1956 chris craft continental

[Barry Wolk]

A new decision to make. I contacted the Mariner's Museum to obtain the "hull card". They have all the CC records.

The records show that the boat was originally equipped with a Chris Craft "KFL" 131-horsepower in-line 6-cylinder, not the 283 Chevy V-8 I thought it originally had. That changes things.

Now I have four choices:

1. Reinstall the Crusader Model 165 V-6 for a 34 hp increase over the original engine. Least amount of work and least expensive option.

2. Install a period-correct 283 Chevy, 185 hp V8 for a 54 horsepower increase. Sweet V8-burble and was legitimately installed in the exact same boat 2 years later.

3. Go electric. Peak 200 horsepower for 1 hour or cruise all day at 8-10 knots. Silent operation. No pollution, if you discount what it took to make the electricity. Good for someone with a short attention span, like me. Probably the most expensive option.

4. Find, rebuild, restore and install an original KFL engine. I might find someone willing to trade the low-hour Crusader engine for a re-buildable KFL. This too, could be an expensive option, however, I have found two rebuilt motors for around $5,000 ea.

This option would probably increase the value of the boat but, more importantly, would kind of restore its soul, so to speak. That has some value to me.

Except for the lower horsepower, I'm having trouble seeing a downside to taking it back to its original configuration.

[David55cobra]

I love that combo in the picture - a continental towing a continental,,, you get lots and lots of style points for that one !!!
I agree about bringing back these old Chris's and enjoying them. I have done quite a few, left them looking stock on the outside, but as they were all in need of a lot of work, I updated all the innerds to make things like wiring neater and more reliable. Its fun to be out on the water with these old classics, but not much fun to be constantly towed in because of worn out parts letting go at strange/untimely/inconvenient moments !

[David55cobra]

I love that combo in the picture - a continental towing a continental,,, you get lots and lots of style points for that one !!!
I agree about bringing back these old Chris's and enjoying them. I have done quite a few, left them looking stock on the outside, but as they were all in need of a lot of work, I updated all the innerds to make things like wiring neater and more reliable. Its fun to be out on the water with these old classics, but not much fun to be constantly towed in because of worn out parts letting go at strange/untimely/inconvenient moments !