YachtForums.Com - View Single Post - Chris Craft Commander (fiberglass series beginning in 1964)

dogsharks · 01-18-2006, 10:43 AM

I own a 38-foot 1966 Chris Craft Commander which is "the first" fiberglass cruiser built by CC Corporation, and I'd like to start a thread here on the fiberglass Commander series. I continue to believe this particular model represents a terrific value for anyone wanting to buy, own, and operate a cruiser without paying way into "six figures" for a comparable new boat.

These boats were substantially "over-engineered" by CC when they were first introduced in 1964 by CC, in order to assure their good name was protected. That good name was "earned" through many years of building spectacular cruisers, commuters, runabouts and skiffs of all sizes and shapes, and the fiberglass Commander series benefited from all of that experience, using a spectacular hull flair and style that presents itself very well today.

Many people have elected to buy these old boats with the "bullet-proof hulls" (designed to withstand three times the stress of running full speed in a six-foot sea) and refurbish them, and repower them. Some of these restorations have cost many tens of thousands of dollars, perhaps well into the hundred thousand dollar range and beyond.

Here is one such example

This 38' Commander is owned by a friend of mine, Warren Pateman, who runs it upside down in Australia. I'm not sure, but I think he has well over a hundred thousand dollars put into this boat for new engines, all new interior (fully stripped to the inside glass), and Imron paint, etc. Looks good, huh?

You can see the value of the fiberglass hull remains as viable as any boat being produced today. The overall cost of this restoration provides a boat that is less cost than a new comparable model, but still has the strength of hollow transverse and longitudinal fiberglass box beams, and the thick high quality polyester and fiberglass composition CC used in the 1960s. It is a rare occasion when one of these Commanders has blisters, in an era where new boats experience blisters after just a few seasons.

Original power for the very first of the 38' series was the big Lincoln 430 cubic inch V8, rated at 275 hp. In 1966 CC transitioned over to the Ford 427 cubic inch V8 rated at 300 hp. The 427, by the way, is the motor Ford developed with cross bolted main bearings and high quality iron metalurgy blocks, to run at wide open throttle for 500-miles and win races in NASCAR and the LeMans 24-hour endurance race. During the years between 1963 and 1965 inclusive, this motor won 101 NASCAR races to 9 being won by General Motors. That's not a missprint, it was (nine) races. Today many of these boats are still powered by the original 427 Ford motors like mine is. These solid lifter engines still have good oil pressure, still run up to 4000 rpm, and perform as well or better than modern equivalents.

Naturally, the bigger boats were also powered by diesel, inline six, V-6, V8, turbo and normally aspirated.

If you are a Chris Craft admirer, and want a great boat for your family to enjoy, you could do a lot worse than consider an older fiberglass Commander. If you happen to be a Ford 427 fan, which is my personal preference since my Grandfather had a Ford dealership when I was old enough to appreciate the cars of the 1950s and 60's, then there is an additional level of enjoyment there for you. Many boats have been repowered, and the hulls still perform "as new".

They are very solid boats and they have a classic look that is hard to match these days.

Regards, happy boating,
Paul

01-18-2006, 10:43 AM	#1
dogsharks Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 70	Chris Craft Commander (fiberglass series beginning in 1964) I own a 38-foot 1966 Chris Craft Commander which is "the first" fiberglass cruiser built by CC Corporation, and I'd like to start a thread here on the fiberglass Commander series. I continue to believe this particular model represents a terrific value for anyone wanting to buy, own, and operate a cruiser without paying way into "six figures" for a comparable new boat. These boats were substantially "over-engineered" by CC when they were first introduced in 1964 by CC, in order to assure their good name was protected. That good name was "earned" through many years of building spectacular cruisers, commuters, runabouts and skiffs of all sizes and shapes, and the fiberglass Commander series benefited from all of that experience, using a spectacular hull flair and style that presents itself very well today. Many people have elected to buy these old boats with the "bullet-proof hulls" (designed to withstand three times the stress of running full speed in a six-foot sea) and refurbish them, and repower them. Some of these restorations have cost many tens of thousands of dollars, perhaps well into the hundred thousand dollar range and beyond. Here is one such example This 38' Commander is owned by a friend of mine, Warren Pateman, who runs it upside down in Australia. I'm not sure, but I think he has well over a hundred thousand dollars put into this boat for new engines, all new interior (fully stripped to the inside glass), and Imron paint, etc. Looks good, huh? You can see the value of the fiberglass hull remains as viable as any boat being produced today. The overall cost of this restoration provides a boat that is less cost than a new comparable model, but still has the strength of hollow transverse and longitudinal fiberglass box beams, and the thick high quality polyester and fiberglass composition CC used in the 1960s. It is a rare occasion when one of these Commanders has blisters, in an era where new boats experience blisters after just a few seasons. Original power for the very first of the 38' series was the big Lincoln 430 cubic inch V8, rated at 275 hp. In 1966 CC transitioned over to the Ford 427 cubic inch V8 rated at 300 hp. The 427, by the way, is the motor Ford developed with cross bolted main bearings and high quality iron metalurgy blocks, to run at wide open throttle for 500-miles and win races in NASCAR and the LeMans 24-hour endurance race. During the years between 1963 and 1965 inclusive, this motor won 101 NASCAR races to 9 being won by General Motors. That's not a missprint, it was (nine) races. Today many of these boats are still powered by the original 427 Ford motors like mine is. These solid lifter engines still have good oil pressure, still run up to 4000 rpm, and perform as well or better than modern equivalents. Naturally, the bigger boats were also powered by diesel, inline six, V-6, V8, turbo and normally aspirated. If you are a Chris Craft admirer, and want a great boat for your family to enjoy, you could do a lot worse than consider an older fiberglass Commander. If you happen to be a Ford 427 fan, which is my personal preference since my Grandfather had a Ford dealership when I was old enough to appreciate the cars of the 1950s and 60's, then there is an additional level of enjoyment there for you. Many boats have been repowered, and the hulls still perform "as new". They are very solid boats and they have a classic look that is hard to match these days. Regards, happy boating, Paul Last edited by alloyed2sea : 02-23-2006 at 01:14 PM.