Chris Craft Double Cockpit Forward Deluxe Runabout

Up for auction with a ridiculously low reserve is a complete, completely restorable and very desirable 1947 Chris-Craft 17 Double Cockpit Forward Deluxe Runabout, HIN R-17 954.

She sports a wonderful tumblehome and is unusual I guess you could say rare single-hatch cover that is absolutely original to the boat as the third and fourth photos make clear.

I am finally admitting to myself that there are way too many great preservation projects in storage to have any reasonable expectation I will get to all of them. That said, its with the hope that a new steward-owner can get this Chris back on the water soonest that I am selling her.

Major restoration milestones have already been passed, and include virtually all of the really expensive and critical elements of a comprehensive restoration:

Hardware Every original piece is with the boat. As the photos show, save for the two lifting rings, stainless engine hatch cover trim and gas cap, everything has been restored to show chrome condition and just awaits installation. Saves you thousands.

Hull plate that installs on the under side of the engine bay hatch cover.

Stainless rub rails included and have been polished to show brilliance.

Her Chris-Craft Model K 95 HP engine and all of its components have been rebuilt. The engine has only one hour of bench run time on it.

Included:

Complete set of original gauges Not the tach, which was removed from the boat, can be seen in the hardware photos.

Prop, prop shaft, shaft log, rudder, rudder shaft log,All steering and shifting components, two cut-waters, original steering wheel, throttle, horn button, steering box

E-Z Loader trailer with excellent tires, bearings, lights, etc. l towed this boat and trailer over 300 miles at interstate speeds without a single issue.

Seating that is mostly savable, but the front seat back has begun delaminating so must be replaced.

Ceilings I removed the ugly green upholstery from the starboard side to reveal the single ceiling panel behind it. My gut tells me that her restorer will want to replace these panels with the wide plank ceilings that were typical during the Post-WWII forties.

Considerations

Transom. Her hull requires a full restoration. You will notice the wonderful attempt at sealing the transoms lower edge and corners. But please to pay attention to the two photos showing the details of the transoms framing. It is completely intact, shows no rot and is in excellent condition throughout. No, I have not released the tin, but suspect that, at worst, the bottom transom plank will be replaced. However, since the offending edge and ends are below the waterline, you might be able to fill and fair the screw holes before sealing, priming and painting.

Hull. We would likely do our level best to save this planking, but realize that doing so will be challenging. As you can see in the bilge photos, her framing is exceptionally sound, especially for 70+ year-old woody.

Bottom Again, it is difficult to be sure without flipping the hull and stripping them, but the bottom planks appear original on the traditional bottom. We would replace it with a 5200 bottom since ACBS judges no longer penalizes boats for no-leak bottoms.

I can load the engine into your truck or onto your trailer.

$750 due via PayPal at the end of the auction with the balance due by cash, personal or bank check within two weeks of the auctions end.