TOPIC: Almost Ready

The C-Rea (pronounced sea ray), a mid 50's Custom Craft is almost back in the water. This is her 3rd restoration. This time it was to Gel-Coat the 'Armor Glass' (fiberglass of the age). I was tired of painting.
The C-Rea was purchased in 1984 from a gent who poured his time and money into this 15' kit boat replacing it's thin ply deck with a 3/4" mahog planked one. It is a rare beauty.
You can see the inset "Flying Stern Transom" that was particular to this model of the Thunderbolt Series of CC's. These pontoons add extra lift to the start of any trip with this boat.
I have just got the '59 Mark 58A back from Thom Adams aka Dr. Frankenmerc. He restored it back to factory fresh. A true joy to work with, he even had the very rare hard to find deluxe trim with the original football SS bolts. I was lucky to find such a rare resource and wonderful guy. I am lucky as he is also restoring my '58 55E; X-Mas is around the corner!
I still have a few items to complete on the mark 58A, the emblem and the decals still need to be restored...more money.
The C-Rea is a nimble little rig; a true sports car on the water. It has a flat bottom but with chines that run to mid-section on the bottom and the splash rails it can cut a sharp turn.
This model, the Thunderbolt Sea-Going featured a curved Plexiglass windshield, one that I am fabricating now. It still has all the original accessories (I have the original invoice and catalog showing the accessories) including the bow light, stern light and steering wheel. The windshield hardware is also original.
I hope to have her in the water in the next couple of weeks.
I will post photos of her in the water.

more pics

one more

Brochure

Now THAT is a piece of Custom Craft history. She is absolutely beautiful. She needs to be at the Antique Boat Show in Clayton the first weekend in August. What a looker!

Brian

Absolutely beautiful Headley, great job. (Commendable giving "props" to Dr. Thom, he's helped MANY of us out through the years!) Can't wait to see some pics of that beauty on the water.

H: SWEET , SWEET package. Very collectible going forward. White Merc really sets the rig off. Makes me wish I grabbed a White MK 35 a few weeks ago (maybe $100), but no hulls to match at this time, space tight.

. Again congrats, have my vote of the day.

The C-Rea finally got wet this weekend, it was cold and windy but she couldn't wait any longer. She purred like a kitten from the start, then I pulled up the RPM's then she roared like a lion. That was the fastest I have ever gone in that boat, too rough to hold a GPS device so I am not sure what speed but it was crazy fast.
Thanks to Dr. Frankenmerc for the killer restoration, Peter at NY Marine for the decals, my buddy Mark for the new gel-coat and hard work on the hull and especially my wife who enables this sickness.

That is "ONE FINE RIDE" you have there !!

Beautiful combination.
White Mercs and wooden classics, nothing better. Well done.
Neil