A Couple Tons Of Boat For The Money? Honey? Honey? Dear?

The blue top is perfect

If you are an ebay stalker like I am, you now doubt see crazy attempts to sell crap for big money. It’s a never ending circus of buffoons trying to rip you off. BUT, from time to time a real jewel pops up. Like finding an pearl in a bed of oysters. This may be one of those times. This 1959 33′ Chris Craft Sports Cruiser for $12,000 is a great deal. Twin 283’s, a very very cool top. Great interior design. The right size. Just a perfect design. This is for sure a potential show boat, or party barge with some heat in the bilge.

Lets go dear.

Ya ya, we can talk about the beautiful white elephant in the room. The bottom. So? This one is worth it. And dare I say, maybe a perfect candidate for some creative thinking. This is not a boat you are gonna break even on. And I ask, has there ever been? Boats are for pleasure, not profit. The joy per pound this boat will give you are your family is a bargain.

These boats on the hard is hard on them.  But not anything a little plop in the drink cant fix.

Look at that helm! Oh hell ya. The seller could have taken some more photos of.. the engines, the helm, the cabin.. Well, the list goes on. But certainly worth a trip.

Anyway, here is the EBAY LINK. There is even a trailer available! YES A TRAILER! And it’s in Florida. You may need a couple 50 gallon can of Purrell to clean it. But oh how it’s worth it!

23 replies
  1. Greg Lewandowski
    Greg Lewandowski says:

    That is a great boat, but it may need a new bottom. A Florida boat was probably run in salt water so there could be some engine issues. A good survey would answer those questions and you could go from there. She would make a wonderful Great Lakes day boat or overnighter for two.

  2. Troy in ANE
    Troy in ANE says:

    Seems like a very nice boat. Would be GREAT for the St. Johns!

    Not sure why the E-Bay shipping information says Ft. Lauderdale, FL but the text says Vermillion, OH. That is curious??? Maybe even a RED FLAG!

  3. Troy in ANE
    Troy in ANE says:

    Dang!!

    Just looked this one up in the Bible (Essential Guide). There were only six of these made in this configuration. There were 103 of these hulls built, but apparently 97 of them were Sport Fisherman models. Only 6 Sports Cruisers. Not only a good deal but RARE. Harrison?

  4. Paul H.
    Paul H. says:

    Well, Troy – it is a very nice looking boat and as stated, it’s an excellent choice for the St Johns and other waters of that type. However, I lack several conditions precedent to a purchase decision – purpose, proximity, moorage and financial commitment, unfortunately.

    If I had a place on the river, I would consider it but it’s not a boat for bridge-constrained Lake Dora.

  5. Andy C
    Andy C says:

    I looked at that boat about a year ago. It has had a lot of repairs to the hull that seemed questionable to me. The boat is in Ohio. Both motors are in need of major work. I am not one to walk away from too many boats, but I did on this one.

  6. Jeff Hamilton
    Jeff Hamilton says:

    Matt – don’t know why you said it’s in Florida … Ebay says in in Vermillion Ohio, parked in the Vermillion Lagoons (that’s Lake Erie between Cleveland and Sandusky)

  7. John in Ohio
    John in Ohio says:

    I agree 100% with Andy C, Buyer beware, be very aware! I too looked at this boat back in April of this year. This boat has had a lot of “temporary”repairs with puddy. I have seen the pics of the repairs with the puddy. There is a lot of rot in this boat. Many planks, including bottom planks improperly replaced and pieced in. Motors are shot and need rebuilt or replaced. I looked at it during a rain and water was coming in everywhere on the forward deck including running down the stem, so that explains the rot in the nose (putty and paint covering this too), I could have purchased it for 4K and I passed because all the work and money that will be required. This guy purchased it sometime early summer for probably 4K and is now trying to earn a profit. I have had wood boats all my life, cruisers, Lymans, runabouts, etc. I am no stranger to this. I just don’t want to see someone get ripped off on this boat if I can help it.

  8. Matt
    Matt says:

    In the listing at the bottom says its in Ft lauderdale? mmmm. Seems like it may be a sad situation of a whopper project. Like I said, might require some creative thinking. Its very easy to bury a ton of cash in the bilge for sure. But with this design, would it be worth it? Doing a bottom on this boat could be a fun winter, spring, summer fall … job.

  9. Bob
    Bob says:

    Since there are no boat shows sounds like a great project for Woodyboater! Buy the trailer and take it around for all Woodyboaters to help. Each person can add a plank to the bottom – be finished in no time! Sort of like buying a brick in a restored downtown plaza.
    When finished could be an air (water?) bnb. Woodyboater could be supported for years!

  10. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    As the resident cruiser guy…I really like the style…never heard of it or seen on…there being so few. Rest of the situation is run don’t walk…and not toward it…

    John in Va.

  11. Dick Dow
    Dick Dow says:

    Is it worth saving? Possibly, as it is rare and a useable design, ideal for overnighting and cruising in lakes and waters such as Puget Sound. Will it make economic sense to do so? Nope, but if when done the plan is to use the boat and create memories for family and friends – go for it! Depending on how much one can do themselves, the restoration would likely be $80K + and that may be conservative… But what does a wakeboard boat cost these days? I suspect a fair price for the boat is about 1/10th of what is being asked. – My $.02 worth. 🙂

  12. Briant
    Briant says:

    Yikes. Look, I hate plastic, overpriced wakeboard crap boats just as much as the next guy, but at least with one of those you can play behind it while burning thru gallons of petrol. And you can trailer it to various places. This poor CC offers little but squatting on nice wicker chair sipping a brew while those engines be blowing thru a sheik’s worth of go go juice while you visit the same island ya saw last weekend. It’s no wonder so many of these have been reduced to a nice Pagan bonfire.

  13. Mark in Ohio (sometimers da U P )
    Mark in Ohio (sometimers da U P ) says:

    Late to the party today. But from all of the above comments. Let it be ! As I have always said if I didnt have so much other crap ( or neat things depending on the view.) I would own a wooden cruiser. Would love to see someone save it and enjoy it though.

  14. Jeffrey Martinson
    Jeffrey Martinson says:

    Sadly, every boat I buy (or am given) is “for sure a potential show boat” in my deranged, delusional mind. There aren’t enough wild horses to drag me away from such things.

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