Okay, Who Do We Blame Now?
One of the joys of WoodyBoatering is when things just take a dump on you. BTW, I am being sarcastic here. I mean its fun sometimes, and is in the end the true reason we never get board. Maybe fed up? But when things go wrong, like lets say a frothy mix in the oil. Mmm, who do I blame? I mean it has to be “someones ” fault. 
Cant be age, or just that ship happens. We are all to quick to find blame in stuff, when stuff just happens. We are in a passion of old stuff. Stuff that even when new wasn’t all that reliable. We all forget what it was like to adjust stuff all the time. back in the day, you better know the ins and outs of your boat, or car. No chips, no fancy electronics. So, who can we pick to blame for 60 year old used parts breaking?
I have looked into it. He was an engineer at Chris Craft back in the day. And even though he made stuff that has lasted through 60 years of use by idiots like me, when only designed to last 5. Even though he went the extra 55 years. He is still too blame, so I blame him. I blame the man who is why we all love our boats in a way. AW “Bill” MacKerer. Really Bill? Ugh. I mean why couldn’t you design and engineer something better? BTW, I am being sarcastic again.
A young AW at Hacker Craft.
I usually blame Paul. It’s like guessing “C” on a randomized multiple choice exam, there’s always a good chance he’s your answer. Alex is a strong second choice.
Zing!
In some ways, I think that there was some over-engineering done on these boats. Chris Craft did take an industrial engine made by Hercules and adapt them for marine use. They probably could have chosen a less robust and cheaper brand and used them figuring a 5 – 6 year lifespan. Yes some of their cooling engineering could lead to water in the oil, but their thinking was probably that a marina would take care of service and winterizing, not the average boat owner with limited mechanical skills. Read through their operator’s manual and there’s a lot of info almost conveniently missing. Now their bottom design, that’s another story but these were production boats and followed the automotive industry of planned obsolesce.
As far as who to blame…blame the game, not the players.
Its hard for me because its like blaming a long lost family member which just doesn’t feel right. Bill did the hull designs but J. W. Smith was the mechanic/engineer early on and then became president and general manager of Chris Smith and Son Boat Works which soon became Chris Craft. I think he is one of many to blame for these boats lasting so long. Its truly amazing sometime when we pull these old boats apart and they have been floating on the original bottom for 70 years.
what is more amazing is that I have been “floating on my original bottom” for 71 years now. The boats will outlast me!
John in Va.
I am with Chad. Whenever something breaks, my first instinct is to look around and see if there is a Harrison nearby and 60% of the time it works every time.
I always blame the last guy that touched the boat. It’s NEVER my fault. Run over an oyster bed. Its the Oyster guys fault. Run into a dock? Why cant the varnish maker make stronger varnish. Boat wont start? The Chinese! Oil consumption… Crappy oil?
The 1963 Crusader V8 in our Greavette has gotten water in the cylinders at two different occasions, and in two different methods. First, the exhaust manifold cracked internally, and so water got into the cylinders by flowing backwards in through the valves. The second method was more difficult to figure out, as the water was only in the two cylinders closest to the stern (one on each side). Best we can figure, water harbored in the exhaust pipe poured back into the engine when we descended a very steep hill with the boat/trailer in tow. Once we removed the spark plugs to drain the cylinders, and re-installed them, the thing fired right back up with no problems.
So, do we blame God for making the hill, or the road contractors for making such a steep road down it?
Harrison is defiantly on the top of the list.
After that I blame m-fine, he never has enough bacon or bourbon. The two B’s that make the world go around.
Blame me! It’s ALWAYS the dog’s fault. If they didn’t want me on the back of the truck why did they put a door there?
I have 2 Port and Starboard–1953 chris craft ML , running ,engines c/w paragon gear boxes .
4″ Bronze elbows and exhausts , spare unused port starter, etc
$1,200 OBO
Mike that is what Woodyboater Classified is for. We skip advertisements here. (you could also put them up on Trading Dock)
In our circle, its always GARY. Who is Gary? Doesn’t matter…he did it.