1959 Chris Craft Constellation Renovation.... Raising the Quetzal

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-47423994-1', 'fortunecity.ws'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <center> <br> <div> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="http://ad.broadcaststation.net/ads/show_ad.php?width=728&height=90"></script> </div> </center> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=105 BGCOLOR="#66CCCC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04400690ezvthe.gif"> <div> <B>1959 Chris Craft Constellation Renovation.... Raising the Quetzal</B></div> <div>  http://www.bravenet.com/index.php?sourceid=00381505633680031299    <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> sw="none";sd="none";ref=""+escape(document.referrer); </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript1.2"> sw=screen.width;nav=navigator.appName; sc=(nav!="Netscape")?screen.colorDepth:screen.pixelDepth; </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> function doit(str) {document.writeln(str);} qs="&sw="+sw+"&sc="+sc+"&ref="+ref; url='http://counter49.bravenet.com/index.php?'; url += 'id=341580&usernum=4144125653&cpv=1'; curl='http://counter49.bravenet.com/counter.php?id=341580&usernum=4144125653'; doit('<a href="'+url+'" target="_top"><img border="0" src="'+curl+qs+'" /></a>') </script> <noscript> <a href="http://counter49.bravenet.com/index.php?id=341580&usernum=4144125653&cpv=1" target="_top"><img src="http://counter49.bravenet.com/counter.php?id=341580&usernum=4144125653" alt="Bravenet.com" border="0" /></a> </noscript>  </div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#66CCCC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="045c8212ezvthe.gif"> <bR> <div> Hello Everyone !</div> <bR> <div> You've reached the web site dedicated to the renovation and enjoyment of this classic 1959 Chris Craft Constellation.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Update 1-28-2004:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>STOP HERE !</B></div> <div> <B>You've got to check out "</B><A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Joes Page"><U><B>Joe's Page</B></U></A><B>"</B></div> <div> That's right... meet Joe, the soon to be famous boat guy.  Click here to view this amazing (and once again... soon to be famous)  member of Dwight's crew at work on the Quetzal.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Progress Report (with pictures) !</U></B></div> <bR> <div> For those of you who have been keeping up with us, you know that we took posession in September of 2001.  There were a number of "unforseen" problems with the boat... cracked frames, decks that were shot, more rot than anticipated, mechanical and electrical problems.  Basically, it's turned from a renovation to a rebuilding.  </div> <bR> <div> The boats interior is mostly in my garage and back barn in various stages of stripping, staining, sealing, and varnishing.  The cushions are here as well.  Laura is in the process of deciding on colors and fabrics (I vote for white vinyl).  </div> <bR> <div> The boat itself is north of us in Vickery, Ohio.  We've moved her to the barn of our "boat guy".... Dwight Davis.  Dwight does nothing but renovate old wooden boats.  He does great work and I trust him.  That pretty much says it all....  </div> <bR> <div> As of the end of January, 2004, the inside has been stripped out, down to the frames and batons.  We've got new frames and batons going in... engine work being done... bulkheads being torn out (because of rot).... and we're heading toward new decks.  The old hardtop has been torn off.  The cracked canvas cabin top has been removed.  And... the rotten planks have been taken off.  The starboard side wasn't nearly as bad as the port (and I don't have a good port side picture because of the way she sits in Dwight's barn).  The topside hardware has been taken off and is waiting to be either re-chromed... or just sanded down and repainted (depending on the fixture).</div> <bR> <div> Basically, we're knee deep in the project.  I'm going to try to chronicle each piece of the rebuild as best that I can.  However, there are so many things... big and small... going on at once, I know there'll be no way to hit them all.  If you've got an interest in a specific detail.... or need more information that I give in this website.... just click on the <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U><I>contact me</I></U></A> spots throughout the website.  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006633" FACE="Arial" ><I>Please note that we've changed our email address... so if you've got us in your address book, please make the appropriate changes.</I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> For more detailed photos of our various projects, take a look at our <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Album"><U>photo album</U></A> for shots of her being delivered...  and the various rebuild stages of the interior, deckhouse, port side, forward deck, and the interior.</div> <bR> <div> By the way, it's been great to hear from so many of you.  I haven't been keeping up my end of the bargain and posting your letters..... but I have tried to write back to everyone who's had a comment or question.</div> <bR> <div> Keep checking back for updates !</div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=375 BGCOLOR="#66CCCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="06604be0.jpg" border=0 width="260" height="190" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="079efbf0.jpg" border=0 width="239" height="191" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Editor's Note:  </B>First just let me say that I've heard from a great many of you about my lack of updates to this site......  Well guys I'm trying.... but admittedly not very hard.  Between boat work, family work, and real work, time is short.  We're well into the renovation.  The engines are out... as well as the tanks.  The transom is gone.  New frames are going in.  Bulkheads are being removed and rebuilt.  I've got some new shots posted.... as well as a few new pages detailing the progress.   Read the 'progress report' to the left.... sift through the new text below.... peek at the new pictures.</div> <bR> <div> This is the Quetzal as she sat until delivered to us in September of 2001.... and as she sits now, in the midst of her total rebuild.  She is a 35' Chris Craft Constellation, built in 1959.  According to our research, she spent most of her "private time" as a family yacht on the upper Mississippi River.  Some time ago, she was sold and used as a charter fishing boat.  Through various quirks of fate and time, the Quetzal now belongs to my wife, Laura, and I.  The Old Girl's new family consists of two small boys, and a couple of dogs.  Our goal is to bring our 'classic' back to 'family useable' shape.  This doesn't necessarily mean that the Quetzal will be restored to the museum quality that it had when originally launched.  Rather, the Quetzal will be<I><B> </B></I><I>renovated</I><I><B>.</B></I>  She'll be made strong and safe with an eye towards utility, economics, and yes, authenticity.  The young lady is now back in 'family service'.  She has boys to watch over, and owners to safely guide through the waters and islands of Lake Erie.</div> <bR> <div> Speaking of the owners, you should know that Laura and I are teachers.  I teach 8th grade History.  Laura teaches middle school kids with learning disabilities.  The decision of whether or not to undertake this project was a tough one. The two main hurdles for us to overcome..... it's expensive, and we've never worked on a wooden boat before.  Now, before you doom us to certain failure, let us assure you that we're fairly quick studies.  That, and we've been 'doomed to failure' by countless nay-sayers for countless projects. We've become fairly good plumbers, carpenters, cabinet makers and simple mechanics.  We're going to be just fine.  So, if you're one of those purists who can't conceive of people as inexperienced as us being up to this task, then please look for another web site.  If, on the other hand, you're helpful, supportive.... or just plain want to be part of this train wreck... then stick around.  We could use your insights and wisdom.</div> <bR> <div> So, what needs to be done ?  Does she even float, you ask.... </div> <bR> <div> To learn some of the specifics concerning the renovations to be done, just click on<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#CC0033" FACE="Arial" > <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About the Quetzal"><U><I>About the Quetzal</I></U></A></FONT><I>.</I><I><B>  </B></I>That section contains links, on the left side of the page, that will lead you to the various 'project pages'.  To see more "before photos", check out the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Album"><U><I>Photo Album</I></U></A></FONT><I>.</I><I><B>  </B></I>If you've got comments (for us or Chris Craft / Constellation owners in general), suggestions, renovation hints, questions, or donations and you'd like to mail or e-mail us directly, go to <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U><I>Contact Me</I></U></A></FONT>.  If you'd like a listing of some helpful reading material concerning wooden boat renovation, as well as a list of some decent web sites, then click on <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links"><U><I>Related Links</I></U></A></FONT><I>.</I></div> <bR> <div> Finally, Laura and I have been unable to find any web site dedicated solely to the renovation and maintenance of vintage Chris Craft Constellations.  Therefore, we're including a <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mailbag"><U><I>Mailbag</I></U></A></FONT> page for you to post your own specific questions and insights for the general 'Chris Craft' public.  All you have to do is e-mail us.  We'll post your letter and any replies that you may receive.  Depending on the volume we get, your posting will stay up for a month.  I should say, I think this page will work.  It's sort of an untested type of deal.  So what the heck, give it a test try !</div> <bR> <div> We hope you enjoy this site.  If there's anything we left out, or any additions that you think we should make, be sure to let us know.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About the Quetzal"><U>About the Quetzal</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Album"><U>Photo Album</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mailbag"><U>Mailbag</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links"><U>Related Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U>Contact Me</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Joes Page"><U>Joe's Page</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>    <SCRIPT>  </SCRIPT>  <form method="POST" action="http://mindit.netmind.com/mindit.shtml" target="_top"> <input type="hidden" name="SOURCE" value="511"> <input type="hidden" name="URL" value="http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/zennor/728/TlxTransfer.txt"> <input type="hidden" name="DOC_TITLE" value="quetzal3_site"> <input type="hidden" name="REDIRECT" value="http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/zennor/728/"> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"><tr><td align="center"> <font face="arial,helvetica" size="-1"><b>Click to receive email <br>when this web site is updated</b></font></td> </tr><tr><td align="center"> <input type="image" src="http://mindit.netmind.com/images/mindit511.gif" border="0"></td> </tr><tr><td align="center"> <font face="arial,helvetica" size="-2">•<b> Powered by <a href="http://www.netmind.com/" target="_top">NetMind</a> </b>•</font> </td></tr></table></form>   </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.trellix.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.trellix.com"><U><IMG SRC="04952280.gif" border=0 width="82" height="40" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>