Here is a video of us cruising down the Tennessee River (North) to Green Turtle Bay Marna. Tall Water 2-4' 24 degrees, Wind about 10-20 MPH.

Beautiful Weather for a cruise.....

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A lot of people don't realize how big the Tennessee River is when it's impounded by the dam, and I think I heard at one time the max barge size was fifteen acres. In any case it's pretty big water and that 36' hull sure looks like it was taking a stroll. If we're able to meet up with you on the Cumberland, we'll want to get some still photos or video too, of you crossing our wake because those are FABULOUS photo shots and you'll want one for your office. We'll want you to get one of us doing the same thing in the 38. Be sure to bring a camera!

Regards,

Paul

That will be some awesome PICS.

That 36 was smooth and didnt pound, no rattles. It was a perfect day to test her out.

Reece:
I loved your video of the run. When I took Summer Palace's sister ship out for a test run in water about the same size, I found we took a lot of spray on deck. There was plenty of wind to make those waves. Your shots showed what a nice entry was being made. It looked like a very dry run. Great shots!
Jerry

Talking to Butch today (the driver at the time the video was shot) he said the first few bursts of spray that came over the bow immediately froze on the windshield and he couldn't see, due to temps being in the low twenties. He therefore (being a St. Lawrence River duck hunter) decided it would be best to steer from the upper helm and he did so (apparently without complaint, but I stand to be corrected, lol).

He commented that the hull sliced through the chop in magnificient fashion, and said the motors never missed a beat. He was enthusiastic about the boat, and also enthusiastic about seeing it come through Nashville, and into our area. It will be a lot of fun seeing this boat up on Old Hickory next season, it has an unmistakable style that has endured the test of time, and looks so much better than many newer boats, much like a vintage Ferrari next to a new Nissan............NO COMPARISON!!

I can think of any number of lesser boats that would have cost more money, that can not match the appearance of a classic 36 TF and would not ever be able to match the seakeeping capabilities either.

Regards,

Paul

Paul,
I can't resist but the Michigan Commander owners might appreciate instead of saying "it has an unmistakable style that has endured the test of time, and looks so much better than many newer boats, much like a vintage Ferrari next to a new Nissan............NO COMPARISON!!" you might want to compare an old Corvette to a new Ford Fusion..........

Steve at the blunt end of a wrecking ball.

Well you're right, I was trying to think of a design issue, and when it comes to automotive design, Italy generally wins, and I was thinking of one of the beautifully pure and functional early Ferrari designs, compared to a modern day wannabe.

Your comparison is a good one.

Since my Grandfather, Paul R. Pletcher, was FoMoCo's MAN OF THE YEAR in 1957, Cleveland District, I'm a Ford guy through and through. I might have used the example of a 1968 big block Shelby Mustang.......




versus a Nissan 350 wannabe...........


In any case, the point being made is the classic Chris Craft Commander has something many of the newer boats don't have, and that is CHARACTER. In the case of the Shelby Mustang, and the Commander 36' Tournament Fisherman, both of them can back up their good classic looks with performance to match. In addition, the Commander doesn't look like a jelly bean that has been sucked on for a while either, ha, as some of the new expensive tupperware do.

Regards,

Paul

Paul, I to am a Ford guy through and through, although my dream ride after I win this weeks lotto is a '67 Vette coupe with the 427/4 speed. The big block Shelby's are by far one of the legends no doubt. To segway back into a boating thread its amazing that the mid 60's to early 70's, in my opinion, seemed to be the high point of styling and imagination in automotive and boating....hmmmm coincidence or was there just some really talented designers out there at the time. Maybe those pesky Colombians and there imported "cigars" had something to do with that............
Of course we could refer to the 20's, 30's and 40's and say the same for styling. What happened....oh yea, fuel efficiency driven design....ughhh

Steve waiting for my lotto ticket to hit

Remember when you could look at all the cars coming by and name them, make and model, try that now, its impossible! Very few new cars and boats have any character now. What the heck happened. Everybody has their own opinion I guess. It will be a very sad day if the US auto industry collapses, whatever the reason. "Honor the timeless classics"

Greg
Waiting on the '67 Vette as well, or the Shelby, or the LS6 Chevelle, or the................................

Nice Video and narrative. If you are concerned about the spray and will have your boat hauled once at port, I would suggest you check out a pair of Smart Rails. My 45 TF handles most any sea conditions with grace, however, she was a wet boat when the wind was up and the waves were 3' or better. After much deliberation and prior to the Huron Rendezvous, I installed a pair on the bow chine and have been very happy with the results. Even in big waves and winds I get no spray on the foredeck let alone up on the bridge. Here are a couple of before, after and install photos.








Terry

Terry:
I got all excited reading your post. When the wind is up on the Bay (which is always) we get spray everywhere and it is not welcome at certain angles to the wind. Your answer looked like what I need. I got on the phone (Skype from here) and called the Anchor Yatch Basin which is the closest installer for the Smart Rail system to Summer Palace. The lady that answered the phone said they had quit using the product because of poor adhesion problems. Dang. I think you have the answer but maybe not the product. Are you in salt or fresh water? Could the product be resined in place? I am not anxious to put any holes in her up forward even little ones. Is there any chance for some close up pictures? What are they made of?

For other DIYers, would I spoil the Commander by adding an extension to the existing spray rail on the 38 Express FB to try to solve the excessive spray issue?

Jerry at the point of the spear with sand in my eyes instead of salt spray!

Jerry,

IMHO, the installer did not take the time to prep the hull for installation. Without seeing one of their installs it is hard to tell. The adhesive is made by 3M and is very capable of sealing the job. May I suggest you contact Smart Rail directly and speak with their tech for this product. Check out their web site at www.thesmartrail.com. It is a pretty complete web site with installation video and mucho information on the product. Their tech guy is extremely helpful.

A friend and I installed the pair in about 4 hours. Next day we painted to match hull and boot stripe. On the third day Donna and I cruised to Huron. The day was fairly calm with low waves on Erie so no big splash anyway, however, whenever you come down the Detroit River and get near the Ambassador Bridge to Canada the waves are always big due to the seawalls on Detroit and Windsor shore. We encountered a large Hatty as she was heading north right at the GM Ren/Cen building. Estimate wake was in the vicinity of 4 feet. With the side wash off the seawalls in conjunction with her wake it was a washboard of criss crossing 4 footers. Narry a splash came over the toe rail. Then after Huron, the next two days were unsafe for any size vessel with 8 - 9 footers on the Big E. We left on Wednesday morning heading to Kelley's Island in 4 to 5's and never got wet. When back home after labor day, we had logged in 192 miles, I dove on the hull to inspect the rails and they were solid as the day I installed them. Only minor detail is that some of the Imron had come off the starboard rail. Will need to touch up this winter.

I highly recommend this product. They work.


Terry

Terry:
Thanks for the testimonial. But the real selling point to me is that YOU and your WIFE put the rails on and not a third party. I know yall did it right. It certainly ran through my mind that the marina operator might not do the same quality job that I know you and I would do. I have another year to go before I get back so will follow you in your next season's trips. I agree, the kind of water you are talking about should be a good enough test. Now, time will be the next test. Still, if it keeps the spray off like you said, I would not be disagreeable to a few well placed bolts to help hold them in place. (What's the practical difference between 99 or 100 holes in your boat? Its the same to a prisoner who has to choose between 99 years or life!) If the product is expensive, it is worth the risk, to put a couple of through bolts so that if a passing pier brushes it, it won't fill Davy Jones' locker.

What kind of cost did you run into? I will visit with Sea Rails staff as you suggest. As a bonafide "know it all", I still find room for an education now and then.
Thanks, Terry.
Jerry - at the point of the spear.

Jerry,

In short, I honestly forget what the rails cost, but by now you have probably been to their web site so you know that answer. As for the installation cost, I had another $300 in it for the painter and paint. Installation is straight forward. Painting the boot strip was the tough part due to the angles once the rail is applied.

Terry

Man that first pic is awesome! Let's see a close up, HA

Check these out.







Do any of these make a body part pucker?

I have to tell you, if I saw that weather approaching, I would be using the full power of the boat (in the opposite direction).



Being able to outrun approaching weather is a big safety factor. It brings to mind the demise of the ship FANTOME, which tried on numerous manuvers, to outrun a hurricane in the tropics off Belize. It offloaded passengers in Belize, went out to sea thinking it would have a better chance than to be dashed against the docks. It made the proper turn, but the storm turned against it, it made another correction only to have the storm follow. In the end it decided to seek shelter on the leeward side of an island. All they found was a floating stairway with the name of the ship. It was no small ship either, it was one Aristotle Onassis gave as a gift, subsequently to receive something like five million dollars in upgrades. All hands were lost.
If you want some chilling reading, here is the link:
http://www.fortogden.com/fantommiamiherald.html



Give me something that can run at 25 knots or more (at emergency wartime rpm) and that may not have happened. At least they could have beached the darn thing!



regards,



Paul

In the article is a passage taken from the Perfect Storm about the sound of hurricane winds at sea that is especially eerie:

''A scream means the wind is around Force 9 on the Beaufort Scale, 40 or 50 knots. Force 10 is a shriek. Force 11 is a moan. Over Force 11 . . . the wind makes a deep tonal vibration like a church organ. There's no melody, though; [it's like] a church organ played by a child.''

I would like to experience this just once... well then again maybe not.
Jim

Mitch that is. One of the fastest and most powerful hurricanes on record in the Atlantic basin, with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (285 km/h), a pressure of 905 mbar, one of the lowest pressures ever recorded in an Atlantic hurricane, and the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since the Great Hurricane of 1780, displacing the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 as the second-deadliest on record. In Honduras alone, caused such massive and widespread damage that an estimated 70 to 80% of the transportation infrastructure of the entire country was wiped out, including nearly all bridges and secondary roads; the damage was so great that existing maps were rendered obsolete.
As for Fantome, the story was recorded in the book The Ship and The Storm by Jim Carrier. Sailing in the center of the hurricane, the ship experienced up to 50 foot waves and over 100 mph winds, causing her to ultimately to sink off the coast of Honduras.