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WINTER 2009 THE BRASS BELL VOLUME XXXV NUMBER 1 ContentS On the Cover: A beautifully restored 1948 46-foot Chris-Craft Double Cabin Flying Bridge basks in the sunshine on the shores of Marquette Island, in the Les Cheneaux Islands of Northern Michigan. Photo by Jeffrey Smith. 3 4 7 12 19 28 From the Club Letters Beacon Your Turn Profile Retrospective 13 16 23 34 39 44 We Are a Nation of To Cover or Not Hurricane yIKEs! Garryowen Lessons from the First Boat Ramp Jitters Collectors Part 2 to Cover? That is …Surviving on the Sea Lyon Year: A Woodworker’s the Question Gulf Coast (Texas Notebook Style) 46 53 56 60 Woodsmith Take the Helm Riva Connection Reviews 66 71 84 Calendar Trading Dock CCIQ W inter 2 0 0 9 1 AAmmeerriiccaa’’ss mmoo tt--lloovveedd BBooaatt IInnssuurraannccee “It sounds unimaginable now, but 25 years ago when we needed a comprehensive insurance policy on our own vintage wood- en boat, we couldn’t find one. As insurance agents and wooden boat enthusiasts, we saw this as an opportunity. So we put our heads together and developed a product — and a company — built around the hobby we love. Twenty-five years later, we still love wooden boats and the people who share our passion. Thank you for your AR M I N on-going support.” Y E T • R Louise Hagerty, Founder E G A Hagerty Collector Boat Insurance H • 9 0 0 1 9 8 4 - 2 2 TH E B R A S S B ell 800-762-2628 | WWW.HAGERTYMARINE .COM From THE Club Volume XXXV, Number 1 Winter 2009 hat a great time of year. The 2009 boating season is upon us, and we have The Brass Bell is a quarterly publication of the published an extensive calendar with five full pages of vintage boating W Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club events — some right out your back door. Turn to page 66 and start making your plans to attend a couple of shows in your part of the world. Executive Director, Emeritus: Wilson Wright After a tumultuous 2008, we’re ready to move forward into ’09, flying the flag of President: Terry Fiest optimism! My wife Michelle and I have vowed to get out on the water more this year. Vice President, and Director of Research: And with no boats in my “acquisition queue,” I’ve set my sights on moving forward Don Ayers with projects that already fill my garage. Director of Marketing & Membership, The economy is playing its hand within our hobby in fairly predictable (yet, often and Treasurer: Bill Basler painful) ways. Given the daily phone calls and Emails we receive at headquarters, it Managing Editor and Secretary: Bill Baldwin appears that the “user” boat market is a bit soft right now. The truth is, it’s a great Associate Editor: Martha Wolf time to buy a project now, as the most lucrative buyer’s market in years is upon us. Remember...optimism. Consider getting in touch with one of the many brokers who Annual Membership (US) $35.00 USD advertise with us to find your next project. Annual Membership (Non-US) $50.00 USD The high-end of our hobby seems a bit more insulated from the current economic Magazine apportioned at $6.50 per issue situation, with the $70 thousand-and-up boats waiting patiently within collections, mellowing like fine wine. Optimism. 112 14th Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 Unfortunately, we are losing cruisers at an alarming rate. There is not a week that Phone: 319.247.7207 goes by that I do not hear of at least three big, beautiful cruisers being euthanized. Web site: www.chris-craft.org When the wooden boats fell out of favor in the early 70s, due to market demand shift- Email: [email protected] ing to fiberglass, I have heard stories from many of our elders about monthly “boat burns” to do away with the less-than-desirable wooden boats. One restorer told me that CONTRIBUTORS he personally assisted with burning at least a dozen triple cockpit runabouts over the years. This seems to be the current track for many cruisers today. The economy has Don Ayers Jack McCarthy put some of these boats “on the hard” — abandoned, rather than paying past due yard Bill Baldwin Elizabeth Morrell fees. Others are being left for dead in harbors, given changing attitudes towards live- Seb Borrello Kathy Muller aboards, and property taxes. In an effort to weave optimism into this current state of Chris Dorflinger Mike Pauly affairs, I am truly in awe of those who take on the task of restoring and, or maintaining Terry Fiest Linda Pauly one of these large vessels. You are serving a very important historic role. Joe Fleming Bill Reardon In an effort to “do our part” during these difficult economic times, our executive Ross Henton Clay Thompson team has decided to hold the line on our membership rates, at least for 2009. There The Brass Bell (ISSN 1527795X) is published is no question that increased printing costs, paper costs, and mailing costs affect the quarterly by the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club. Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club’s budgets just like any other business. In the short 112 14th Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA term, we will absorb the increased operational expenses. 52403-4025 USA. Sadly, I have heard from several of our members who have lost their jobs recently. Periodical Postage Paid at This is truly tough to hear. We have already granted complimentary membership Cedar Rapids, IA renewals to a few, and we will continue to do this in cases of hardship, for as long as we can. This is a Club after all — we’re all stronger together. © POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: 112 14th Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403-4025 USA Bill Basler Director of Marketing & Membership USPS 18-243 ©2009 Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club and contributors. All Rights Reserved. The Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club is dedicated to research, documentation, and preservation of all classic Chris-Craft boats. As the longest-standing marque club in the world, our purpose is to exchange information, build camaraderie among members, and provide education about classic Chris-Craft boats. W inter 2 0 0 9 3 LETTERS You can read more Letters online at http://www.chris-craft.org/letters As a new Chris-Craft owner, and had one less than the week before. Wow! What a great issue! I am so member of the club, I must first This was a “shake your head, I don’t honored to be included in it. Your thank you for a very active organiza- believe it, we’re in the wrong busi- help in getting my article completed tion, and nice Brass Bell magazine. I ness,” moment! Have a great week. and the finishing touches to it’s over- am making good contacts, and learn- Enjoy the snow — and thank you all all appearance are beyond the call ing a lot about Chris-Craft boats, and for your passion, and great work for of duty. Excellent work — excellent the history of the brand. the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club issue, through and through. Here’s — Seppo Kiuru, Finland and The Brass Bell. We really look to raising that bar. You guys certainly forward to each treasured publica- do just that. My heartfelt thanks and Since I joined the Chris-Craft tion. — Diane and Rick Laenen prayers for a happy and healthy new Antique Boat Cub, I have been year. — Mark Clawson looking through “Boat Buzz” for I am 63 years of age, and that places The Brass Bell welcomes information and tips regarding me as a youth in the 50s when I Thanks very much for the info on letters from our readers. restoration of hull number 71684. started to notice many things. One steering gear oil. I also want to thank Please send all correspondence The amount of information that you, memory is the National Geographic all of you for the great work you to [email protected] or to the address below. Letters Don Ayers, and others have on these magazine which my parents sub- have done for the club and “Boat may be edited for publication. boats is priceless. Thank you for your scribed to on a regular basis. Flashes Buzz.” The Chris-Craft Antique Please include your full name, dedication. — Bjorn Bakken of that high-quality publication Boat Club is a great organization. postal address, and Email went through my mind when I The information I have received address when writing. Just received another fabulous issue opened the current Brass Bell which from club members and “Boat Buzz” of The Brass Bell. Your packaging, was received in the mail this week. has helped me in my five year Capri The Brass Bell cover materials, and printing quality There are few publications that come restoration. — Joe Williams The Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club are second to none. Keep up the good close to the quality of The Brass Bell. work! — Terry Limehouse Congratulations on keeping the bar Bill, I would like to personally thank 112 14th Street S.E. set high! — Dan Robinson you for the reference you made to Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 This Brass Bell issue is just stunning. Bill Brooke’s 1947 DCFB, as that is Again, an excellent job all around. I was delighted to see my first issue the boat I am buying. I would not Thank you one and all! of The Brass Bell in the mailbox have found it without your refer- — Peter Woods today.