CHRIS CRAFT COMMANDER FORUM ®
.......A photo-intensive technical reference file and ongoing newsletter regarding the original fiberglass Chris-Craft Commander series. This is an independent not-for-profit and non-commercial web site, not affiliated with the Chris Craft Commander Club ~~ or ~~ Chris-Craft Corporation. Our mission here is to "have fun and share information" about the Commander series (and those associated fiberglass boats on the Chris-Craft family tree) for your individual personal use, and by doing so help promote the good name of Chris-Craft, and help preserve, restore, and appreciate Chris-Craft boats. The main reference feature is the ever expanding MASTER INDEX File which contains what we believe to be the world's largest collection of documentation photos and technical information on the Chris-Craft Commander line of boats, (like these original brochure scans, featuring the iconic first 38 Commander styled by Fred Hudson, and many of the great Dick Avery renditions that followed) , (a huge collection of Chris-Craft 427 tuning and specification information), and a few words about how to use the forum.
We extend to you a cordial "WELCOME ABOARD !" Come on in, make yourself at home, we are a friendly group of enthusiasts, and we also appreciate the classic Chris Craft Roamer, Corsair, and Lancer boats too , as they are all on the same family tree and share much in common !
Paul, As you and many others can relate to, I love trying to discover old, interesting boats lying around in barnyards and fields. Recently a guy here in Ohio found what I remember to be an XK19 on a farm. I found my 17' Lancer in the woods, like 3 miles from home. I would never have found that one if not for CraigsList. I am always registering the boats I see in my peripheral vision, processing them and trying to decide if it is worth pulling a 180 to go back and check them out. Well yesterday, while taking a nice motorcycle ride through southern Ohio it happened.
I was rolling along at about 50mph when out of the corner of my eye I see a white boat shaped object, brownish strip down the fore deck, no wait now I see two, no three sexy shapes popping up out of the weeds. Crap.... check mirrors hit brakes look for turn around. It the 3 minutes and 23 seconds it took to get back to a safe viewing spot, I all ready had visions of saving and restoring 3 boats and then selling them at a tidy profit. In the following several seconds and was laughing at my self for thinking such foolishness, but about to wet myself with the excitement of what I found! I took a couple of quick photos of the boats and the sign with a phone number, hanging on barbed wire topped fence. The dogs in the alley were starting to notice my prowling and their bark was my clue to high tail it outta there.
What I know....
I found 2-XK19's and very likely a super rare XK18! All seemingly abandoned in a storage yard. All three sitting together mocking me and my boatitus!
a) 1-XK19 seems pretty complete and straight, but needs a total resto.
b) 1-XK19 really rough, deck seems hogged out, no interior or windshield
c) 1-XK18 I am pretty sure it is one, raggedy tarp covering most of the boat, Blue Metal-flake hull color looks right as does the shape of the air scoop over the carb and the badass tumble home transom
What I don't know.... who owns them? Are they for sale? Was this a mirage?
I will try to get that answer today.
I will share the photos asap. They are stuck in my dang phone and for some reason I can't get them out.
At the very least, maybe we can get the owner/owners involve here on "Thee Forum" aka "Boatitus Enablers Central"
CW
