Chris Craft outboards

[cc67]

Anyone own one of these?

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[jbjennings]

Re: Chris Craft outboards

I have one of those..Been fishin' with her several times. She cranks easily, I mean, a bit cranky. A good cook, though. But no Chris Craft challenger.
JBJ

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Chris Craft outboards

That's the CC Challenger 5.5. Nice little motors. It had a bigger brother, the Commander 10 (which was actually closer to 15-16hp). Both were well built and ran well. The Commander actually led to the undoing of Chris-Craft as an outboard manufacturer, as the lower unit design VERY closely resembled that of Mercury's KG7 Hurricane. Too closely, in fact. At the time, Mercury was still a small company and Chris-Craft was one of the industry's largest, so it was no small feat for Mercury to win that one in court. Chris-Craft sold the rights to their motor designs to Oliver Tractors. They redesigned the motors a bit and came back out in 1955. The Commander 10 was now a 16, closer reflection of its actual output...
We have one of each in our collection. The Commander is a real hoot to run on a 12-foot tin can...
- Scott

 

[cc67]

Re: Chris Craft outboards

I was unaware that CC even made outboards untill recently. I read that they didn't make a whole bunch.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Chris Craft outboards

Only a few years. I think first year was 1949, and they were done by 1953...
They had larger motors on the drawing board when they bowed out, too. Would have been interesting, too, as they had much more in the way of resources to draw upon than the other outboard companies...
- Scott

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Chris Craft outboards

CC67,
There's a 5.5hp chris-craft challenger on the aomci site that says it's in good running condition for 125 bucks if you're interested in those. Myself, I like 10-30hp outboards, but those chris-craft motors are sharp.
JBJ

 

[cc67]

Re: Chris Craft outboards

They look sharp, but I like John/Evin outboards more. Been around them all my life. I restored a 67 Chris Craft ski boat a couple years ago, ( cc67) and have alot fun with it.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Chris Craft outboards

CC67,
As usual---need to see pic....sounds like a neat boat, Chris-craft didn't build any junk, did they! You must have some skills to do that!
JBJ

 

[cc67]

Re: Chris Craft outboards

I didn't have any real wood boat skills when I started but I aquired some along the way. If you can't stand stripping paint, sanding, sealing, sanding, fixing rot, sanding, priming, sanding all by hand on your back , well you get the idea. Got several hundred hours in it. Luckily the interior was in good shape. It turned out decent, get alot of interest in it whenever I take it to the lake. Here's some pictures I took through the process:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/KinkA-1/PC100003.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/KinkA-1/PC210003.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/KinkA-1/P1180008.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/KinkA-1/P1180010.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/KinkA-1/P1010005.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/KinkA-1/P2070003.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/KinkA-1/P1010003.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/KinkA-1/P1010004.jpg

350 Chevy small block 250hp. Duel through hull water muffeled exhaust. Sounds like a muscle car on water. Direct drive forward and reverse, no real neutral. They don't go backwards worth a darn.

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Chris Craft outboards

I got one of those... CC Challenger that is. I now realize this iboats is just about for everything there is to discuss that gets wet.

I may put my Challenger on Craigs List. What would one in poor condition, runs but not rev very high, and needs a water pump be worth (oil leaks out of lower unit too)? It there a place to look up prices?:redface:

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Chris Craft outboards

I didn't know that CC sold motors, but I am not in the least surprised. I'm also not surprised that they are considered to be very good - that was always the CC way of doing things.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Chris Craft outboards

Does that rascal actually touch the water at wot?
Most of those straight drive trannys have a panetary gear with a forward band that locks everything up for direct drive forward and a reverse band that
locks up the planetary creating reverse.both bands released is neutral.
Sometimes if a band is tight you may get some thrust in neutral.
The transmission very loosely resembles early automatic car transmissions.

 

[jsvz105]

Re: Chris Craft outboards

Hi everybody,
The challengers were a good motor, but the commander 10hp was were it was at. These things were awesome. CC sure did make some good products. by the way if any one has a set of cowls for a 10hp commander let me know because i could use a set. I am in the process of restoring a commander and i am missing the cowls.

Thanks,
Jim