Thanks to broadband, I can relay info from the boat while under way. Up on a plane, intermittant rain, faqirly nice day, smokin a cigar, got the stereo on, looking for Reece in his 36. Won't be long.

Later!

Paul

Love to see the boats running! Great day to compare/contrast the two.

Kevin

what fun, and a great photo op. Stay tuned. Message sent from my phone

Paul

It was raining lightly but I didnt care. I had four layers of trousers on (wool long underwear ) and enough layers of long sleeve underwear, shirts, etc., including a goose down jacket, determined to stay warm the entire ordeal, which I did.
After running for an hour or so, I called out, Chris Craft Commander, TRADITION, calling FANDANGO, come in. No answer. A few more trys over the next half hour finally got a response as the FANDANGO had one malfunctioning radio and one workable radio, finally heard This is FANDANGO, and we went to channel 69 and discussed our various positions. We were four miles apart, FANDANGO having just gone by the Harpeth River at 153, and I had just passed under the Ashland City bridge a mile back and was at 157. I said well have visual contact in a short while and put the hammer down. Tradition came up to speed and we rounded Harpeth Island and got the first view of FANDANGO, and got a chance to meet Reece and his friend Gary, on the water Commander Style.

Then we discussed a photo run like a couple of kids. We took turns running over each others wake, and it was a lot of fun. Reece is going to BEG me for a couple of those shots, by the way, as I had my Olympus OM1 with the power winder and I just held the shutter down as he passed by. It was awesome. I did a high speed run as well and the last time I did one of those I broke glass aboard the Hatteras photo boat, so I backed off as I came along side and all seemed well.

As we got to Ashland City, it was impossible to pass by Riverview Restaurant, I got the catfish and the guys both had steaks. Reece, by the way, I dont think I thanked you for my lunch, so heres the official thanks.

Here are a few crappy photos I took with my camera phone, the rest will follow tomorrow as they are transferred to a CD. Stay tuned! PS: This was a blast. Thanks to Reece and Gary, this was one GREAT EXCUSE to be out on the river in the rain (which only lasted a short while).

Heading out of Commodore Yacht Club in the morning, this is what was in front of me. Rain just stopped, in the 40s heading to the 50s, NICE!!


HEY WHAT IS THAT..........LOOKS LIKE A 36 TF ( it is too ! )



Here we are tied up at Riverview, Ashland City, where we had a nice lunch and Reece took on some fuel. Since his wife may be reading this, I'll refrain from listing the price, but lets just say it was a deal, as the fuel at CYC is sixty cents higher.


You may ask..........."why is this man smiling?". Answer: He's not paying for the fuel.

That's Gary, by the way, Reece's traveling buddy.



From there we had the most enjoyable cruise with rpm around 2000, maybe a little higher, a little lower as it just seemed to feel good. We took turns leading, but most of the time we ran side by side. Sure was a pretty sight. Here I'm taking the lead because we're about to go into the CYC channel and I need to show the way.


It's a tight channel too, unless you knew there was a marina back here you wouldn't even try it.
We keep it dredged, however, and our largest boat is over 60 feet.



As we arrived at CYC, Mel, our harbormaster met us, Reece tied up at the transient spot I got for him at A-Dock, and we walked the docks looking at the boats until Reece's wife showed up. Reece, I should have come out to meet your wife, but you guys looked like you were a couple of campers heading for the bus. Sometime later for sure. Thanks again for the initiative for such a fun afternoon. I'll post lots of photos sometime tomorrow, all of which will be much beter than these.

Regards,

Paul

1966 38' Express
FXA-38-3004-R
Orignal 427 big dogs

Theres a sense of adventure when you depart alone in the rain to rendezvous with a boat you saw several years ago on Lake Michigan and meet new owners, with temperatures down in the you must be crazy range. Once I got out on the water, got the stereo set just right, all systems were go, I just kicked back and soaked up the scenery. Its now a dull countryside compared to the bright green of the summer or those beautiful autumn leaves, and when its wet it all seems to look tree bark brown. There were scores of Blue Heron flying here and there all along the river, and yes, we saw an eagle sitting right there on his perch as we drove by on our return trip, and I actually got a photo of Reece photographing the eagle. Those things are BIG.
I think we saw two other boats (small fishing rigs) and a commercial tow during the entire day. If youre on the river this time of year, and generally anytime, you own it.
Here I am after the rain stopped, heading West around Gower Island. Really pretty day once the rain passed, and temps started to the high 40s






Now approaching Ashland City, you can see the bridge in the distance, and thats Riverview Restaurant on the port side at the foot of the bridge.













Heres a bit of river traffic out there on a dull day

When we made the first two way radio contact we were 4 miles apart. The anticipation was building. Finally, there was a white spot on the river, it was the FANDANGO !!


As the rendezvous unfolded it was all smiles and thumbs up. Cameras were snapping away!




And now............after introductions......we decided to do a couple "cross the wake" photo runs. Since the photos are rather big, check out the next posting for the entire series as snapped with my vintage Olympus OM1 with the professional add-on power winder.

Regards,

Paul

Wow was THAT fun, but I had to keep an eye on where TRADITION was headed too! We got just a bit of sunlight which added greatly to the photos, and of course, the 36' Tournament Fisherman crushed the slow wake of TRADITION like it was't even there.

We did another one of these runs using a different lense, at closer range. Stay tuned!

Paul

Here we go again, different lense this time and a little closer. Now THIS is a fine way to burn a little fuel!











Regards,
Paul

At the docks, Riverview Restaurant, Ashland City, TN. Time for lunch and fuel!





And look at that! It's the now INFAMOUS DetMar cast aluminum steering wheel!




Here's the proud new owner, having scored one heck of a deal on a classic Chris Craft Commander. The boat is allready making smiles and memories, and it hasn't even reached home yet!

It may not be apparant in the photo, but you can see the ghost image of the name "FANDANGO" on the transom. Reece is considering going for the same script and font, and it may actually be possible to find it if Greg can assist.


Here's TRADITION sitting at the dock as we get ready to depart from a great lunch. I had the world famous catfish, the guys both had steaks. I guess that's the difference between a day trip and a longer cruise?


And we're off, well fed, fueled up, ready for some more cruising.




A shot over the side of the photo boat!












As you can see, each boat took the turn at the lead but most of the time we were running side by side. Great fun out there on the Cumberland, all to ourselves.


Here's the unmistakable photo of the criss-crossed wake of two boats traveling side by side, this time it was two 427 powered classic Chris Craft Commanders!


Here's a shot off the aft deck, showing FANDANGO coming down the channel into Overall Creek. Reece later told me, that he would not even have seen the channel, let alone, would have ventured into it. It is narrow but dredged deep enough for Alan Jackson's 60'+ LADY J, classic Berger, recently sold to friend Al Thomas (owner of Sperry's Restaurant in Nashville).



It sure was a fun excuse to be on the water!

Regards,

Paul

FXA-38-3004-R
1966 38' Express
Original 427 big dogs

Awesome Pics.

I am uploading some now and will share the Album.

RE

Load em up, it will be fun to see photos from the other boat!

Here is one for you...........it's a photo of you taking a photo of that eagle we saw! That thing was huge, looked well fed too!




Paul

Now that I'm back at the house I can upload this photo, taken shortly after my initial report.

Around here the weather forecasters seem to read tea leaves and I decided a long time ago to NEVER postpone a boating event due to what they said. On the other hand, sometimes when they say it's going to be 30 degrees at night, then for some reason it dips into the teens. Therefore I was bound and determined to NOT be cold on this trip, especially since I don't have my cold weather canvas up yet. So I dressed like I was going to be outdoors all day, which I was. Layer upon layer of clothing, three pair of socks, winter ski gloves, and it worked like a charm. Here is a photo from my camera phone, ha ha, sheesh, did that guy just crawl out of bed or what?

Tradition with Auto Pilot On.



Paul in the Mist.



Tradition Jumping Wake



Tradition Passing Allen Jacksons old Place. (Kenny Chesney's New Fishing Hut)



Cruising




CYC Entrance
Very Tight

Ahh thanks for the photos, I have precious few of my own boat under way!

I love that one of TRADITION coming through your wake, I was pretty close to top speed at the time, and I was at wide open throttle, she was rolling like an Express!! The last time I did a close in flyby like that I broke glass aboard a Hatteras that rolled so much it tossed an expensive wine carafe onto the floor. I backed off as soon as I cleared your transom, and hope the position of FANDANGO was such that the "following sea" I created didn't do much. I think the best position is to have the front of the photo boat perpendicular to the travel line of the flyby boat, so when the flyby happens, the photo boat can take the wake head on. So, we'll do that next time?

The video is a hoot, ha ! In case you didn't notice, I was all over that boat while it was under way, but never ventured onto the foredeck as that was too far from the controls.

The photo in the steam is partially due to the temperature of the morning, and partially due to the fact that there are six hundred horsepower that just got done running fast, cooling down at idle speed. The mist subsided once the motors cooled a bit and the temps warmed up.

How about that eagle shot, did you get a good one?

Regards,

Paul

Seeing you guys enjoying your Chris Crafts give me real incentive to get my 1973, 36'SF back in the water ASAP.
Paul, if you got pis of Reece, we'ed all love to see them.

Heres the lucky new captain, Reece Ewton, all smiles and for good reason. The boat is in fine shape and was performing well, and we were out there on the water stealing a day from wintertime for boating. Reece, shown here, and his buddy, Gary, made this trip in two days from Green Turtle Bay, and they were obviously having a very good time. Later this evening, as Reeces wife came by Commodore Yacht Club to pick them up and drive Gary home, I heard Gary mentioning that now he might be interested in a Commander too. Boatitis strikes deep at times like this! I told Gary that "there is no cure, you can just make the patient more comfortable, and buying a Commander sure helps".





Regards,

Paul

What a great looking boat and a happy man.

Isn't there some sort of a USCG law about having that kind of fun on the water this time of year? This is great reading, however, for those of us who are packed in for the season, good going, getting out there in the rain and having such fun.

Three cheers to both of you Captains!

James

Those are some great photos in a less than desirable day. You guys seem to go by the theory that any time aboard a boat is a good time. I'll second the motion for the three cheers.

Tom

Gentlemen,

Seeing you guys out there romping around with a pair of classic Commanders really looks like my kind of fun. Doing it in the rain gets you major cudos too, you are both HARD CORE, and it is cheaper and warmer for me to see this action vicariously here on the forum, than to be doing it myself.

Interesting to see the helm changed on the 36 to the Starboard side??? Anyone have a clue why CC did this when it seems like they have a long history of cruisers both wood and glass with the helm on the Port side?? I noticed Mike Schrage's boat (his is a 35 SC that I am very impressed with, seeing all the photos) is also on the same side, upper helm looks pretty much the same too.

The photos show off the 36' hull beautifully. I love the boat. Reece, congratulations for scoring a MAJOR kill here, you obviously got a good one, especially if she made the trip with such apparant ease. If anyone has occasion to photograph a 35 SC and a 36 TF side by side, I sure would like to see the difference in the depth of the foreward section of the hull. Photos of the FANDANGO in the sling make it look like the 36 is considerably more pronounced. Seeing these boats at the dock, and then seeing the action photos like these are great. Thanks to both of you guys for sending in all the photos, and reading about the adventure is loads of fun too, especially in this cold weather.

Three cheers!
Dave

FANDANGO is famous now, and about to get even more famous sometime in the not too distant future! (More on that later!)
Here is FANDANGO in her former life, sitting in Lake Michigan waters!



At the time I told the owner, "if you ever want to sell that boat..............", but he sold it to someone else, and then Reece got it. ( Good move Reece ! )

regards,

Paul