Chris Craft Commander Hall of Fame, Third Edition

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Chris Craft Commander Hall of Fame, Third Edition !


In order to speed up the loading of our main page, we got a suggestion from Bill Mulvey recently, and it was a good one. I decided to pull all these expandable photos off our main page and put them here. the original scheme was great, but too much of a good thing caused some computers to work very hard to load our front page, and this will solve the problem. Here you can see the consolidated image above, and you can click on the smaller expandable images below for a closer look. Thanks Bill, it was a good suggestion.

Enjoy!

Paul
forum moderator



Not everyone can access this forum while aboard their Commander, but Chris Wade can!
Now this is a properly equipped Commander!! Chris has a modified 38 Sport Fisherman,
with fabulous teak everywhere inside and out.


Tim Toth's beautifully maintained 427 marine motor, Sandusky, Ohio.
Tim sets the standard everyone else is trying to match when it comes to nicely
detailed original motors that actually start on the first touch of the ignition switch.


These cousins traveled 1000 miles to be with each other aboard Uncle Pauls 38' Commander Express.
These girls are now both a foot taller, but they still have memories aboard TRADITION, and you
can not put a price on fun like that.


A new 4-blade prop sized for speed and economy, with the added benefit of smoothness too.
When switching from a 3 blade to a 4 blade, the rule is to keep diameter the same but reduce
pitch in the 4 blade by two inches. Results vary between boats.


Didier and Ms. Bonnot, aboard a 27 Commander they discovered and subsequently restored in France.
Didier is the only guy we know who is cruising a Commander near Paris!


Paul LeRoux perfecting the official Chris Craft Commander Salute, aboard SEASPRAY somewhere in France.
Paul, thanks for showing us how it's done properly, we salute back to you!


Chris Wade in the process of replacing his teak toe rail on FEEL GOOD!
I've seen the finished product up close, and you need sun glasses!


Dean Beliveau, of Ontario, Canada (left) and two buddies working on a Carter AFB!
Hey, with help like this, those engines will start right up!


Terry and Donna Hart and their 45' Tournament Fisherman, BELLADONNA, circumnavigating Lake Huron.!
The Hart's presently have one of the most actively campaigned 45' Commanders in the country.


The 41' Commander belonging to Charles Fouquet, of Martinique, French West Indies, anchored in front of palm trees!
The boat was purchased in the US and shipped to the islands where it continues to show it's classy lines.


Curt Hill, of Portland, Oregon, aboard his 38' Sport Fisherman, with new electric tachometers!
I am convinced Curt is one of those guys who can literally "fix anything". An engineer by profession,
he's totally restored his 38' Sport Fisherman.


Janet Pletcher, of Nashville, TN, with her two visiting nieces aboard TRADITION, a 38' Express!
When you consider all the work that goes into maintaining a boat, times like this make it all worth it.


John Austin throwing spray aboard his awesome 45' Tournament Fisherman off the coast of California.
This is a fabulous photo!


Matt ODonnells 38' Flybridge Express, CHANGING CHANNELS, one of the best of the breed.
This boat recently served as the flagship for the largest gathering of Chris Craft Commanders ever,
at Huron, Ohio, which was Matt's initiative.


Didier Bonnot and children, somewhere near Paris, France, aboard their restored 27' Commander.
The tale of a Commander that ventured quite a ways from home, and is still providing pleasure to it's owners.


Dean Beliveau throws a post launching party in Ontario, Canada, after many years of restoration work!
Congratulations Dean, however, you need MORE champagne!


PRETENDER photographed making her way up the Hudson River. What a beautiful photo !
The classic lines of the original 38 Commander.


Steven's Dad is shown here with NICCOS 38 shortly after acquisition.
This is a 1971 model near the end of the original 38 production run !


Paul LeRoux putting the finishing touch on SEASPRAY, the official Chis Craft Commander Flagship of the English Channel !
Paul and Heidi Pigeon run this boat on the English Channel.


Dean Trathen shows how to pull a three blade prop with a six inch gear puller!
Is this not the look of joy! A bad day at the boat is better than a good day at the office!


Dave and Lily Varnadore saved MISS LILY, shown here under restoration.
The boat now feature a custom silk interior, new motors, and new fuel tanks !
This is one of the alltime great restoration stories.


BONAVENTURE, owned and restored by George Klein, showing off that beautiful paint job!
This boat has been owned by George for something like 25 years now!


SEASPRAY, our Commander Flagship of the English Channel, recently crossed the Channel
and cruised upriver to this beautiful village in France. Photo by Heidi Pigeon !
This is one of the more exotic locations we've seen graced by the lines of a classic Commander.


John Kloka's 35' Commander, shown at anchor on Lake St. Clair, next to Steve Lendzion's 42' Commander.
The water up on St. Clair looks every bit like it should be tropical.


Bill Policastro is planning on having his newly acquired 23' Commander on Lake Michigan later this season,
with fresh engine and new teak interior! This boat is powered by a fresh small block V8 through a V-drive transmission.


Take a second look at this beautiful hull, it looks like a Commander but this one is aluminum!
Eric Nordac recently restored this beautiful 37' Roamer. Eric, this is the "Commander Forum",
and not the club! You Roamer guys!!!


Charles Fouquet, of Martinique, French West Indies, recently rebuilt his 427 marine engines.


Matt O'Donnell got the ultimate look of appreciation from his young daughter, Michaela. GOOD JOB DAD!
I got the pleasure of meeting this gal in person at the Huron, Ohio, Commander Rendezvous. She is a sweetheart!


A beautifully painted marine 427, compliments of TS Clymer. When you open the hatches,
this says the owner has a lot of pride, and maintains the boat in ship shape condition!


Bill Murray has upgrade and detailed his small block Q motors.
Pride here too, and these small block motors are some of THE best marine motors ever produced.
They were furnished in lots of Commanders and boats from the Corsair Sport Boat Division of Chris Craft.



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