Found the The Lost Ark....aka the "Ebb Tide"

[Converse48]

Nehalennia- You're lucky to have tracked this beauty down! And like many, I too have a weakness for the classic old wood cruisers. I grew up boating on my grandfather's 1952 38' Chris-Craft:

She was destroyed by fire in 1977 and this was one of the more rare Chris designs. I can't even find a replica, let alone the actual original.

Very cool indeed....

 

[Hampton]

Am I correct in reading that you're $1000 off in price? Is that right? My maintenance this week will be between 3 and 4000. That, my friend, is not a no-go. Give the 4000, if that's the only problem. 1000 is not worth one week's of memories.

If he's using emotions, it's our fault for letting him know about the sentiment, not his for abusing it.

 

[Sadler]

Thanks for sharing that Todd.

Sadler

 

[Nehalennia II]

THank you Sadler and everyone, I really appreciate the compassion

Prodigalson,
I'm sorry for your loss.

Hi Hampton.
What he is saying is that he will sell it for $3k but think there's $4k of "parts" aboard. The issue is what or where we can put it to restore it........I should sell future rides like the guys trying to sell tickets to space :smt101

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

Bitter sweet find. :smt009 Good luck with your decision. :smt017

 

[Hampton]

I'm still not sure I understand, but good luck with the choice. I am a real sucker for things like that. I was born to a military family and never had a place to call home, as I, too, am military. After being assigned to my birth place, I planted the stake. This is now and has for the last ten years been our home.

If's it do-able, make it happen. It could be a money pit and still have fond memories in bringing it back to life, as well as memories for future generations.

 

[Nehalennia II]

Nehalennia- You're lucky to have tracked this beauty down! And like many, I too have a weakness for the classic old wood cruisers. I grew up boating on my grandfather's 1952 38' Chris-Craft:

She was destroyed by fire in 1977 and this was one of the more rare Chris designs. I can't even find a replica, let alone the actual original.

Very cool indeed....

Do you mean like these old beauties?:

 

[Sundancer]

Todd:

I understand your predicament. I've been searching many years for a Smith Miniplane that my father built back in the 60's. If I find it, I'm buying without regard to price or lack of pilots license! I know I'll never get my money out of it, but it's like my own private museum piece.

The boat is similar and the price is reasonable. All you need is a place to store it until you do have time. It's obviously a well built boat. You don't see that many surviving from the 1950's. Chances are it will be around another 50 years with a little bit of care. As far as restoring it, you don't have to restore it ALL the way. Some of it can wait. Maybe you can work a deal to buy it from the guy and for a small fee he'll continue to store it and watch over it to alert you if it needs a new tarp or something.

Maybe you can swap the upgrade to 260 for the Ebb Tide? All I can suggest is how will you feel 1 to 10 years from now if you don't buy it and it is destroyed? I really don't think he'll destroy it, it's not like there is a boat crushing service you can call to have them come crush your boat! Still, just a perspective.

 

[MAKC]

to find your old boat like that must be incredible. Maybe its just me, but im a sucker for a project. No way id let that boat be crushed by that guy. For 3k, id find a spot to put it and work on. A family project that you can all put money into slowly while restoring it to her former glory. I've got a 1969 Mach1 Ford Mustang that ive put more money into than i can get out of it. But knowing i bought that car to give and share with my dad since he sold his when us kids were born, is a feeling of accomplishment and pride that is almost unequalled. Let your brothers, your cousins, and your uncle all chip in and make it a huge family project! If it was only about the money, none of us would have some of these silly little toys Good Luck with whatever path you choose.

Mike

 

[Kathyrau]

Todd - I finally got around to reading this post. The problem is -- you are not that old ! Although you obviously have the love and passion for the boat, I guess it takes getting older for you to really really understand why you just HAVE TO BUY THIS BOAT. :wink: Take it from us old farts that there is no decision here - you must buy this boat!

I am very interested in my family history but come from a long line of people who aren't! I have very little momentos of past generations and even things of my own childhood. To read your posts and see your pictures and video -- YOU ARE SO LUCKY to have found her. You will will regret passing this chance to buy her. Oh that video alone is so cool!!

Why don't you just get together a group of family, buy the boat, even work out a deal to have her stored with the current owner, and just take the time to talk through this all and really really think about whether you can pass it up. If you do decide to not restore her, it sounds like you won't loose any money by just parting her out.

This is a no brainer. You have been given a gift!! Todd, stop reading these posts and get working on your new purchase!! :wink:

Kathy

 

[Kathyrau]

Prodigalson - that is a wonderful old Chris Craft of your grandfather's. Your family must have died when the fire happened!

Right next door to our marina is Cozy Cove and on sunny Sundays this past summer, we just puttered out there and anchored and sat in the sun. Every time we did it there was a similar to yours old Chris Craft out there too and I just loved looking at it!

We have alot of old vintage boats on our lake and an active Classic Yacht Association here -- half of our fun of boating is just cruising around the lake and seeing them all out on good weather days!

Here is my favorite boat in our area - the Faun!!

http://www.classicyacht.org/pnw/pnwgallery/faun1.jpg


Kathy

 

[Bridog]

I'm with the rest...Get the boat! Don't let it slip away. What a great video too :thumbsup: I hope things work out for you.

 

[TIME WELL WASTED]

VERY COOL !!!! The video was great.
Hope you buy it!!!!':thumbsup:'

 

[Nehalennia II]

New update. We have found a barn near my house with a cement floor to store her in for restoration - rent free. My brother is working on the owner to trade a vehicle he has which the guy will be able to sell quicker than the boat. We'll see........cross your fingers.

 

[ylwjacket]

that's great news. good luck. :thumbsup:

i have to say, though, living in the most densely populated county in florida, i didn't understand the phrase 'barn near my house'. :smt043

 

[jrirvine1]

How about this for a crazy idea?

Now that you have secured an indoor place for the restoration, why not make this a volunteer project next winter? I’ll wager that you could find several bored boat fanatics with time on their hands, during the off season that would jump at the chance to work on this project. This would be fun, as long as it was semi warm to work and the beer was cold.

The Schooner Sultana, in Chestertown MD, was built using some volunteers along side of the skilled Boatwright’s. I actually went one day to lend a hand, but they didn’t need any additional help. The motivation was to learn something and be able to say “I helped build thatâ€.
http://www.sultanaprojects.org/

 

[Bridog]

Jim, That's a great idea!

 

[Nehalennia II]

Jim, Thank you.
I do like that. Funds are definitely not abundant, but the passion, cold beer and pride in our Grandfather and Great Uncle's craftsmanship certainly are.

Everyone else here @ CSR... Each and every one of you who has lent a nudge and has sent us the encouragement towards a rebirth of something wonderful is tremendously and truly appreciated.

Many of you who have seen my posted pictures have caught a glimpse into a world of boating I guarantee you have not experienced unless you have been here. Imagine nearly 60 years ago when my "Papa's" vision was to really explore our area revisiting the heritage of our Viking lineage with his twin brother. Yeah we're not true Viking's in the sense of its reputation, but our pride in that heritage being Icelandic scares the Canadian navy]
:smt043

We have sought this vessel for so many years truly missing the smell of the Fo’c’sle (hey where did I learn that word.....yes my Papa) and it's musty wafting smell of the manual bilge pump, fresh grapes above the aft closet, the three minutes of the blower running before he cranked the old Packard or later Small block Chev which currently resides in the belly, over, would then rumble to life and shortly after belch water from the exhaust. I miss the feeling of importance during my early teens hoisting the anchor for my Papa and Grandma when my Brother and I would take off for 2 weeks with them cruising the Puget Sound and southern BC without our Parents. After a couple weeks we would pick up our parents for a couple weeks.........a month later our cousins would swap our spots and they would run for another week or two.
Yes, as you can see by the launch video they made a much bigger deal out of the Christening of the vessel than I'm sure we all do now. Every family member and friend was there. I was happy to share it with my CSR brethren who appreciate the passion and memories. The deep seeded urge to recapture the tremendous amount of hard labor it took to build this bundle of wood, blood, sweat, ingenuity and said memories is begining to boil over.

Thank you all again. Cold beers to be had bring your dustmask

 

[Kathyrau]

Oh Todd, I was waiting to hear that you were still working on making this dream reality. THANKS for the update. You are kind to say we "nudged" you - I kinda thought I kicked you!!

You have something so special, so unique -- I know you know that -- and so important to preserve. It local history, family history, boating all rolled into one. This is so awesome and I'll say it again that your video is SO COOL!! (I am always trying to tell my children about how we got dressed up for everything and they look at me and say "huh?") :wink:

Keep it up! This is going to be one awesome project for you!! Yeah!!! :thumbsup:

Kathy

 

[keokie]

Todd, we all grow to regret many decisions in life. You will never regret this one.

I would love to have seen the video, but I could not get it to play. The pictures, though, are fantastic.

Keep us posted.