Searching for Long Lost Chris Craft
 

Hello Everyone --

I am in search of my grandparents long lost Chris Craft. The boat is a 17' Chris Craft Sportsman. This boat had hull number CC-17-2508

This boat was bought at Irwin Marine, Alton Bay, Lake Winnipesaukee New Hampshire in 1956. It was sold in 1958 or 1959 at Lake Winnipesaukee also.

I was told it was sold to someone with the last name of Tilton,

My grandparents were from Middlebury CT, and used to vacation at "Prescott's" by Christmas Island.

I totally realize that this is a long shot. Needle in a haystack - but one never knows, right ?

A 60 year old, 17 ft wooden boat?

I'd say your chances to find the exact same boat is slim. You may find a similar boat, but the exact same hull?

If it did exist, it could be in almost any state. Too bad there wasn't a way to search by Hull ID, maybe you could find who last had it registered and start searching from there.

By the way, welcome to the forum! :)

Chris Craft Search
 

I have a 1938 19' Chris Craft custom runabout in very good condition. Most owners took care of these boats however some were left unused for various reasons and left to decay. Many have been restored. You might try contacting the people at ChrisCraft.org. Someone there may be able to assist you in your endeavor.
Best to you in your search.

I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic.

Now that's a GREAT line !!

Thanks for the giggle !!


.

Hello-

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I completely realize finding the exact boat is crazy, but stranger things have happened.

I am part of ChrisCraft.org. I have searched their database but there are no matches. I have contacted the NH registry. Do to privacy, all they can tell me is that it is not currently registered. Running out of avenues, so I figured I'd take a shot here.

I was hoping to at least get a lead on anyone named Tilton who had a cottage across the street from Christmas Island. That I think would be the biggest lead I could get if the boat does not exist in the registry.

Thanks !
Scott

If you're sure about the name and location, perhaps search the county registry of deeds, perhaps you can find a lead?

No new suggestions here but I wish you the best with the search. I think it's wicked cool.

Here ya go! All public knowledge on the net...


{names, addresses and phone numbers removed by request}

Shoot me an email richtilton@gmail.com. I will see what I can do to help you. The boat isn't here any longer. Rich Tilton

wow - thanks.
I had found some, but not these.

Appreciate it !!
Scott

Boat
 

I've tried to reply to this via my phone but doesn't look like it was posted. I will try to help you. Richtilton@gmail.com.

Rich

OK - Got some news - I think a nice lead.

The boat was most likely sold to a Roger Duhamel.

If that rings a bell to anyone, please let me know.

The boat was named At Last - I know that for sure

thx

Scott

Maybe
 

Roger Duhamel, (603) 893-6029, 8 Ave Sycamore, Salem, NH

TiltonBB -

thank you for the info - I appreciate it

do you think this is the guy - did he have a condo at Whispering Pines do you know ?

thanks again

Scott

-- P.S. - I appreciate all the help from this forum - amazing

I knew a Roger Duhamel from Nashua, now deceased. He had a sailboat in Meredith last I knew, but could have had a runabout in earlier years. I have a call in to an old friend who might know more.

This is very cool. Good luck with your search.

Amazing!
 

Original message posted at 10:25 am and all this information by 6:00 p.m.

I am impressed!

Hey -

Thank you for all the help -

I really appreciate it

Scott

For those of you who are interested - !

Got a new lead. I spoke to Roger Duhamel. His father had the boat until 1968. He remembers it well. It was given to the cousins in Groton, MA. That is where the trail ends at this point. He is asking the cousins what happened next. Pretty exciting !

Glad this is working out so far.

But, I would be inclined to remove the persons physical address and phone numbers; this is the internet after all.

Keep us posted. It would be really cool if you tracked it down.

Wayyyy cool !!

But TOTALLY agree with advice given by jbolty .....


that's what Private Messaging is for.



.

Any clue how to delete those addresses ?

Cant figure it out

here ya go
 

see ........ you will be given a finite amount of time to "Edit" when you go back to your post, on the bottom right of the text box where you normally would see "Quote" there will be an additional "button to "edit" .... if not ... too late, contact the Webmaster (although he is always lurking here too) LOL !!

As iShoot stated when he posted names and addresses the information supplied here was public and retrieved from the Internet in the first place

You can't delete those addresses because you did not post that info. ishoot308 or webmaster are the only ones that can remove that info from this thread.

Those addresses were posted publicly on the Internet. I see no difference with posting them here....

If sknowlton77 wants me to delete them for some weird reason he can PM me and I will delete, other than that they are staying up....or Don can take them down if he wants...

Dan

Is Ishoot308 a Moderator..? I thought the Webmaster did Everything....:look: Just wondering..NB

Because it was I Shoots post. You can only delete your own posts.

I was only answering a question posted by sknowleton.

Don't shoot the messenger

I think I understand that..but the Webmaster.. Or a Moderator can also delete posts. NO..? :look: NB

This is a really cool thread, hope the OP gets even more information than he has already. Great job by those that have helped.

I don't think any of us can delete posts (webmaster excepted of course) but you can return and edit your own posts.

If you START a NEW thread..you can Edit your first post...but you can't Delete it. Any post that you make afterward..in that tread...you CAN Edit OR Delete it. NB

Back to the original question. THE 1956 Chris-Craft 17' Sportsman:

If you have a copy of "The Real Runabouts III", by Bob Speltz, on Page 274, there is a picture and specs for that boat...and all the other Runabouts and Utilitys offered by Chris-Craft in 1956. The Sportsman was considered a "Utility". :) NB

EDIT: Cabin Cruisers not included.

I know you are looking for a specific boat, but I happen to find this:
https://moreboats.com/boats/chris-cr...portsman/53313

Good luck with your search. I think I know where our 1960 Chris Craft ski boat is but don't think the wife would be happy if I found it. My dad and I re-powered it with an oversized engine in the early 80's and it was shaking its self to pieces by the mid 90's. But I do miss it more now since we bought the cabin.

Yes you are right.

Hello -

* Dad sold the C*C * - funny you should give me that link. I actually talked to them a couple of weeks ago asking for the hull number on that boat, just in case someone has mistaken the year. The guy at Irwin was so cool. Checked it for me. I told him why I was asking- and he was able to go back to their records and found the actual bill of sale from when my grandfather bought the boat from Irwin and had traded in a Penn Yan for it.

I 'll have to go out and get that Reall Runabouts III book. Hadn't seen that one yet.

Pic of the boat from 1957 with my dad driving and my mom and their friends in the back. I have about 8 pics of the boat. This is the best one.

That's a great picture. I hope your luck continues and you can track the boat down.

Deeds are for real-estate. Titles are for vehicles. NH does not require titles for boats. A title search needs VIN, or equivalent in those states that do title a boat.

----

That's a nice pic. I've seen a couple boats like that around the lake but I don't know if they're original or reproductions. There's a boat museum and an annual antique boat-show. You may have some luck there.

We had a very similar Chris Craft in the mid 60's.

This sounds like a really fun treasure hunt!

With perseverance and optimism, you will stumble on the right person with the info you need at the right time.

Try emailing a short, easy to read flyer to all of the restoration outfits you can think of.

Im assuming there are people that have the leads that are not on the forum so you might even have to pound pavement as perhaps some may simply not do even email.

Have you talked to the NH boat museum, Scott Hayes, Mark Mason, Jeff Fay, Bob Valpie (pardon me if I misspelled the name) Bo Muller over in Sunapee? Just these people alone probably have info running as deep as Marianas trench.

Bound to be someone out there with additional nuggets of info.. this is just NH, try running out to bordering outfits in the neighboring states.


I know of two stories where folks have searched for cars and boats .. both have found what they were looking for :)




Better to fail knowing you tried to succeed than to not try at all.

in time, you will find it.

eyes on the prize:)

These boats do move around somewhat. I purchased mine in Minnesota, third owner. Definitely reach out to those who restore wood boats. Best on you search.

I am a retired workaholic, continuing aquaholic.

The suggestion to check the registry of deeds was to assist with locating someone by the name of Tilton who had a cottage across the street from Christmas Island (see post #5 this thread); it was not meant as a suggestion to look for documentation on the boat.

This was an interesting thread back in the summer. I wonder if the OP had any more luck in his search.

Definitely interested to see if OP has an update.

I'm searching for a particular boat as well. 1986 Wellcraft St. Tropez. It was sold in NH two or three years ago, so if anyone has any leads.. please PM. Maybe I'll make a thread about it depending upon where the search leads.

I saw a posting from late December on Craigslist for the long lost Chris Craft. http://nh.craigslist.org/boa/5935179378.html

I searched through the 2016 ACBS directory by hull number, year, length and name and was unable to find any information. Sorry! I think it's ridiculous that NH DMV considers registrations/titles to be private. IL and WI don't care at all. I'm also hunting for information on my boat and have hit a dead end with NH DMV.

I for one do not want ANY State, Local or Government agency making my private information PUBLIC.

Imagine if just anyone could "run my plates" to see who I am and where I live.

ok ok fine. They should be able to at least tell me the town. I can work on the research from there.

A compromise would be for DMV to forward your request to the current owner and let them decide if they want to respond. Seems like that would be worth a $10 fee or some such thing.

FOUND !!!
In an amazing chain of events, I have found the actual boat. Hull number matches my bill of sale !! It was sitting in a guys back yard for 40+ years. I now have the boat at my house. Thanks for all the help on the forum - it was the craigslist ad that found the boat

Awesome. Thanks for reporting back.

Picture?

Fantastic!
 

That's awesome!! How about posting some pics of your find. Would love to see no matter how a bad a shape she is in!!

Thanks!

Dan

Great! photos, photos, photos.

So cool. Yes, pictures please.

Wow....what a great outcome.....congrats.....pics please!

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