chris craft 8 meter project
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Last one built 1976 Hull #38
I have the last one built in 1976 - Hull number 38 - In my research over the years I have discovered that this hull was designed by Don Aronow - I would like to find some sort of provenance to support this information - anyone here ever find this info?
I found this beauty of a boat in in 92 sitting on a ramshakled bunk trailer with 96 hours on meters and missing an engine, with drive where engine should have been... sitting in a 'junk' yard! (guys junk piles back yard) - i got the engine that was there to run, with the fuel that was in the tanks, after sitting since 1979 - yep - sat for 13 years - try that with today gas!
For years i had seen blips of yellow thru a fence... then one day i finally went to the house rang the bell - no answer - the house was piled to the ceilings with junk - it was obvious no one lived there - i went to look at these yellow 'blips' i had seen for so long tru the fence - indeed it was a boat - i lifted up the very weathered cover and saw... chris-craft - my heart skipped a beat - WOW - looked around the boat there was a hole where the drive should have been for the Port Side... -- so ran back to my car - got pen and pencil - got the hull numbers and the DNR license tag numbers - went to the DNR building to get the owner of record - mailed a letter - telling of my interest in the boat -- a few years go by... i get a phone call - ....so you wanna buy my boat? this weathered and tired voice says to me... WHAT??? i was confused -- i had completely forgotten about this wonderboat --- and the rest as they say is history...
what is better that a boat with a story??? telling the story!
I found this beauty of a boat in in 92 sitting on a ramshakled bunk trailer with 96 hours on meters and missing an engine, with drive where engine should have been... sitting in a 'junk' yard! (guys junk piles back yard) - i got the engine that was there to run, with the fuel that was in the tanks, after sitting since 1979 - yep - sat for 13 years - try that with today gas!
For years i had seen blips of yellow thru a fence... then one day i finally went to the house rang the bell - no answer - the house was piled to the ceilings with junk - it was obvious no one lived there - i went to look at these yellow 'blips' i had seen for so long tru the fence - indeed it was a boat - i lifted up the very weathered cover and saw... chris-craft - my heart skipped a beat - WOW - looked around the boat there was a hole where the drive should have been for the Port Side... -- so ran back to my car - got pen and pencil - got the hull numbers and the DNR license tag numbers - went to the DNR building to get the owner of record - mailed a letter - telling of my interest in the boat -- a few years go by... i get a phone call - ....so you wanna buy my boat? this weathered and tired voice says to me... WHAT??? i was confused -- i had completely forgotten about this wonderboat --- and the rest as they say is history...
what is better that a boat with a story??? telling the story!
Last edited by mspIggy; 09-09-2010 at 02:52 PM.
#12
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I have the last one built in 1976 - Hull number 38 - In my research over the years I have discovered that this hull was designed by Don Aronow - I would like to find some sort of provenance to support this information - anyone here ever find this info?
I found this beauty of a boat in in 92 sitting on a ramshakled bunk trailer with 96 hours on meters and missing an engine, with drive where engine should have been... sitting in a 'junk' yard! (guys junk piles back yard) - i got the engine that was there to run, with the fuel that was in the tanks, after sitting since 1979 - yep - sat for 13 years - try that with today gas!
For years i had seen blips of yellow thru a fence... then one day i finally went to the house rang the bell - no answer - the house was piled to the ceilings with junk - it was obvious no one lived there - i went to look at these yellow 'blips' i had seen for so long tru the fence - indeed it was a boat - i lifted up the very weathered cover and saw... chris-craft - my heart skipped a beat - WOW - looked around the boat there was a hole where the drive should have been for the Port Side... -- so ran back to my car - got pen and pencil - got the hull numbers and the DNR license tag numbers - went to the DNR building to get the owner of record - mailed a letter - telling of my interest in the boat -- a few years go by... i get a phone call - ....so you wanna buy my boat? this weathered and tired voice says to me... WHAT??? i was confused -- i had completely forgotten about this wonderboat --- and the rest as they say is history...
what is better that a boat with a story??? telling the story!
I found this beauty of a boat in in 92 sitting on a ramshakled bunk trailer with 96 hours on meters and missing an engine, with drive where engine should have been... sitting in a 'junk' yard! (guys junk piles back yard) - i got the engine that was there to run, with the fuel that was in the tanks, after sitting since 1979 - yep - sat for 13 years - try that with today gas!
For years i had seen blips of yellow thru a fence... then one day i finally went to the house rang the bell - no answer - the house was piled to the ceilings with junk - it was obvious no one lived there - i went to look at these yellow 'blips' i had seen for so long tru the fence - indeed it was a boat - i lifted up the very weathered cover and saw... chris-craft - my heart skipped a beat - WOW - looked around the boat there was a hole where the drive should have been for the Port Side... -- so ran back to my car - got pen and pencil - got the hull numbers and the DNR license tag numbers - went to the DNR building to get the owner of record - mailed a letter - telling of my interest in the boat -- a few years go by... i get a phone call - ....so you wanna buy my boat? this weathered and tired voice says to me... WHAT??? i was confused -- i had completely forgotten about this wonderboat --- and the rest as they say is history...
what is better that a boat with a story??? telling the story!
Welcome to the boards... and what a fantastic story. The boat looks great, and from the pic, she seems to run as well. Got any more pics and details? Were nuts for the details here. Just love the fact you brought an old girl back to life, and put her back where she belongs... on the water.
Darrell.
What engines and drives are ya runnin' ?
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Hi Darrell - and everyone
this boat was optioned out well
the seats are on spring loaded shock absorbers....
has twin 300hp 350's best i can figure they were 'vette' engines
the cam in the good engine had huge (wide) bearing races and seemed much more sturdy than the aftermarket cams
i speked out parts to match - the pink rods - forged crank - same cam etc to build out the missing engine...
then i changed the heads to dart heads, changed the intake to edelbrock performer RPM's... still using the quadrajets -- did some work on them and re-metered them
then finally dumped the dial point mallory dists... for MSD systems
this MSD change over by far made the most gain on performance in coming out of the hole and top end... - on a good cool day she spins 6200 rpms running volvo ultras 27 piutch 64-66 mph by my hand held gps
this boat really goes -- and is allot of fun - gets a fair share of attention - I have more photes - just have to round them up!
this boat was optioned out well
the seats are on spring loaded shock absorbers....
has twin 300hp 350's best i can figure they were 'vette' engines
the cam in the good engine had huge (wide) bearing races and seemed much more sturdy than the aftermarket cams
i speked out parts to match - the pink rods - forged crank - same cam etc to build out the missing engine...
then i changed the heads to dart heads, changed the intake to edelbrock performer RPM's... still using the quadrajets -- did some work on them and re-metered them
then finally dumped the dial point mallory dists... for MSD systems
this MSD change over by far made the most gain on performance in coming out of the hole and top end... - on a good cool day she spins 6200 rpms running volvo ultras 27 piutch 64-66 mph by my hand held gps
this boat really goes -- and is allot of fun - gets a fair share of attention - I have more photes - just have to round them up!
#17
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Welcome to the boards... and what a fantastic story. The boat looks great, and from the pic, she seems to run as well. Got any more pics and details? Were nuts for the details here. Just love the fact you brought an old girl back to life, and put her back where she belongs... on the water.
Darrell.
What engines and drives are ya runnin' ?
Darrell.
What engines and drives are ya runnin' ?
i have the original bill of sale - and much of the paperwork - boat is well optioned - has floating seats - still has unbroken windscreen - deck rail that i removed... (have rail)
I have decided to put the boat up for sale -- I have owned it for many many years - it is time for a new - good home - Any interested parties - PM or email intoitall AT yahoo.com
#19
1975 Chris Craft 8 Metre
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/boa/3690536260.html
"FOR SALE BY PRIVATE OWNER OR LOOKING TO TRADE THIS RARE/ANTIQUE BOAT FOR A PONTOON BOAT OF EQUAL VALUE (17.000- 15.000) AT LEAST 22-24 FOOT IN LENGTH and LARGE PONTOONS.
1975 Chris*Craft 8 Metre -Hull # ORAZ-27-010, there were only 38 of these made and only a few of these boats are in existence. . This is hull # 10- 7'10" beam- 32" draft. 5,225 lbs, 26' 10" has a slender deep vee hull, with deep red metal flake finish which is factory. The boat was garage kept for 25 years and we acquired it in 2004 and has been kept in a hoist since, never left in the water. the deck has a small hatch opening. Full cabin with cushions and 70's shag carpeting. Seating is a departure from most traditional interior layouts with the passangers riding in front of the driver. Volvo 270 speedmaster drives and are bulletproof. Powered by 2 Chevy original blocks 350 4 bolt with bow tie heads, bow tie intake and MSD ignition. Mercury Lab racing clever props.(15x23 3 blade stainless) I have the Powerboat magazine from 1975 that featured this boat, I also have the build sheet and information from the mariners Museum. No trailer.
This boat handles amazing and cuts through the roughest chop on the lake.
Please only serious offers.."
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/boa/3690536260.html
"FOR SALE BY PRIVATE OWNER OR LOOKING TO TRADE THIS RARE/ANTIQUE BOAT FOR A PONTOON BOAT OF EQUAL VALUE (17.000- 15.000) AT LEAST 22-24 FOOT IN LENGTH and LARGE PONTOONS.
1975 Chris*Craft 8 Metre -Hull # ORAZ-27-010, there were only 38 of these made and only a few of these boats are in existence. . This is hull # 10- 7'10" beam- 32" draft. 5,225 lbs, 26' 10" has a slender deep vee hull, with deep red metal flake finish which is factory. The boat was garage kept for 25 years and we acquired it in 2004 and has been kept in a hoist since, never left in the water. the deck has a small hatch opening. Full cabin with cushions and 70's shag carpeting. Seating is a departure from most traditional interior layouts with the passangers riding in front of the driver. Volvo 270 speedmaster drives and are bulletproof. Powered by 2 Chevy original blocks 350 4 bolt with bow tie heads, bow tie intake and MSD ignition. Mercury Lab racing clever props.(15x23 3 blade stainless) I have the Powerboat magazine from 1975 that featured this boat, I also have the build sheet and information from the mariners Museum. No trailer.
This boat handles amazing and cuts through the roughest chop on the lake.
Please only serious offers.."