In 1969 only 101 19' Commander Super Sports were built, making this one off the rarest Commander models of all. Power was from a 327Q or a 302 FLV using a V-drive configuration. From 1970 through 1975 the Commander name was dropped, and the model evolved into the 19' XK-19,which was essentially the same boat but some came with a padded aft deck, and many came with an efficient transdrive as the industry changed over from V-drive transmissions. Power for the latter series XK-19 included the 302FLV and 350FLV. The boat shown below is a 1970 V-drive model, with the Super Sport and XK-19 badges, indicating it was an early transitional model prior to the advent of transdrive production. It is possible to find an early XK-19 with V-drive or transdrive transmissions.
1969 Commander Super Sport
FRAV-19-001 to FRAV-10-090
FRAZ-19-001 to FRAZ-19-015
NOTE: It is not known if the change to the FRAZ designation signified the Commander Super Sport also received a transdrive installation or not.
1970-1975 Corsair XK-19
ORCZ-19-001 to ORCZ-19-055 (1970)
ORAV-19-001 to ORAV-19-075 (1970)*
ORCZ-19-2001 to ORCZ-19-2051 (1971-72)
ORCZ-19-3001 to ORCZ-19-3050 (1973)
ORCZ-19-4001 to ORCZ-19-4025 (1974)
ORCZ-19-5001 to ORCZ-19-5020 (1975)
*Note the two model designation for 1970, which may well signify the transition point from the clean aft deck V-drive boats to the padded aft deck transdrive models.
The 19' Chris Craft Super Sport began life as a 19' Lancer (of which 140 were built in 1968, all with transdrives). The Lancer freeboard was lowered a bit, and a sleek all new top deck was designed by Dick Avery. The result was a great looking superboat that had the same rakish look as the XK series Jaguars. The original 1969 19' Commander Super Sport featured a V-drive similar to the 23' Commander of 1969 and 1969, and it eventually evolved into a transdrive power system as the boat became known as the XK-19. Almost simultaneously, the 23' Commander evolved into the 23' transdrive Lancer. All of the Lancers, the Commander Super Sports, the 18', 19', and 22' XK boats, the fiberglass Sea Skiffs of 1966 and 67, and the Corsairs that followed, were all built in the Cortland, New York plant Chris Craft acquired from Thompson.
The 19' Chris Craft Super Sport line drawing, as provided by Chris Craft sales and marketing department. A fully restored V-drive Super Sport owned by Alan Jackson, of Nashville, TN. Photo by Paul Pletcher. An original V-drive survivor discovered, discussed, and purchased right here on the Chris Craft Commander Forum. This boat is featured in numerous threads, and the restoration process is a rewarding one to read. Thanks to "Mercrewser" for sharing all of this information. Original Chris Craft sales literature and photos
Two great articles about the Lancer evolution (the latter by Dick Avery). This is a fascinating insiders look into the evolution of the Lancer and Commander Super Sport hull design, and the advent of Chris Craft's venture into fiberglass runabouts. Chris Craft knew fiberglass was the new wave of future boat manufacturing, and their acquisition of the Thompson Boat Company of New York not only squashed some significant competition in the runabout lines, but it also gave Chris Craft lots of immediate technology. There were some really great boats to come out of Cortland, New York!
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This message has been edited by FEfinaticP on Nov 23, 2006 4:45 AM This message has been edited by FEfinaticP on Nov 23, 2006 4:27 AM
Paul - Great job as usual. I like this new format alot. I wonder if you ever got my email with the power point pres. of my toe rail project? I think I sent to the dogshark address 5 or6 weeks ago. If you like I can resend it to you at another. I think you might like to add it to master index and you are more than welcome to reformat it or edit it as you see fit.
Hope everyone had a HAPPY THANKSGIVING, (EVEN IF WE WEREN'T ALL LUCKY ENOUGH FOR RUNABOUT RIDE)!
Chris Wade
Hello people! (Sorry, I know I am double posting this, but I posted my first note on the wrong thread). I will do better next time!
I have been looking at a boat just like the ones in the photos here, and I did not know what it was until a friend of mine said to check out this site. I knew it was a Chris Craft but did not know anything more about it, The boat is in Atlanta, GA, stored inside but with no motor or transmission. It is not an inboard-outboard model. Seats need to be redone, the blue hull looks like it can be cleaned up. From the looks of things, the boat has been there for quite a long time.
What would be a fair asking price for this boat without the motor, and what kind of money would be required to repower this boat. The transmission part of the equation is a prime concern.
Thank you in advance, great site, looking forward to some help please!
Without a motor, I would consider perhaps anywhere from $1500 to $5000 depending on how good the hull is, and if it has a trailer with it, etc. Add another $5000 or so for a SBC and V-drive and you could soon have a boat worth $15,000 to $25,000. If it has a paint job and upholstry like Mr. Jacksons, add another $10,000 (or more)
For simplicity, you could repower with a new engine/v-drive combo they are putting in the new wakeboard boats. That would cost some money. A cheaper and more original method would be to watch ebay for orginal engines and transmissions as they do pop up from time to time. You would have alot of headaches doing it that way though. I would start at 1000 and see what they say. Maybe they dont know what it is. I have almost 10k into mine, and it came with a running engine and transmission.
I just wantd to drop you a note, to let you know you're in good company, running out there with Alan J ! Guess both of you guys share good taste in boats, eh?
In any case, if money was no object, most collectors would go with the original power as Mr. J did, (and as you have)! I see the same issues with vintage cars, the more valuable the boat or the car, the more important it is to have original power. On our larger Commanders, many have not reached the sort of collector status of smaller boats, and original power is not an issue. The 427 powered boats may become an increasing exception to this.
You are right, it's a hassle to go with original power, but I can assure you, many of those "convenient" repower projects are FAR from the simple task one might anticipate when they fork over the cash for a new powertrain. Many times there are clearance and motor mount issues, and in the end if you have a fresh CC SBC, the darn thing will still get into the 50-mph range and last just as long as a new one!!
I can get easily into the 50-mph range in my 17' Speedboat, but you don't want to be in it and hit a wake, because when you leave the water in that boat you're in trouble! Not so in a 19 Commander Super Sport.
As for the price of one without a motor, it would certainly depend upon the condition. I wouldn't think twice about picking up a cheap 327 and spending the $1500 to $1800 it would take to make one last another 20 years. Finding a V-drive may be more difficult, but I'd sooner go with a new Vdrive than a new motor, because you can't readily tell wien you pop the hood.
With collector boats, as with collector cars, if you pop the hatch on a Chris Craft Cobra (or a Shelby Cobra) and you see something like a Honda Acura V8, it would be a bigtime turn-off for most boating enthusiasts who would have been drawn to the boat in the first place.
Someone please give me a ladder so I can get down off this soap box! (thanks in advance )
we have a 19 ft 1969 chris craft commander super sport with the transdrive engine. In researching it, it appears only 15 were produced and we have hull number 8. Can anyone tell us what this boat is worth? Boat is currently under total restoration although little is needed to restore to original condition..
we have a 19 ft 1969 chris craft commander super sport with the transdrive engine. In researching it, it appears only 15 were produced and we have hull number 8. Can anyone tell us what this boat is worth? Boat is currently under total restoration although little is needed to restore to original condition..
Wow, that is a brave question around here. Some might try to steal it, some might try to buy it and for sure we will all insist on seeing pictures.
But, seriously, this is a question/topic discussed often here and around the yacht clubs and marina bars around the world. The bottom line seems to be the same no matter the boat, the condition, or the current economic climate. Everything always ends up being worth whatever a buyer is willing to spend. What seems to confuse the issue is seeing the prices that similar boats are being offer for sale at. I could go on and on.
If you are wondering if you will ever recoup the money you are investing in the total resto, that scenario typically isn't a good reason to do it. It doesn't usually work out that way.
Many things are known about the 19' Commander/XK19. You can find all kind of documentation here on "Thee Forum". You can search the Master Index and find all kind of neat documentation. There are links somewhere to The Maccataw Bay Boatworks who should be completed with a total resto of a 19' by now.
I love your boat and would give a pot full of money for it if money was no object. Here is one that's an inboard I've been keepin' an eye on just in case I hit the big lotto (ya right, I don't even play cause I'm to Cheap).
Please give us more gory details and photos. This is the stuff that keeps us off the streets in the winter.
![[linked image]](../../../../../../i66.photobucket.com/albums/h272/wadecon1/Aug2007BLYC026.jpg)