Since Ive just about finished the BAD LAD for this year except trans cooling lines, I figured I'd jump on some boat work. There was a few big chunks of trim that had deteriorated and a ton of varnish that had failed (owner neglect??), that you take the heat gun to and a good scraper to get the crud off the wood before sanding, staining and giving another 10-12 coats of varnish on. The weather the last few days was pretty manageable so I took advantage of that. Last night we had 4 inches of heart attack stuff, so after thats cleaned up, I can do some varnish work on pieces I brought home in the heated shop. ws
Oh HECK yeah! She's a 1963 Chris Craft Roamer. Roamer yachts were bought out by CC in about 1961. They always built steel boats. CC bought them and changed the style a bit and in '63 started building welded aluminum jobs. This one is AL #6. My dad bought the boat in 1972 and sank with a tugboat in 1980 which is when I officially owned it. 46 years Ive been with it! If it were gone I wouldnt be the same man, but I'd probably have a stable full of GSX's (!) and probably a plane on a private strip. B.O.A.T. just barely covers the storage etc etc... ws
Hi Bill: Beautiful boat!!!! My wife's grandfather bought one new in 1961 steel hull with Lincoln V8's. Spent a few summers on Lake Michigan, good times
Thank you very much Ronnie, but I do have a "HEART OF GLASS" too LOL. Boats with me are just as much an affliction is with anyone, albeit booze, women, gambling or BUICKS. I was born with 2 curses; Boats and BUICKS! I inherited BOTH from my dad too, so I guess its part of the legacy haha. Soo, the original Roamer Yachts' model was 35 feet and with Chris Craft buying them upped it to 36 feet and this model just happens to be "The Riviera" model. How weird is that? About 15 years ago I was seriously trying to buy the sister ship to mine (#12 off the ways) and that one indeed had the 375 h.p. model Lincoln 430 Cu. Inch "Thermocons" which were really an FE 428 (help me Ford guys, same as an FE 352 ? Y block stuff!) . Marinized, they had some bad cooling issues. Mine had the meek 185hp 283 Corvette SBC's that I repowered it in 1990 with a pair of 454 (330hp) Mercruiser inboards. Made a whole different boat out of it! Anyone here to confess they've been called anal by family or friends? The old saying "If you understand, no explanation is necessary, if you don't, no explanation is possible" really applies to us guys (and some special gals too!). Then theres the 65 foot Hatteras I bought for retirement in New Orleans that had sunk. I got it from insurance salvage, made it run and drove it 2000 miles home to Chicago. Ended up selling it to a friend before it ATE ME ALIVE! See last pic. Now, not to sound DROLL, these are a few of this old mans' passions. B & Bs have kept me sober and a heart close to home for many, many years and I am now also blessed to have my S.O. Pat with me as my Admiral. She manages the house affairs and never questions my addictions. I always save AT LEAST 51% of the affliction for her. MUWAH!! (She actually reads this stuff too!). Even her daughter likes to lend a, er, hand !! So tya see, with me, boredom is never an issue; ain't got time for that! So bear with me gang. I know I go off about stuff sometimes, but hey, that's what makes us all different, and I thank you all very, very much! ws
Talk about being perverted. You had to find THE picture of my daughter in a bathing suit top. Ha ha. Love ya baby...ppat
Riviera model how cool! I too have a similar lady in my life who does not question my passions. And I too love boats, and if end up like you I'll be a happy guy. At an early age I visited my uncle at his work place, a Carnival cruise ship. He would let us in and we would leave right before they departed.. Been shark fishing in teens. I got into some other stuff, thinking I was a cool guy but just wasted alot of time. Any way I always loved fishing but my dad left when I was 14 so I had to teach my self. I went fishing at the pier, lakes, and rivers. I have an active family who likes to take trips into the mountains. A bunch of aunts and cousins, and I'm the oldest guy cousin full of girls. I always came back empty handed, taking forever to make a Knot... I ended up catching 6 catfish in one day when I first caught um. So I started renting small alluminiun boats and taking my family fishing. Later I met my wife and one of our first dates I took her on 14 foot fishing boat and we had a blast. I purchase a small 16 footer with a 7.5 old mercury black outboard moter with trailer. So like you, how can I get board. I laugh inside when people say they are board.
Like you Ronnie, I never did grasp boredom. Even as a kid if my folks heard that word there was always grass to cut or snow to shovel etc. So now I'm 63. I hope theres enough left in me since I have at least 20 years of projects left to finish! Always behind. The next stop for me is at the doors in front of the oven LOL... ws
Bill I noticed it says "Cleveland O" You live in/near Cleveland or is the boat registered there? I too inherited my affliction for Boats and Buicks from my Dad, he and his brother built a 1952 Chris Craft 14' "kit" boat, and bought a new Evinrude 14hp Fastwin outboard from Cleveland Yacht supply in '52 My first boat was a 17' Sea Ray, last was a 27' Sea Ray, boating was getting 'spencive So I just stick to the Buicks
Thanks Rick! Mark, the Cleveland,O. was required of a "documented Vessel" being registered from the 9th USCG district. Being documented excluded it from having to buy an annual state registration, but in time of war, the boat could be confiscated and used for coastal patrol. That was ended in about 1975-78(?) and required the DV's to ALSO carry state regs. I just deleted it from documentation, but its like having the build sheet from under a seat. Good provenance! The boat now has a home port of "Trivvers" as a kind metaphor. The locals up here pronounce that as an abbreviated Two Rivers. Notice the Kriegsmarine ensign in the transom name! The artist's name is 240 GORDY. ws
The last few days have been spent sanding, staining and "priming" the new wood. First was a power sand with 150 then upped to 220. Wiped it dust free with some thinner on a rag and while that was drying, prepped the stain. I use red mahogany filler stain which is like a slurry of red clay with some linseed oil. I have a pint can that's been around for at least 20 years and its only 1/4 used. Mixed 1/2 tablespoon to a shot glass of thinner and brushed on, did all 6 sides of both pieces. After that dried/soaked in, it gets wiped of and is ready for some varnish. The first 2-3 (and in this case 4 coats) as a primer are thinned about 75%. After 2 coats and a few hours, you cant even tell it was covered. Next day same operation, and since its now sealed and soaked in about 1/8" the shiny stuff can happen. Today Ill give it a light massage with some 320 paper just to level it out, then a few more coat thinned 50/50. Ill have the heat on WOT and may be able to get 3 coats on today. That's gonna continue until about 15 coats are applied and it looks like furniture. The sealing is the most important part to keep the water out hence no more rot. This needs a scuff and a few coats every 2-3 years. You guys think a wash and wax before a show is tuff? This will end up being two weeks along with installation! It's just the "love of the sport" thing and an antique yacht (or car) just consumes so much time to make it right. Next time you see a shiny old boat with nice wood, pay the owner a compliment! ws
Since ya asked, Bill. The 352 was an FE. The Y blocks were 239, 256, 272, 292 and 312cu in. The first FE was 332cu in., then came the 352, 390, etc...
YUP Jerry, I am definitely PEERVERTED LOL... So Ford being Ford, had the Y blocks AND the FE's which I am gonna assumed stands for IRON. (always thought they were the same!) Duhhh, not like thats been around 100+ years haha. A pal in high school had a 1964 starship (Galaxy 500) with a 352 and a 3 on the tree, and we stuffed a 390 into it. Almost everything bolted right on. That part I get. The 430 C.I. "Lincoln" thermocon motors outa the boat however, were that style (by the valve covers anyway) so what size Fords were they? Pick a lucky dorf: Dorf #1 at 427, #2 at 428 or #3 at 429
I always though the 430 was a Chris Craft marinized designation of a smaller motor like a 427(?). Did a little back tracking (hell its been 30+ years!) and CC rated that motor as a 431 C.I. at 275 HP. Kinda like a Crusader 340 HP and a Mercruiser 330HP (mine), both are 454s. Read on... ws http://www.marineengine.com/boat-forum/showthread.php?428844-Chris-Craft-431-Identification
