Information for the Mariners' Museum by Patti Hinson

[Don Ayers]

Hello Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club!

Many of you are already familiar with the Chris-Craft Collection at The Mariners’ Museum Library. But for those of you who are new to the Antique Boat Club, we’d like to be sure you know that our collection could be just what you need to learn more about your Chris-Craft. Whether your boat has already been restored or it’s a project you’ll be working on for years, chances are excellent that you’ll find valuable information on your boat here at the Mariners’ Museum Library.

Since the mid-1980s, the Mariners’ Museum has been home to the complete paper history of Chris-Craft boats. The records span 1922 to the 1980s and include roughly 119,000 boat equipment records (hull cards), 25,000+ photographs, 55,000+ boat plans, and a nearly-complete set of sales literature.

To get you started, we offer a basic research package. The package includes photocopies of the following primary documents as available for your particular boat:
• Hull Card)
• Sales Literature
• Original Price Sheet
• Black and White Production Photos
• Engine Information
We also include a list of available technical drawings and wiring diagrams. In addition, you’ll receive prices and instructions for ordering reproductions of drawings, diagrams, photographs, color reproductions of sales literature, and copies of engine manuals.

The cost for this package is $40.00, payable by check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. You can submit your request online using our secure form at:

http://www.marinersmuseum.org/library/f ... quest-form

A photocopy or scan of your hull card can be ordered for $10.00.

We’re always happy to help with quick lookups or to assist with your research in person at the Library. The Library is currently open Monday through Friday, 10:00a.m.-5:00p.m. We are located just down the road from the Museum on the campus of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.

We look forward to working with you soon!

Patti Hinson
757.591.7782
[email protected]

[parroteyes]

Is there a way to e-mail this post to myself?

I just know I will want to refer to it inthe future and I can find it by "Search", but I'd really likke to have a copy in my personal files.

[Don Ayers]

First, the post is a STICKY which means it will always stay at the top and never move down.

Second you can hit the email button (green) and send it to yourself if you want.

All you have to do is remember that we now have a Mariners' Museum section and click on it.

Regards

[jfrprops]

Took friends to the Marriners Museum yesterday and I dropped in at the CC collection for a few moments...always are great place to visit.
John in Va.

[whamm511]

Does the Mariner's Museum collection or the Club have a way of tracing ownership of a boat throughout the years? I'm trying to find out the history if my boat and have posted about here before but have not received any replies. It was originally delivered to Staff Jennings in Portland, OR. It spent at least 15 years in Seattle which was where it was when I bought it. If there is any help you can give me I would appreciate it. I have the package from the Mariner's Museum Archives which is how I learned where it was first delivered to. Thanks,
Bill Hammond
1960 36' Connie

[jfrprops]

No, they would not have that.
How about your state registration? Back trace the state registrations?
John in Va.

[whamm511]

I'm in Michigan. The boat has spent its previous life in Seattle WA. and Portland, Oregon. I tried to get info from WA. but they were no help. Thanks for the reply.

[jfrprops]

how about trying to find out where she was docked in those locations? My boat was in a marina north of me for years, the manager of the marina had photos of the boats in his covered slips...for insurance purposes, those were neat to see. Maybe something like that would work???

John in Va.

[whamm511]

Thanks John for your reply. I did talk with the Marina Mgmt. at the time I purchased the boat and got the name if the seller from them. There was additional information in the boat on the next two previous owners. But that history only takes me back to about 1990. I don't know when it arrived in Seattle from Portland or any info from initial delivery to 1990. I need to contact Staff Jennings, the CC dealer in Portland where initial delivery was and find out what they can tell me. I've been told that they're still in business but I haven't yet contacted them. Thanks again.

[Sailor]

Hi it says the page is no longer available.I'm new and have a 1961 Connie 36' that I need info on.TX

[whamm511]

What page were you trying to access?

[whamm511]

I made the assumption that you were trying to access the Chris Craft Hull Card Order Form. So I tried the link and while it take me to tha Mariners Museum web site it did not connect through to an order form. I looked all through their site and not only could I not find the form I also could not find any mention even of the Chris Craft Archives. So I have sent them an email and called and left a voicemail message for them. When I hear back I'll post their reply.

[whamm511]

Sailor,

In the meantime, what info are you looking for? Perhaps we can help!

[Pete DeVito]

I visited the Mariners' Museum this past Monday and Patti met us with a smile. I had called Patti a couple of weeks prior to my visit and she had all the records pulled and waiting. What a great library for the archives to be filed in. Once we finished with the records Patti asked if we would like to see the photo's they had on hand for the model I was researching. Wow it was great and I can't wait to go back.
Thanks Patti for all your help!
Pete

[whamm511]

Pete, that's great! I know they have great resources but apparently right now there's a problem with online access to the Chris Craft Archives. I'm hopeful that there's just something down temporarily but I was not able to find any mention of the archives on their website.

[tkhersom]

If you follow the path "EXPLORE - LIBRARY - CHRIS CRAFT" you will come to this page.

http://www.marinersmuseum.org/library/#chris-craft

Give it a try!

[whamm511]

Thanks Troy,

Perhaps my phone just hadn't fully loaded it because there was a lot more there this morning than yesterday. This should help Sailor find the info he's looking for.

[Al Benton]

Some members may remember when we met at The Mariners' Museum a few years ago. I believe it was in December of 2011. We called it Boat Buzz Un-Plugged or some such name. That was not only a fun weekend, it was interesting to see the Chris-Craft Collection first hand, to put our hands on the original documents of our own boats, and to do a little research. We also toured the main museum.

Some members have mentioned the possibility organizing a Chris-Craft Gathering in Newport News, VA this year, possibly next fall. I am positive that Patti Hinson would offer a very warm welcome and would arrange for a tour of the CC Collection. We could plan a full weekend of activities with, or without boats. We did this without boats in 2011 and I don't think that anyone went home disappointed.

Anyone interested? Lets do this!

[tkhersom]

I can't make any promises, but it sure sounds good to me!

It is well within striking distance.

[RRGadow]

I don't know why its not already in the works!

[tkhersom]

Because someone needs to pick up the ball and RUN with it. Would you like to be the one? Ball is in your court.

[jfrprops]

I put together the previous meeting in 2011 at the Mariners and if we can wait until fall like Al Benton suggest I , being the closest, can do so again....but this summer is just too full of boating events!

What do you guys think?

John in Va.

[tkhersom]

Sounds good to me!

[whamm511]

I'm up for that! Probably late Sept. or early Oct.?

[jfrprops]

HEY!!! so far the posters are CRUISER GUYS like me! Let's make plan for the fall.

John in Va.

[Al Benton]

The ball is now rolling! Great!

I would like this to be an Official Chris-Craft Gathering that would possibly interest many of our members in the region. The timing would need to be considered for such. The ACBS Annual Meeting and International Boat Show at Gull Lake, MN is in late September. I would like to attend it AND this Event. Many other members may want to as well. Mid to late October may be good for this Gathering. Perfect cruising weather, right John? See if a marina in the area could take in a few overnighters (well, maybe 2 or even 3 nights). Cruisers could come down the Chesapeake Bay and from points south to rendezvous in Newport News. Am I thinking out of the box? Hey, why not!

[jfrprops]

Al, Sound good to me. Oct. would be best I agree.....we can get boats there and there are marinas around we could talk to.

Thinking big and out of the box is good....we had a great bunch for that other meeting we did down there.....

I need to be in Newport News in the coming weeks.....I will go by and see Patti.....why don't you contact her with a heads up?

Let's make this happen.

John in Va.

[quitchabitchin]

This sounds awesome. As mentioned before, September still has some events on the calendar, including the Bluegrass Rendezvous on beautiful Lake Cumberland, Kentucky. I would try my best to make a long weekend of it in October as we have great friends in Richmond.

[RRGadow]

Ive thrown my hat in the ring to help...so lets get organized and get it done. Im with you guys...early fall would work best.

[tkhersom]

Columbus Day weekend is October 10th - 12th, but I forget that is mostly a New England holiday.

If you guys schedule it for the weekend of the 17th I will pretend you did it for my birthday which is on the 20th.