| Macatawa Bay Boat Works
Restoration |
|
| 1969
Chris Craft 19' Commander Super Sport |
|
A rare early fiberglass performance boat by
Chris Craft. The Commander Super Sport was the forerunner to a later
model boat called the XK-19. Fiberglass was a new material for the
company that had made its name as the largest manufacturer of wood
boats. Chris Craft did not know how this new material and technology
would hold up or if it would stand the test of time, so they
over-engineered the hull. These early glass boat hulls were almost
bullet proof.
This boat came to us from the Kalamazoo,
Michigan area where it was rescued from a neighbor of the current owner,
where it had languished in a back yard under a tarp. The trailer has sunk
into the ground up to its axles. The current owner wants to return
the boat to its former glory and MBBW is up to
the task. |
 |
| It clear that
this boat was designed to compete with the Donzi 18' 2+3. It would
be interesting to put the two boats together for a performance
comparison. |
(factory photo of the Chris Craft
Commander Super Sport 19')
|
| The hull is
in good structural condition but will require a complete cosmetic
restoration. |
| We will
rebuild the original 327 Chris Craft V-8 engine and "V" drive,
the chrome has been replated, the interior will be reupholstered to
original specifications. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
| With much
structural reinforcement and cosmetic repair to the
hull (above), the boat was faired, sanded, primed and repainted to the
original correct factory color, a darker blue (see below). |
 |
 |
 |
| Here we see the
deck being taped of in preparation for the painting of the white
stripes. |
 |
| Fiberglass
restoration is done by our fiberglass specialist, Martin Bowker. |
 |
| White stripe has
been painted and now is being finished |
 |
 |
 |
| Hull sides
complete with new boot stripe at the waterline. |
 |
 |
 |
| The restored hull
sides came out very well, they are as smooth as glass and have that
"wet" look. |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Time to
install the rare 327Q engine with the Paragon "V" drive.
Both fully restored to better-than-new condition.
|
 |
| In goes the
engine ...
|
 |
| ... it is a
tight squeeze!
|
| ... but it
does fit in place
|
 |
| MBBW dry fits
the factory original fuel tank the fits neatly in the "V" of the
bilge. It has been complete restored and relined.
|
|
From here, MBBW makes repairs to the
dash board that has cracked in three separate pieces.
|
 |
 |
| Gauges
fully restored, cosmetically and mechanically, the tachometer shows the original
hours on the boat prior to complete restoration, only 85.2! |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
| Custom curved Plexiglas
windshield with buffed aluminum frame restored and
installed on the boat. |