Click for Northern Lights Click for Cross Click for JetForums Click for Mulder Click for Walker

New Roamer Owner

Discussion in 'Chris Craft Roamer Yacht' started by Jim Lloyd, Jul 11, 2007.

  1. Jim Lloyd

    Jim Lloyd New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2007
    Messages:
    4
    Location:
    Gulf coast
    Hello,

    We recently purchased a 60' Roamer, 1973, named Triton. Hailing port
    Mobile, Ala. It has twin detroits, maybe that is a given I don't know.. I would appreciate any maintenance advice or other tips anyone might have as this is my first diesel boat. She has 4 staterooms and an enclosed aft saloon. Maybe that is standard also, I dont know. I have not ventured out with her yet, but hope to work up the nerve soon. She has a new paint job and I am reluctant to take chances with her, but I will have to get over that sooner or later. Other than the aft saloon, all the wood has been painted white. I hate that. Any tips on what to use to redo it that would be safe indoors on a liveaboard? She also has a car style (i.e., with lots of tiny holes in vinyl) head liner that has been torn inseveral places. I would like to go up there and reveal the beams and enclose them in wood if possible. Has anyone ever done that? What obstacles have you encountered? I also would like to replace the original built-in showers with modular units. The existing showers all go to their own sumps and I would like to divert them all to one central sump and pump, if possible. Any info or ideas on any of these things would be greatly appreciated.
  2. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    Jim,

    Your post has been moved to the Roamer forum. Congrats on your purchase.
  3. Jim Lloyd

    Jim Lloyd New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2007
    Messages:
    4
    Location:
    Gulf coast
    Thank you very much
  4. 9lives

    9lives Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2004
    Messages:
    95
    Location:
    Lake Superior
    Modifying headliner and restoration info

    Dear Jim,
    Welcome to the club! Your 60' is certainly one of the most stylish ever made!


    I am sure others will chime in offering suggestions as well but here is my $.02.
    There are a couple of 38' Commanders (our FRP cousins) that have replaced the headliner with a very nice wooden beamed and paneled ceiling. Others have replaced the headliner as a substitute material is available.
    They as well as the Roamer club have a great knowledge base.

    I do not know of any advice I can offer about the shower sumps other than the old Jabsco pumps are still available and easily repaired. Your idea of plumbing to a common area sounds good. I'll let others point out the good and bad and I will learn about this as well.

    One other tip I can give you is to contact Jim Wick from LPX sales. Jim has a very soft spot for all Chris Crafts, but I think he holds Roamers as a very special boat and is knowledgeble about how things were done and why they were done a certain way. Having worked for Chris he may have your boats launch record, not sure if he had data from Florida or not but my 1969 Roamer launch records were in his possesion.

    Good luck with your new boat, Hopefully under that "white" paint is some very nice mahoghany!!
    Mark
  5. alloyed2sea

    alloyed2sea Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2004
    Messages:
    871
    Location:
    Alex, VA
    Most popular Roamer MY

    Jim -
    Congratulations on your purchase of "Triton" - one of 26, sixty foot Riviera flush deck motoryachts (FDMYs) Roamers Chris -Craft made from 1972-76. :p
    See more here:
    http://www.geocities.com/alloyed2sea/Motoryacht_Riviera_60.html
    Hope you'll get a chance to look around the CC Roamer website as well:
    http://www.geocities.com/alloyed2sea/
    There's also a Technical Forum page where some Roamer-specific mechanical issues are detailed. The Metal Boats Society is also a great source of info:
    http://www.metalboatsociety.com/
    In any case, we'd love to hear more about her as you get familiarized with large boat handling and your overall situation. Sounds like you have a winner, here's a couple more for inspiration:
    http://www.geocities.com/roamers_r_us/Riviera_Motoryachts.html
    Cheers!
    Eric
    Webmaster, CCR
    "Tin Tonic"
    PS - Here's "Enchantress" - a 1971 CCR Riviera FDMY 60.:p
    PSS - Might you have a hull#?

    Attached Files:

  6. Jim Lloyd

    Jim Lloyd New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2007
    Messages:
    4
    Location:
    Gulf coast
    Many thanks to Mark and Eric. I feel fortunate to have lucked into ownership of such a fabulous boat. I want to take exceptional care of her and to do my best to restore her wood to its former beauty. Although she has had MANY upgrates by her former owner, she is still a little rough inside and needs attention in many areas. Most of this is, thankfully, cosmetic but important to a wood nut like me. I originally wanted to restore a wooden Chris as a project myself, but not being a wealthy person, all my time is devoted to satisfying the bank so I needed a boat we could move aboard as is.

    I will find out her hull number and other items that may be of interest asap and post them. She has a great paint job, which I have unfortunately allowed to be blemished just since I have had her. We had a rubber foot on our boarding ladder wear through and rub the paint off about a two inch area.
    Makes me sick to think about it. On the positive side, she has all new Raymarine electronics, new vhf's, and other things. The former owner was an airline pilot that was used to top notch equipment and wanted the same for his boat, especially when it came to the radar.

    Thank you both for the leads to other sites and information sources. It is going to be a great pleasure being associated with you.
  7. smcmanus

    smcmanus New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2005
    Messages:
    23
    Location:
    KY or MI depending on the season
    "Other than the aft saloon, all the wood has been painted white. I hate that. Any tips on what to use to redo it that would be safe indoors on a liveaboard?"

    You can try "Citristrip" stripping gel. It is non toxic and doesn't stink. I have used it with good results. I'd recommend you test it on an obscure panel to see what you think.

    Congrats on the new Roamer.
    Steve
  8. alloyed2sea

    alloyed2sea Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2004
    Messages:
    871
    Location:
    Alex, VA
    Save the wood,....

    ..., and you're digital epidermis.

    Not that Steve is wrong here, only a much easier (much easier) way to go about restoring an interior gone wrong (i.e., painted) is to utilize Pressure Sensitive Adhesive - (PSA) backed veneer: all, in any one of a number of wood finishes.
    See more here:
    http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?sku=2213&cs=1
    http://www.vandykes.com/subcategory/246/
    http://www.formwood.com/product_info...products_id/11
    http://www.tapeease.com/Home.htm
    https://www.ovisonline.com/store/wood_veneers.asp
    Many other suppliers on the web as well...
    Methods:
    http://www.oakwoodveneer.com/tips/psa.html

    Now, you might find it useful to strip/refinish in selected areas; and possibly adopt the "Hinckley" approach (white cabinets/wood drawer & doors) - but
    if you have a long way to go (motoryacht, right?) applying PSA veneers is definitely the best way to go. Wish I'd known about them sooner:
    http://www.geocities.com/sour_apples_usa/Page6.html
    http://www.geocities.com/sour_apples_usa/

    Attached Files:

  9. Shangri-La

    Shangri-La Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2006
    Messages:
    146
    Location:
    Pensaukee, WI
    The previous owner painted the inside of the cabin on our Roamer and as we remodel the boat my wife wants it back as a wood finish. Are you suggesting applying this PSA veneer right over the painted surface?
  10. Jim Lloyd

    Jim Lloyd New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2007
    Messages:
    4
    Location:
    Gulf coast
    PSA application

    Hi Ken,

    I would be interested in what you find out regarding the application of the PSA backed laminates.We are still doing some mechanical upgrades, so have not gotten to the cosmetic stuff. Latest project is trying to find specifications on our control cables which must be replaced. There are supposed to be identifying numbers on them, but if they were ever there, I cant find them. I am also putting in racors for mains and generators.
    You and Barbara have done a wonderful job on Shangri La. Congratulations on a beautiful Riviera.

    Jim
  11. Clansea

    Clansea New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2007
    Messages:
    2
    Location:
    Mobile Alabama
    Fellow Roamer

    Good Evening Jim,
    I was happy to hear about your Roamer purchase, I have a 1965 35' that we keep at the Senic Yacht Basin on Dog River. I have been working on "Clansea"
    off and on (more off then on)for about a year now and still have a way to go before it is like I want it. If I can help in any way or you just need someone to talk with you can contact me at the following cell number or e-mail address...
    251-421-1292 cvrocher(at)bellsouth(dot)net

    Clancy
  12. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    Clancy,

    Please do not post your e-mail address ANYWHERE on the net. Automated bots harvest e-mail addresses and sell them to marketers. I've altered your address to keep it safe from the same.
  13. Shangri-La

    Shangri-La Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2006
    Messages:
    146
    Location:
    Pensaukee, WI
    Thanks Jim for the compliments on the Shangri-La. A kind word always makes me feel good about our efforts. It will be next summer before we try anything with the PSA then I'll post the results.
  14. Captrko

    Captrko New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2012
    Messages:
    54
    Location:
    Kemah Texas
    I just viewed this boat today here in Seabrook and fell in love with her! Triton is a very nice vessel. I am curious as to what the costs would be to maintain her....ie normal stuff like upkeep etc.

    I would say an easy $1000 a month just for a Slip and Electric. Not sure what else would need to be looked at ever week--I live on a 46' Portofino so I am not new to boats, the Roamer at 60' makes my boat a ski boat!! :)

    The engine room was spotless and the Detroit Diesels look like museum pieces!

    This boat would make the ultimate liveaboard. Thankfully I am single so no Admiral to worry about but I am sure a few Chica's would not mind becomming Ensigns aboard her!! ! LOL!
  15. Captrko

    Captrko New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2012
    Messages:
    54
    Location:
    Kemah Texas
    Does anyone know Jim or his contact info? I want to talk to him about his 60' Roamer.....any leads appreciated!
  16. Captrko

    Captrko New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2012
    Messages:
    54
    Location:
    Kemah Texas
    .........all I hear are crickets chirping!

    How about any Roamer 60' owners? I want to bend your ear about a possible purchase of such a fine vessel.
  17. MarTex

    MarTex New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2012
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Captrko,

    Were you ever able to find Jim's contact info. I noted the boat is for sale on YW here in the Galveston area.

    Tim
  18. Captrko

    Captrko New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2012
    Messages:
    54
    Location:
    Kemah Texas
    -Nope, never got any direct contact info.


    Did go visit the boat several times, and asked around what INTEL I could find out....I do know a lot of "Dreamers" where looking at the boat, and was surprised how many people I ran into were looking at her, or just fishing around. What I did hear is:

    1. Bank lien of 199K on the boat. I believe the owner is upside down so a realistic offer probably cannot be entertained.

    2. The Yacht Broker always sent the "kid" over to talk to me so any real talk was just spitting in the wind. They apparently are listing the boat for free....

    I walked away disgusted.
  19. MarTex

    MarTex New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2012
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Interesting information. I have looked at numerous boats that folks have moved to this area in hopes that its a better market for selling their boat...I bet over half are upside down with large loans on the boat. Sad...
  20. ELS_Huntsville

    ELS_Huntsville New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2011
    Messages:
    20
    Location:
    Lake Guntersville Yacht Club
    Big Roamer Rivieras

    My gal and I acquired "Grand Slam", RMQ-58-0520R last August when the previous owner was motivated to sell before moving his family to New Zealand. She is a 58' aluminum-hull motor yacht with twin Caterpillar D336 400 HP turbocharged motors; 3 staterooms (2 aft, 1 forward) with heads and showers, a covered and enclosed aft deal with teak sole, pilothouse, wide swim platform, single swing davit and electric hoist for Boston Whaler tender. Beautiful boat! Her homeport is Lake Guntersville Yacht Club.