Jon B. Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 (edited) I have been a boater ever since I can remember. My dad found me a row boat when I was 3 or 4 years old and I had my first outboard when I was 5 or 6. Grew up across from the Chris-Craft and Gar Wood factories in Algonac, Michigan. I have owned 2 or 3 boats for most of my adult life........operating them on 3 of the Great Lakes & Lake St. Clair, the upper Mississippi River, small lakes in Ohio and now on a nice lake in Upstate New York that is part of the Erie Canal system. When I was in high school, a girlfriends dad had this sweet 35 foot Chris Craft cruiser. I always admired that boat and how it looked on the water. Thought it would be nice to own one some day. Forward 40 years later........................................ Last fall I was exploring an out-barn at our marina and found the exact same boat that I had admired for so long, tucked back in a rear corner covered with dust and bird & raccoon poop. I asked the marina master about it and he told me it was tied up in an estate fight. Didn't give it another thought until this spring when the marina owner told me the family ended up giving him the title for the storage fees they owed. He said I had first dibs to buy it. I told him no.....didn't need another boat!!! Went home, could not sleep, went back the next day and said "OK, How much?" Let's put it this way.........it was less than what I paid for my KK. It is a mess. Needs a ton of work. Was running when it was winterized 10 years ago, before going into the barn. 1960 - 35 foot steel hull - Chris-Craft Roamer cabin cruiser. Twin 283 CI gas engines - small generator. Bottom needs sand blasting & some patches welded. There is some rot in the wood cabin that needs repair. The goal this year is to clean it up, grind bottom rust & prime, paint the bottom, seal the cabin wood, put it in the water, get the engines running and see what major repairs it is going to need going forward. Did paint the transom and put the new name on the boat. Here are some before and after photos. Edited August 15, 2018 by Jon B. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 I am anxious to see it back into shipshape, all cleaned up and painted, it will be stunning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5698k Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 I had always heard you’re not supposed to change the name of a boat. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony b Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 Love the new name!!! So, this is where you've been hiding all summer. Well, at least you weren't in the poky or the hospital - LOL!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 and just to clarify, Jon, is calling the boat a dog and not a person. That is because, Jon is a classy guy. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 Thanks for the thread, Jon. I've always admired Chris-Craft boats. Very classic in build and appearance. "Let's put it this way.........it was less than what I paid for my KK." Now that seems be be quite a deal to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 Kewl project. Keep the pictures coming as progress is made. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon B. Posted August 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 15 hours ago, 5698k said: I had always heard you’re not supposed to change the name of a boat. There is a maritime set of "rules" for changing the name on a boat............I "loosely" followed them and drank the bottle of champagne instead of breaking over the front of the boat 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon B. Posted August 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 10 hours ago, jonj said: Thanks for the thread, Jon. I've always admired Chris-Craft boats. Very classic in build and appearance. "Let's put it this way.........it was less than what I paid for my KK." Now that seems be be quite a deal to me. The Marina Master basically gave it away so he could start charging slip & storage fees.........smart guy!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon B. Posted August 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 (edited) 16 hours ago, tony b said: Love the new name!!! Thanks.................Check out the story below: 15 hours ago, MacKenzie said: and just to clarify, Jon, is calling the boat a dog and not a person. That is because, Jon is a classy guy. There is a back story on the name "Old Dog"...........................a good friend of mine, Robin and I co-owned a little 8 lb. Yorkie pup. Jasper. He was a great boater and loved to drink beer. If you put your can down, he would finish it for you. One day, after an afternoon on the water with one of my buddies, his co-owner Robin came to pick him up. When she picked him up in her arms and smelled beer on his breath (I guess we didn't watch him that close),........she started giving my buddy and I the business. At the same time, both my buddy and I said "Bad Dog!!!!!". Robin was not amused but we thought it was hilarious. The next summer I bought a new boat and the re-naming process began. Below is the name and logo the family voted on. Sadly, this June at 15 years old Jasper is no longer with us. Robin, family & friends all agreed that the new name and logo (artists rendering of Jasper) was perfect for the new/old boat. Hopefully in a few weeks, they will be docked next to each other Edited August 16, 2018 by Jon B. 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 Beautiful story, Jon. What a handsome dog, soooooooooo cute! Sorry he is no longer with you. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony b Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 Great story, Jon! Sorry to hear that Jasper is no longer with us, but sounds like he had a very good life! So now we know the backstory to your profile "picture." LOVE IT!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pearson Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 Good story. can’t wait to see the finished boat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekobo Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 What a great story. Jasper looks like he was a feisty little dog. Fitting that he should have TWO boats named in his honour. Good dog! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve M Posted August 18, 2018 Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 That's a heck of a project to restore an old boat. I've been around boats all my life and have a soft spot for some of those big cabin cruisers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Ora Posted August 18, 2018 Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 Awesome project the boat looks kewl Outback kamado Bar and Grill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
