UW

[Skyemod]

Yes, Gamayan, she is quite beautiful. One of the most remarkable things about her is that the majority of the interior has been unchanged, since built and delivered, in 1941. The interior has a feel and a smell of over seventy years of life. I want to maintain that "patina", and not destroy it.

I have done a rough run over of all the sections on this forum, and read a few of the threads. I am trying to get an idea of the culture here.

My intention, doing an ongoing thread, is to both get help from more experienced boaters, but to also show someone who is new to this - or not even a boat owner yet - where the landmines are.

Briefly, I bought this boat, with no prior boating experience - and have just gone thru one Hell of a year doing the restore of the Hull. I have also begun to enter the "Social world" of boating, and am starting Yacht Club life.
I do imagine that this new world will offer some amazing opportunities, and some great stories, and some pictures.

One of my main objectives right now is reading: Chapman Piloting & Seamanship 67th Edition (Chapman Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling), and Nigel Calder's Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual.

These two books appear to give a solid foundation in how to run and maintain the boat, and how to maneuver it also. I will also take the advised safety courses.

If it works out as I intend, I will try to use the knowledge from these books, as I get on the boat, and crawl around her - to take pictures of what is going on, and what I am learning. Ideally, a few years from now, this would be a roadmap for someone who is new to big Cruisers, and wants to get an idea of what is involved. It is somewhat amusing that I got A's in Physics and Calculus, back in Columbia in NYC, some thirty years ago- and have had almost no need in my real life to apply the principles. It is going to take some hitting the books hard, but the basic pathways are still there, so batteries, and circuits, and engines, and propellers - semi-displacemnt hulls; these ideas should all become familiar and make sense. The real priority is to know every piece of equipment that is on the boat, and each major part, and how to respond to basic emergencies, like major leaks, or lines busting, or power failure. Long, slow process.
The first few weeks i was on the boat, with a few seasoned Chris Craft Vintage Owners, and I had heard about all the Mahogany, and the gas tanks, fuel lines, propane tanks, propane lines - and how there was a continual buildup of gases in the engine space - which is quite large on a 44 foot boat.
It suddenly occurred to me that my boat was essentially an IED. Wood, trapped O2, gases, electricity. All I needed was an electric garage door opener, and I could, with carelessness, take out half my marina. Needless to say, everything will be checked for leaks, and vented, before any switches are flipped. Will also get a fire-supression system installed.
One benefit of having almost the entire bottom of my boat replaced - is I know what every board looks like. Now I need to get familiar with all the electrical and mechanical parts.
I think it is common wisdom that, for many people, taking on an new challenge, requiring new skills - at a point of mid-life, reenergizes you, and gives a new purpose to your life. I do feel that is true in my case. This boat is going to change me. They say that "that which doesn't kill you, makes you stronger". That, in fact, really isn't true - I have seen a lot of horribly maimed people, and, well, it is not a good thing. Sticking to an idea, despite adversity, even if it fails, does seem to add value to a life. I would hate to be twenty years down the road from here, and think that I didn't do this because it isn't a good finacial investment, or you can't start out boating with a 44 foot Vintage Boat.

It is a huge financial loss, and it is nearly insane to start with a huge Cruiser. But, it can be done.

At minimum, I have met, by taking on this project, some of Seattle's finest boat craftsmen. I am nowhere near where I need to be, but I am definitely something different than when I bought the boat, 15 months ago.
Next step is getting inducted into the Yacht Club Wednesday night. I went thru a stack of 1980s GQ magazines I had in the closet, so I think I am prepared. Shaken, not stirred.

[captain58sailin]

Beautiful vessel. Something to be proud of, I would take a look at your wires, check your insulation for cracks and flexibility, and look for the telltale green or black corrosion on the wire ends. The solderless butt connectors and terminal ends can be a source of trouble. They will look perfectly sound and when you touch them the wire will break off. I too am in the process of refitting an older vessel that had an electronic push button control for the reduction gear and when I was replacing some relays, I noticed that the insulation was cracked and crumbling to the touch, fortunately it held together long enough to get her back to my home port harbor. Mine doesn't have your history, only built in 1976. That was a good year for me. Best of luck, it sounds like you have the right approach regarding learning the basics, and operating a vessel is all about physics.

[IdoraKeeper]

Welcome to CF Skyemod. Careful taking that beautiful boat out the locks....some nasty Fish boat may see her and want to rub up against her. Looks like fine weather for the week after opening day.��

[captain58sailin]

I need to find a yacht club that will let me in wearing a carhartt t shirt and cargo pants, that is about as dressed up as I get. Never owned a tie.

[IdoraKeeper]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

I need to find a yacht club that will let me in wearing a carhartt t shirt and cargo pants, that is about as dressed up as I get. Never owned a tie.

I think this is it! The dues are about right, but the reciprocals are a bit thin.

[captain58sailin]

Sounds good. Homer Yacht club is casual also, and of course the reciprocals are slim too, but they let me in. What's the old joke about "I wouldn't join a club that would let someone like me in".

[IdoraKeeper]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

Sounds good. Homer Yacht club is casual also, and of course the reciprocals are slim too, but they let me in. What's the old joke about "I wouldn't join a club that would let someone like me in".

Indeed, if there was more Groucho and Three Stooges in yacht clubs they would be more fun.

[rw58ph]

Always nice to hear/see somebody that has spend the time and the money to restore and put back life into an older boats. There a hundred of older classic boat on Lake Union. During the 4th of July at the wood boat center south end of Lake Union they have a wood boast show, and one in the summer just for Chris Crafts. They use to let people restore their boats there, and is a good resource. On nice summer days we use to take the run about and cruise in around marinas looking at old boats and talking to people.

We loved mooring and living on for 7 years at the south end of Lake Union in the Center of Seattle, We were members of the Tyee Yacht Club that is one th lake. Always something to do and going one. We are retiring this summer and might move the boat back on the Lake, being its fresh water and easy on the boat.

[GPSocal]

Looking forward to your continued posts. Would also be interested in the boat's history. As a transplanted Husky, I miss the cruising opportunities of the NW. I have however, gotten used to the Southern California weather.
You have a beautiful boat. When completed have it inspected by the local Power Squadron or C.G. Auxillary.

[Skyemod]

Thanks for the interest, GP SOCal.

I am trying to piece together the boat's history- and a great deal of it should be discoverable, with some basic detective work.

Here is what I have heard: She was built in 1940 for the Seattle Boat Show of 1941- as the showcase Chris Craft Boat. She has spent essentially all of her life within a square mile of the boat show, covered, but in the water, and used.

She apparently had only a few owners, and was passed father to son once or twice. She was apparently moored at The Queen City Yacht Club for several decades.

There were only 24 of her exact build made- and I know of only one other one floating.

One of the previous owners was a Big UW Alum, and would take folks out on the boat during UW football games. If I try to track records thru UW alumni office, and thru Queen City Yacht Club - I can probably piece together a fairly complete picture. As I find info, I will put it up in this thread.
Tonight, I get inducted into The Queen City Yacht Club- so it really will be nice to be involved in the Yacht Club where the boat lived for so many years.

In the post below, I will put up a smattering of shots from where the boat was restored- Canal Boat Yard. These are pics taken at various times over past year .The two guys who did the work, are in some of the pics- Tim Dies and Stivn Roberts.
Will try to get some pics of the Yacht Club up in next day or so.

[Skyemod]

past year.

[Skyemod]

past year.

[Skyemod]

past year.

[Skyemod]

past year.

[Skyemod]

Made Official Yacht Club Member. If you had told me, in my early teens, back in 1973, that I would ever join a Yacht Club - i would have thought it nearly impossible. We become our parents.
I am happy about this. It is like joining a football team. Like in life and war, at a certain point, it doesn't matter if you are fighting for the "better" team - it only matters that you fight for the team you are on.
The Yacht Club is Sublime - with the campus of UW (University of Washington) seen across the water horizon, nestled in bustling Seattle - you feel, simultaneously, like you are in Downtown Manhattan, and some remote Georgia Bayou, but that may be just because I had 2-3 Gin and Tonics.
Here are some pics - some are panoramas from a phone app- but they are pretty cool.