Heres a few pics of the new "Klokanuts". This boat is sweet, the real deal and runs like a swiss watch. The ride took about 2 1/2 hours up the Detroit River and across Lk St Clair at an average of about 25 kts and as comfortable as any deep V performance boat out there. This boat has been pampered by the previous owner and it shows.
Note the deep V hull and the reason this boat ride so well. This lady has a nice a$$!!
The lines on this boat are timeless
Hot rod all the way!
Man, you guys look like you had a FABULOUS day out on the Detroit River, in a classic Chris Craft too! It just doesn't get much better than that, good friends, nice day, a classic Chris, first cruise out, awesome!
I love the color of that water, and the boat looks even better than the previous photos. Great photos Steve, it shows what a great time you guys had.
The pictures tell the story! Great boat, great friends, great weather!
The Lendzion boys behaved themselves, and were a great source of moral support. Beer-Z-Girl served as navigator, and Cha-Cha (Hatterass) was more than adequate as designated bar-b**ch!!
Regarding quality of ride... staying out of all 4 barrels rendered a GPS confirmed cruising speed of 28 MPH!! As we got up the river, above the Ambassador bridge, in front of downtown Detroit, the water tends to get messy with the current running down, the wind running another way, and boat wakes thrown in for good measure... what Steve accurately referred to as "cross-chop". I put a liitle more tab on her and that razor-sharp entry do it's job. As the bow dipped down and the water rose up the hull sides, it was masterfully deflected and thrown aside by her pronounced bow-flare, so much so that the aft seat stayed completly dry! (Cha-Cha was back there taking a quick siesta). In fact, the whole trip resulted in no more than a few drops on the lower port side of the windshield! I didn't slow down at all!
Here are a few scenic views from the afternoon's cruise home. Oh, and thanks one and all for your support.
John,
Thanks again for the invite, I could take those kind of rides seven days a week if possible. I can imagine the frustration you were dealing with yesterday wanting to get out to the new boat but having it rain all day Sunday, wait till Tuesday, should be a beauty.
I also have some more pics and a few good video's to share but I'm waiting for some large file uploads to come thru.
Heres some other pics.
Heres a shot taken of downtown Detroit, and note the condition of the normally pitted out windshield frame. no pitting! That tells a lot of how well this has been preserved.
You guys are having way too much fun! I wish I could have come along for the ride. I noticed the satin finish on that windshield frame too, awesome find, beautiful boat, good friends.
My envious compliments on this one, you outdid yourself. For many reasons, this boat can be "the ideal boat" for so many different uses. From the photos and the reports, you got a one-in-a-million boat.
When we pulled up to pick her up the owners brother was rubbing her down like it was his! I'm anal but the guy that used to own it was a anal nut-case! one more thing, when I looked at the transom and how deep it was I had to ask Klokanuts "does it have a Aft state-room! Never seen a a transom on 23'er so deep! Learning something new everyday!!
This is heading upbound on the Detroit River passing a downbound frieghter. Theres a lot of commerce that passes thru this area, this one looks like an iron ore or maybe a coal frieghter. Most of the coal ships deliver to the power generating plants throughout the great lakes areas.
Its pretty amazing how fast these ship are traveling when you have to pass one or get out of he way! Tonnage rules .......... http://s234.photobucket.com/albums/ee11/STL61/?action=view¤t=MVI_3821.flv
Admittedly, something with a deep-V hull profile isn't really all that practical here in North Alabama, but it sure is a good looker. Congratulations to John for finding a classic like this in such good condition. That is another model CC should have never stopped producing.
Well, not much of an ad, but if anyone gets to the point where they want an educated opinion, let me know and I'll be more than happy to put an eye on it... and sea trial it as well!!
This is part of the problem I see with some of the rhetoric we are sending over the net people who have poorly maintained boats now think they are worth a fortune because we keep telling people they are rare boats based on Jerry Conrads research which we know is slightly flawed. And people like Paul pay a small fortune for a boat that is not worth it and then sink even a bigger fortune in it because he has it and likes the boat. I have no problem with spending money on a classic boat that is worth restoring and you do it more because you love it not because it is an investment but there are a lot of people out there that take our word on this stuff and price accordingly. Agood example is the boat shown by merccruiser a few years ago in the eastern part of PA it wasnt a bad boat but it wasnt anywhere near the price they were asking for it. It was going for around 17k or so and it was nto a pristine example but it was a 23 with v Drive. Don';t get me wrong but we need to do a better job of educating the general public on what things are worth or not worth. come on its a 350Q 235 hp and not a speed boat but not a bad boat either. but no pics of interior etc.... wonder why? We really need to be a little more responsible on this site like the guys on the acbs site are when we tell people stuff is rare etc....
Class:Power
Category:Classic (power)
Year:1969
Make:Chris Craft
Model:XK-19
Length:19
Location:Seaside, OR
Location:Seaside, OR
Engine Model:427 Side Oiler
Horsepower:320
Propulsion Type:V-DRIVE
Hull Material:FIBERGLASS/COMPOSITE
Fuel Type:GAS
Show Additional Boat Details
Additional Equipment:
Complete 2 year restoration by Forestport Boatworks, Forestport, NY, Rare 427 Side Oiler V-8, Must see, New Trailer, been in fresh water once since restoration, a true collector item at a giveaway price.
SELLER DESCRIPTION
1969 Chris Craft XK-19, Very rare 1969 Chris-Craft XK-19. With ultra rare 427 Sideoiler. 2 year professional restoration by Forestport boat works , NY completed in 2007. Tested in fresh water then stored. Rare Collector's item, virtually better than new, custom dash includes mp3 stereo and Garmin GPS map.
Mark:
Your posts raise a really good point here on the forum. I had to think a bit about what you said. I think I can agree if we use the words "over priced". "Value" has a qualitative interpretation to it and can't necessarily be imprerically enumerated as in when I tell my wife I love you more than our Commander and all the stars in the sky!
OK, now for the lecture. Our economy is based a lot on the free market concept. One assumption of a free market is that there is complete knowledge on both the buyer and the seller's parts. Your points bring out just how often this assumption is violated. An example: John K. just got a "good" deal on a 23 footer. By "good deal" we infer that John feels he got more for his money than normal. It could be that if the seller knew how much John "valued" the boat, he or she may have raised the price. None the less, both are happy. This value concept is often stated another way: "The happiest days in a boat owner's life are the day that he bought it, and the day he sold it". This is a value statement and not a price statement.
Ok, so I'm getting to the point here. Mark, you are, I think, right to bring out the point that we have to continously inject credibility, honesty and responsibility into our postings, either as we ask or contribute our accumulated knowledge for the good of the group. We can do a service, as you point out, to the community by explaining to potential buyers the difference between price and value. Price and value are functions of supply, demand and volume. Price and value usually move together, but not always.
We can use the term "he has boatitus" to describe the appearant illogical behavior of those of us who "value" their boats beyond the market price. Often, people with boatitus feel that some time in the future the boat will be valued at what they feel its true worth is, or will be, and the price will adjust accordingly. You did a good post.
Jerry
Well, if this 23 inboard is "pretty nice" (which the ad does not infer), I'd say she's on the money. Now, there are a few 23 inboards on the east coast showing on Boat Trader claiming to be restored, priced in the 19k - 20k range... That is over priced, in my opinion.
As towards value... any of these old beauties are worth what someone will write the check for, and no more. I feel a mint original is worth as much as a mint restored boat and if I want a restored boat, I'll buy a fixer-upper and do it in a manner that I feel is correct. I don't trust anyone other than Dave Lendzion to upgrade a classic without "pimpin' it".
In closing, I say if the aforementioned 23 inboard is "nice", and it is on a trailer, and there's a little wiggle room in the ask price, I would consider it well bought.
And how anyone can claim a Lancer (other than a 25) is rare is beyond me... sure, it's no 30' Sea Ray, but we here on this forum sure know how to turn them up!!
That's my 2 cents, and it's all I can afford.
John, Jerry and Steve you are all correct except Steve he is just stealing lines from a cadillac commercial. And Steve I can answer yes to that my Chris and my car both do it for me. You should see my car 0-60 in a little over 5 seconds. But my point is that we have a responsibility to let people know that the boats are nice good boats but they arent really collectors items at least not when it comes to a Lancer or a Corsair. Now a Chris Cobra that is a collectors item along with a 25 Lancer with twins some things are rare. But my position is that as knowledgeable Chris Craft owners we should also show some restraint when it comes to discussing the collectiblility over pricing of boats. I have seen the general asking price of 20 to 23 foot chris crafts go through the roof in the last few years and some of that due to people from this forum commenting at selling sites that the boat was rare and worth more money than the seller was asking. To me that is just dumb especially when another forum member may be considering purchasing the boat. I found a 20 Sea Skiff a few years ago selling for $600 in Akron OH luckily for my wife it was sold before I got there my only problem with the boat was that it had the eaton outdrive on it. John your boat is gorgeous and I would have paid a pretty penney for that boat but I have also been looking at the 20 to 23 size for a few years now and have seen the prices rise considerably and when talking to owners they keep mentioning this site as the basis for why they are asking 15 to 20 thousand dollars for a boat that is 30 plus years old and not restored. I could go buy a relatively new Chris Craft 20' speedster for 27k http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2006-CHRIS-CRAFT-SPEEDSTER-89575014 and get all the benefits of new technology a 20 degree deadrise etc... and they are sharp boats. OK OK I will get off the soapbox now.
Mark,
I relate these old Commander gems to what happened in the world of Corvettes (1963 - 1972) Note the parallel in years of incredible and timeless styling. Coincidence? No, it was an era never to be reproduced and coupled with the production volumes for the sought after Commanders and other low production or limited edition models this defines a collectors item.
I have owned old cars and classic boats, little hydro's, woodies, drag and ski boats all my life as well as currently owning a Chris Craft Speedster (for sale by the way for $39,900.00) The new technology, retro design and speed etc. that my Speedster provides is great but it AIN'T the same as the original stuff and that goes for cars as well, its just a totally different category. Every old car I have owned has gone up in value, every old boat has probably increased to and I wish I had kept everyone of them that I sold but things happened at the time.
25 years old =classic, 50 years old = antique. Low production + old + not many left + original design = Collectors item which will increase the value.
My 2 cents (or .08 gallons of gas)
Steve
1969 42' Commander
"Bear Z Girl"
Mark, you'll never believe this, but, I had a chance in 2002 to buy a rough(!!!), but restorable 'glass 20' Sea Skiff (green like Paul's) for $300!!!
And I passed!!! I had absolutely NO idea what a great boat it was, I thought it was some P.O.S. Chris Craft/Thompson half-breed bastard. Live and learn, I guess!
As for Commander owners and enthusiasts, (or anyone else for that matter) piping off to sellers as towards the price of the boat they are selling being too low... What, are these people idiots????? Furthermore, If someone over values their boat on the market, they're either "fishing", not really serious about selling, and prepared to sit on the boat for a looong time, or just pretending to sell it to appease a less than enthusiastic spouse!
"see honey, I've got it up for sale..."
" And people like Paul pay a small fortune for a boat that is not worth it and then sink even a bigger fortune in it because he has it and likes the boat. "
Yeah, that Pletcher guy is a real nut-case, obviously just stood by, wrote a check for waaaay too much money, Lord knows he could have gotten the same boat for $200, had someone do all the WORK, and managed to keep his fingernails clean. Actually, have I told you how much blood I donated to the cause? Ah well, I saw the note from Mark and had a chuckle. Mark, in case you are reading this........just remember, I have a photo of you in a tux I think you're driving the price of these boats up! ha!
Oh hell, I know I paid too much, but don't tell Janet. We love the boat. The good news is, we plan to run it for many years and get our money back one trip at a time. This example does, however, give one pause, about taking a boat that is need of lots of work and cash, versus just buying one like it in better shape.
There sure is a point of diminishing returns in there somewhere, but by buying one in good shape, I would have missed a lot of the fun of restoration. Most of the time spent was really a lot of fun. It helped me get my mind off business pressures, and it helped get me away from the worthless TV programming too!
I think you're driving the price of these boats up! ha!