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Burns Craft

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by pgenesta, Dec 13, 2010.

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  1. pgenesta

    pgenesta Guest

    Burns Craft
    Any one tell me anything about this builder?
    We are looking at a late 80's 37 ft Dynasty. Until I came across this boat I had never heard of Burns Craft.

    This is the information we have available:

    Specs
    Builder: Burns Craft

    * Dimensions
    LOA: 37 ft 0 in
    Maximum Draft: 3 ft 2 in
    Beam: 14
    Displacement: 20000

    * Engines
    Engine Brand: Crusader 454
    Engine Model: 454 FWC
    Cruising Speed: 23 mph
    Maximum Speed: 29 mph
    Total Power: 350
    Fuel: 300
    Fresh Water: 100
    Holding: 45

    * Accommodations
    Two staterooms on board
    Center line Queen master cabin
    Two double berths aft cabin
    Settee sleeps Two
    6'4" headroom
    Large U shape settee
    Carpet
    Head w/ separate shower
    Transom door
    storage
    heating/air conditioning

    * Galley
    3 burner electric stove with oven
    Double door 12/110v refrigerator/freezer
    Double SS sink
    microwave

    *Engine Compartment
    Fresh water cooling
    Blowers
    Hour meter
    Halon system
    Bilge pumps
    Batteries with switches

    * Electronics
    Depth sounder
    VHF
    Compass
    Two wipers
    Search light
    Horn
    Trim tab
  2. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Long Island, NY
  3. pgenesta

    pgenesta Guest

    Thank you for your response Captain.
    Although this article is helpful in explaining the birth of Burns Craft, I'm looking for info on the actual boat and if any Burns Craft owner’s clubs exist (specifically for the express cruiser and not for house boats).

    Again, I do thank you for your time.
  4. Ormond Bert54

    Ormond Bert54 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2009
    Messages:
    470
    Location:
    Ormond Beach, FL
    Spent time on one in 1984 ... I was 21 yrs old so the owner would get me to climb into the bilge to do some work to those 454's ... it's funny how little I remember about the boat ... I can tell you though that his daughter (my girlfriend) at the time was very special. We both enjoyed that boat. I never anticipated that I would someday become a boat owner myself.

    Sorry I cannot tell you more about the Burns Craft but I never forgot the name!
  5. Back in the mid 1980's I worked for a dealership called Marineland based in New York, and they were the Burnscraft dealer. The Dynasty was the express model and it was lower in price than other boats of the same size, and at the time it was a good value with a modern design for that age.

    I have found over many years of boat sales that there is often a relationship between initial cost for a boat and subsequent care. A buyer who would pay more for higher quality would pay more for maintenence. Some of these Burnscrafts were well maintained, others not so.
    However with boats that are over 15 years old, the quality of recent maintenance over the last five years or more is critical. Like all boats it needs a good hull surveyor and maybe a seperate engine surveyor.
  6. pgenesta

    pgenesta Guest

    Thanks for sharing your experience with me.
    You're right on having this or any boat of that age surveyed. I was amazed at the fact that these Burn Craft boats from the 80’s were holding their value. I mean, they are selling in the mid $40’s to $50’s range. One has to assume that it was a well constructed boat with excellent workmanship and they are well maintained by their owners.
    Do you remember the going price for a new one was?

    Also, I noticed that you spelled the manufacturer’s name as Burnscraft and not Burns Craft. Is your recollection of the name the correct version?
  7. pgenesta

    pgenesta Guest

    Any one with info on this?
  8. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    You're dealing with a 20+ year old boat. Obviously it has something going for it. You needn't be so concerned with Burns Craft (that's how I see the spelling come up) per se as much as the individual boat, i.e. if she fits your bill, how she rides at sea trial (a trip through the Race on a marginal day will give you that), the survey and the motor survey. Don't forget to check for blisters and moisture content in the hull.
  9. I do not remember the pricing when it was new but it was less than Sea Ray, Regal and others that are better known. My mistake calling it Burnscraft instead of Burns Craft.
    At the time I was sales manager for a Marineland location in Connecticut, the Burns Craft was only sold at the City Island, NY location. Shortly before the New York Boat Show that year we had a sales meeting and discussed the Burns Craft models. The sales manager for Burns Crfat asked us to vote whether the flybridge or express (The Dynasty) was a better value, and we voted for the Dynasty. When I got to the display at the boat show there was a sign on the Dynasty that read "Voted Best Value in Show" and he sold a bunch of boats that week!
  10. pgenesta

    pgenesta Guest

    Great story and good marketing.
  11. WT Fletcher

    WT Fletcher New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2016
    Messages:
    1
    Well let me start off that I personally know Jerry Burns. He is now located in the Dallas/FT Worth area. Very knowledgeable older gentleman. I am 18 years old, and him talking about these boats and telling me stories of him and his brother making these vessels shows his true passion for the boating enthusiasm.

    From what I understand, these crafts are something else! Now it could be a barber saying you need a haircut, but I do enjoy talking to Jerry and exchanging words with him every so often. He now writes books and has them published on Amazon if anyone's interested... I haven't read anything of his but if you're a book kinda person it may be your forte Ha!
  12. Bill Urie

    Bill Urie New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2018
    Messages:
    1
    Location:
    Wildwood, NJ
    I have a 1969 Burns Craft houseboat on the water in Wildwood, NJ. Built before the mandatory coast guard seating capacity plates. She’s 31 ft and converted to outboard power. Would love to see pics of other Burns Craft houseboats interiors.
    Bill