87/88 Chris Craft 501

[sweet red]

Has anyone recently laid eyes on either of these in person? Either the one in N.Y, NY or Kent Narrows. I apologize, I've not yet figured out how to post a yachtworld link.

We have created a foundation which provides services to members of the military and their families, and this next boat will be gifted to the foundation for that purpose. I don't want to get too carried away with price, knowing as a 501 c asset, we can never sell it to regain the monetary investment.

The motor yacht style of Hatt and a few others(Chris Craft, Viking) fits our need for reliability and comfort. But price is an issue as the donation is out of our pockets.

Any feedback on the above CC's is most appreciated before we spend $$$ traveling from Minneapolis to see them.
Thanks again, everyone.

 

[pizzazsdaddy]

Hey Sweet Red
I haven't seen either boat, but the 501 is a good boat to consider strictly on the basis of layout. They seem to represent a pretty decent value. They all have pluses and minuses. The biggest plus is that the 501 has a single walk-in engine room. Huge Salon. And the Guest Staterooms are separated from the master by the engine room. A huge plus! Also check out the 50 Viking 1990-1993.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I happen to have been on this particular 501 in Maryland. Nice boat, I think it's worth your time to look her over. It's been kept up well, as I recall, and runs and shows nicely. I do not have an interest in this and I do not know the owner of the boat, although I might have met them in the past, years ago.

 

[sweet red]

I happen to have been on this particular 501 in Maryland. Nice boat, I think it's worth your time to look her over. It's been kept up well, as I recall, and runs and shows nicely. I do not have an interest in this and I do not know the owner of the boat, although I might have met them in the past, years ago.

I appreciate your honest feedback, thank you.

 

[bobk]

Some of the 50 CC's were plumbed with PB pipe and acetal fittings. Beware if the one you are looking at is among them. Replacing the plumbing can be an expense.

Bobk

 

[Docs Holiday]

I have owned. a 1989 CC 501, galley up for the last 13 years. The essential thing about these older boats is how well they have been maintained and how they have been used. If they have exceptionally low hours, I would be concerned if they have been run enough. Seals in motors, transmissions,steering, stabilizers dry out and rust. Take care and expect to replace a number of things once the boat goes from being a "dock queen" to a boat that you are going to actually use.

 

[Tim Powell]

I have owned. a 1989 CC 501, galley up for the last 13 years. The essential thing about these older boats is how well they have been maintained and how they have been used. If they have exceptionally low hours, I would be concerned if they have been run enough. Seals in motors, transmissions,steering, stabilizers dry out and rust. Take care and expect to replace a number of things once the boat goes from being a "dock queen" to a boat that you are going to actually use.

Amen AMEN AMEN !!! You will chase oil leakes for a couple of years. Monday i will be replacing the seal behind the harmonic balancer crank shaft one. It will take two days to do it. Darn Boats

 

[Boatsb]

I though they were both just rebuilt tIM?

 

[Tim Powell]

i though they were both just rebuilt tim?

they were rebuilt by western brancn 1 year warenty its gone

 

[Docs Holiday]

It's not just the motors. Having my boat out of the water for 18months (inside heated storage in south west harbor, Maine) it has taken me 6 months to get things back in order. I had to replace all the vacuflush duck bill valves, impellers, hoses that dried up and cracked, faucet seals, garbage disposal unit, had all 4 racor units cleaned, seals replaced and fuel scrubbed. Cooling system torn down and cleaned and new thermostats. I know some of this is routine maintenance but I will never again leave my boat unused like that. You would think that a boat with low hours should be in better shape because it hasn't been used but I believe it is better to have an older boat that has been used and maintained on a regular basis.