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1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 2:17 am
by overseer
I have just recently purchased a 1954 Chris Craft custom sedan with (with rare hardtop) in need of restoration. In many of my readings for research on my own restoration, I came across a chapter written by Russ Ballenger, an owner of a 1952 Chris Craft Sportsman. In his writings he included a photo copy of an official Chris Craft Boat Equipment Record. I noticed on the checklist, linoleum was installed for flooring. (A textured grey color) My question is.....Was linoleum used in 1954 as it was in 1952 on The Sportsman Model? In My 22ft 1954 custom sedan I have what appears to me is ordinary household carpet black in color, however there are two hatch covers that have a blue carpet almost synthetic or turf like that I have never seen before. I am going to attempt to lift the carpet from the hatch covers to see if linoleum is present. Any information on materials used in 1954 would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

Re: 1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 1:24 pm
by Brian Robinson
Your hull card will answer this.

Re: 1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 1:29 pm
by overseer
What is a hull cards and where would I get one for my boat?

Re: 1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 2:44 pm
by dreed
Your hull card is your boats birth certificate. You need to find your hull number, then order the hull card for your boat from the Mariners Museum. http://www.marinersmuseum.org/library/chris-craft

Re: 1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 3:07 pm
by overseer
Thanks I email them the request. There have been some modifications to this boat and I want to bring it back to at least close to what it was.

Re: 1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 8:01 pm
by Don Vogt
Hi overseer, one comment you made puzzled me. you said your custom had the rare hard top. Actually, the 1948-54 custom sedan (436 built. ) had a built in hard top (hence the term sedan), unless perhaps there was a special order deleting it of which i am not aware.
On the other hand, the 1946-54 22' sportsman (2082 made) did come with an optional streamlined ventilating cabin, that looked similar to the top on the custom sedan. this option was relatively unusual. So the question in my mind is do you have the custom or the sportsman? the hull numbers on the sportsman are U22 etc. whereas the hull numbers on the custom sedan are S22 etc. IN any event they are both neat boats.

Re: 1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 9:20 pm
by overseer
Don, I was trying to say how few of them seem to be around. This is the first one I have seen on the west coast. So I jumped on it. There seems to be very few left even though there were 436 made. I looked at all that are listed and it seems like less then 10. Maybe there are a lot of them and they are not in the water. I have been up and down the west coast 3 time and never ran across one. But my wording was incorrect. I keep my 58 foot Navigator in Washington and live in California I'm trying to sell my Navigator and after I restore the Sedan I will use it in Washington, as it is always raining, and this boat will be great to travel in BC.

Re: 1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 2:50 am
by High Seas
Have one of us from the PNW chapter come down for a look and we can tell you exactly what it is.

Re: 1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 7:01 am
by Don Vogt
Thx. There are a few around further inland, but not that common. The top has lots of advantages in marginal weather. Let us know when you bring it up this way. Love to see what you have done.

Re: 1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 9:31 am
by Oberon01
Welcome! You mention BC - I summer in BC and have a house on Shuswap Lake there, as does my brother in law. He also has a 1954 Chris Craft 22' Sedan, which is currently undergoing a complete restoration. He is putting in modern power but generally retaining its' original appearance. I have a 25' Sportsman with sedan top and a 22'6" Gar Wood sedan - these are indeed very useful and versatile boats.

I don't know ho many of these sedans are left - they are not terribly rare but nor are they common, and I personally find them to be very attractive boats. Many sedans appear staid and boxy while lacking interior space. I have not found that to be the case with CC 22' or either of my sedans.

Re: 1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 1:10 pm
by Brian Robinson
Bill Kehoe in Loomis, CA is doing a Concours restoration on his 22' sedan. It is set to debut at Tahoe in August.

Re: 1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 3:02 pm
by overseer
Interesting I live in Foresthill just 20 miles away, would like to met Bill.

Re: 1954 Chris Craft Custom Sedan Hard Top

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 5:58 pm
by overseer
I went to the show and saw his boat he did a great job. I hope I can do as good of a job on mine.