One thing that was troublesome on both my 27 and 35 Expresses was above the cabin windows where the cabin top rolls under to meet the window... they are wood, and tend to rot. It appears that the 31 Express is not wood here, and does not suffer from this maladie? I'll attach a pic to show you where I mean... Any thoughts or comments?
John:
Possibly keep it wood because wood is easy to work with. Use mohogany because it does not rot, then epoxy it, don't use resin. After 48 hours, apply a coat of thin fiberglass cloth, not mat, and then use the resin. After 24 hours sand to a smooth surface, or until the surface looks "cloudy or foggey", then varnish. The cloudyness will disapear and it will look like varnished wood. If you want it painted, then paint it instead of varnishing.
One other point. After you have constructed the piece, be sure to epoxy both sides and edges so that no water or condesation can get in. If you only do one side, the other side of the piece will absorb water or moisture and eventually rot or bend out of alignment.
Jerry
Just curious about this area of the 31... since it may be my next boat (!)
apparently, there are no 31 owners here, after all, they didn't build many...
John,
First off thanks for using my boat for your sample, I'll have to check again from the inside of the boat but iI dont think there is any wood in this area. Good luck hope you find a nice 31.
Here is SHADY LADY, a pristine 31' Sedan owned by the Pletcher's of Nashville, Tennessee (my parents). They absolutely love this boat, and it was in superb condition when we found it, and it remains in superb condition now. One of Alan Jackson's workers came over to look one day and gave us the ole "if you ever want to sell this boat"..........(call me first). It was owned by the Motlow family (of Jack Daniels fame)
I'll check the window heads to see if they're glass or not, I believe they are. I'll also look to see how they're sealed off. The following thread has a lot of photos of the boat, it's a sweetheart. http://www.network54.com/Forum/424840/message/1183422855
A beauty! Nice to see on without a bridge. (not a fan).
There is a bridge-less sedan up in Charlevoix for a good price, but I'm concerned the Anne and the girls may not like riding on the sofa, down low and sideways, in wet or cool weather. Normally, they would ride out on the after deck. The true express offers them the co-pilot seat...
Where does your Dad sit when your Mom is driving?!
You can't see it from the photos, but they have a full width seat across the aft deck, just like it was a big utility speedboat. Under the seat cushions is a nice locker where they keep life jackets and fenders. It keeps clutter off that rather small aft deck.
We didn't have the luxury of shopping around when we found this boat. It was THE ONLY 31' Chris for sale anywhere in this entire area, probably within hundreds of miles. When I saw it first, I realized it was a newer model without all the dark wood interior, but it was light inside, functional and in really great condition all the way around. Motors are relatively low hours and run flawlessly.
When Mom is driving, Dad is generally on his feet, or sitting on the aft deck where he can get back to the helm quickly if he needs to. Sometimes he'll be out front on the foredeck with friends (who love those front seats shown in the photo). You get out there on one of those chairs with a cold drink, running quietly down the glass smooth Cumberland at 1200 RPM, you would think you are being royally entertained!
The boat was purchased for $30,000. There were no comparables, no alternative purchases in a Chris Craft, and the boat was in very good condition. The price was high, but the boat has been everything they hoped it would be. I can't remember exactly when they got it, but it's been 12 years or so anyway. In the years they've had this Commander, it has changed their lives for the better, given them both a lot of fun, and it's been a way to entertain their friends that is memorable and really special. It's what a Commander was built for!
I would have gravitated toward an Express, myself, because that is the type of boat I am accustomed to, and I like the open aft deck from helm back to transom. It's great for entertaining. I like the open feel of an Express, but could learn to love any Chris Craft.
Paul, Based on condition alone, I think the boat was well bought, I would not have given it a second thought. As you know, due to time and family constraints, I am less of a project guy anymore... more of a maintenance guy...It enough for me just to stay ahead of the game without starting in the hole!
I didn't realize your folks have enjoyed their 31 for so long, I hope they get many more years aboard!
My parents got their Commander while I still owned a wood 35' Sea Skiff. I was already nuts about the Commanders and knew I would someday own a 38, which happend a while later when we found TRADITION in Cincinatti, Ohio near Washington Marine, at Beechmont.
When I bought the 31 I knew we wanted the boat after a walk around and a ride on Old Hickory Lake. I was authorized to make the purchase on their behalf, if I thought it was a good boat and a good deal for them. The previous owner took it up to max rpm and left it there. The motors sounded great. Back at the dock after a fair and reasonable discussion, I suggested he drop the price by $500 to consummate the deal. His response was (and I remember this vividly) "NOT ONE DIME", and he said it loud and with enough determination that I reached over and got the $1500 earnest check off his clip board and let him watch me slowly tear it in half right in front of his face. At that point, we both exited the cabin only to confront our two wives who were chatting it up and having a great time on a bench. They said "well, did you guys complete the deal?". We both had a mad look on our faces, sort of grumbled something or another, and at that point we were both "ORDERED" by our TWO wives to "get back down there and complete the deal". Ha ha, it was the craziest thing I've done in a long time. So we go back into the cabin, I write out the check in the full amount, and we ended up getting the boat. My parents didn't know about the terms until after the acquisition.
Chris Wade mentioned the guy at the local lumber supply house being removed from "personality of the day" or something like that, ha ha, and this particular guy I was dealing with just might have found some benefit from a refresher course at the Dale Carnegie Institute Ah well, he got what he wanted for the boat, we got a good boat, all is well that ends well.
They have had a great time with this boat, and I also hope they have many more years of fun with it. The darn thing will fly when you throw the coal to it! Pretty quick boat!
Paul,
Thats a fine example of a 31'r. Now I see, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Commanders are in the family DNA!! Our family DNA went astray, my Dad owned a '65 Owens 28' and my Brother went to Hatteras, I guess I got the good genes.....
Steve
'69 42'Commander
Bear Z Girl
