OT Bought a real Boat

[ThrustTugKeith]

This is way off topic...but need to be pointed in the right direction. I just bought a 21 foot 1967 Chris-Craft Corsair fiberglass boat. I need to find a forum that'll help with some motor questions. Any ideas? :confused:

Thanxs in advance.

Scott :cool:

[patmat2350]

Google "chris craft owners"

PM

[Ray Farina]

Now you are talking about my second love. I have a 1963 Ventnor (Wood) 26 Foot SEdan Sport Fisherman. I know that their is a company that handles all of the original supplies for Chris Craft. I am also a member of New Jersey Museum Of Boating that deals with power and sail boats. These boats are classic and antique wood and fiberglass boats. The person up at the museum that might be able to help you is Mr. Bob O'Brien at 1-732-295-2072. This gentlemen is a broker of classic and antique boats. He is also involved with shows up at Huddy Park in New Jersey, that this year deals with wood and fiberglass boats. If you need more info , please come back to me at R.R.Farina@att.net

[ThrustTugKeith]

Thanxs for the tip , Ray. I found a Forum that has pointed me to the Mariners Museum. For 30$ and the Hull number, they'll do a search for the data.

Scott :D

[Aerominded]

Congratulations Scott!!! A 1:1 Chris Craft is still on my "must have some day" list!

Enjoy it!

:)

[MILLERTIME]

way to go Scott,

I had a 17'' Chris Craft back in the 70's.

Don M.

[ThrustTugKeith]

Thanx, Aero! I had it started while hooked to the garden hose tonight. Its got a V-6 231 c.i. Buick, and sounds sweet. The guy I bought it off of, said it would'nt start right away for him. He thought the Ballast Resistor on the motor was gone. I think the starter was a little sticky. After a couple quick trys (and the starter sticking in the engaged position once) I got it to start right up.
I managed to get the Navigation Lights on the bow running tonight, as well as the horn. Only a couple more hurdles,(safety requirements) and shes in the water. :D Just imagine....if I hurry...in July I can take my R/C Boats down to Toledo on my Boat. :rolleyes: ..LOL.

Scott

[ThrustTugKeith]

Well, last Sunday I finally got the boat in the water. I had to wait for an ignition part that reduces the voltage to 9 volts to the points instead of 12.
Took the boat down to Port Stanley, Ontario, and put her in. This was just for a test run to see if all was well. The Boat performed and shifted smoothly , and I'm quite pleased. The weather was VERY windy, and there were 4 foot swells out in the lake. After some pleading from my Wife NOT to out into the lake (I did anyway for a short jaunt, to see how the boat would handle some heavy water) we settled on cruising around inside the breakwalled area (sheltered to a point) at a steady 2500 rpm. Occasionally I would give it full throttle (4500 rpm) The boat took on NO water, and gets up to plane in about 5 seconds at full throttle.Its no speedster, but goes fast enough for me!!
My Wife got a real kick out of the Jet-Skiers trying to jump my wake. I was really surprised that the old Aerostar launched AND pulled the boat at the end of the test. I thought the Boat would pull the van in the drink!!
This weekend, more running!!!!!! :D

Scott :cool:

[Aerominded]

Cool! We love pictures!!! :-)

[D Anderson]

Here is a site devoted to fiberglass classics. There are quite a few helpful people on the boards.

http://www.fiberglassics.com/

[Aerominded]

Very Cool!!! I am seeing the appeal of the old fiberglass boats! I like the ones in the "cruiser mania" section of the gallery!

One restored correctly would be unusual and a lot of fun, I imagine!

Thanks for the link! :)

[ThrustTugKeith]

Cool! We love pictures!!! :-)


Ill try to get some this weekend.

Scott

[Massey]

If you want to modernize your ignition system I believe that the mid 70's - mid 80's Buick 3.8L (231 cid) HEI distributors will fit your boat. The boats engines that are made by Buick usualy have very little changed externaly from their car counterparts. The HEI gives a stronger spark for a better burn, runs on 12V so you dont need the ballast resistor, never have to gap points or replace them again. It is a simple and not too expensive modification that you can do to your boat to make for better running. If you do this know that you will need a new plug wire set and also change your plug gap from the ..032/.035 to about .040-.045. I have done this modification to many cars and I have done it to a few boats too. I also know how to rewire the old externally regulated alternators for the nice 70's-80's style enternals. (Generators can be converted to just as easy) If you are interested in any of this let me know I can help you with it. My E-mail should be in my profile.

Happy boating
Massey

[Rex R]

make sure you get the right distributor for the engine. when last I looked(mid 80's) any distrib would fit the engine, an odd fire engine doesn't run worth beans(4 cyls) with one for an even fire engine(prolly likewise tother way too...didn't try that :))
rex

[Massey]

Odd fire and even fire engines have the same distributor but different cams and cranks (hence the different firing order). Which ever engine you have make sure you get your firing order and cylinder numbers correct before unplugging anything. GM likes putting the #1 cylender on the drivers side front of an engine (front being the pully side and your right as you are looking at the pullys but left side of the block)(I hope I didnt confuse any one with that just think of the engine as it would be in a RWD car.) Make little lables if you need (never a bad Idea) and replace the wires one for one.

Massey

[Rex R]

er the differing no. of degrees between firing cylinders(90,105 etc.) is the deal killer. one item of note when upgrading to the HEI system; it runs on 12v, the breaker point system runs on 9v(except when the starter is engaged). course there should be some factory turbo's (or maybe not) avail from salvage yards that would bolt on...

[Massey]

Rex, How can you change the no. of degrees between firing the cylenders? You have 6 cylinders that need to all fire in a 360 degree rotation of the rotor that leaves you with 60 degrees between firings (90 for a 4 cyl, 45 for 8cyl and the 105 gives you a 3.4 cyl engine how do you get a .4 cyl) This is one part of the engine you cant change the cylinders must always fire at the same time every 720 degrees (or every other rotation)

I did mention that the HEI is a 12V system, most boats use a ballast resistor for the voltage drop (points like Rex said are approx 9v) If there is no ballast resistor then a resistor wire is used and that must be replaced. Always check your voltage at the connection to the coil or HEI unit with a good volt meter. HEI will fire and work with 9V but not very well you will more than likely get a rough run due to misfires especally under a load. As for turbos or superchargers there are some available for this engine in the second generation models (post 85ish) not sure how they will work on your engine.

Massey

[Rex R]

well you see, way back round '59 or so Buick was going to introduce an Al block v-8...when the econimy glitched they chopped 2 cyl.s off and made it cast iron v-6 with a 90 degree angle tween cyl banks. to my knowledge the 3.8l v-6 still has that angle(which is why they have to use a 'split throw' crankshaft on the even fire engines, also adds a vibration prob)

[Massey]

Oh ok I see what angle you are talking about. Yes the 231cid engine came in 2 different block angles I cant remember if it was 105 or 60 for the odd ball one. The one that is more than likely in the boat is the 90 degree it produced the more favorable HP and running characteristics. The 90degree block is the one that is still used today in the 3800 series engines (3800 sounded better than 3.8L I guess) The HEI dist tho I believe is the same for either block but dont quote me on that check the parts cataloge and or compare the distributor from the manafold seal down for proper fit.

Massey

[Rex R]

the 2.8l is the 60 degree block. and the 'buick' engine the distributor mount is the same regardless of the age of the block. was a real pita finding an odd fire hei when I needed one...thats how I know about how they will run...when you get the wrong one(had made a point to request oddfire etc when I had one ordered, was not pleased when I got an evenfire model) any buick v-6 from 1960-75 is oddfire. they phased in the evenfire in the 76 model year. if nothing else the evenfire engines are some 20 lbs lighter(thats how much weight they took off the flywheel. yes I needed one of those too(got that from a gm dealer))