Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft

randyhutch · Jul 17, 2012

I just purchased an old Chris Craft project. The owner told me it was a '56 but I don't think it is. I would guess more like a '76. I am going to need help identifying the boat, pics to come. I think its somewhat of a rare vessel. But anyway this is a stupid question but what is it called when the engine is in the middle of the boat? And I believe it is a direct drive. Like I said pics to come.

Thanks, Im new to this.

Randy

oldjeep · Jul 17, 2012

Re: Beginner question

Re: Beginner question

It is called an inboard

ewscroggins · Jul 17, 2012

Re: Beginner question

Re: Beginner question

Direct drive, very nice. Never owned/driven one but Ive heard many good things

JoLin · Jul 17, 2012

Re: Beginner question

Re: Beginner question

randyhutch said:
I just purchased an old Chris Craft project. The owner told me it was a '56 but I don't think it is. I would guess more like a '76.
Randy

If the boat's made of wood, it was built before the 1960's. If it's made of fiberglass it it could be any year from the early 1960's on. If it has a 12-character Hull Identification Number on the upper right edge of the transom, it was built on or after November 1, 1972. If that's the case, the last 2 digits of the HIN will tell you the year of manufacture.

My .02

randyhutch · Jul 17, 2012

Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft

I bought what is supposed to be a '56 Chris Craft. It has Chris Craft emblems on it but there are no hull ID. A newer mercury 327 in it. The boat is about 18' long and 80" wide in the back. It has a port side steering wheel with the engine in the middle of the boat. It has a little cuddy as you can see with a door in the front. The boat looks newer than a '56 to me, I was thinking late 60's early 70's. I'll take any help I can get. I am going to do a full resto on it.

Thanks, Randy

randyhutch · Jul 17, 2012

Re: Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft PICS

Re: Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft PICS

randyhutch · Jul 17, 2012

Re: Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft

Don S · Jul 17, 2012

Re: Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft

Might help you take the cover off and post some interior pictures. Have you looked around inside for a plate that might have the model numbers on it?

randyhutch · Jul 17, 2012

Re: Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft

Sorry its a really big pain to take that cover off. It just has two seats up front and a bench seat in back. No plates anywhere on the boat.

Bob_VT · Jul 17, 2012

Re: Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft

Try to contact the manufacturer http://www.chriscraft.com/

Bondo · Jul 17, 2012

Re: Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft

Ayuh,.... That's a Real Pretty,......................Tarp.....:facepalm:

randyhutch · Jul 17, 2012

Re: Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft

Ha yeah it was on the boat when I bought it last week. I am in the process of getting a new cover for it.

Ned L · Jul 17, 2012

Re: Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft

Hmm, OK, i'm thinking mid 60's. I'll have to say it doesn't look like any Chris I've ever seen (her lines aren't Chris lines, the cleats aren't Chris cleats, the rake of the transom is reminiscent of early glass Chris Crafts, but that's about it. I'm almost wondering if someone added the Chris Craft name and badges. If it is a Chris the hull number should be stamped on just about everything (under hatches, the engine box, under drawers, etc). If you can find the hull # you can send it to the Mariners Museum in Newport News VA (with a nominal fee I believe) and they will send you a copy of the build sheet that indicates exactly what model, how it was finished (trim etc), and where & when it was shipped. OR at least I think they can go as recently as the mid 60's. It is an unusual boat & I would be interested in hearing if it really is a Chris. What do the instruments & controls look like? Chris's have pretty identifiable instruments.

steve49 · Jul 17, 2012

Re: Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft

Well, without seeing the inside I'll say it's a Chris Craft Lancer, probably from the early 70's. That shield after the name was on the Lancer models. I haven't seen one since the late 80's. As posted above, get those tarps off and start looking for numbers, and then contact Chris Craft. They should give you some help figureing out what you have.

Ned L · Jul 18, 2012

Re: Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft

I hadn't remembered the "Lancer", but the lines are very different. The Lancer has far more deadrise, a cutaway forefoot, a lot more flare, basically a completely different hull design. With the very custom trailer I'm almost wondering if it might have been some sort of trial or experimental boat? Really nothing other than the name plaques and insignia speak of Chris Craft.

randyhutch · Jul 18, 2012

Re: Please help me Identify my Boat - Chris Craft

I appreciate all of the help guys really. I was told it was a Chris Craft kit boat made right here in the Salt Lake City area is that a possibility? I am going to get that tarp off and look through the boat to find some ID numbers. Looking through the Chris Craft models the lancer is the one that it looked most like. I will post more pics soon.