Spotlight on . . . . . the NEXT PROJECT

1963 27’ Sea Skiff
Written by Bob Kanak

New Acquisition

Here’s my latest acquisition, a 1963 27’ Chris Craft Sea Skiff. I bought it for the trailer for my other Sea Skiffs thinking I would part out the boat but it is in remarkably good condition. The upholstery is not torn, just dirty. Everything is there, the hull is sound, it needs cosmetics, paint and varnish. This Sea Skiff has a single 283 with 853 hours. I bought the boat in Wister, OK about 50 miles from Fort Smith. It use to reside on Grand Lake at the mouth of Drowning Creek which is the next cove down from where our property is in Big Hollow Cove.

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Spotlight on . . . . HIGH EXPECTATIONS

1937 Chris-Craft 19’ Custom
Written by Bob Kanak

High Expectations

This 1937 Chris-Craft 19’ Custom is owned by Bob and Linda Kanak of Fort Smith, Arkansas. It is powered by a Chris-Craft, ML,145 hp, rebuilt, balanced. Her Hull Number is 48237, 328. 19’ Customs were built between 1935 – 1938.
I bought the boat in July 2000 in Minnesota. The boat was built in Algonic, Michigan, was shipped 6/7/1937 to Wausau, Wisconsin.

High Expectations Underway

The name “High Expectations” was given by my wife who used to work with me and she set a business goal to be met for the first 6 months of 2000. With her help we made it and she named the boat.
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Spotlight on . . . . BIG THOM

Big Thom’s Year of Grand Adventure

Written by John Thompson

Big Thom on the road

Seeing over 700 miles of water in eight states, riding for another four thousand miles on its trailer, Big Thom had a great 44th year. As the current crew of Big Thom, Carolynn and I shared those diverse waters with heavily laden tow boats, pleasure craft of every description and some of the friendliest fellow classic boaters anyone could hope to meet. Pushing Big Thom the entire way was its second motor, a 38 year-old, 125 HP, 1969 Mercury 1250.

Big Thom Cruisin’

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Spotlight on . . . CHICKADEE

1954 Chris Craft Runabout

Written by Dr. Richard Moist

Chickadee at Beaver Lake

Chickadee is a Christ Craft 15 foot utility runabout (# 221 V) powered by a 60 HP 4 cylinder engine.

Chickadee was purchased in Indianapolis, IN in 1955 by Dr. Jonathan “Chick” Comer for his brother Dr. Kenny Comer who had just bought a summer cottage on a lake in upper Wisconsin. Very soon after the purchase Dr. Chick passed away before he had an opportunity to ride in the boat. So you can see where the name came from.

Chickadee at TRL

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Spotlight on . . . Penn Yan

1954 Penn Yan Striptite

Written by Collier Watkins at age two

sanded.jpg

Hey! I am only 2 (I’ll be three in March) and I cannot write yet, so I asked my dad to help with telling about my boat. I’m learning a great deal about wooden boats by working on them with my Dad. When we purchased my boat it was in great shape with the exception of small sections of rot on the keel and spray rails. I’ve been helping Dad sand and we hope to apply a few coats of Smith’s Penetrating Epoxy and paint to the sides and hull within the next few weeks.

interior.jpg

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Spotlight on WHEATIES

A UNIQUE RESTORATION PROJECT Story/Photos by Chick & Karon Wheat

Wheaties Relaunched

There it sat – in a shed along with the other mahogany has-beens, dirt covered, infested with spiders and wasps at war with each other to own every nook and cranny of the hulk. Dry rot lurked hidden beneath the surface of once glorious varnished mahogany – challenging the observer’s detection skills. Its hard top was there giving a hint of its former slick cutting edge styling. In spite of the little voice saying “you don’t have time or a place to work on that”, we bought the sad little Century Sabre and brought it home. Seventeen years later, I started to work on it – which was three years ago.

Century Sabre BottomsUp
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