She Floats! Troy Finaly Goes Woody Boating In American Beauty.
Troy doing the Titanic thing.. OK, I put in a Watson sunset.
Well, it happened. Our very own fellow Woody Boater Troy got his labor of love, American Beauty in the water after some years of restoration. As a former cruiser owner I have to add what a huge deal this is. Once in the water, things swell up nice, and basecly you start working on a house of sorts.
Stunning!
She is alive. According to Troy, and I am sure he will chime in, she is running fine-ish, She is a 1958 38’ Constellation w/2-200h.p.Hull # X4S-38-305 and was purchased by Dr. Harold Wright 8-14-61 $39,500 at Irwin Marine up in New Hampshire.
Troy and Sandy got American Beauty launched on Sunday and kept on boating Monday! now thats woody boating! And from Troy, a special shout out to the Guys at Edgecomb Boat Works (especially Bill who changed his vacation so he could get the engines installed), all my friends at WoodyBoater and the Chris Craft Antique Boat Club for their moral support, and a VERY special thanks to Jim Staib of Fine Wood Boats for having so much of what I needed.
Right before the big moment
Ta Da
Troy at the helm
Underway, there is something very nice about the low rumble of flat heat magic.
Troy and Sandi underway!
Sandi and her vino seem right at home!
The perfect name. Seen the movie and you get it, havent,? it still works!
Sandi in her official Avon Breast Cancer Walk Woodys For Boobies shirt and her father Bob Johnson ready to go Woody Boating. By the way you can support Woodys For Boobies on the banner on the left.
American Beauty is ready for another day!
Troy and Sandi. Everyone is happy!
Congrats Troy and Sandi! This is when all that effort pays off. I hope AB brings you many years of happy cruising.
Huge CONGRATULATIONS to Troy and Sandi.
I am guessing the name is not a direct reference to the Kevin Spacey movie but more the Grateful Dead album.
Yes, but we can not take credit as the name was already with her.
Since the name is so fitting for her beauty and I am a recovering Dead Head we felt it was very fitting.
Very fitting indeed. While I was never a big fan of their studio work compared to live performances, in the context of thirty years of output, the song list on American Beauty is amazing. A true classic the stood the test of time much like your boat.
Troy, how many concerts did you see? I’m sitting here with a good friend whose been to 54 Dead shows.
If he really went to 54 shows, he wouldn’t remember that!
I probably went to over 30 between 1985 and the last show in Chicago in 1995. I think.
No where near that many.
Probably less than a dozen, but I did see them two nights back to back in Augusta Maine in October 1984. Went with my Mom on Friday night and friends Saturday night.
All I can say is ” what a looong strange trip it has been.” Congratulations Troy and Sandi, now enjoy the boat, and keep sniffing varnish.
very nice!! stories like this keep us going!
great shop by the way, very new englandish!
Thanks Matt!
As I understand it, from Jack Irwin, the original purchaser who ordered American Beauty (As Chanca III) was Chase Phelps, of Manchester, N.H.
You can see from the hull card that she was built in 1957, but I do believe she is considered a ’58 model year.
She’s a ’58…this was a big year for little detail changes compared with the ’56-57 Connies…the ’58’s got the new dished-style instruments (and the upper fiberglass shroud) at the helm, and it was the first year for the stanchion and pulpit-mounted ‘space pod’ running and pilot lights. These lights were previously mounted on the cabin top or on deck at the stem. I believe the thru-transom deck scuppers were intro’d for ’58, too.
Beautiful Yacht! Congratulations. Now break out some bacon on the aft deck and celebrate.
Nice…congrats!
Good Job Troy and Sandy!
Hope you have many enjoyable cruises and good times aboard American Beauty! Beautiful boat.
“May the Varnish be with you” 🙂
Congrats to you two. That is one outstanding ride! True class and grace. Enjoy!9
There are so many people to thank for helping us get here that I am sure I am leaving many key people out.
Mike Mayne (owner Edgecomb Boat Works) has been great and willing to straighten me out when I needed it.
Here I am saving the header as it will be archived tomorrow.
Well done ! Love the shots of AB at the end of your dock. So great to see another large CC hit the water again. Congratulations and thanks for all your contributions to WB but this one is special.
That is a great cruiser redo story…we need to get my friend Buz Jones here in Va to post about the mega impressive restoration of his CC cruiser. Over the top project.
Will work on him about that. Lots left to do but photo spread would be great work in progress to launch story just like Troy’s.
John in Va.
Congratulations!! Love the shot of her on the buoy.
Jim I can’t thank you enough for all the support and parts (at very reasonable prices I might add) you have supplied me with.
You are a GREAT asset to our hobby / lifestyle / addiction.
She IS a real beauty. And She sure and looks great in the water. What a great feeling when you finally see a labour of love in the water. Congratulations, Enjoy.
Now, who’s up to save another? This poor forlorn girl sits just off HWY 11 north of Barrie, Ont. towards Orillia.
Congratulations Troy, I’ve been working on my, much smaller, project for a long time also, I can only imagine how good it feels.
It looks great!!
Nice to see another one of the old cruisers saved and back in the water…Thanks Troy
What a beauty she is! So many cruisers are being lost it’s a great pleasure to see one more relaunched and being used. Now go cruise and have fun! Any chance you’ll bring her to Tavares in March? Just kidding!
Thought of some more people to thank.
Bob Bailey (Hi Torque Engines), Josh Bailey (not related I don’t think) (reverse gears), Tony (Machinist), Jon Wood and Tom Johnson (Friends with mental support) and Jeff Brown (Brown Signs) who also had to put up with my psychotic ways.
And of course my Boatress Sandi without whom non of this would be possible. (Day before launch)
American Beauty looks awesome! My father actually used to own her up at Lake Winnipesaukee. Glad to see she is back on the water.
You did it, Cap’n!
Hats off to Troy and Sandi for all the perseverance it takes to see a big cruiser project through. The late-50’s 38′ Connie is an impressive boat- nice layout, too.
I used to own a ’57 35′ Connie (seen here) and there was a blue-hulled 38′ Connie in my same storage shed at the boat yard named NIGHTMARE- she was pretty great.
Great pictures, Troy…it sure looks like it was a special day!
Happy, Happy
Satisfaction=neat boat=neat people
Congratulations Troy & Sandi!
Having “been there, done that” a couple times now, I know how much time, effort thought and passion goes into this sort of project. A little bit of advice: Now that you are in the water, take a break from working on it and use the heck out of the boat for as long as the weather lets you this season! Doing so you can identify anything that needs tweaking, prioritize the next improvements while ramping up the enthusiasm for next season.
Enjoy!
I agree- take a well-deserved break and live aboard until the snow flies…throw a party on deck and make plenty of home movies to watch in the dead of winter…make this an unforgettable first summer with her!
Well done, Troy and Sandi! There’s a reason you don’t see too many of this type restored (or even floating) anymore and that is because of the effort that it takes to bring them back. I know you will have much fun on AB and maybe the sight of her in her glory will help inspire someone to save another one of these treasures. Bravo!
Is there a website where you have chronicled/posted the restoration process?
This is all I have done to chronicle her progress.
http://www.chris-craft.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=8610
Congratulations Troy and Sandi! She really is a “Beauty” and looks right at home in the water.
So when are you going to bring her back to Winnipesaukee?
Cheers,
Denis D
About time and it looks great! Just sitting on them is a joy. Let’s see if we left Grand Haven MI and you left Maine at the same time where would we meet? My guess is some frozen spot in Lake Ontario.
Rochester NY. Give me a call when you arrive.
As someone who is four years into my own cruiser restoration I can appreciate just how helpful it is to have reliable people available when you need them. Troy you and I have both been very fortunate to have had pretty intact cruisers to start with. I have not had to track down very many parts as mine,(1960 36’10” Connie) was virtually complete (seats are about the only major thing missing).
I’m very glad for you that you’ve got American Beauty launched! May you have many happy adventures aboard her! I’ll be watching for the video of her underway!!
Congrats, Troy, she looks beautiful! Happy Cruising! But isn’t she a little big for Cobboseecontee???? 🙂
I was wishing you were here with that Drone so you could get some real interesting video.
Ya, I don’t think you’ll ever see her on Cobbossee.
Troy & Sandi, its great to see you both enjoying this so much. Wow! Those ear-to-ear smiles say it all. A huge Congratulations! to both of you. She is indeed an American Beauty.
The boat is a beauty. All is well in Edgecomb now! It is great
to save another one. We all know what it takes to bring one
back to this!
Charlie Hippler
More Special THANKS to all that were there to help with the launch including Cindi, Greg, Peter, Ellen, Tom, Eva, Jon, Mitch, Mike, Bob, and especially my brother Rory who was such a help with our maiden voyage.
I never could have eaten all those chips without him.
I am a chip eater from way back.
Very glad I could be there and partake in the event. Been a long time coming. Great day to launch! Weather was perfect. She looks even better on the water, beautiful lines.
Enjoy her.
Congrats Troy and Sandi, nothing like being barefoot on the fantail of a woody That helm station is deluxe. Nothing like a shingled Maine barn with a woody rolling out of it. What a beautiful header.
Will be rolling up to Winthrop on Day 2 and pedaling past Lake Cobboseecontee on Day 3 of my 400 mile Bike Maine loop. Cyclist will be camping out in Winthrop night 2 Then past Edgecomb on day 6, I’ll wave as I go by. Will look for her on the hook.
Fabulous, Troy and Sandi – I have done that ‘ Coming Out of the Building ‘ moment and can attest that there is nothing more rewarding. I also think it is time to use that boat and enjoy the great times…. Our cruisers have been a continuous source of compliments and renewed pride . Yours will too. Thanks for the effort and guts to pull it off.
Congratulations, Troy & Sandi, The gentleman who ordered your boat Chase Phelps, also ordered my boat, Comfy at Irwins, he lived on Governors Island. I have a 1950 28′ Custom Deluxe Enclosed. I hope that you come to our show on Lake Winnipesaukee on the last week in July next year. Best wishes, Scott
Keep us posted via photos of your good times with her. Congrats Troy and Sandi.
BEAUTIFUL! and CONGRATS!!
And is this the same boat as yours? Someone is parting one out in the Buffalo area.
http://buffalo.craigslist.org/boa/4652484231.html
American Beatury looks awesome! My father actually used to own her up on Lake Winnipesaukee. Glad to see she is back on the water.