Help with a older crownline

[jcsercsa]

Hi all well I just inherited a older crownline , have even got it home yet , mother inlaw just said i can have it !!! now the bad news is its been sitting for 30 years , she got a I/O in her , mom said the last time it was out was 78 , its a closed bow looks to be 20 foot, just got two old skidoos out of the way tonight , uncle was taking them to the junk yard !! the hull is in really reat shape , the rest is all junk . floors ,seats, and i am thinking motor also !!!!

What i was looking for is some info on the older crownline ?? did a google and didnt turn up much but the newer stuff !! can anyone help
colors of her are really light blue and white stripe, thanks all John

 

[TimBobCom]

Re: Help with a older crownline

You better post some pictures of this boat. I don't believe Crownline was even around in 1978, if I remember correctly from when I was looking at them they started in about 1992.

Sounds like you have inherited a nice project. Take lots of pictures of the restoration for us to drool over.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Help with a older crownline

Crownline is/was a great boat,along the same lines as a celebrity.Solid hull/great fit & finish ect....but a '78....as stated above i dont think they started production until 91 /92 .....unless the name was used by a different builder and was taken over,my opinion is unless you have alot of cash & time....have it follow the skidoo's......

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Help with a older crownline

ok guys , I will head over there after work !! I could have swear thats what it was , but i will look agin !!I will take he camera !! thanks John

 

[RollingWanderer]

Re: Help with a older crownline

The other posters have been correct...Crownlines first boat was made in 1991. I've heard rumors that many of the people that help start Crownline had left Celebrity (which was just a few miles up the road) to help start the new company. Celebrity boats were made in Benton, IL and Crownline was started in Whittington, IL...a whole 7 miles away. Crownline eventually moved to West Frankfort, IL, which is only a few more miles away. Another historical tidbit was that Celebrity was bought by BRP in ~1995. BRP is the maker of Can-Am and SeaDoo. I've often wondered if the people who left Celebrity to start Crownline had some knowledge that Celebrity was either heading downhill or actively courting a buyout.

Enjoy your "new to you" boat, and let us know what it is when you find out.

-RW

 

[marine4003]

Re: Help with a older crownline

What happened was..Celebrity started using Yamaha I/O motors that had designs stolen from OMC , Yamaha was fined and wasn't allowed to sell or manufacture motors (I/O's) for 15 yrs...the resulting lawsuits sunk Celebrity..so Crownline was started....both are some of the best built boats out there.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Help with a older crownline

Ok here the pics , She is a 1968 crownline , she got a merc, not sure the Hp in it didnt get brave enough to lift the dog house !!

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Help with a older crownline

any one with any info on this Please let me know !! here are a few more pics !!

Thanks all John

 

[tmh]

Re: Help with a older crownline

The other posters have been correct...Crownlines first boat was made in 1991. Crownline eventually moved to West Frankfort, IL, which is only a few more miles away.
-RW

Well, as a Mark twain Boat ownerBoat company history is very interesting and tangled.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Help with a older crownline

Hay does anypne have anymore info on this ?? thanks John

 

[marine4003]

Re: Help with a older crownline

Great Boat John.....I would try Empire Boats...I think its a Empire...and a "crownline" model hull..???? in any case she looks like a good candidate for a re-store !!

 

[td8]

Re: Help with a older crownline

Go to http://www.fiberglassics.com/ anything you wanna know about older boats.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Help with a older crownline

Go to http://www.fiberglassics.com/ anything you wanna know about older boats.

Thanks td8 , they didnt have much on the crownline , did ask to sign up !! thanks john

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Help with a older crownline

I had an identical Crownline to the one in the picture right down to both the color and long trumpet horn. It was a 1969 on the registration. 140 HP Merc I/O 4 cylinder. About 15 or so years ago my wife told me I had a total of 13 items (six dogs, six boats, and one wife) and one of them had to go. Dogs were good hunters, I didn't feel like cooking for myself so the Crownline went. It is still sitting in a guys backyard about 12 miles down the road but I have not seen it moved in about 5 years now.

Put a lot of hours on that old boat in the 70's and 80's. Always ran well but it was a little bit of a pounder in choppy water.