Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

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F14CRAZY

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I'm not new to this kind of stuff...but in a way, I am...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=272749&page=9

I've been thinking of owning a "classic" Chris Craft in this size for a long while but wasn't planning on buying one yet due to a car loan I'm still working on. But in the meantime I've tried to learn about classic Chris Crafts...there's a few wooden boats at our marina and I've asked about them and while they look awesome the upkeep of a wooden boats seems challenging. I also like the idea of a steel or aluminum Roamer. Or a fiberglass Commander or Catalina.

But at any rate during my break at work I check ebay for CC's every day...

...not quite a good idea :redface: St. Joseph and Benton Harbor aren't too far away from my Bayliner's home port of Grand Haven (up river about 10 miles on Lake Michigan). I scored the final bid at $620.

But no, I didn't buy it sight unseen. Last Saturday my girlfriend and I stopped by the boatyard its at and checked it out. Aside from the engine hatches the rear cockpit seems solid aside from this 2x4-looking board above the engines. These Coho's did NOT use wood in their stringers :D The listing and the yard said they were able to start the engines and that they run, though I was able to talk to the mechanic that fired it up and he said they were in good shape. The 7.5kw Kohler generator wouldn't start and thus its condition is unknown. I didn't get to hear it run or take it for a sea trial but at $620 I'll take their word for it. Engines are Chris Craft 327s w/ 230 hp.

The hull is glass along with most of the cabin structure. There is a small amount of wood around the windows that needs attention but aside from the sailplanes or whatever they're called on the cockpit gunwhales it all seems to be free of rot and just needs to be recaulked and painted.

I plan on having the yard launch it October 1st and piloting it back...crazy? Yes, I know. I'm going to do a good check of everything down below first. I figure with its two engines and my BoatUS towing plan that we ought to make it back fine. Once at my marina I'll store it there for the winter and poke at it a little. Again because I wasn't exactly planning to take on this project I won't be doing a full rehab but I'd like it sea worthy enough to keep it in the water and cruise the river at least.

Will keep you guys updated...
 

erwinner

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

WOW! That's a heck of a boat! As long as the hull is sound I don't see how a 10 mile trek (with the tow plan) should be that crazy.
Post lots of pics!
 

proshadetree

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

Who are you? have you been here before? Hey man where are the pics? I never did get to see any of the baylinner interior finished. I am still rocking mine and plan to do the interior this winter. I see the 2 foot itus bug has bit you also. How is the Buick? Welcome back and show that boat.
 

F14CRAZY

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

I don't know why but I forgot to post the ebay link...here it is

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1971-Chris-Craft-33-Coho-Another-Mans-Treasure-Boat-Auction-Pier-33-/310345635059?pt=Power_Motorboats&hash=item48420a94f3

St. Joseph to Grand Haven is more like a 75 mile trip by water...but hey, we've got twins. Counting I don't run it out of gas it ought to make it

And here's a general shot of my Capri's interior

View attachment 115187

The '74 LeSabre is still doing well. I had it out a few times this year including the Woodward Dream Cruise and the Grand Rapids cruise
 

boatnut74

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

That's a neat looking boat, I like the old Chris Crafts. Hope the trip home is uneventful, but it seems you have your basis covered. You really can't go wrong for $620, that's a steal.
 

ingalp01

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

$620.00 WoW... That's amazing... Good luck with her... I can't even look at something like that... By the time I was done, I'd have $20,000 grand in a $620.00 dollar boat... LOL... You got a great boat there. I hope you enjoy her...
 

ezmobee

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

That's a heck of a project, but could certainly be a sweet boat. Having seen your very nice work on the Bayliner, I'm sure this will be a fun project to watch. Good luck with it. Take lots of pics on your voyage!
 

oops!

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

hi f14....

how ya doing buddy........i can see that big "new to me" boat owner grin from here. lol

thats gonna be a long road ahead of you......but you can do it.

it took me 3 months to do a regal 30 with twins that had come up from davy jones locker.

what drives are on it? or is it inboard?

the mold in that area is really an issue.....wow. we had it bad in victoria bc....but nothing like that. gonna be a few days cleaning till you see what you have to work with.

but......it is gonna be one fantastic classic when its done.

cheers
oops
 

Huron Angler

Admiral
Joined
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6,025
Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

Great looking hull, nice score for $620:)

I think you're gonna like the view from the bridge:D

Good luck with the new rig!
 

wa_ssv197

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
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Messages
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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

The twin 327s should push that along pretty good. We spent 10 years refinishing a 40' 1967 CC with twin 428s and it moved really good.
 

proshadetree

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

Wow I am with opps buy stock in simple green. I just wish that was mine to clean uo though. I can wait to see the maiden voyage video. You are going to film it right? OK pics if you must. I really like your new boat. I think you are going to love it yourself.
 

F14CRAZY

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

$620.00 WoW... That's amazing... Good luck with her... I can't even look at something like that... By the time I was done, I'd have $20,000 grand in a $620.00 dollar boat... LOL... You got a great boat there. I hope you enjoy her...

haha that's probably what will end up happening. I'd love to go for a modern look, with the thickly varnished wood, halogen cup lights...but then again due to my budget I may just freshen things up for the time being

That's a heck of a project, but could certainly be a sweet boat. Having seen your very nice work on the Bayliner, I'm sure this will be a fun project to watch. Good luck with it. Take lots of pics on your voyage!

Definitely will

hi f14....

how ya doing buddy........i can see that big "new to me" boat owner grin from here. lol

thats gonna be a long road ahead of you......but you can do it.

it took me 3 months to do a regal 30 with twins that had come up from davy jones locker.

what drives are on it? or is it inboard?

the mold in that area is really an issue.....wow. we had it bad in victoria bc....but nothing like that. gonna be a few days cleaning till you see what you have to work with.

but......it is gonna be one fantastic classic when its done.

cheers
oops

Inboards. I'm pretty certain they're Paragon transmissions down there. It seems like bringing a garden hose and a deck brush inside would be the most effective way to clean the interior :D. It's baaaaaaaad.
 

F14CRAZY

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

Update: due to discovering one motor's bad we decided it wasn't the best idea to try to make it back on one, so I've found Anchorage marine of Holland that'll do the move this Tuesday for $750...stay tuned
 

proshadetree

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

Bad as in Shot? Man I hope you can salvage it and cut the cost down some. We had to drive the son in laws boat back on on mill the water pump impeller was installed backwards, no flow and ruined the housing. Could pull with the Baylinner if you had to. I watched a 25 Johnson on a 14 foot bass boat pull a 45 foot house boat.
 

F14CRAZY

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

Well the starboard engine's dipstick shows a crapload of water...how I forgot to check them before purchasing, I don't know. I know that it runs but certainly didn't want to run it 75 miles in that condition. My marina has a few 327s in the buildings and in a Sea Skiff in the yard so obtaining another shouldn't be a problem. Ill have to open it up and see what's cracked but I came across this repair method called metal stitching which I believe may work here

I thought about towing but its a long ways
 

F14CRAZY

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

The Coho survived the 75 mile trip from St. Joseph to Grand Haven

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Jeff of Anchorage Marine in Holland gave an excellent quote on hauling my vessel. He was pretty cool and knew what he was doing and would definitely suggest talking to him if you need a vessel moved by road

166897_10150352300357908_776442907_8134005_668133235_n.jpg


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I removed the remains of the flybridge windshield to get it under the height of a bridge on the way there

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F14CRAZY

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

I felt pretty special owning an oversized load lol

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and now at its new home

You've seen the good, now time for some of the ugly...

The varnished plywood deck on the flybridge itself is solid but is leaking into the cabin (and onto a convertible sofa). There's some sagging when stepping on it in certain places so I suspect there's some rotten beams inside the headliner. Notice the wood panel hanging in the back...the interior piece of ok but the exterior pieces are in bad shape

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I suspect that due to window leaks this wood at the base of the cabin windows has rotted in some places

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F14CRAZY

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

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Same story here. The cabin window next to the helm here was open a few inches and is cracked. It seems someone sawzalled some of the dashboard in a vain attempt to stop it

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Same spot but viewed from inside the forward cabin. Seems odd that while other CC models had wooden hulls and fiberglass cabin structures the Coho had a glass hull and a wooden cabin structure

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Some sections of the core for the side decks aren't in good shape, as pictured here in the forward cabin. The good thing is that they seem to be fairly "easy" to get to from inside the cabin so I'm thinking I can cut out the bad parts and epoxy new plywood from the inside. I could drill and countersink some screw holes on the exterior to hold the new plywood up to the bottom of the glass. Any objections?

310530_10150352305077908_776442907_8134051_965608222_n.jpg


I believe the electrics on board work, to some degree

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Lower helm is in good shape at least

293407_10150352305732908_776442907_8134061_181276908_n.jpg


Pure fiberglass stringers! They're hollow but huge
 

F14CRAZY

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

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Twin 327s...said to run good but starboard has a load of water in the oil. I'm going to suck out the pan contents this weekend and get some new oil in there and crank it over, at the least, along with search for the crack causing this and evaluating what can be done about it. I'm hoping for a head crack versus the block since from my research it seems that those don't take to brazing or welding very well. There's a metal stitching process but not sure if it can be applied in this case. Port hourmeter reads 2484 hours, starboard reads 3400+ :eek: Someone liked to cruise. Or trawl. Or keep the ignition on and listen to the VHF radio. Is there a reason why the V drive gear housing/clutch housing bigger on the starboard side?

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Shot of the bulkhead forward of the engine compartment which also serves as the rear cabin wall. As you can see it definitely needs replacement.

297895_10150352307212908_776442907_8134080_1713690910_n.jpg


Kohler 2.5KW electric plant. Not sure if it runs but I can tell compression is very low since I can easily turn it over by hand. I don't know the compression specs on these but I'm guessing thats a tad on the low side
 

F14CRAZY

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Re: Here we go...33' Chris Craft Catalina Coho sedan!

I plan on coming up with a tent structure or at least a tarp for the winter as soon as possible. I'll be working on it quite a bit till spring.

I'll get the water out of the starboard engine and try to locate the crack. Then remove the headliner and see if the beams in the cabin are bad and see if I should remove the flybridge and replace the deck. With that replaced I won't have to worry so much about water getting into the cabin. At the same time I'll pull out the gen and rebuild the rear wall/bulkhead. Next will be the rest of the wood in the cabin structure and side decks. I haven't drilled core samples but not all of the cabin wood is bad.

All fluids will be changed and engines will be tuned up. If the starboard engine isn't repairable these CC 327's are plentiful and even my marina has a few of them available. They have a JCB telehandler to aid in the heavy lifting.

Any comments or pointers so far?
 
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