Re: Show your Chris Crafts
 

Hi, thanks for your pic re the top. I have already got one similar (front part, not back). I'm looking to get something made se we can stand up when it's all up and sleep on the back cushions overnight once we put the side covers, etc on it. I found the atached pic of a (larger) Stinger with a stye I think looks OK and looks like it gives plenty of headroom.

Re: Show your Chris Crafts
 

Here are a few sites you can check, I use Overtons a lot and for many years,Good luck.... www.overtons.com and www.westmarine.com

Re: Show your Chris Crafts
 

Anyone remember this old gal ? A 1986 Chris Cat .I ran this boat till the hull gave up .

Re: Show your Chris Crafts
 

aex, thanks for the cool pics. What did you have for power and what drives were you using? Looks like #4's. How many races did she run before she gave up the ghost?

Gotta love those Chris Cats...

Re: Show your Chris Crafts
 

About 2 dozen . I bought it used in 1988 and she had been raced . In 1990 at Key West the final blow was dealt in race 1 . I knew from the sound of the impact something bad happened . I don't think Chris Craft ever imagined the speeds guys would get out of these boats when the laminates were initially designed .
She was powered by 498 ci motors with with one 1370 Dominator , Gil cast manifolds and # IV drives .
Here is another shot . I have photos without the canopies and will post them when I find them .

Re: Show your Chris Crafts
 

I beleve the Chris Cat moulds were sold or copied to make the AWESOME Thundercat 32. I have a 97 model which I am rebuilding. It is tough, heavy and I love it! Had a skater but was scared of it at speed. The Chris cat is predictible and give the warm fuzzy secure feeling. May be a little slower than the skater but I like safe and 100+ is fast enough for me !

Re: Show your Chris Crafts
 

Here are a few of my 1985 390 Stinger.

Re: Show your Chris Crafts
 

a few more....

Re: Show your Chris Crafts
 

390; how much of your boat is original? That is an extremely clean lookin stinger. I love the look of the miami vice 390x's.

Re: Show your Chris Crafts
 

Boat is totally original from 1985. Engines are 1992 454 Mags installed last spring with 220 hours at the time. Boat was very well cared for. I bought it from the first owner 2 springs ago. He ran out the original 370's and built huge engines for the boat. Here is a picture of the engines it came with.......gen V 454's with 11-71 superchargers at 5lbs boost 900+ hp reported from the engine builder. Long story why they came out but I should have left it alone. The boat cruised nicely at 60-65 and topped around 85. I was told by the engine builder that he saw 100 mph on the boat at full boost hugh octane fuel etc. (which seems a little optimistic) I top around 57-58 now but much more reliable, efficient, and way cheaper on insurance. Easier on the drives and trans also. Sometimes I really regret changing out the engines though, 58 is just not fast enough anymore but I wanted it closer to original and more reliable....

The engine hatch was lifted about 8" on an aluminum custom riser to make enough room for the blowers, and I removed this to drop the sun pad back down to the normal position. The teak was painted black which I restored, the windows were tinted and the window frame painted black which I also restored. There was a huge radar on the arch and in the galley which I removed, I made some changes to the instrument panel, and added zero effort controls etc. The changes I made were to make it more functional with better controls etc, but also wanted to restore as close to original as possible while incorporating these minor changes. I love tinkering with these things, but I love originality as well.