Chris Craft Castaway - Thanks to Responders

[BHShaman]

Brother owes me some $$$, his friend owes him some $$$, and they are offering up this boat/motor to clear them both up.

I have my own trailer and motor is 40hp and runs fine.

The console says Chris Craft (quality for sure) but I could not find that profile or anything like it online in a couple hours of searching. Wondering if someone just pulled the console from a wooden boat. Unfortunately, my brother took cell pics and I can not see the insignia on the back.

I would be planning to recondition the interior as a lazy family cruiser for the lake. More importantly I need to know if anyone can identify the boat and/or what it might be worth so I get my worth out of them guys.

Thanks!

[Looks like a 1970s Whaler. Thanks]

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Help Identify a Boat, Chris Craft? [Close Please]

Re: Help Identify a Boat, Chris Craft? [Close Please]

I wouldn't estimate the value to be much over $750. Could be a decent little fishing boat fixed up. I have no idea if Chris Craft made a boat like that or not.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Help Identify a Boat, Chris Craft? [Close Please]

Re: Help Identify a Boat, Chris Craft? [Close Please]

motor is 40hp and runs fine.

The motor appears to have electric shift gearcase based on the single-lever control unit. While I really like the electric shift and never had a problem with mine, that may be a pricey repair if it is not okay. How do you know the motor "runs fine"?

By the way, welcome to the iboats.com forum. The experts here, which I am not, can help you with any issue involving a boat, motor and trailer. Good luck!

 

[BHShaman]

Re: Help Identify a Boat, Chris Craft? [Close Please]

Re: Help Identify a Boat, Chris Craft? [Close Please]

My brother has used the boat and it was recently registered.
I can't say the motor has been gone through expertly, but is a running and functioning motor.

It is a Chris-Craft, finally was pointed to this information:

Promotional Poster

Here is an example of one in a LOT better shape.
Does not look too difficult to get back to a reasonable copy of the original interior.

http://www.tradingdock.org/717

 

[BHShaman]

Re: Chris Craft Castaway - Thanks to Responders

The motor died and so we're working on interior.
Asked the wife, do you want it painted or do you want a used motor. She said she would rather ride in a dirty boat than sit and stare at a clean one.

Now with red cedar seating.
Console rebuild is next.

Bow View:

Stern View:

Helm View:

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Chris Craft Castaway - Thanks to Responders

Gotta love the wife's attitude! Looks like a cool little boat.

 

[spikeitaudi]

Re: Chris Craft Castaway - Thanks to Responders

Wow that boat has come along way from those cell pics. Looks great. Good job clean it up.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Chris Craft Castaway - Thanks to Responders

Very cool little boat, and definitely a rarity. I had no idea that C*C jumped on the 1960's trihull bandwagon at one point, too.

If it's as well-made as the rest of the line from that era, it'll probably outlive you

 

[BHShaman]

Re: Chris Craft Castaway - Thanks to Responders

thanks guys.

It has been an adventure.

- Transom and Rails repaired by a shop
- We stripped the Interior decking (rug over plywood)
- Put in new red cedar seating
- Motor died

- Will pull motor and controls to sell
- Will shop for late season deal on 50HP 2stroke
- Touchup/Repaint the red trim
- Will rebuild console/helm in red cedar
- Will reinstall steering, controls, wiring
- New SS Steering and new Switch Panel for new helm.

Here is the album.
[ignore the reference boats in the beginning]
Picture Album of Repairs.

 

[BHShaman]

Re: Chris Craft Castaway - Thanks to Responders

Very cool little boat, and definitely a rarity. I had no idea that C*C jumped on the 1960's trihull bandwagon at one point, too.

If it's as well-made as the rest of the line from that era, it'll probably outlive you

They made 125 total between 1967 and 1969.
Rated for 80hp and sold with 40, 50, and 60.

I was going to try and go with the original motor and controls but after getting into the engine the starter was bad, one of the plugs had a helicoil (?) and had been bored out and rethreaded and the plug had a threaded adapter on it. Then after the second day the engine was sucking air somewhere. So, a new(er) motor it will be. Looking for a freshwater 50hp 2Stroke (early 90s) to keep it light. Just need enough power for tubing with people on board and folks being hauled.

I was feeling bad about the money I put into it (transom and rail repair) until it was sitting at the in-laws and he had a ton of people just stop by out of the blue and start making offers on it. Not that I would sell it now anyway after my father in-law and I have bonded over working on it. But, made the expenses a little easier to swallow knowing that it had some 'value' with guys down there who know their stuff.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Chris Craft Castaway - Thanks to Responders

I was going to try and go with the original motor and controls but after getting into the engine the starter was bad, one of the plugs had a helicoil (?) and had been bored out and rethreaded and the plug had a threaded adapter on it. Then after the second day the engine was sucking air somewhere. So, a new(er) motor it will be. Looking for a freshwater 50hp 2Stroke (early 90s) to keep it light. Just need enough power for tubing with people on board and folks being hauled.

Sorry to hear about the motor setback but this doesn't sound all that bad if you can wrench a little. Any mechanical work experience with lawn mowers, snowmobiles, cars, trucks, etc. and you should be able to handle most everything that great old motor throws at you. The forum experts' rule for repowering is you should stay above 70 percent of the max HP rating for your boat for the best overall performance.

Your First Mate sounds like a good, logical thinker. Your Second Mate in the pictures looks like he has everything all figured out. You and your crew should do very well. Good luck!

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Chris Craft Castaway - Thanks to Responders

Try these guys for a motor:
http://www.smalloutboards.com/

They are always changing the motors they are offering. I have never bought one from them, but some folks on another forum I visit have and praised them. They have a Mariner 50 on there right now.