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Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Leather, Tolex or Russaloid. Linoleum or black rubber matting. If it's in the cockpit or in the cabin, post your questions and answers here.

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kenkix
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Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by kenkix » Wed Aug 19, 2020 9:13 pm

I'm finally getting around to restoring my boat. The Mariners Museum card says that my seats were "Red Naugahyde." Good as it goes, but what does "red" mean? The current seats (photos) are more burgundy, and consensus tells me that they are not original. Were the original seats tufted, channeled, or otherwise shaped? The only color photos I can find from the era are of black seats with wide horizontal yellow bands.

I'd love to get some clues from experienced restoration folks or ideas where I can go to get further answers.

Thank you --- Ken
Ken
=====================
1950 Special Runabout: "Just for Kix"
Hull# SR17 1349
Engine# KBL 65216

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Matt Smith
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by Matt Smith » Thu Aug 20, 2020 6:52 am

Its a red red not a burgandy red. Someone will no doubt post the actual researched color and material. Hope this helps. There are some great folks out there that do interiors if you are going to go outside your area. Also if the restoration is just for you and not show. A red that you like. There are 100's of versions of red. AHHHHHH
Attachments
Just swell4.jpg
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman
1937 16' Special Racer
1968 40' Rice Trawler
1968 11' Crab Skiff
2018 Hole in my head

WoodyBoater.com

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kenkix
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by kenkix » Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:34 am

Thanks so much, Matt. Yes, it is just for me; my boat will never be one for shows. However, I'd like it to be "close enough" to the original! In your photo, the seats are flat, without tufting (if that's the right word). Is that typical?

(I added some current photos to the original post, but the forum doesn't seem to like me. The photos didn't show and every other time I try to add to the post, the forum software tells me that this interiors topic doesn't exist! I'll try them again.)
Ken
=====================
1950 Special Runabout: "Just for Kix"
Hull# SR17 1349
Engine# KBL 65216

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Matt Smith
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by Matt Smith » Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:54 am

The images may be too large.
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman
1937 16' Special Racer
1968 40' Rice Trawler
1968 11' Crab Skiff
2018 Hole in my head

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drrot
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by drrot » Thu Aug 20, 2020 12:57 pm

Add your image then hit "preview" if the image is not there go back and see why. Like Matt says it might be the image size.
Jim Staib
www.finewoodboats.com


1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

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kenkix
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by kenkix » Thu Aug 20, 2020 2:52 pm

OK, I reduced the size and that seems to have worked, thank you. These are the existing seats.
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20200819_130533.jpg
20200819_130509.jpg
Ken
=====================
1950 Special Runabout: "Just for Kix"
Hull# SR17 1349
Engine# KBL 65216

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Matt Smith
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by Matt Smith » Fri Aug 21, 2020 6:18 am

Cool! BTW, sorry I had a brain fart and posted the wrong boat, but same interior idea. Here is an image from Mitch lapoints site. I would say its not pleated. But very simple and basic. Remember these were low cost entry level boats and mass produced. paul at http://www.woodiesrestorations.com/Auth ... stery.html does nice work and alot of it. But I would have fun with it if you like. The red is always nice. You can get deep into stich counts and Kapok and special stuff. There is an argument for a slight loose look and not a tight foam look like on the first boat I posted.
Attachments
a0f241769f7f7b69cf10b257ab12f7c7.jpg
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman
1937 16' Special Racer
1968 40' Rice Trawler
1968 11' Crab Skiff
2018 Hole in my head

WoodyBoater.com

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kenkix
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by kenkix » Mon Aug 31, 2020 8:47 pm

Well -- some progress, sort of. The good (really *great*) news is that I finally was able to connect with the original owner of the boat. A great guy, he loved Chris-Crafts and saved up his money from lawn mowing and other odd jobs and bought the boat at age 18 new in Albert Lea Minnesota. The boat moved with him to Minnesota's legendary Lake Minnetonka and then to Lake Tahoe. There, he kept this on in reserve, but bought a bigger one more appropriate to that lake.

He confirmed that the seats were red, but with cream-colored piping. He said there were 2 cushions on the back and front seats; most of the restored boats I see have 3. Seat backs always seem to be one piece. I don't know where the piping would have been on them. I wonder if there would have been piping in the same place, just not a different color center panel?

Similar boats:

This is the boat Matt's photo came from:
http://www.classicboat.com/classic-boat ... ut-13k.htm
Three cushions, Seat backs like the color photo in the 1950 C-C brochure that are black/yellow.

This one seems also to have been carefully restored. Three cushions, black/yellow including cushion piping:
https://boats-from-usa.com/chris-craft/ ... ial-125414

Oddly, this one has seats configured like my current ones, but the bottom cushions were split in two. I see a lot of boats with similar cushions to mine. was it once fashionable?
https://www.grautogallery.com/vehicles/ ... l-runabout

Can I infer anything from these besides the owners' personal tastes? --- Ken
Ken
=====================
1950 Special Runabout: "Just for Kix"
Hull# SR17 1349
Engine# KBL 65216

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Matt Smith
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by Matt Smith » Tue Sep 01, 2020 5:36 am

It's all personal taste at some point. If you wanted your seats made out of pink leather chris craft would have done it. The story of the original owner saving up by mowing lawns is amazing and wonderful. Thats passion and love and that love is in your boat. You kinda are at a crossroads of sorts. Go original or go have fun. Thats your call. The white piping is cool, and I have seen that on Cavaleirs. I can if you want photo shop that look into your boat to show you how it looks. Two cushions vs 3 is also nice.
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman
1937 16' Special Racer
1968 40' Rice Trawler
1968 11' Crab Skiff
2018 Hole in my head

WoodyBoater.com

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kenkix
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by kenkix » Tue Sep 01, 2020 6:27 pm

Yeah, it is wonderful to have made contact with him. We had a great conversation, and I could really hear how much he loved the boat. (Woody Boater article?) I know that the Special Runabout was a starter boat, but it really is a beautiful one with great lines. Mine has a KBL engine originally in a '53 boat. He remembers "souping it up" but he thinks it was the original engine. At 88, his memories are understandably murky. There is no loss in the chain of possession; he gave the boat directly to his nephew. We acquired it from him. So he must have been the one to change the motor.

He was thrilled that we are renovating it! (OTOH, he was a bit critical of the nephew, insisting that it had been in perfect shape when the nephew took it.)

What I meant by the "personal taste" comment was as opposed to deeply researched for historical accuracy. Does anyone know what the "standard" was, bench seats versus individual cushions, for example? Did C-C even offer a 2-cushion option?

You are right about the "crossroads." I really haven't made up my mind about the balance between original versus fun. Fun to have the conundrum. Never will do boat shows, so it is just an issue in my own mind.
Ken
=====================
1950 Special Runabout: "Just for Kix"
Hull# SR17 1349
Engine# KBL 65216

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Matt Smith
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by Matt Smith » Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:44 am

Gotta say, finding an original photo of your boat is not been easy. Too bad the orig owner doesnt have any. Attached is an image from katzs marina of a Rocket with the white piping. Looks very cool. I think..??? thats red Naugahyde. So sorry to be dragging this out.
Attachments
rocket red white.jpg
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman
1937 16' Special Racer
1968 40' Rice Trawler
1968 11' Crab Skiff
2018 Hole in my head

WoodyBoater.com

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Matt Smith
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by Matt Smith » Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:45 am

I also saw this in a 1950 ad. Looks like three cushions the rear seat.
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Screen Shot 2020-09-01 at 8.30.35 PM.png
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman
1937 16' Special Racer
1968 40' Rice Trawler
1968 11' Crab Skiff
2018 Hole in my head

WoodyBoater.com

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kenkix
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by kenkix » Wed Sep 02, 2020 11:17 am

Those are great images Thank you so much. I'll run them by Charles (the original owner) and see if there's a spark of recognition.
Ken
=====================
1950 Special Runabout: "Just for Kix"
Hull# SR17 1349
Engine# KBL 65216

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kenkix
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by kenkix » Wed Sep 02, 2020 8:07 pm

The original owner, Charles, may very well have photos, but he isn't too motivated to search for them. I asked if he ran across any to snap a photo of it for me. He said he would, but, you know, 88.

He invited us to visit him, and in any normal world we would head to Tahoe just for the heck of it. We have other friends there, too. Dang Bug.
Ken
=====================
1950 Special Runabout: "Just for Kix"
Hull# SR17 1349
Engine# KBL 65216

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mbigpops
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by mbigpops » Thu Sep 03, 2020 12:27 pm

I feel your pain. I sent my previous owner (99 years old) a letter hoping for photos and history and got nothing back.

We'll see how enthusiastic I am at 99 when a new owner inquires about my boat.

Mark
1953 CC Rocket Runabout "Rocket Man"

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Matt Smith
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by Matt Smith » Thu Sep 03, 2020 1:50 pm

Okay, got some info. Two cushions. Piping wasn't until later. I am seeing in the book, it may have been two colors yellow and black tolex, or just red, or black. Your Hull card says red, so red it is. So.. THere yago. Also they came with B, K, and KL engines. Your hull card should indicate that as well. THis took long for me to find my books and stuff. Now. All this could be chucked out the window if your boat was ordered special. Which does happen. ALOT.
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman
1937 16' Special Racer
1968 40' Rice Trawler
1968 11' Crab Skiff
2018 Hole in my head

WoodyBoater.com

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kenkix
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Re: Interior for '50 Special Runabout

Post by kenkix » Wed Sep 16, 2020 7:36 am

Thanks so much, Matt. We have been packing up and traveling so I haven't been able to look at this. Sorry for the delay.

So two cushions was right. Wow. He did say that there was cream piping, though. I wonder if the piping was horizontal, such as the borders of the black/yellow in the brochure photos of the day.

The engine is a KBL, taken from a '53 or '54 boat (I don't have the Mariners' Museum packet with me here.) Charles remembers "souping up" the engine, but not replacing the block.
Ken
=====================
1950 Special Runabout: "Just for Kix"
Hull# SR17 1349
Engine# KBL 65216

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