1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Thanks for the compliments on the storytelling. It's easy to do when it is a great story!!! I may have to follow up with the story of why we moved the boat from Homer's slip!

Homer really is a great guy. I want to think that he was just going through a run of bad luck. I checked his work on the fuel/water separators and they are perfectly done. I have had a problem with the water heater though. I think the thermostat is bad too because the pressure relief valve will blow if I leave the water heater on for a good amount of time without using the water.

I've crawled into every inch of the engine compartment and found everything to be well installed and well-secured. I even discovered another Danforth Anchor, with chain and rode, mounted and secured alongside the water heater. Looks pretty clean too! ;-)

I've posted a couple of before and after pictures in a thread started by another guy here who is renovating an Amerosport 284. Apparently there are 3 of us who have bought these Amerisports within the past couple of months. Because this thread has turned out not to be a renovation/restoration thread, I'll post the restoration pictures there and keep this thread going with stories of a "new" boat owner.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

I'm enjoying both threads!

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

It's been awhile since I've updated my story here. Over the past number of months we've taken the time to make some modest upgrades to the cabin and also to begin to rig her for some salmon fishing on Lake Michigan. This work was done while she was in the water and I"m humbled by the work that I've read others have done in the time I've had her. I've taken some progress pictures while other improvements have been done without documentary evidence. We instead spent the time on the lake. She's not perfect yet, but where she takes us is as close to perfection as I wonder if God might allow.

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Great storytelling! I also loved your rant on cc254's thread - laughed out loud... My wife walked in and asked me what was so funny.. I said its an iboats thing, you wouldn't understand (I think she is getting tired of that one).

I love your boat.. Us Chris craft guys need to band together...those Starcraft guys have all the love and attention right now, but our time is coming!

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Oh...we've made some small improvements to the interior....

another view


I built a new table that I'm not yet happy with....

another view

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

We've named her but have yet to add the Port name. I'll explain the reason later...

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

...but i has been fun.

 

[lil buggy]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

BSnB,
you tell a great story,
and belated congrats on your new cruiser,

ya know it's funny,
when you happen upon people like homer,
it has quite the effect on you.
you'll remember him forever
and maybe even be a better person for it.

looks like you ended up with a good deal as well as a great story
2 wins aint a bad start on this endeavor.


wheres the home port gona be?

smooth sailing to you, the admiral, and the lil pup.
post updates when you can

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Great storytelling! I also loved your rant on cc254's thread - laughed out loud... My wife walked in and asked me what was so funny.. I said its an iboats thing, you wouldn't understand (I think she is getting tired of that one).

I love your boat.. Us Chris craft guys need to band together...those Starcraft guys have all the love and attention right now, but our time is coming!

Thanks PM, I do love these Chris Crafts. Unless someone thinks about drastic changes like making an classic Lancer into a bow rider, you can spot a Chris Craft from a long way away. ;-)

LOL, I get similar responses from my wife. Maybe we ARE bonkers....nah!

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

BSnB,
you tell a great story,
and belated congrats on your new cruiser,

ya know it's funny,
when you happen upon people like homer,
it has quite the effect on you.
you'll remember him forever
and maybe even be a better person for it.

looks like you ended up with a good deal as well as a great story
2 wins aint a bad start on this endeavor.


wheres the home port gona be?

smooth sailing to you, the admiral, and the lil pup.
post updates when you can

Thanks lil buggy. Ya know, I'd almost trade the boat and keep the story. I've visited with homer a few times since buying the boat, and each time I come away the better for it. The last time was when I stopped by his house to pick up the trailer (he'd allowed me to keep it at his place until fall), I mentioned that I was looking to add a couple of downriggers to the boat. He walked me back to his garage and showed me 2 heavy duty Cannon electrics in great shape. He gave me an outstanding price and threw in the weights and several different mounts for them. I'll visit him again this Spring and he'll probably talk me into buying his sailboat or something. ;-)

The home port will remain St. Joseph, Michigan. I moved the boat from Homer's slip in early September last year to a Marina nearby. I let Homer know that his slip was again open and I was thrilled to see, a week later, that he'd launched his sailboat and docked it in that slip. I wish I could say that I was being a nice guy, giving Homer his slip back, but the truth is I would rather have saved the money I spent renting the new slip for upgrades to the boat. There's a story about the dock neighbors there that I'll tell ya'll about as this thread progresses.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Great to see this thread back to the top. Also great to hear you guys are out enjoying the boat.

The table looks outstanding. Makes me jealous of the table "makeover" I am in the middle of.

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Thanks, Mustang. The table looks better in the photo than in person. I like the way the compass rose looks, but the color came out more red Mahogany than I wanted. I really want more of a teak look with a heavy varnish coat. I'm planning to do the bulkhead to the V-berth in a Teak Veneer and gloss oil that and I'll be adding some teak accent trim in various spots both inside and outside to enhance that Chris Craft look.

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

One of the things I'm seriously considering is the addition of a hardtop tied in with the radar arch. Watching these fiberglass magicians here makes me think that I can do it, but I've got no idea really how to start the form for it.

I'm thinking something like on the newer CC Roamer like this

Any thought on how I might get started would be greatly appreciated.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

I like your idea of teak laminate. Chris craft was actually notorious for mahogany interiors in their early big boats. I have some experience with a flexible real wood teak laminate that can be stained, varnished or oiled like any solid wood.

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Thanks PM, I do love these Chris Crafts. Unless someone thinks about drastic changes like making an classic Lancer into a bow rider, you can spot a Chris Craft from a long way away. ;-)

Hmmm... I sort of resemble that remark... Yeah, I'm glad you guys talked me out of it... As it turns out, I have some plans up my sleeve to really make that the feature of the boat.... P.S. I like the table too; Good work... Don't be your worst critic..

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

I agree, Mustang, that's why I went for the Mahogany color for the table. I've had some limited experience with veneers and I think, rather than Mahogany, I'd like some teak accents instead.

I understand what you're saying, McCraney, about being my toughest critic...but then aren't we all.:redface:

Any thoughts on how I might begin to mold a hard top? I'm not sure that the picture I posted was a clear representation. I have the aft-slanting radar arch. It's tubular stainless steel with a molded plastic insert on each side. I may or may not keep the side panels. But what I'm really interested in is creating some some of mold in order to lay-up some fiberglass and create a custom hard top. I want the aft end to mount to the radar arch. I'm picturing some complex curves reaching both fore and aft as well as port and starboard to match the curve of the arch and then match the line of the windshield. Sortof a hardtop bimini that I can close of with Eisenglass at the windshiled and some side curtain. I may cut-in a couple of ventilation hatches, add courtesy lighting, whatever. The problem is I've got no idea how to begin. Here's the idea, the gray top forward of the radar arch piece.

 

[lil buggy]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

i am onboard with the hardtop.

of course i always have the bimini top up
i think i was out like once without, and since i feel that way i would prefer the hardtop
but if you take it down often i would say it's not such a good thought

again i will 1st the hardtop (really liked the flip up air scoops on top)
i'm not sure that i've seen that before but i like it

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Here's my first thought on design...



One of the lines that's always bugged me is the little notch formed below the swim step where it meets the stern. This sketch also includes my attempt to extend the swim step "rub rail" forward to minimize the abruptness of that notch. I also played around with extending the swim step...teak, I think.

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

That first one looked too high so I tried lowering it below the top of the radar arch. The radar arch would remain outside the hardtop, arching up and over by maybe a foot or so as I see it.



I think I like this better. The sketching on the back is my attempt to visualize a camper back and the support structure for it. My step pad is just forward of the main camper top support pole.

I know...I know...hold the applause for my mad drawing skills.

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

I like your idea of teak laminate. Chris craft was actually notorious for mahogany interiors in their early big boats. I have some experience with a flexible real wood teak laminate that can be stained, varnished or oiled like any solid wood.

I've seen some of that stuff on-line somewhere too. 4x8 sheets if I'm not mistaken. I attempted to lay some teak and holly laminate on the sole of the cabin last year. The stuff was semi-rigid like the laminate you might use to do a counter-top. EPIC FAIL! I measured the running length and width of the cabin sole, then layed the material out on the dock to mark my cuts. A gusty breeze and the uneven board of the dock were not helping. I was finally successful in making the cuts and walking/sailing it into the cabin. With the admiral fore and me aft we slowly lowered the 8 or 9 foot by 18 inch panel down onto the sole. The sole is not exactly flat, and with the rises on each side to accommodate the galley cabinets and the booth seating we struggled. To get our feet out of the way, the Admiral lay face down on the V-berth and I stood on the first step up from the sole at the other end and we ever so slowly eased the panel into place. An almost perfect fit. I stepped down off of the step to walk the center of the panel down into the curved sole to stick to the mastic that had already been troweled in. With one edge up by the V-berth caught up on the vertical rise next to the galley I began to hear a little cracking. I paused, the Admiral reached further down from her precarious perch to free the edge... and promptly slipped out of the V-berth, palms on the panel to keep from falling completely, legs kicking to regain her purchase in the V-berth. Without thinking, I took another half step and, not retreating quickly enough, heard the panel crack and shatter into several rather sharp pieces. Now stuck to the mastic, I was only able to remove this broken panel one sharp piece at a time. We bought carpet later that day.:facepalm: