1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 refit

[Timeless72]

Right on! Even better looking in the water.

 

[q240z]

Wow. Guys...thanks so much for all your kind words. Through the whole refit (thus far...it ain't done yet) the kudos I'd get were a terrific psychological boost, especially since I try to keep the blog and posts that link to it positive. The pain and suffering I've written about is a small fraction of the whole. lol

The missus and I sat on the bow seat this afternoon for the first time ever, just enjoying the view despite the hot and humid Maryland summer weather. The bow seat is at the perfect height (Chris Craft made them too low) and it's just a really nice place to sit.

It seems silly to write something like that, but our fundamental plan for the boat was to remake it the way we want it. And raising the seat 3" was one of hundreds of things we did to make this Roamer our own.

Anyway, the engines light off so fast, it's amazing. The missus was onboard today getting ready for the big passage to our home port. When I started the engines, her eyes went wide open and she said "That started faster than my Subaru!" If the missus notices something mechanical like that, you know it's impressive.

That said, I don't want to get a $10,000 ticket from the Coasties, so I finally got the transom name installed. As I was writing that now, it seems to me that $10,000 is a cruel and unusual punishment if the USCG catches you navigating a documented vessel without the name and home port on the transom. Such is the state of our republic.

Anyway, it turned out fine and now we're 100% legal. And in the process of getting the USCG documentation up to date, I learned there were far more previous owners of this boat than I previously believed.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Installing the Transom Name and Home Port

Cheers,
Q

 

[sgharford]

Perfect name for the perfect boat!

 

[q240z]

Thanks!

In preparation for moving the boat, I wanted to get a depth sounder head unit installed while I waited for the new seacock. I've had the "new" transponder installed since 2009...only used once! While I was in the helm wiring chase, I decided to remove the rat's nest of wires for the tent alarm system. It looks much better without that.


1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Retiring Tent Model XXX’s Alarm System & Depth Sounder Install


Cheers,
Q


Before

After

 

[q240z]

Can it be true? The entire central terminal block had useless wires attached?

Thanks DAN!

Useless might be a bit harsh. There are things that were installed, like the OEM autopilot, that aren't on the boat anymore. The wires to them served a purpose. Maybe 'obsolete' is more accurate?

But in any case, I agree with you that it looks much better with the alarm stuff gone.

 

[Beachcomber]

Thanks DAN!

Useless might be a bit harsh. There are things that were installed, like the OEM autopilot, that aren't on the boat anymore. The wires to them served a purpose. Maybe 'obsolete' is more accurate?

But in any case, I agree with you that it looks much better with the alarm stuff gone.

Abandoned in place.

 

[q240z]

Yup. Definitely abandoned in place. Not worth the effort to remove, though I may repurpose them as the refit continues.

That said...drumroll please...we made the transit from Deale to Port Tobacco, MD, yesterday. 108 miles in 7 hours 45 minutes, from cast off to tie off, with two hours of idling at 6 kts through snotty Chesapeake yaya at the Patuxent River confluence. The rest of the time we were cruising at ~15.5 kts @ ~1850 RPM. This is the first big boat I've owned that felt like it was effortlessly moving us along at that pace.

I'm beat. It's been a very busy and stressful last few weeks. But now the boat's only 15 minutes away from my house, and it's floating and can fire up and go anytime...much better than slogging away in a plastic tent an hour away. (video link at the linked blog page; I'm having problems getting my videos to post properly)

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Transiting to Our Home Port!

Cheers,
Q

15.5 knot cruise

Moored at our new home port

 

[warrenw]

Q,

Just awesome watching that video, she looks like she runs quite nicely! Congratulations!

 

[q240z]

Thanks Warren!

 

[Captain Ralph]

...drumroll please...

15.5 knot cruise

drumroll??
How about a big ole Marching Band.
WOW!!

Imagine, just splashing a boat after so many years.
So much work; used engines installed, every hose replaced, every wire replaced or fondled with, whole boat preped-painted, everything reassembled.
Then a long run, near rite after splashing.
ZERO issues.

 

[Captain Ralph]

When can you come down to work on my boat??
Or too young for you, she is only a 45 year old plastic Bertram.

 

[nor'easter]

What perseverance! Well done. She looks like she moves well and the engines are loafing. Congrats!

 

[q240z]

Thanks guys!

I've been rigging the boat for the new slip. My brand new Hubbel 125/250 50a shore power cord won't work in this double 30a marina. The finger pier is only 8' long and it's on the port side, but the power pedestal is on the starboard side, so the cord has to dangle from the main pier to the starboard safety rail. I decided to just use two 30a cords because they're each much lighter than the big 50a cord.

I'm also cutting the dock lines to just the right length, so I generally won't be using fenders. Just tie up each line after docking, and when you're done the boat will be naturally centered between the pilings.

I've got to figure out a stair solution, too. Climbing up the transom steps is doable but a pain. The problem is that my side decks end ~10' from the back edge of the swim platform. With only an 8' finger pier, any steps I make will have to be cantilevered out over the water.

Cheers,
Q

 

[bigbill]

might be easier and safer to add to the finger pier if the marina will allow you too

 

[jim rosenthal]

Looking at the photo of your boat in her slip, the problem is clear. Could a Marquipt tide ladder solve the problem? It would have to reach from the side of the boat back to the finger pier, and hasve enough reach to be solidly on the end of the finger pier.
Or supposing you built steps with a platform that extended forward, and mounted them solidly to the finger pier?

What's on the other side of the boat, the stbd side? Is the situation any better over there?

 

[Captain Ralph]

I have witnessed some short finger piers but this one takes the cake. That is the most useless dock I have ever seen.
Is this the standard for your area?
Can you cut that bump off and lay on the main dock?

 

[Captain Ralph]

I'm back to earth now.
How about a long tide ladder, passerelle of fixed gangway servicing the stern?

 

[jim rosenthal]

Something like that. The finger pier appears useless. It certainly wasn't designed with this boat in mind, or anything like it.

I don't think this is the standard, though. Other marinas on the Chesapeake have much more normal pier arrangements.

 

[q240z]

What's on the other side of the boat, the stbd side? Is the situation any better over there?

There are four pilings on the starboard side, so that's no help. As it is, I can step from the stubby finger pier onto the transom steps, but that's basically climbing a ladder.

Mine is by far the biggest boat in the marina. Most are pontoons, ski boats, crabbers, and a few newer boats without side decks that are intended to be boarded via the transom.

 

[q240z]

Looks like Permafloat might offer a safe solution. Just add 4' to the finger pier and it's ready for steps.