While going through the new topics in the Boat Buzz I noticed that at the top of the Boat Buzz page there is a picture of two new fiberglass boats speeding through the water... I might assume that they are Chris-Crafts. My question is this, if we are a boat club of antique boats, why have a picture of new boats on our club page? Wouldn't a picture of a members boat be more appropreate? Why not showcase some of the many members boats throughout the website?
Just a thought...
Happy Boater
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Happy Boater
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1950 18' Riveria
Hull# R-18-256
"Rumble B"
Hull# R-18-256
"Rumble B"
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Paul P
- Posts: 622
- Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:48 pm
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee, Cumberland River and Lake system
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I'm going to identify the boats! 
They're both Chris Crafts, and both are rare enough that even some of the most avid Chris Craft fans won't even know they were ever produced! The one in the foreground is a XK-18 jet drive, and the one in the background is a XK-22.
Both are considered "vintage" by many people these days, even though they're from the early 1970s, and getting older every day (like we are!)
Both are also on the endangered species list, as they're not very common to be found. Many were run hard, some were damaged, some mechanically worn out, many put up for repairs that never happened, and as a result many have vanished. They were not thought to be "collectable" when they were new. Ten to twelve years later Sea Ray re-introduced the concept of the XK-22 in their Pachanga, and it was quite a hit. The XK-22, unlike the Pachanga, has a direct link to a very rich offshore racing history. Every now and then one will pop up on ebay or be found for sale at a vintage boat shop.
The XK-22, by the way, has the Jim Wynne designed deep V hull of "GHOST RIDER" offshore racing fame. Jim is the patent holder (he passed away in 1990) of the lifting strake. Chris Craft hired Jim to design the Lancer, XK-19, Commander SS, Commander 23, and XK-22 hulls, and as a result they all got the lifting strakes. Dick Avery did the styling of the upper decks and interior. The XK-18 has a flat bottom.
In the case of ACBS, any boat fiberglass or other, built in model year 1968 or earlier qualifies for their "modern classic" category.
Regards,
Pau1 P1etcher
They're both Chris Crafts, and both are rare enough that even some of the most avid Chris Craft fans won't even know they were ever produced! The one in the foreground is a XK-18 jet drive, and the one in the background is a XK-22.
Both are considered "vintage" by many people these days, even though they're from the early 1970s, and getting older every day (like we are!)
Both are also on the endangered species list, as they're not very common to be found. Many were run hard, some were damaged, some mechanically worn out, many put up for repairs that never happened, and as a result many have vanished. They were not thought to be "collectable" when they were new. Ten to twelve years later Sea Ray re-introduced the concept of the XK-22 in their Pachanga, and it was quite a hit. The XK-22, unlike the Pachanga, has a direct link to a very rich offshore racing history. Every now and then one will pop up on ebay or be found for sale at a vintage boat shop.
The XK-22, by the way, has the Jim Wynne designed deep V hull of "GHOST RIDER" offshore racing fame. Jim is the patent holder (he passed away in 1990) of the lifting strake. Chris Craft hired Jim to design the Lancer, XK-19, Commander SS, Commander 23, and XK-22 hulls, and as a result they all got the lifting strakes. Dick Avery did the styling of the upper decks and interior. The XK-18 has a flat bottom.
In the case of ACBS, any boat fiberglass or other, built in model year 1968 or earlier qualifies for their "modern classic" category.
Regards,
Pau1 P1etcher
1956 17' CC Sportsman, 300-hp
1957 17' CC Sportsman, 95-hp
1966 20' CC fiberglass Sea Skiff, 210-hp+
1973 23' CC Lancer inboard project, 427/375-hp.
1966 38' CC Commander Express, 427/300-hp(2)
So many boats.........so little time.....but what a way to go!!
1957 17' CC Sportsman, 95-hp
1966 20' CC fiberglass Sea Skiff, 210-hp+
1973 23' CC Lancer inboard project, 427/375-hp.
1966 38' CC Commander Express, 427/300-hp(2)
So many boats.........so little time.....but what a way to go!!
Douglas,
My guess is that they are Chris Craft classics. The mission statement of the club does include them and there's a lot of interest in them as is apparent in the Classic Fiberglass participation here in Boat Buzz.
Although I may never own one of them I follow and enjoy the discussions. The ones shown may be member boats.
Al
My guess is that they are Chris Craft classics. The mission statement of the club does include them and there's a lot of interest in them as is apparent in the Classic Fiberglass participation here in Boat Buzz.
Although I may never own one of them I follow and enjoy the discussions. The ones shown may be member boats.
Al
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Happy Boater
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- Location: Gig Harbor, Washington
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Paul, thank you for your very complete description of these two boats. Sounds like Al's comments indicate they belong in the club...
In either case, I still think it would be nice to see member boats displayed throughout our website, my preference would be of older classic boats...
Thanks to both of you for your comments.
Doug
In either case, I still think it would be nice to see member boats displayed throughout our website, my preference would be of older classic boats...
Thanks to both of you for your comments.
Doug
1950 18' Riveria
Hull# R-18-256
"Rumble B"
Hull# R-18-256
"Rumble B"
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Bill Basler
- Posts: 1996
- Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2005 4:48 pm
- Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
The Boat Buzz banners refresh every so often with antique or classic Chris-Crafts... usually wood, but with some classic glass here and there. As a Club, we differ from some of the other organizations out there, in that we embrace the vintage fiberglass Chris-Crafts as well. This is a logical thing to do for several reasons:
1. The woodies continue to climb in value, in many cases appreciating into the high thin air where fewer and fewer can afford them.
2. The oldest vintage glass hulls are approaching 45 years old...which is not too far away from 50 years old...by many considered to be the threshold to antique status.
3. All of these boats will age. We will lose a few over the years. Even a 2007 Chris-Craft will be old someday. There is no question that the wood hulled boats have a special spot in boat production...not likely to be revisited by a production builder. But the fiberglass craft are very much a part of Chris-Craft history. They are particularly fascinating if you read through the history of the Company...to think the between approximately 1964 and 1967 there were both production methods being practiced. It's really impressive what the Company and its workers pulled off.
The banner currently in place feature Steve Spinharney in the foreground in his XK18. A very rare and great looking Chris-Craft of historical significance.
1. The woodies continue to climb in value, in many cases appreciating into the high thin air where fewer and fewer can afford them.
2. The oldest vintage glass hulls are approaching 45 years old...which is not too far away from 50 years old...by many considered to be the threshold to antique status.
3. All of these boats will age. We will lose a few over the years. Even a 2007 Chris-Craft will be old someday. There is no question that the wood hulled boats have a special spot in boat production...not likely to be revisited by a production builder. But the fiberglass craft are very much a part of Chris-Craft history. They are particularly fascinating if you read through the history of the Company...to think the between approximately 1964 and 1967 there were both production methods being practiced. It's really impressive what the Company and its workers pulled off.
The banner currently in place feature Steve Spinharney in the foreground in his XK18. A very rare and great looking Chris-Craft of historical significance.
Bill Basler
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Wood Commander
- Posts: 885
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 11:48 pm
- Location: Seattle area
As an owner and lover of both an "original mahogany, wood type" Chris Craft and a vintage fiberglass Chris Craft, I am quite happy to see some of the vintage fiberglass Chris Craft boats represented on the club's banner. I also enjoy the fact that the banner changes every so often and that we get to see pictures of all sorts of our great boats on it. I find that the banner is almost without exception a dazzling and exciting introduction to the page as it first comes up on your screen.
I have even entered one of my vintage Chris Craft fiberglass boats in an Antique and Classic Boat Society show. And I have sat in on ACBS management meeting where the future of fiberglass classic boating was discussed. There has been discussion and argument over the years on this topic, but as Bill and others have stated, The ACBS does recognize vintage fiberglass boats as having a place in historical boating. And as such, do accept these fiberglass boats into their membership and shows.
I have even entered one of my vintage Chris Craft fiberglass boats in an Antique and Classic Boat Society show. And I have sat in on ACBS management meeting where the future of fiberglass classic boating was discussed. There has been discussion and argument over the years on this topic, but as Bill and others have stated, The ACBS does recognize vintage fiberglass boats as having a place in historical boating. And as such, do accept these fiberglass boats into their membership and shows.
Bret
1953 35' Commander "Adonis III"
1970 23' lancer project
1953 35' Commander "Adonis III"
1970 23' lancer project
Banner buzz
I just want every one to know that both banner Xk 18 & Xk22 boats, are owned by club members. We both have our tried and true wood boats, too.
There is just something that just grabs you when you see these boats, playing in the water. We would never take our wood boats and push them, with speed, and hard play, like we can with these XK's.
The XK, Three some, 18/19/22, have style and beauty, and are engeneered to the maximum for safty, and handle like a dream. The XK 22 handles max-power and ruff water with eaze. My XK18 Ski Jet, is like being in a personal water craft with out getting wet! It is just a fun little speedster! The 18's ride can be hard in ruff water. I have jumped mine compleetly out of the water!! 19's, are very stylish with great lines. 19's and 22's are two of the all around great rides. They handle modern power and ruff water beautifuly!!
I have been in all three XK's a lot, since our ACBS Heartland Club, has so many of them to ride in!!
It is just another fun part of the boating and collecting, that you can still find out there.
These were expencive boats new, and are getting that way again. Spin
There is just something that just grabs you when you see these boats, playing in the water. We would never take our wood boats and push them, with speed, and hard play, like we can with these XK's.
The XK, Three some, 18/19/22, have style and beauty, and are engeneered to the maximum for safty, and handle like a dream. The XK 22 handles max-power and ruff water with eaze. My XK18 Ski Jet, is like being in a personal water craft with out getting wet! It is just a fun little speedster! The 18's ride can be hard in ruff water. I have jumped mine compleetly out of the water!! 19's, are very stylish with great lines. 19's and 22's are two of the all around great rides. They handle modern power and ruff water beautifuly!!
I have been in all three XK's a lot, since our ACBS Heartland Club, has so many of them to ride in!!
It is just another fun part of the boating and collecting, that you can still find out there.
These were expencive boats new, and are getting that way again. Spin
C C- XK 18 named XKAPE
C C- 1955 18' Cobra name WET DREAM
C C- 1955 18' Cobra name WET DREAM
I like to see that blue once in a while. The cabin top color and in some instances deck color changed quite a bit from the early fifties to the last part of the decade. Depending on model, white became more common after 1954.
My boat was produced from 1954-57. The '54 cabin was gray. The Essential Guide claims '55 was gray, but the "1955 Freedom Fleet" sales brochure and other photos show it in white. The '56-57 cabintop seems to have been painted aquamarine!
Incidentally, there seems to be an error in the Essential Guide regarding hull numbers for 1955 26' Sedan Cruisers. My hull card and boat have a hull number that the Essential Guide claims is the 1956 boat. According to the hull card, my boat is a 1955 completed on Decemeber 1, 1954. I guess I should send this info along to Jerry Conrad if there is another edition of the book in the works.
My boat was produced from 1954-57. The '54 cabin was gray. The Essential Guide claims '55 was gray, but the "1955 Freedom Fleet" sales brochure and other photos show it in white. The '56-57 cabintop seems to have been painted aquamarine!
Incidentally, there seems to be an error in the Essential Guide regarding hull numbers for 1955 26' Sedan Cruisers. My hull card and boat have a hull number that the Essential Guide claims is the 1956 boat. According to the hull card, my boat is a 1955 completed on Decemeber 1, 1954. I guess I should send this info along to Jerry Conrad if there is another edition of the book in the works.
1955 26' Chris-Craft Sedan Cruiser with Fly Bridge
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