Please, Someone Buy This Dam Express Cruiser!

Puff is ready!

You all know I get weak in the knees when it comes to vintage Cruisers. And this 25 Express has me messed up bigtime. Now, between the Sportsman, 25 feet and Stinky, a cruiser is not in the cards. But. This sucker is messing with my knees! And for around $10K what the heck do you have to loose? Not much. Hell, you could buy a trailer for it at the local trailer place. This is cool as cool can get.

The robins egg blue is perfection. I even like..LOVE the interior choice of material. Hell, even her name is perfect. So. will someone PLEASE buy it, so I don’t have to keep falling down. My knees can’t take much more of this.

YOU CAN SEE IT HERE ON EBAY

Ahhhh! The perfect big water fun boat!

Ready to ship to your happy home

And this was in the comment section! Crap! This is torture

44 replies
  1. Andy in Middletown
    Andy in Middletown says:

    Great boat! So tempting.
    In my mind, this would be a trailerable boat, on say a dual or tri axle trailer? Can anyone provide insight? How heavy might one of these be? I would assume at least a 3/4 ton truck would be needed to pull.

    • Tom F.
      Tom F. says:

      I am very familiar with this boat a I own one myself and trailer it. Boat and custom Phoenix trailer …tandem axle, disc brakes on both axles….gross weight around 5200-55oo lbs. Tow with a Toyota V8 4runner. Have towed it all over Michigan. You will not find a more original example of this model.

      • Andy in Middletown
        Andy in Middletown says:

        Great to know! Nice rig. I am sure the dual axle brakes help quite a bit, probably a necessity.

        • Tom F.
          Tom F. says:

          I had the trailer built with the intention of towing with a midsize SUV. My criteria was I wanted the boat to sit as low as it could possibly go on the trailer and sit in between the fenders. Disc brakes on both axles…which is critical, because you can get anything rolling…the trick is stopping. I also have Airlift bags on the rear suspension which I inflate when towing the boat to take some of the tongue weight.

        • Scott fritz
          Scott fritz says:

          I had one just like this and lost it in a divorce. I was going to go with the bird egg blue even with critisism not to. i love it.
          I love this boat. Seeing this made my night.

    • DougP in the PNW
      DougP in the PNW says:

      Andy, This trailer has 2 5200# axles and is for my 25′ that weighs 6600. Electric brakes all around, These trailers, fairly new, are 4k+

        • Andy in Middletown
          Andy in Middletown says:

          Awesome Doug, thank you for the info! Seems as long as you stay 25 foot or less, trailering is a reasonable option.

      • Steve
        Steve says:

        I’m trying to rescue a beautiful 27′ Chris Skiff from a boat house catastrophe and in need of a nice trailer. Been pricing out new at $8K very expensive. Where can I find a nice used to accommodate quickly? Been looking on line with limited luck

  2. Flash
    Flash says:

    Definitely a bargain. The owner called me last week and really wants her to go to a good home. Puff is a stunning boat with the optional 175 HP vs a K that many of these boats had in them. She would definitely be trailerable. I wish I had the place to put her.

    Here’s a little video I made last Summer on the Middle Channel.

  3. Tom F.
    Tom F. says:

    I am very familiar with this boat as I own one myself and trailer it. Boat and custom Phoenix trailer…tandem axle, disc brakes on both axles…gross weight around 5200-5500lbs. Tow with a V8 Toyota 4runner. Have towed it all over Michigan. You will not find a more original example of this model.

  4. Flash
    Flash says:

    Although Puff would look great anywhere, I’m pretty sure she was built for the Blue Water area!

  5. m-fine
    m-fine says:

    Offer a trade for Stinky. What do you have to lose…except your life savings worth of up keep costs?

  6. floyd r turbo
    floyd r turbo says:

    I had one with an ML and it would fly, basically similar hull to 25 Sportsman with more forward freeboard and raked rear transom. That raked transom will keep exhaust fumes from rolling into the cockpit while under way. I stripped the bullhead paint and finished it bright – don’t know why CC didn’t do that – must have been a $$ issue. I could keep up with runabouts in the post show dinner cruise. She doesn’t waddle like a “taller” cruiser – has great handling with the shorter express cabin. And if its from Michigan, she’s had a good home.

  7. Shep
    Shep says:

    That would be a great boat to have to take larger groups out on the water. Really get more people interested in our hobby.
    Looks like she just needs a little TLC!
    Just wish I had my barn done to have a place to store her.
    Just a couple years too early. Dang!
    Matt that would look great in your garage!
    Might cost you half of everything you own!

  8. Dan T
    Dan T says:

    Got a cruiser and my slip minimin requirement is 30 feet, but if I were in the market for a trailerable cruiser it I’d Buy It Now. Nice original!

  9. Dan T
    Dan T says:

    Another reason I really like this boat is it appears to be stored on her original CC cradle which leads me to believe she’s been stored and handled properly. Nothing kills an old wooden cruise more than improper hauling and storage.

    • Tom F.
      Tom F. says:

      I know this boat fairly well as I made trips to see it in the restoration of our 1956 CC Express. The boat is on it’s original shipping cradle, has been stored at the same marina it’s whole life. The MCL was a special order. The upholstery is the original “Palmetto Celadon”. It still has it’s original “Chris O Matic” that still functions properly. You will not find another in this original maintained condition. I got the idea for the cabin mast from “Puff” and put one on our boat.

  10. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    Glad to see ANY coverage of a cruiser for sale…someone buy this baby and save me and Matt.

    John in Va.

  11. Drew
    Drew says:

    What a. Dutiful Cruiser. I’ve had several Express Cruisers in the last 10 years and we loved family camping in them. Here is a pic of Bowfin a 1953 CC Xpress 22′

  12. Drew
    Drew says:

    I actually sold Bowfin when Woody Boater did an article about her just like Puff. Love Woody Boater!!

  13. Eric
    Eric says:

    The boat barn is well under way and Matt or John are welcome to have it delivered here in a couple of weeks! Free to a good home or the Tidewater chapter?? … then it can have a nice home here. My wife would have me living in the barn if I bought another project right now…

    Still need to fumigate the bootlegger and get it over here!

  14. Anders Værnéus
    Anders Værnéus says:

    Hey boys. totally fell in love with her at the first sight. Now I’m in trouble. The way from Michigan to Kölefors is a hell of a way. Especially when Kölefors is located in Sweden. Shipping with the cradle…, expensive I think. But I think she´s worth it. This is really something to think about… But I think I should help you Texx. I mean – Sweden is faaaaar away and maybe minimize
    your anxiety

  15. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    two good situations in this posting:

    Eric’s building is looking great…I need to come visit that!

    and Troy’s idea of a trade to a trailerable cruiser for AM is not bad either!??

    Got the Tavares Whirlwind ready for her second run. Rewired and tach and idiot lights connected on the new Tohatsu 50 , 4 stroke…..ready to rock and roll…except that it is precisely 100 degrees right now.

    John in Va.

  16. Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U.P.)
    Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U.P.) says:

    Damn! why do you guys keep doing this to me. You know I have a soft spot for cruisers. I have explained why I do not own one. Beautiful boat, hope it goes to people who love and enjoy her.

  17. Bruce
    Bruce says:

    Why no cabin shots? Saw lots of fluffy water in the vid, but not much of the boat. Does it have needs?

  18. Scott Ales
    Scott Ales says:

    Okay, I’ll try to save you fellas from yourselves! We’re just now finishing the details of our 4k sq. ft. of space in Mt Dora. I reached out to the seller. Will let you’ll know what happens.

  19. Scott Ales
    Scott Ales says:

    Looks like Jay and I came to an agreement. We’ll be having a trailer made and pick her up for the trip South the last week of August. Plan to keep her in the water behind the house on East Crooked Lake. Covered slip, fresh water. 🙂

    Stay tuned…

      • Scott Ales
        Scott Ales says:

        Debra and I will do our best to care for her as well as the last two gentlemen. Booked a flight for the last week of August (upon return from Monterey car week) to bring her back on a new custom trailer. Will load the cradle inside a 15′ uhaul and trailer her back!

        Once she is safely tied up in the well I’ll update with a pic or two. Taking the place of our 1994 Century Resorter. I’ve finally turned into my father! All I want to do is cruise now.

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