CHRIS CRAFT COMMANDER FORUM ® .......A photo-intensive technical reference file and ongoing newsletter regarding the original fiberglass Chris Craft Commander. Our mission at this independent not-for-profit non-commercial web site is to "have fun and share information" for your individual personal use. Our main reference feature is the ever expanding MASTER INDEX Files which contain exhaustive photo and technical information on the Chris Craft Commander line (like these original brochure scans, featuring the iconic 38 Commander designed by Fred Hudson) , (an awesome collection of Chris Craft 427 tuning and specification information), and a few words about how to use the information in the forum, etc. Be sure to look at the information about the 2009 Lake Erie Chris Craft Commander / Roamer Rendezvous, second year in a row at Huron, Ohio, held in August of 2009 !! If you're a Commander fan, this will be an event you won't want to miss next time around.

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Original Message
  • The Hunter boys come by for a July 4th Commander visit, Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee
      • Paul (no login)
      Posted Jul 4, 2009 8:56 PM

      Well I was sitting there with an 11 and 12 year old today talking about something we were watching on TV and got a call from Mark Hunter, said he was near Cedar Creek aboard a 31 Commander! I said I'd walk down to the dock and try to flag them down.

      Upon reaching the dock I couldn't see a Commander so we started calling out what we could see visually and finally I said "is there a pontoon heading in your direction now", the answer was "yes" and we had just made a positive ID on the boat.

      Here they are pulling, we were discussing the water depth on the cell phone at the time.
      [linked image]

      They pulled in gently and I had a delilghtful visit from these two guys who live here in Tennessee, corresponded with, met with Mark a few times, talked to Dwayne on the phone but never had the pleasure of meeting in person. They arrived in Dwayne's 1972 31' Commander Express, powered with a pair of nicely rebuilt 350Q motors. The Express model, contrary to my parents Sedan, has a similar aft deck arrangement as my 38 Express, just a little smaller in overall dimension.

      The boat looked good, work in progress in a few areas like many of our Commanders in the fleet. All the glass and gelcoat looked good. Interesting latter to the flybridge, I had not seen one that folded completely up and out of the way like this one, pretty darn slick. Looked factory but don't know about that. It just pivots at the center span and the entire thing folds up to stowe above.

      These photos were taken with my rather poor cell phone camera, I had it on the "wide angle mode" for some of them, so you expert photographers out there please cut me a break.

      [linked image]

      [linked image]

      [linked image]

      [linked image]

      And then they were off, cruising out of Cedar Creek by the entrance of the yacht club not too far off to the right of the photo. A couple guys out on the lake having fun, Commander style.
      [linked image]

      I always love seeing a father and son team like this out on the water. My dad got me into boating when I was a kid learning to water ski behind an Evinrude 36 hooked to a Duracraft that had fins and tail lights! Back then, I was already taking note of all the wood speedboats that had that great Hercules sound barking out the big copper exhaust pipes. I trust Dewayne got Mark into boating a while back too. Same goes for the Toth, O'Donnell, and Schrage families is suspect, and the Klokas too. Like father, like son!

      Hey guys, it was great seeing both of you, now that you know where we are, give us a call any time. Sorry I didn't have the Skiff up on the lake, I decided to hold back due to the weather and yes indeed, it did cut loose later in the afternoon but I bet you were already in the slip by then. It came down in buckets, probably will be beautiful on the water tomorrow morning.

      Regards, cheers, best, don't be a stranger at the docks or here on the forum!

      Paul

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