| Macatawa Bay Boat Works
Restoration |
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| 1949
Chris Craft 22' Streamlined Sedan |
| One
the of the most beautiful proportioned, post-war designs, Chris-Craft
incorporated aircraft and automotive styling of the day to make this
beautiful sedan.
Macatawa Bay Boat Works is restoring
this well preserved, two-owner boat that in native to Northern Michigan
and very solid with all original wood and original stain from the
factory. The hull sides are made of cedar as mahogany was in short
supply after the War and were finished in white paint from the
factory. |
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Factory
Photo (above) |
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boat has been fitted with a new Crusader 350 cubic inch V-8 engine with
closed circuit cooling. This will allow us to add a automotive style
heater, concealed under the dash to make it a perfect boat for chilly
summer nights and crisp autumn days. |
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| Fresh
varnish over the original factory stain adds shine to this beauty. |
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| MBBW
took advantage of an unusually light winter and were able to do an initial
water test on January 11 with temperatures in the low 50's and a
completely open lake. The boat and engine performed well with five
passengers in the boat still delivering a top speed of 42 MPH according to
our GPS. |
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| Jon
has applied aviation cloth (Dacron) that was stapled and heat shrunken
over the top frame. West Epoxy was applied to the cloth to give
strength and make waterproof. The top will receive foam padding and
tan canvas cloth to give a factory original appearance. |
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| Nate
sands and vacuums the port hull side in preparation for its first coat of
white paint. |
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hull sides have a second coat of white applied. |
Restored chrome cutwater is dry fit.
A custom bird's eye maple dashboard will
wrap around the cockpit and extend all the way to the aft seat. It
is in progress and done in the style of the original pleated vinyl panels
that were installed by Chris Craft on this sedan and the 20' Custom.
A new custom-made, top feed stainless
steel fuel tank is installed for improved performance and safety.
The 4" exhaust for the new V-8 engine is being run below the
tank.
MBBW has designed and constructed a
custom motor box to match the custom interior, with a streamlined contour
to the back the matches the profile of the top and radius curved edges
that match the radius of the seat backs. Individual mahogany strips
were assembled at the corners with epoxy to make the gentle curve, the
vertical sides will be varnished mahogany while the curves and top will be
covered in navy blue leather to match the seat cushions. The engine
box is very light weight and yet strong.
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| From
here we will finish the custom interior with varnished Honduran
mahogany frame seating with Navy blue leather cushions, bird's eye maple dash board,
the curved back mahogany and leather engine box seen above, tan canvas
covered hard top and linoleum floors.
Please check back for more photos as the
progress continues ...
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