1949 Chris Craft 17 ft. Deluxe Runabout Going to Auction

1949 Chris Craft Deluxe Runabout with custom trailer
The new custom tandem axle trailer goes too.

Tomorrow I’ll depart my humble shop here in Ravenel, South Carolina to head for the Antique Boat Auction in Clayton, NY.  I’m taking the 1949 Chris Craft 17 ft. Deluxe Runabout I’ve restored to the auction.  It’s listing number 36957.  Check it out here. Continue reading “1949 Chris Craft 17 ft. Deluxe Runabout Going to Auction”

Sea trials of the 1949 Chris Craft Deluxe Runabout

1949 Chris Craft Deluxe Runabout floats level and true
Dereck helped with driving the boat. He was the fastest, reaching 31 mph.

Finally! Sea trials are here!

Click here to see a short video of the sea trial.

Eventually, a boat ends up in the water.  There are lots of things to check when that happens.  Does it float?  Does it float level?  Does it float anywhere near the design waterline?  Does the engine run?  Does it steer properly? etc. etc. Continue reading “Sea trials of the 1949 Chris Craft Deluxe Runabout”

Adding the Shiny Parts

Stainless Steel cutwater
Adding the stainless steel cutwater and rub rails really add the finishing touches.

Chrome and highly polished stainless steel are beautiful things on a Chris Craft.  They really make the boat pop.  Don’t cheap-out on your re-chroming.  There aren’t a lot of chrome shops left in the U.S.  It’s a nasty, dirty process that takes a craftsman’s eye and touch to do right.  It’s expensive, but if you want it to last, you’ve got to pay for it.

Stainless is a little easier.  It’s not terribly expensive yet, and often it’s easier to replace than to try to refurbish.  But if it’s not deformed, a buffing wheel and a little elbow grease can go a long way to making some old stainless look better. Continue reading “Adding the Shiny Parts”

Connecting the Exhaust Pipe

The exhaust pipe to exhaust elbow can be problematic because of heat and water.
The exhaust pipe to exhaust elbow can be problematic because of heat and water.

Connecting the exhaust pipe to the exhaust elbow can be problematic for a couple of reasons:  it gets hot and it gets wet.  Oh yeah, and it needs to be air tight so you don’t end up leaking exhaust into the boat. Continue reading “Connecting the Exhaust Pipe”

Installing the Crashpad

Crashpad really dresses up the edge where the cockpit joins the deck.
Crashpad really dresses up the edge where the cockpit joins the deck.

The final step in the upholstery phase is to install the crashpad.  Crashpad is the 1/2 round closed cell foam rubber padding applied to the edge of the cockpit.  It is best left for after the varnish work and deck seams are complete.  So now’s the time. Continue reading “Installing the Crashpad”

Caulking the Deck Seams

I use Sikaflex 291 LOT to caulk the deck seams.
I use Sikaflex 291 LOT to caulk the deck seams.

After the varnish is laid on, but before the final coat, it’s time to caulk the deck seams.  Most of them (2 out of 3) are false seams–only there for show.  But every third one is live.  It is essential to get a good seal with the seam caulking to prevent leaks and rot.   Continue reading “Caulking the Deck Seams”

Varnishing the 1949 Chris Craft 17 ft Deluxe Runabout

Stern view after 3 coats of conventional varnish
Stern view after 3 coats of conventional varnish

Staining is just preparation for varnishing.  We talked about staining recently here.  Now it’s time for a bit of strategizing.  We’re anticipating about 6 coats of conventional varnish (Interlux Schooner 96) and then about 8-10 coats of AwlWood MA Gloss over that.  When you’re talking about that many coats, spraying is the way to go. Continue reading “Varnishing the 1949 Chris Craft 17 ft Deluxe Runabout”

Staining the boat

Applying filler stain to the 1949 Chris Craft 17 ft. Deluxe Runabout
Applying filler stain to the 1949 Chris Craft 17 ft. Deluxe Runabout

With all the interior work finished, it’s time to focus on the pretty part.  It’s time to finish stripping the hull, repair holes and dings, and stain the hull.  All this precedes the varnishing phase.  I use the most aggressive chemical stripper I can find (Jasco brand) and let it do the work for me.  I slap it on liberally and let it sit there awhile and eat away the old varnish.  You can actually hear and see it doing this if you watch closely. Continue reading “Staining the boat”

Installing the K Engine

Here's the engine ready to be lowered away to its new home.
Here’s the engine ready to be lowered away to its new home.

It was finally time to put the engine back in to this boat.  Check out the post on rebuilding it and running it.  Also, Chris Craft didn’t install oil filters on these engines.  Can you believe it?  Well we did, and here’s our discussion of it. Continue reading “Installing the K Engine”

Fuse block: New Safety Measure

A Fuse Block is a safety feature that should be installed on any restoration.
A Fuse Block is a safety feature that should be installed on any restoration.

In 1949 Chris Craft did not, as a routine, install several safety features that are today considered standard equipment.  We’ve already discussed installing a bilge pump and an engine compartment blower.  Now I’d like to show you the fuse block I installed for this 1949 Chris Craft 17 ft. Deluxe Runabout.  No electrical system, marine or otherwise, should ever be contemplated without some form of circuit protection.  Circuit protections is just that—it’s there to protect the circuit from electrical overload.  That means the conductors (wires) as well as the appliances. Continue reading “Fuse block: New Safety Measure”