LISTED IS A 1947 25 FOOT CHRIS CRAFT EXPRESS CRUISER (RED & WHITE! SHE WAS TOTALLY REBUILT FROM THE KEEL UP BETWEEN 1990 AND 2006.
THE ENGINE HAS APPROXIMATELY 110 HOURS ON THE HOBBS METERAND HER NEWEZ LOADER TRAILER WAS BUILT ESPECIALLY FOR THE OLDE MAN IN PLATSBURG NEW YORK IN 1990 HAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES. THE TRAILER WAS MODIFIED TO ALLOW RECOVERY OF THE OLDE MAN (SEE PICTURES)I HADALL 5 TIRES REPLACED IN 2012DISPITE THEY WERE NOT WORN, BUT OLD AND IT WAS A DECISION BASED ON SAFETY.
I FOUND THE OLDE MAN IN THE VILLADE LIRE CANADA IN 1989 AND RETURNED HER TO WASHINGTON STATE IN 1990. SHE WAS THEN PUT IN DRY DOCK AT YOUNGQUIST MARINE ON LAKE UNION WHERE HER HULL WAS PROFESSIONALLY REBUILT FROM THE KEEL UP USING EXACT SAME MATERIALS AND CUT FROM ORIGINAL PARTS USED AS TEMPLETS. ONE EXCEPTION WAS THE INABILITY TO FIND PORT ORFORD CEDAR (USED BY CHRIS CRAFT POST WAR) SO THE SIDE PLANKINGARE HONDUREST MAGHOGNY, THE CABIN BEAMS ARE LAMINATED WHITE OAK INSTEAD OF FIR AND THE FORWARD DECK ISPHILIPINE MAGHOGONY,INSTEAD OF FIR; TOUNG AND GROOVED LIKE ORIGINAL . HER CEALINGS ARE ALSO HONDURIST MAGHOGNY, SPACED TO ALLOW THE FRAMES TO DRY. HER TRANSOM IS HALF INCH MARINE PLYWOOD THEN PLANKED WITH HONDURIST MAGHOGNY THE ADD STRENGTH!
ISPENT OVER 15 YEARS WORKING PART TIME RESTORING AND OR REPLACING PARTS TOTHE ORIGINAL CONFIGURTION. KEEPING ALL THE SERILIZED PARTS BY CAREFULLY REWORKING THEM,I ALSO REWORKEDTHE ENGINE BEAMS TO INSURE ACCURATE PLACEMENT OF THE MAJOR FRAMES. THE BOTTOM IS DOUBLE PLANKED USING MAGHOGNY LIKE ORIGINALLY ACCOMPLISHED.
THE OLDE MAN WAS RE-LAUNCHED IN JUNE OF 2006 IN THE NORTH CHANNEL OF THE ST. CLAIRE RIVER, THE SAME WATERS ASNOVEMBER OF 1947. HER FIRST PORT OF CALL WAS THE OLD CHRIS CRAFT FACTORY IN ALGONIC. THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 24TH THEY HAD THE ALGONAC CLASSIC BOAT AND CAR SHOW AT THE OLD FACTORY AND SHE DREW ALOT OF ATTENTION ESPECIALLY WHEN WE STARTED HERSTRAIGHT EIGHTROYAL MARINE ENGINE.
THE ENGINE WAS TOTALLY REBUILT IN FAIRHAVEN, MICHIGAN AT DOLPHIN MARINE BY ONE OF THE LAST OF THE CHRYSLER FACTORY TRAINED TECHNICIANS. BY THE WAY THE BLOCK HAD ONLY SLIGHT WEAR ANDREQUIRED ONLY A .030" BORE ACCOMPLISHED ON THE ORIGINALBORE MACHINE, THE ENGINE WAS MODERNIZED WITH AN ALTERNATOR, MOPAR ELECTRONIC IGNITION, MODERN IMPELLER WATER PUMP, WATER THERMASTATAND SPIN TYPE OIL FILTER. THE REAR (ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE) PULLEY HAS TWO PULLEYSLOTS IN CASE ONE WANTS A SEA WATER PUMP. THE OLDE MAN HAS NEVER BEEN IN SALT WATER. HER EXHAUST AND WATER INTAKE WERE ENLARGED TO INCREASE PERFORMANCE AS WELL. WE INSTALLED ANEW PROP AND SHAFT.
LATER IN JULY OF 2006 THE OLDE MAN WAS ON DISPLAY IN THE PRESTEGIOUS LesCheneaux Antique Wooden Boat Show. THE OLDE MAN TOOK 2nd PLACE IN THE CRUISER PRE-1968 CLASS.
SHE HAS SPENT HER TIME SINCE THEN IN THE SEATTLE AREA ON LAKE WASHINGTON AND LAKE UNION DRAWING ATTENTION WHEREVER SHE WENT. CURRENTLY I HAVE HER IN AN ENCLOSED STORAGE UNIT NEAR OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON.
I AM A DISABLED VETERAN AND NO LONGER ABLE TO WALK ON DOCKS OR GET IN OR OUT OF THE OLDE MAN. SO AFTER 16 YEARS OF REBUILDING HER AND HAVING SUCH A SHORT TIME TO ENJOY HER IT IS TIME TO LET HER GO WHERE SHE CAN BE USED AND ENJOYED. LIKE MY YOUNGEST SON SAYS; SHE IS THE NEWEST OLD RED AND WHITE IN EXISTANCE.
TO SEE THE CONVERSION AND HER IN OPERATION PLEASE GO TO YOU TUBE AND choochoo3985 the olde man.
SHE WAS ALSO FEATURED IN THE SUMMER 2007 ISSUE OF THE ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT SOCIETY, THE RUDDER MAGAZINE, AND ON THE COVER OF THE MICHIGAN CHAPTER OF THE WOODEN BOAT SOCIETY IN LATE 2007. YES; COPIES WILL BE INCLUDED TO THE LUCKY WINNER.
HER INITIAL MARINE SURVEY IN 2005 PRIOR TO COMPLETION VALUED HER AT $90,000 REPLACEMENT COST $180,000. HER FINAL MARINE SURVEY IN MICHIGAN AFTER COMPLETION WAS AGAIN $90,000, REPLACEMENT COST $180,000.
OF LITTLE IMPORTANCE IS THE FACT I HAVE OVER $60,000 IN HER. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT SHE BE USED AND ENJOYED. SHE LOVES BEING PUT TO BED WET.
I HAVE COPIES OF HER ORIGINAL PAPERS, CHRIS CRAFT SPECIFICATION DOCUMENTS FROM 1947 AND THE CHRYSLER ROYAL MARINE ENGINES MAINTENANCE & PARTSBOOK AS WELL, NOT TO MENTION LOTS OF PICTURES.
THANKS FOR LOOKING ANDGOOD LUCK BIDDING. I DID NOT PLACE A RESERVE ON HER!TED
Questions
Hello
Is this boat still available?
is the boat still for sale?
Is the boat still for sale..??
Regards,
Jonathan
WWW.JTKRUERCO.COM
HI! WE WATCH ALL OF THE REMAKING OF THE OLDE MAN.... I WAS JUST THRILLED TO DEATH THE WAY YOU DID EVERY THING,,,,WE HAD A 25ft. 1939 RED AND WHITE BACK IN 1964 THAT WAS ARE FIRST BOAT WE NAME HER MARY ROSE MY WIFE NAME.........HAPPY BOATING TO YOU......
hello
is the olde man available???
do you have a price on it???
thank you
warren
is your ole man on the market???
what price do you have on it???
is it still in WA state???
thank you
warren
Hello, is your wonderful Chris Craft available? Please let me know.Hope you are well and safe. Best, Cliff Thank you.
What incredible memories!! My dad had an identical ‘47 Red & White but with white transom. Drove it all over Lake Michigan out of N/E IL and on the IL Chain of Lakes during the late 50s thru early 60s. Arguably what led me to the USN and driving Navy PTFs/Nastys in Vietnam. Latter were the last of the great PT Boats! Ron S
I learned to drive boats on this great hull on Lake Michigan 40 miles north thereof. That experience eventually led to pilot US NAVY PTFs in Vietnam 1968-69. The PTF is arguably one of the most incredible patrol craft ever to exist The hula we’re built in Finland and the propulsion was 2 3100 shaft hp Napier Deltec
In an 81- foot craft, We were the delivery and retrieval vehicle for Navy Special Warfare folks heading into the northern reaches of the South China Sea
My spine is still recovering!! :> ))
north of the DMZ
The PTF was an absolute Hoot to pilot!!
Is the Express still for sale ?
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