The first fiberglass Chris Craft Commander was a 38 Express and it was introduced at the 1964 New York Boat Show, after being designed and shipped in secret. It took the boating industry by storm. Original power was a pair of 327F motors or a pair of 430 Lincoln big blocks. A diesel option was also offered.
The design was so popular it eventually lead to a Sport Fisherman and a Sedan model.
In 1966 Chris Craft dropped the 430 Lincolns and switched to the Ford 427 as their big block gas offering. Ford won LeMans that year with the same basic cross-bolted engine.
Since the original 38, models from 19' to 58' have been manufactured, and they all have a great reputation. Here is a photo of our 38 hauled out of the water for paint, new props, new shafts and new cutlass bearings!
(More photos of the painting can be seen at the link below)
http://www.network54.com/Forum/424840/message/1153016597
You can see by looking at this 40-year old hull, things are still pretty darn solid. As a matter of fact, I'll put this 40-year old hull up against any number of new hulls the same size. Chris Craft engineered these boats to withstand 3X the stress of running full speed in a six foot sea. With 427 power that would me over 30-mmph.
If anyone out there is interested in the Commander series, here is a great link with lots of information.
http://www.chriscraftcommander.com
Regards, Dogsharks
The design was so popular it eventually lead to a Sport Fisherman and a Sedan model.
In 1966 Chris Craft dropped the 430 Lincolns and switched to the Ford 427 as their big block gas offering. Ford won LeMans that year with the same basic cross-bolted engine.
Since the original 38, models from 19' to 58' have been manufactured, and they all have a great reputation. Here is a photo of our 38 hauled out of the water for paint, new props, new shafts and new cutlass bearings!
(More photos of the painting can be seen at the link below)
http://www.network54.com/Forum/424840/message/1153016597
You can see by looking at this 40-year old hull, things are still pretty darn solid. As a matter of fact, I'll put this 40-year old hull up against any number of new hulls the same size. Chris Craft engineered these boats to withstand 3X the stress of running full speed in a six foot sea. With 427 power that would me over 30-mmph.
If anyone out there is interested in the Commander series, here is a great link with lots of information.
http://www.chriscraftcommander.com
Regards, Dogsharks