1967 Chris Craft Commander 31'

Someone suggested that I start a thread on my Commander, and since I'm at work behind a computer for the next 12 hours, I thought why not!

I found my Commander while cruising boat porn on yachtworld last July. The owner was interested in trading it for a smaller boat on a trailer, and I just happened to have an 18.5' Chaparral bowrider that I wanted to trade for a cabin cruiser. We took a road trip to New Orleans and took her for a test ride on Lake Ponchartrain. The rest they say is history...

Here were her original photos from the broker.

Pretty boat.

I hired a boat transport company to go and get her for me. They water loaded her at the mouth of the Tchefuncte River, and brought her all the way to Seabrook, TX. for me. We unloaded her at the boat ramp at 9pm at night, and I had never driven twin screws before, let alone a 31' boat.

That morning I said goodbye to my little beloved Chaparral as she started her journey to the Tchefunte River in Madisonville, LA.

The first order of business was to adjust the hydraulic reverse band on the starboard transmission. My inexperience that first night caused it to loosed and I lost reverse. After doing some research, and obtaining help from a local mechanic, we got it adjusted and were back in business.

Since then I've done all of the following nearly all myself:

- replaced the bilge pump with a Whale supersub 11gph
- replaced the starboard alternator
- rebuilt the starboard carburetor
- replaced the starboard starter
- replaced the points system with Pertronix electronic ignitions in both distributors
- installed new 40K volt ignition coils
- replaced the port exhaust with a new Centek fiberglass exhaust
- fluid changes
- new spark plugs
- rebuilt the mast light wood
- rebuilt the trim tab hydraulic pump and panel
- replaced the port tach cable with a new plastic sheathed one
- sanded and refinished my wood railings
- started installing 100 year old cypress flooring in the cabin

And this week I started stripping the old paint off the hard top and cabin roofs. I'll be repainting them with Interlux Brightside.

The reclaimed cypress wood flooring was from two barns in South Louisiana that my dad tore down by hand. Here's a video of us preparing the wood with a pressure wash. 100 years of dirt and grime gone!

And here is a video of our first official run after a winter full of engine work and tuning. We were doing about 15-17 knots in 2-4 foot chop in Galveston Bay!

Greetings,
Mr. t. Woo-Hoo! We had a 34' CC Commander early on in our boating career. LOTSA fun.

Great boat, enjoy.
There are two forums with huge data bases on these old CCs.

Chris Craft Commander Club and the Chris Craft Commander Forum.

Thanks for sharing looking forward to more

Your boat looks great - there were many of those on the docks years ago in the Detroit area. Your thread is fantastic, looking forward to more. Thank you.

Thanks for sharing, it sounds like you are the right steward for that very lovely Chris Craft, congratulations!

Your really flying along in that boat. Like a speedster. Brings back memories of my own planning hull Glastron, could get up to 50 mph in that 17 footer deep V hull with a 350v8 and the OMC stringer stern drive.

sdowney717 said:

Your really flying along in that boat. Like a speedster. Brings back memories of my own planning hull Glastron, could get up to 50 mph in that 17 footer deep V hull with a 350v8 and the OMC stringer stern drive.

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She’s got two 1965 Chris Craft 327F V8’s in her with about 1150 hours each. I’ve gotten her up to 22 knots on smooth water once but she didn’t like it much! She’s a 15kts kinda gal. At a good 2500-2800 rpms we do 15-17ts and she’s very very comfortable. Even in 3’ chop she’s quite smooth. Which is fitting because her hull is solid mahogany and 3/4 to a full inch thick fiberglass. She weighed in at nearly 14k pounds when they loaded her on the trailer and crossed state lines!

Coincidentally Lamb's Yacht Center (where I take Sonas) posted a Classic Chris Craft for sale on their Facebook page yesterday. Seems they now own it - so perhaps for unpaid bills?

https://www.facebook.com/1007774771...00777477133/10155169011412134/?type=3&theater

toocoys said:

She’s got two 1965 Chris Craft 327F V8’s in her with about 1150 hours each. I’ve gotten her up to 22 knots on smooth water once but she didn’t like it much! She’s a 15kts kinda gal. At a good 2500-2800 rpms we do 15-17ts and she’s very very comfortable. Even in 3’ chop she’s quite smooth. Which is fitting because her hull is solid mahogany and 3/4 to a full inch thick fiberglass. She weighed in at nearly 14k pounds when they loaded her on the trailer and crossed state lines!

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My 1970 Egg Harbor 37 weighs about 20,000 lbs.
According to a sales brochure from the company, boat is able to go 24 knots, cruise at 15. But I have never been able to do that. I am the fourth owner. I cruise around at a slow speed of 6 to 8 knots.

menzies said:

Coincidentally Lamb's Yacht Center (where I take Sonas) posted a Classic Chris Craft for sale on their Facebook page yesterday. Seems they now own it - so perhaps for unpaid bills?

https://www.facebook.com/1007774771...00777477133/10155169011412134/?type=3&theater

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As a caveat, Cindy posted a blog full of details on this boat when she got started. I would warn anyone looking at this boat as it is now cursed. Essentially the yacht center hijacked the boat. There's more on the story here.

Latest with Cinderella – NautiCinderella

sad situation all around.

Nice! I loved my CC. Enjoy

Thanks! Very much for photos and Vids. Classic CCs are in class of their own!


ENJOY!!!!

Cool to see your projects and I love those old Chris Crafts. I used to have a 27' Constellation from the mid 60's. Love the lines and interiors of these older boats. Looking forward to seeing more of your upgrades!

Kevin

tallswede said:

Cool to see your projects and I love those old Chris Crafts. I used to have a 27' Constellation from the mid 60's. Love the lines and interiors of these older boats. Looking forward to seeing more of your upgrades!

Kevin

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Whats up neighbor? We're just down the road from you in Seabrook. Did your boat used to be at Seabrook Marina on B dock?

Started painting the hardtop today with Interlux Brightside. Got two coats down and Monday I’ll sand it down with 3000 grit and put a third on.

I’m thoroughly impressed with Interlux paints right now. I’m not even using 333 and it’s laying down so smooth!

You GO! - tc!!

Very nice project!
Following is a link to a video of a similar vintage Chris Craft. It belongs to a friend of mine. His father bought it new in 68, I think. The video was made by my friend’s son. It was filmed on Biscayne Bay and the Coral Gables Waterway. The boat has never been restored but it’s been kept in a boat house all it’s life.

Very nice! If I’m not mistaken that is the highly sought after 35’ Commander. This was Dick Averys’s baby and the first model he was given free reign on the design. That stepped shear is gorgeous! If I ever come across a 35’ I’d be hard pressed to pass it up.

HopCar said:

Very nice project!
Following is a link to a video of a similar vintage Chris Craft. It belongs to a friend of mine. His father bought it new in 68, I think. The video was made by my friend’s son. It was filmed on Biscayne Bay and the Coral Gables Waterway. The boat has never been restored but it’s been kept in a boat house all it’s life.

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What a fun, cute boat!!

Gotta love calm water vids like that!

Chick hanging off starboard, anchor with line and no need to even store. Speedy Lee III from Coral Gables FL was made during the true kingdom of CC's as the pronounced best in general and affordable pleasure boats!

Started installing my AC today. Placed it under the front dinette seat. I started by adding a base for it, and then sealing it off with expanding foam so that it can’t suck bilge smells or engine room fumes. Added in my Grocco ARG-500 strainer and my March 250gph pump. Wired everything up and I was quite surprised it worked!! I’ve just go to do some prettying up, install my ductwork, and vents and I’ll be done!

Yep, I recently bought a 1968 31' Commander - lived on lake Superior for 55 years. I brought it down the MS River, Ohio, TN and TennTom Rivers to Columbus MS - 1200 miles! Have installed hot water system and new Blue Sea Breaker Panel. Next up is AC install - also plan to install it under the forward dinett seat.