft goes back 35 years ago when I went to a family reunion with my new girlfriend at a lake in northeast Ohio. It was love at first sight….with her dad’s 1956 Custom Sportsman. The family has a reunion every year and I would…

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Motor Boat Garage is expanding!

By Brian Keen -Motor Boat Garage & member of the Ohio Valley chapter In 2016 we bought a building that was built by an electrical contractor back in the 1940’s. The building originally had a lighting showroom in the front and shop space in the back. We bought the building from the grandchildren of the…

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Cheerio

by Chris Ogilvy member of the New England chapter Elco first appeared at the World’s Columbian Exhibition in 1893, Chicago, where they produced the 36′ launches that carried the fair visitors. They later built a vast boat yard in Bayonne, N.J. to meet the increasing needs of the growing boating community. Cheerio was one of…

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The Phoenix (Part 2)

The next major project was really a series of projects. With the assistance of my son Chris, a graduate of the IYRS school of composite fabrication. We sail Phoenix hard and in 2012 she had 39 years of sailing; I saw her sitting out in front of our house and saw a hull dimple on…

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