It was a sunny saturday, and we got out with part of my family for a little two hours trip on the Seine. My wife Joelle,my daughter Alexia, and boyfriend Arnaud. my son Gregory was gone at a bikers trip with his yamaha in the center of France, so he was not with us.
I wanted to make a test on my volvo penta diesel 6 in line, with a new expansion tank for cooling system, and it was alright, tempeature at 80/85°(celsius)very constant at all rpms
We made a picnic before start, with french bread, wine, large sausage,and beer.(french legend !) Howard echols would have enjoyed !
here are some funny pics, that's the best site for photos
Best regards ,Didier.

How to enjoy the boat in France !






I forgot the pitbull-gremlin !five minutes after coming to the docks,he fell in the seine !




my wife at the helm, no problem









want more pics ?

My last rope locker hatch in teak



love boat !







some people are climbing the cliff do you see them ?

Didier, that looks great. This is exactly what a Chris Craft Commander is for. Nothing finer than a picnic on the water with friends and/or family. Great photos too.

So the inline six Volvo Penta ran well. Looks like the weather cooperated. Good times !!!!

Regards,

Paul

Thank you from sharing these wonderful photos from France. We want to pack a picnic lunch just like it for next week.

James

Hi Didier,

Looking at your original photos, this is quite a transofmation now, seeing you all out on the boat having such fun. This is the essence of restoring an old boat, enjoying the rewards of all the work. So much the better that it's a classic Chris Craft with such nice lines. I'll bet you get a lot of looks in France, by people who appreciate style, but may not know what kind of boat you have.






For readers who may not have seen this thread, here are some of the restoration photos of this boat, as it was discovered in France, and restored to such a nice platform for picnics and cruising.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/424840/message/1169173084


We were planning on taking a picnic cruise today (Mothers Day here in the US) but the winds are way too brisk. A weather front blew through here last night and the winds are still VERY strong. It would be uncomfortable out today and very difficult to manuver into the slip. I guess I'll work on one of my remaining projects in the shop today, there will be better days ahead for doing the picnic cruise!

Regards from Nashville,

Paul

HI Paul
i've seen on tv news some storms in oklahoma, virginia and i think in others states.
you re right not geting out, it is risky.
This monday, it was very sunny in north of france, we made a trip this afternoon, and used the anchor for the first time !
regards Didier
i 'll send photos, i like sharing photos.

Yes indeed, the weather in the heartlannd US was not conducive to boating this week end. Thus is springtime in the US. Storms blow through on a regular cycle until things settle down a little later in the season, and even then we can get some real thunderboomers.

As for the photos from France, please know how much I have enjoyed seeing your project annd your family enjoying the fruits of your labor. Good job, as Paul said, I am sure you get a lot of second looks and comments too from people who appreciate the Chris Craft.

James

I have been in sort of a news blackout due to my own schedule of activities, and I knew there were some heavy storms and a tornado watch south of Nashville as I watched the local radar in the evening when things got hot. I was not aware of the fatalities in three states (22 people perished)until this afternoon when I saw the news. That was a very large system that rolled through, and the straightline winds were quite strong here, but a lot of people were injured and some lost everything. I certainly wish everyone in the storm areas the best.

Paul

So glad you are having fun, Our first trip round the bay was on new years days, hope to be going out over the long week end and maybe liberation day on the 9th of May.
Very best wishes to you and yours.
I think that you are the closest known Commander to us.

Heidi and Paul
"Seaspray"
Jersey, just of France

Hi Heidi thank you for the good words.
I have discovered an other chris craft at the plant where i restored mine
on the 4 january i moved to a cool little marina, 80 Kms from home, but very calm,with new docks and less expensive.
when i came back to see friends at the plant, there was a 33 feet chris craft ( 1972 ?)originaly in mahogany, but with polyester and fiberglass covered.
I will take photos for Paul, i don't know what model it is.
the guy owns her for 19 years, she has twin engines 280 hp
à bientôt
Didier
EOS 27 fsa