UK Chris Craft Commander 31 refurbishment

Posted by Richard McCully on May 21, 2023 at 2:28pm in DISCUSSION FORUM

Hi All,

Overseas member of the club and Commander 31 owner who's always loved the styling and design of these fantastic boats - so glad to have been able to find one here in the UK.

Ours is a 1968 model, we believe built in the states, transported to the UK, back to Canada and now back in the UK so rather well travelled. She's running twin Perkins HT6354s rated at 150hp each and has suffered from a lack of maintenance over the years but now well on her way to being brought back to her glory.

I have a marine industry background so instead of going to the market we've started a marine specific wrapping business and Dragonfly is our first project. Check out the photos, interior next and then topsides plus all the original emblems are being re-chromed back to their original condition.

Richard

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Archivist

Charlene Pike May 21, 2023 at 2:37pm

Beautiful!!!
Richard McCully May 21, 2023 at 2:41pm

Thanks Charlene - would love to know how we can trace where she was built, I understand there were a number built under license in Italy. I'll post some before photos
Archivist
Charlene Pike May 21, 2023 at 3:25pm
Richard, Read the article on Demystifing Hull Numbers in the Spring 2023 edition of STYLED IN FIBERGLASS. That will give you some indication. Click HERE to download this and previous issues..

If you have the hull number, you can also order info from the Mariner's Museum for you specific boat. The hull card (like a car build sheet) will tell a lot.
- Mariner's Museum Library at Christopher Newport University in Newport News Virginia contains the largest collection of marine artifacts in the Western Hemisphere. The Chris Craft Corporation entrusted the records for YOUR boat to "The Mariners". http://www.marinersmuseum.org/library/#chris-craft
Chris-Craft Archives
(757) 591-7785
chriscraft@MarinersMuseum.org
Richard McCully May 21, 2023 at 3:30pm

Thanks Charlene, absolutely will do. Have been reading the latest release so will pick up on that article and hopefully uncover much more info on our Commander.!

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