In 1977 Chris-Craft changed the name of the Commander Tournament Fishermen to just Commander. This was a sales move to broaden the appeal of the boats. The Commander flush deck models became the Commander Yachts. Following are scans of most of the 1978 Commander sales brochure. Notice the carpeted cockpit decks, and the interior colors - and is that shag carpet in the salons?
Hope this isn't overload on all the SF stuff. Maybe too many photos?
The following info is added from contributor, and 36' Commander owner, Jim Peters, of Seattle. That's his 1974 36 in the photo below, and the interior layouts are also compliments of Jim Peters (thanks Jim!):
------------------------- and now, the 42' version of this fine model ! --------------------------------
The following two images are of DEPORTABLE, Steve Spurrier's 42, as photographed at Huron, Ohio, August 2008
------------------------- and now, the 45' version of this fine model ! --------------------------------
The following two images are BELLA DONNA, owned by Terry and Donna Hart, as photographed in 2007 at Algonac, Michigan.
This message has been edited by FEfinaticP on Oct 21, 2008 10:21 AM This message has been edited by FEfinaticP on Jun 28, 2006 5:03 AM This message has been edited by FEfinaticP on May 29, 2006 7:22 PM This message has been edited by FEfinaticP on May 29, 2006 7:18 PM
I would much rather read this information, than what I see in the Sunday newspaper. This is all "good news" and it invokes projects, times past, times yet to be had, fun on the water, design and engineering excellence, etc. What I read in the Sunday paper is downright depressing.
Thanks for making my morning cup of coffee an enjoyable one!
I have a 1977 Commander, 36' model. I've been trying to buy an original 1977 brochure for this boat for some time. I want to get the colors and materials correct during a moderate restoration. Brochures from a few years later have been useful (I've got a 82, 84, and 86 cruisers brochures), but it would be absolutely great to have the 1977 brochure. Is there any chance that you have that, or a spare 78 brochure you can part with? Thanks. Lee (571) 332-1710
Welcome! I don't have a physical brochure, but someone else may. I think you'll be able to find one by checking ebay, and contacting people who deal with brochures directly.
Also, at all of the major ACBS antique and classic boat shows, there's a guy who has 6 or 8 card tables FULL of old boating brochures, and you can probably find one through that kind of source too. In some cases, these guys will say, "I don't have that here, but I may have it back at the shop".
Congratulations by the way on your 1977 36, they're great boats and we have lots of photos and spec about them here within various threads on this forum. Post some photos of your boat or email them to the address at the bottom of the forum and we'll post them for you.
I have been looking at this info and it's very odd, the photo here, I cut and pasted from the files, looks exactly like the sketch in the prev post. I wonder if it is a tracing. Very strange!
I think it's the same general view, but the sketch clearly has different proportions than the photo. The sketch could have been inspired by the photo, but note how much wider the aft deck is on the sketch. I don't think it was a literal tracing of the photo. Note also how the deck is longer in the photo.
