Big Dollar Big Cruisers That Are A Big Steal Of A Deal!
953 Chris-Craft – 26′ – Express Cruiser Perfect And for sale HERE
Fellow Woody Boater Dave Bortner of Freedom Boat Service, a sponsor, has gone all in on trying to improve the false image that cruisers are give away boats. Which they are not. There are some Woody Boaters out there that also believe thos and have gone all in on the concept. They spend the big money restoring them, and for some, now is your chance to get one far cheaper than the money spent to get them to the place they are. Amazing show quality Cruisers. Under $100K
We have featured this special 1953 Chris-Craft – 35′ – Commander on Woody Boater and now it could be yours HERE Okay, this one is over $100K and all worth every penny!
I used to own a cruiser and will vouch that they are fun as hell, and a whole new way to enjoy the water while not giving away your soul to the plastic false gods!
This amazing 1962 Chris-Craft – 36′ – Constellation can be seen HERE
There are also some others out there at Yachtworld and other brokers. Like this amazing Futura. I love LOVE the colors on this one. Perfectly done and perfect lettering, every detail including the art on the walls is thought through. For $46K what in the world is there to loose. This is the coolest of the coolest white ones.
1956 Chris Craft Futura HERE
And the mother of all cruisers. Regarded by many as one of the top restorations in the world of a very special Cruiser Black Beauty. She is available for under $500,000 and if you have seen this boat, you know every penny of that is in this.
Black Beauty is the top cruiser out there. If you want it and have the money, its out there. I am not sure who to link to because a bunch of brokers have grabbed it and its confusing. We know the owners and if you just won the lottery, we will hook you up!
All this big money sure makes Troys American Beauty feel more like the bargain that it is.
$29K and ready to go.
Restoring and maintaining a cruiser is no different than the smaller boats. Just more of it. The difficult part is hauling and storing. Finding a yard these days that can handle, haul, and store a large woody properly can be challenging. I love my cruiser!
Cruisers! Wood, glass love em all. Classic glass preferred. Not as much structure work but the bigger they are the systems multiply like rats.
Looks like you are about to do some bottom work? HA
I can not agree more with what you are saying about cruisers. I have also found their owners to be some of the greatest WoodyBoaters I have known. That sure is true of Black Beauty. Rick and Diane will be using her for the free boat rides at our Algonac show on June 24. How is that for some real class! We have a life vest with your name on it waiting for you.
Greg, the Algonac show is an amazing venue for seeing fantastic cruisers and there true lifestyle. If you all have never been it is a 5 star recomend. The setting is the original Chris Craft plant and the folks there are AMAZING!
I grew up with a 41′ boat. Each summer right after school was out my dad would give me the sandpaper, rags, thinner, brushes and varnish and told to get it done so we could spend the summer on the water.
I loved that boat but those days are over and an under 21′ is so much easier logistically.
Still feel that my varnish comes out not worth squat.
So when the bottom of a cruiser needs to be replaced how do you roll it? hehe. Grew up with big wood cruisers and they handle the big water so much better than plastic.
We haven’t used our poor runabout in 2 years…the whole trailering thing is a pain in the butt
I must admit, that dam white Futura is killing me. AHHHHHHHHH! Its beyond cool, and set up just right. Then there is Black Beauty which in my mind could be the top classic boat on the planet. And a steal compared to new plastic crap.
Matt, that white futura is in Buffalo just up river from Bob’s house. It’s even nicer in person and no expense was spared. When you come back up here, I can show it to you.
SHUT THE HELL UP! We dont need any encouragement! Dam Buffalo! Full of amazing boats and fun people. Dont you have to go boating today. Its almost winter
Around here the commercial guys don’t need a yard to haul. This nice working woody is painted “old school” using the flats and tides.
You are killing me. I know that I have said before, If I did not have so much other “stuff” to take care of I would buy a big woody cruiser. I’m about to say hell with it and buy one anyway. You are giving me the fever. Keep them coming, love those cruisers.
This is a 1938 50′ Dingle (built in St Paul) on which we replaced the entire bottom. If it’s too big to flip, it’s done a few planks at a time.
Offshore racing (near and dear to me) started out in the 60’s – 70’s with Cruisers and not the big tunnel hulls you see today. This video features many of the original boats (both wood & glass) that raced at Cowes , England at that time. This type of offshore racing helped to really shape hull design (pun intended) and the future of boating worldwide. Cruisers are cool! They always have been, and always will be.
Holy Cow! Cruiser racing! Neat video.
Looks like Bond: “From Russia With Love”
Nice video!
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Matt, If you think restoring WE Catchem is expensive, well then step right up, the bigger the boat the bigger the cost, but it goes up exponentially !!!
Scott do I recall that Chase Phelps very probably traded in your boat when he purchased American Beauty (Named CHANCA III at the time) from Irwin Marine?
Hi Troy, I think you know more about my boat than I have learned. Chase Phelps was the original buyer, but I did know why he sold Comfy. Thanks for filling in some information, Scott
Shhhhhh! That come later.
10 years from purchase to launch. Self restored 1956 25′ Chris Craft Express.
Last I heard, Puff might have been for sale also. Talk about capturing a moment in history. Same owner for 50+ years, all original besides varnish and small repairs.
1937 Chris Craft Double Enclosed Stateroom cruiser. With port controls where they should be! Refit end in sight.
Bottom work on a cruiser? OUCH! But worth it if you can stand the pain.
1929 38 ft Elco Crusier, sister ship to the one “the” Charles Lindberg used for his honeymoon. After a year of use, we had to replace some of the bottom, keel, all ribs and frames, transom – all were replaced from the inside with the boat upright and still intact. In addition, the deck framing and teak deck had to be replaced, as well as large portions of the mahogany houses. A lot of work and $, but “Queenie” will be in the water next month. She is shown shortly before restoration started.
Yes! Definitely worth it!
off shore racing started in 1956 or 7 with Dick Bertram and Sam . They stuffed a pair of C.Cadaliacs in a C.C. strapped some extra gas in barrels in and ran the first Miami to Nassau. This all led to Dick and the first deep v (which was wood) and the rest is history of what we now call performance boats. But you are right early 60es to early 70es every one around Detroit river and Lake St Clair were stuffing every think from caddy’s then bbc even nail head Buicks…all to go a blistering 40 plus or so. I own a Futura it was repowered with 427 bbc in 1968 when I rebuilt her I just turned it all around to 454…Have a blast going by a lot of plastic…and isn’t resto and maint. part of the fun?
We used to boat along the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair. boats at Humbug in Gibraltar and Gregory’s in Detroit in that era .
I remember a black Futura in St. Clair Shores … Was it yours, Glen ?
We now enjoy our Chris 33′ Cruiser in SoCal…. Easier winters here…
I live on the Lange revere canal(with coast guard station on the end) but I had her in the covered wells at miller marina for a while when water dropped couldn’t get home
Beautiful boats, all of them. Had the opportunity to look at the white Futura when we were boat shopping recently. Fantastic boat. Great price. But we fell for a totally restored 38′ 1951 Double Stateroom Salon out of Canada and couldn’t be happier. Nice to see the cruisers get some love here.
I was wondering where this boat went to. This was our family’s first boat, purchased it in ’82. Really miss this boat. I was only 8 when we bought it and we sold it 3 years later, lot’s of fun was had on her. Take good care of her!
Happy to see that prices should go up to be pair with restoration costs. This is our 1959 32ft Express, restoration so far in the 35 to 40k range in materials no hours counted as we have done the work ourselves. If prices don not go up they will soon all be derelict.
Bottom was done one side at a time, six years of “user boat” ago.
I just have to find the refurbishment pictures.