If You Are Into Vintage Cruisers, This Is The One!
The best size and design.
Holy Crap! And I don’t mean a pice of crap with holes in it. This 1968 Commander is the one to get. It’s the right size, and with a fiberglass hull that could withstand a torpedo from a rando U boat or crazy Somalia Pirates. Which BTW, came out as Salami Pirates before spell check. So I spared you that one. ANYWAY, as vintage cruisers go, it’s amazing, durable, and a joy to look at. Dick Avery design in its purest form before the sales team got hold of it.
Very well preserved and updated
These cruisers will only go up in value and have been dragged down in value because of the wood ones. Sorry. But these are classic mid 1960’s design and that has already been through the chasm of hipness and become iconic. The owner of this boat for sale on Facebook Marketplace clearly understood the importance of the design and took it to the next level with taste full and much needed upgrades.
Twin 327’s
Imagine yourself as the commander of this commander.
Also note its up in Wisconsin, so you have the entire Fresh water thing happening as well. So if you have been yearning for a classic cruiser. CLICK HERE!
And if you want to know more about Dick Avery, Here is a great video interview with him.
Facebook says the listing no longer exists, but that is a beautiful cruiser. It’s clear that it has been meticulously maintained and cared for. I really love the helm station. Really hope it goes to a good home that will continue to use and take care of her!
Wonderful video!
Avery was a genius. We are very fortunate to have many examples of his passion in the Michigan gang.
Thats strange, I am on it now. It was on the Vintage Boats For Sale Group. I HATE FACEBOOK!
I am able to get the listing. Maybe Greg is not a member of that page.
“These cruisers will only go up in value….” That is wishful thinking!
Link to listing worked for me. That bottom-hinged panel in the cabin door, takes me back to my childhood. My parents’ ’59 Chris Craft cruiser had that feature. When the panel was unlatched, it swung down & exposed a screened area for ventilation.
My absolute favorite CC EVER….John in Va passed on several ole dog ones…this one seems right!
Beautiful Cruiser, Great video ! Good way to start the day.
Well this is in my wheelhouse. Thanks Matt. As some of my close WB friends know I am a Commander and Dick Avery junkie. I currently have the pleasure and honor of owning two Avery designs. A 1969 19′ Super Sport and a 1976 47′ Fushdeck. My first Commander was a 1969 35 Sport Cruiser which was hull 0001 and made in Holland. I wish I could own more.
Our 35 had 327Q’s and frankly they are underpowered for big water. I replaced them with 454’s and it made a world of difference. Originally the 35’s had an option for 427’s. The boat listed is immaculate.
The video was taken at the 2006 Commander Rendezvous in Debuque IA of all places which we attended. Dick made that trip from FL to attend the event. He was a very nice man and very humble. It was an honor to meet him.
Launching the 47 Monday for a summer of Great Lakes trave and hopeing to somehow get the SS to Hessel to run together with Chad and Alex once again.
NR
P.S. My last name is Watson so Alex tagged me with No Relation.
Beautiful lines.
“Will only go up in value?”
We wish. Especially NR.
Prices will continue to fall from their already low levels. Demand will slip caused by generational shift away from cruising, a shrinking middle class, and the rising cost of services and materials (driven by pervasively reckless monetary and fiscal policy), outstripping increases in real wages. And who knows the degree to which environmental policy will shrink the boating world, potentially through fuel surcharges, taxes, and new restrictions.
(Damn, I sound a bit like Harrison, though using smaller words). 🙂
This classic boating love/hobby is, and will remain, driven by want enabled by the suppression of financial reasoning.
(Still channeling my inner Harrison.)
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We’ve all heard the quote attributed to Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.”
That was basically the advice NR gave me when I was struggling whether or not to buy an expensive cruiser. (That, along with “bring along plenty of Two Hearted.”)
His advice led me to make the best, most fulfilling decision of my life. By far.
Life is short. If you can afford it, to quote Hunter S. Thompson, “Buy the ticket, take the ride…and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well…maybe chalk it up to forced consciousness expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten.”
I own this boat. I have had it 8 years and am the fourth “caretaker”. It is currently in storage but will hopefully get prepped soon and launched within two weeks. Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. Thanks for featuring it here, much appreciated.
Love our Commander on Lake Michigan