The range looks similar to the one Paul installed.
This boat is for sale, I've seen it, and it's a nice one. The bilge is clean, and those engines are fresh rebuilds, and it will fly. It is identical to mine except for the flybridge and the engines, I have small blocks and they're dirty, lol.
Anyone interested in a great looking 35 with superb equipment, it's on the Bay at Queen's Cove Marina, 67 Juneau Road, Victoria Harbour, Ontario They're asking $69,000 and I assume that's Canadian.
Charlie
Commander35
located at Queen's Cove Marina, Victoria Harbour (Georgian Bay), Ontario
Thanks for initiating this post. I will eventually archive these images you posted for the record, as they are good ones.
I hope you and yours are all doing well. It has been a while since we heard from you, and we sure would appreciate it if you would send us a note to let us know how you are doing. Hope all is well, smooth motoring, my friend.
Here's one under way (as featured in the Fall 2005 Brass Bell)
October 6 2005, 5:48 PM
The photo taken on Lake Michigan August of 2005, and it can be seen in print on page 6 of Wilson Wright's Brass Bell, the Chris Craft Antique Boat Club newsletter. Very nice boat. I have a much better appreciation for the 35 after seeing this one.
Here is a frontal view of a 35' Commander. I call this one the "Express" model, but Chris Craft called it the "Commander". For many people, this is the ideal size. It's not so large that it consumes lots of fuel if it's run frequently, and it's large enough to offer almost all of the benefits of the larger boats. Two hundred and twenty two of these boats were built between 1968 and 1972.
A 35' Sports Cruiser was offered between 1969 and 1972 and 164 of those were built. In addition, an unusual 35' Salon was built between 1971 and 1972, and 25 of those rolled out of the Chris Craft manufacturing plant (that boat featured an open top and helm station, and aft cabin). Numerous other variants exist from subsequent years, and you will find some of them in the following links! The 35 is a well respected Commander model, featuring good lines and performance to match. Looking at the production numbers, they remain a pretty rare boat to be seen on the water or at the marina.
The boat features the Dick Avery "aggressive aerodynamic" look, first introduced on the 1963 Constellation, later applied to the 1970 38 Commander. The 35 featured this look from the onset, and it also has a very refined interior that takes advantage of all the tricks Chris Craft learned over the years designing cruiser interiors. The beam on this boat is the same 13' as the 38' Commander.
Regards, P
This message has been edited by FEfinaticP on Jul 27, 2007 5:32 PM This message has been edited by FEfinaticP on Oct 14, 2006 4:53 AM This message has been edited by FEfinaticP on Jun 3, 2006 5:09 AM This message has been edited by FEfinaticP on Oct 6, 2005 8:38 PM
I've known several people who have had them in the past, and as I recall eveyone was pretty satisfied with them. Only problem is they're a bit small if you have big boat tendencies.
Link to additional photos of the 35 Commander "GOING GOOD" (Lake Huron)
June 3 2006, 5:27 AM
This nifty 35 "GOING GOOD" was photographed at the confluence of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, a few years ago. These people were experienced at cruising the lakes, and arrived with bicycles ready to go!
Link to Mark Weller’s beautiful 350Q powered 35 Commander (Lake Erie)
June 3 2006, 5:36 AM
An interesting thread about Mark's 350Q powered 35, and some troubleshooting issues he encountered that can be of use to anyone doing their own mechanical work. Great looking boat too! Mark regularly runs this boat between Sandusky, Ohio, and Kellys Island, out on the western end of Lake Erie.
Link to Tim Toth’s beautiful 1968 427 powered 35 Commander (Lake Erie)
June 3 2006, 5:38 AM
This 427-powered 1968 Commander is in "MINT" condition, and it's got to be one of the fastest in the fleet with those big dogs. Here is a thread showing lots of great photos (thanks to Mark Weller taking the pics) and I think you'll see this one is just spectacular in every way. The detailing in the engine room is just awesome too.
I am currently cleaning up and getting ready for the water a 1968 35' Commander. It has 350's with paragons.
I was wondering if anybody can give me gear ratios and prop sizes used in a like kind vessel.
I don't know the answer, but the transmission tag should tell you, and the engine tag could as well (gear ratio). Many times the serial numbers or CC tag identification will stipulate the gear ratio). My guess is a 2.5:1 reduction, but Mark Weller would be the guy to confirm this, because he has the same boat! Stay tuned, mark is a regular and I'll send him a note for you.
Well it depends do you have the P34 Paragons? if so they are 2.50 to 1 reduction and my props are 20 by 22 3 blades which were stock but I am heavier than your boat. I have the aft cabin which weighs around 17500 lbs the express is in the 14's if I remember right. I know Tim Toth's 35 express with 427's spins 22x26 3 blades but his are custom tuned. So not sure what to tell you I would think you could go 22 x 22 or 24 if you have the hp. You didnt say what hp you have or I missed it. If you have around 235 hp like I do I would think my guess is pretty close. If you have newer SBC's with close to 300 hp you may want to look at something else I would think the 22x24 would be a better fit then. If you go to 4 blades everything changes talk to a prop shop they can help so will Michigan wheel if you send them your specs.
Thanks for your responses to both Mark & Paul.
Mark I spoke with a guy named Greg from Mich Propellar and I think I have the prop size thing somewhat figured out. To answer your question I have 350K Replacement Motors...Approx 250 HP Thru 2:1 Reduction Gears and they are telling me to try 19x16 Props with a medium cup to start with.
I do have another question though.
The engines and exhaust manifolds on the small block 35'Commanders are so close to the water line that I don't know if I should use the Vernatone or Vernalift Mufflers...The Old Cast Chris box mufflers were completely gone.
I bought the vernatone inlines but I am a little apprehensive.
What would you guys recommend.
Starting in 1968, the 35' Commander was initially offered with the Dick Avery "aggressive aerodynamic" styling from the onset, first used on the 1963 Constellation and then added to the 38' Commander as well, in 1970. The styling gave the 35 a new look, and featured refined and more efficient interior spaces. The boat excelled in function, performance and appearance. It remains one of the more sought after models, powerd by a variety of small block Chevrolet versions, as well as the venerable 427 as the top power option. The beam on these boats is the same 13' dimension as the 38' Commander.
This information has been very valuable to me and to my yacht broker too. We found more information here than we could find about the boat anywhere else. As it turns out, it was not a 1967 boat we were looking at after all, it was a 1969. Motors have around 800 hours. It is looking like the seller has come down at the end of the season and we are intending to buy it now.
Hey, send in the photos, we'll gladly share them here
October 3 2008, 7:31 PM
Hello Bill,
Lucky you, for having this boat! It's a nice one!
In addition, WELCOME ABOARD , we're glad to have you as a reader and participant.
If you have photos of the boat, you can either paste the "direct link" from your internet photo host into your text here and the image will appear automatically, or you can email them to me at chriscraftcommander@hotmail.com and I'll post them for you.
Bill Osborne's 1972 35' Commander Salon, one of only 25 built ( PHOTOS )
October 11 2008, 7:04 AM
Hi Bill,
Saw your note and realized I forgot to upload this very cool (and rare) boat. Many thanks for sending them in, I'm sure all the 35 fans and everyone else will be looking at these photos closely.
Believe it or not, country music superstar, Alan Jackson (known around here as a big Chris Craft fan and all around nice guy, who docks at my YC and lives near by) called me at work one day about this very model. He referenced page 685 in Conrad's ESSENTIAL GUIDE, and asked me if I knew where he could find one. We put out the hunt and we did find one, but I never knew if he followed through with it or not, I suspect not. His comment at the time was he thought the helm station would feel like a big runabout, being framed in by the raised portion of the aft cabin.
It's a very unique configuration, I guess it didn't sell well which is neither here or there, but accounts for the low production numbers today. The "cool factor" is off the charts.
Regards, Paul
This message has been edited by FEfinaticP on Oct 11, 2008 7:07 AM
This model was produced in 1971 and 1972, with serial numbers from FBA-35-001 to FBA-35-025. Twenty five were built during these two years.
They use the same 13' beam of the original 38' Commander hull, weigh in around 16,000 pounds, 250 gal fuel, 55 gal water, 36" draft just like the 38' Commander. Bottom color is listed as copper bronze or blue, depending on the year, and waterline color was black. Power options were the 427 (x2) or the Cummings H20V (x2).
Now for an interesting comparison to the 35' Double Cabin, which used this identical hull but with different topside configuration and power options. Mark Weller has one of these boats and it has a huge amount of room inside for a 35. Page 351 in the ESSENTIAL GUIDE showcases this model
The Double Cabin was sold from 1973 - 1977, picking up right after your model went out of production. Serial numbers were from MBA-35-001 to MBA-35-386 with 386 being produced in five years. From all appearances, the hulls are identical although the ESSENTIAL GUIDE shows a one inch difference. The Double Cabin weighed in at 17229 pounds, has the same 36" draft, but has a hundred gal less fuel capacity, with the same 55 gal water storage. Bottom color was blue on the 1976 and 1977 models with black waterline color. Power was the 350Q (x2)
Comparison comments: Your Salon has the same front cabin and side window treatment as the 35' Commander like DUNROIN, owned by Tim Toth. The Double Cabin has a new molded in front seat design, and the cabin is higher (meaning, the side windows are taller). The Double Cabin allows interior circulation from within the main cabin to the aft cabin, but the Salon requires one to go outside the main cabin to reach the aft cabin.
All the 35' models are great boats. They are big enough to have a lot of utility, they share the same basic hull as the 38' Commander and have good seakeeping quallities, and they are small enough to be easily handled by one person in a crowded marina.
Hull nunber on transon don't match any nunbers from Chris Craft
I found in the anchor locker fiber glassed in FBA350016H
I will get you more photos in the spring when the boat is clean
and have photos of the inside
Stay tuned, mark is a regular and I'll send him a note for you.
