Chris Craft Classic Boats
" BLUE MOON "
1966 38' Constellation Tri-Cabin Cruiser
![[ A Picture of Blue Moon ]](boat-d2.jpg)
Owned by John and Jeane Beschenbossel
Oakview Farm
1604 Governor Bridge Road
Davidsonville, Maryland 21035-1413
Phone : 301-261-4837 Cell : 202-423-7055
Until recently named " NIGHT HAWK " and owned by Bob and Doris Brady
COMPETION AWARDS
ABOUT NIGHT HAWK
LAYOUT AND SPECIFICATIONS
PICTURES
CHRIS CRAFT WEB SITES
About " Night Hawk "
"Night Hawk" is primarily a working family cruising boat. We have
logged over 11,000 nautical miles cruising, normally with our two
Persian cats "Cream Puff" and "Fuzzy", and we have recently added
"Squeeky", an American Short Hair. We work hard to maintain our
boat in as near "show" condition as possible considering her primary
purpose and are proud to show her and to participate in classic
wooden boat festivals and shows.
DESCRIPTION
"Night Hawk" is a 1966 38' Chris Craft Constellation Tri-Cabin
Cruiser with a beam of 13' and a draft of 3'. She is powered
by twin fresh water cooled 350 CID Chevrolet engines swinging
4-blade 22" x 22" props (upgraded from 327-F's in 1988 using
350 short blocks and all original externals). Her Kohler 6.5 KW
generator is also fresh water cooled and is original equipment.
The yacht is unique in that she has a raised varnished mahogany
"doghouse" aft, providing a large cushioned seating area while
allowing for ample headroom in the aft stateroom below. She sports
a white Stamoid bimini top over her bridge area and a removable
white Stamoid sun awning over her aft deck area.
The yacht has a mid-ship salon with large side windows, a V-birth cabin
with a hanging locker and 3-drawer bureau forward. There is a large
head with shower forward on the port side and a U-shaped galley on the
starboard side, a step down from the salon. The galley is fully
equipped with a three-burner electric range-oven, an under counter
refregerator with freezer, ample sink and counter space and large
storage cabinets for dishes, food, etc. The aft stateroom has twin bed
size bunks on either side. To port is a head with large linen closet and
a hanging locker. To starboard is a very large hanging locker and a
four-drawer bureau. A sit-down vanity with mirror is center aft
between the bunks. The main salon has a built-in divider with storage
space, two settees with a new table in between, and two swivel-rocker
chairs. The settees can be convertered to a double bunk, providing for a
total sleeping capacity of six in three separate rooms.
The engines, generator, water heater, etc., are located under the
salon deck, which has removable hatches allowing access to the
entire engine room. Heating/Air Conditioning and a Raritan
Lectra-San waste treatment system have been added.
HISTORY
"Night Hawk" is Hull No. 4 of only 20 of her model
built for the 1966 model year. She was actually
built in 1965 in Holland, Michigan, and first
delivered to McDaniels Yacht Basin, North East,
Maryland, in November of 1965 for Mr.
Norman Starkey, her first owner. Mr. Starkey
named her "Skylark III" and enjoyed the boat for
several years, selling her in 1973 to Mr. Edward Miller,
who renamed her "Mr. Ed III". She remained in a
covered slip at McDaniels during this entire
time. We bought the boat in 1975, renaming her
"Night Hawk", keeping her at our home
dock - in the open - during the summer months
and, until recent years, wintering her in a
covered slip at McDaniels. She now is birthed in a
covered slip at Jackson Marine's Shelter Cove Yacht Basin.
We bring her to our home dock most weekends in the summer,
from where we start our many cruises.
RESTORATION
"Night Hawk" has been meticulously maintained since we acquired
her in 1975. All exterior bright work, including the transom, are
sanded and re-varnished twice a year (using Interlux VC Plus 5
Varnish). Whenever reqired, areas are stripped, sanded, stained
with the original Chris Craft stain (Golden Walnut) and varnished
with 6 to 9 coats. The hull was originally smooth (double planked
mahogany), but the seams have now been routed, giving a beautiful
appearance. All hardware has been rechromed or replaced with
original Chris Craft parts. The original Nautolex decks have
been replaced with a painted fiberglass surface.
The interior, which is varnished mahogany throughout, has been
entirely stripped to bare wood, sanded, stained with the original
Chris Craft stain (Sable Walnut) and varnished with three coats
of Plus 5 and a final coat of Z-Spar Satin Sheen Varnish. This
project took three years, finishing in the spring of 1996. All
new lined curtains were custom made in 1995 and the entire interior
was recarpeted in the spring of 1997.
Improvements include a built-in AM/FM/Cassette Stereo System with
speakers in the salon and on the bridge. The system also has a
remote control on the bridge. The old separate faucets in the heads
have been replaced with varnished wood handle mixing faucets.
Other additions include a Coast Guard approved Raritan Lectra-San
waste treatment system, heating/air conditioning,
wiring for cable TV, remote controlled 7"
searchlight, Sumlog Speedometer/Odometer, VHF Radiotelephone,
PLOTTING Loran-C, depth sounder and a removable sun awning
for the aft deck.
SOME RECENT PROJECTS INCLUDE :
2003 - Complete Hull Refinishing (Z-Spar #101 Semi Gloss White)
2003 - Sanded and Varnished Transom (VC Plus 5 Varnish)
2003 - Sanded and Painted Bottom (Neptune)
2002 - Stripped Toe Rails to Bare Wood, Sanded, Stained and 7 Coats of Varnish
2002 - Sanded, Stained and Varnished "Doghouse"
2002 - Installed New Stainless Steel J-Molding Around "Doghouse" Windows
2002 - Sanded, Primed and Painted Deck
2001 - Complete Out of the Water Marine Survey
2001 - Stripped Off and Recovered Cabin Top with Nautolex
2001 - New Stamoid Bimini Top, Sides and Weathercloth
2001 - Varnished Exterior Brightwork (VC Plus 5 Varnish)
2000 - Complete Hull Refinishing (Z-Spar #101 Semi Gloss White)
2000 - Varnished Exterior Brightwork (Interlux VC Plus 5 Varnish)
2000 - Stripped Transom to bare wood, stained and varnished
2000 - Replaced white plastic name on transom with gold leaf
2000 - Removed all stainless steel rubrails, chafe guards, moldings, etc.
and polished to chrome-like finish with Walters Quick Step
Polishing System
1999 - Stripped Bottom to Bare Wood, Applied New Bottom Paint (Neptune)
|
Owned by John and Jeane Beschenbossel
Oakview Farm
1604 Governor Bridge Road
Davidsonville, Maryland 21035-1413
Phone : 301-261-4837 Cell : 202-423-7055
Until recently named " NIGHT HAWK " and owned by Bob and Doris Brady
COMPETION AWARDS
ABOUT NIGHT HAWK
LAYOUT AND SPECIFICATIONS
PICTURES
CHRIS CRAFT WEB SITES
COMPETION AWARDS
ABOUT NIGHT HAWK
LAYOUT AND SPECIFICATIONS
PICTURES
CHRIS CRAFT WEB SITES
ABOUT NIGHT HAWK
LAYOUT AND SPECIFICATIONS
PICTURES
CHRIS CRAFT WEB SITES
LAYOUT AND SPECIFICATIONS
PICTURES
CHRIS CRAFT WEB SITES
PICTURES
CHRIS CRAFT WEB SITES
CHRIS CRAFT WEB SITES
"Night Hawk" is primarily a working family cruising boat. We have logged over 11,000 nautical miles cruising, normally with our two Persian cats "Cream Puff" and "Fuzzy", and we have recently added "Squeeky", an American Short Hair. We work hard to maintain our boat in as near "show" condition as possible considering her primary purpose and are proud to show her and to participate in classic wooden boat festivals and shows.
DESCRIPTION |
"Night Hawk" is a 1966 38' Chris Craft Constellation Tri-Cabin
Cruiser with a beam of 13' and a draft of 3'. She is powered
by twin fresh water cooled 350 CID Chevrolet engines swinging
4-blade 22" x 22" props (upgraded from 327-F's in 1988 using
350 short blocks and all original externals). Her Kohler 6.5 KW
generator is also fresh water cooled and is original equipment.
The yacht is unique in that she has a raised varnished mahogany
"doghouse" aft, providing a large cushioned seating area while
allowing for ample headroom in the aft stateroom below. She sports
a white Stamoid bimini top over her bridge area and a removable
white Stamoid sun awning over her aft deck area.
The yacht has a mid-ship salon with large side windows, a V-birth cabin
with a hanging locker and 3-drawer bureau forward. There is a large
head with shower forward on the port side and a U-shaped galley on the
starboard side, a step down from the salon. The galley is fully
equipped with a three-burner electric range-oven, an under counter
refregerator with freezer, ample sink and counter space and large
storage cabinets for dishes, food, etc. The aft stateroom has twin bed
size bunks on either side. To port is a head with large linen closet and
a hanging locker. To starboard is a very large hanging locker and a
four-drawer bureau. A sit-down vanity with mirror is center aft
between the bunks. The main salon has a built-in divider with storage
space, two settees with a new table in between, and two swivel-rocker
chairs. The settees can be convertered to a double bunk, providing for a
total sleeping capacity of six in three separate rooms.
The engines, generator, water heater, etc., are located under the
salon deck, which has removable hatches allowing access to the
entire engine room. Heating/Air Conditioning and a Raritan
Lectra-San waste treatment system have been added.
"Night Hawk" is Hull No. 4 of only 20 of her model
built for the 1966 model year. She was actually
built in 1965 in Holland, Michigan, and first
delivered to McDaniels Yacht Basin, North East,
Maryland, in November of 1965 for Mr.
Norman Starkey, her first owner. Mr. Starkey
named her "Skylark III" and enjoyed the boat for
several years, selling her in 1973 to Mr. Edward Miller,
who renamed her "Mr. Ed III". She remained in a
covered slip at McDaniels during this entire
time. We bought the boat in 1975, renaming her
"Night Hawk", keeping her at our home
dock - in the open - during the summer months
and, until recent years, wintering her in a
covered slip at McDaniels. She now is birthed in a
covered slip at Jackson Marine's Shelter Cove Yacht Basin.
We bring her to our home dock most weekends in the summer,
from where we start our many cruises.
"Night Hawk" has been meticulously maintained since we acquired
her in 1975. All exterior bright work, including the transom, are
sanded and re-varnished twice a year (using Interlux VC Plus 5
Varnish). Whenever reqired, areas are stripped, sanded, stained
with the original Chris Craft stain (Golden Walnut) and varnished
with 6 to 9 coats. The hull was originally smooth (double planked
mahogany), but the seams have now been routed, giving a beautiful
appearance. All hardware has been rechromed or replaced with
original Chris Craft parts. The original Nautolex decks have
been replaced with a painted fiberglass surface.
The interior, which is varnished mahogany throughout, has been
entirely stripped to bare wood, sanded, stained with the original
Chris Craft stain (Sable Walnut) and varnished with three coats
of Plus 5 and a final coat of Z-Spar Satin Sheen Varnish. This
project took three years, finishing in the spring of 1996. All
new lined curtains were custom made in 1995 and the entire interior
was recarpeted in the spring of 1997.
Improvements include a built-in AM/FM/Cassette Stereo System with
speakers in the salon and on the bridge. The system also has a
remote control on the bridge. The old separate faucets in the heads
have been replaced with varnished wood handle mixing faucets.
Other additions include a Coast Guard approved Raritan Lectra-San
waste treatment system, heating/air conditioning,
wiring for cable TV, remote controlled 7"
searchlight, Sumlog Speedometer/Odometer, VHF Radiotelephone,
PLOTTING Loran-C, depth sounder and a removable sun awning
for the aft deck.
SOME RECENT PROJECTS INCLUDE :
2003 - Complete Hull Refinishing (Z-Spar #101 Semi Gloss White)
HISTORY
RESTORATION
2003 - Sanded and Varnished Transom (VC Plus 5 Varnish)
2003 - Sanded and Painted Bottom (Neptune)
2002 - Stripped Toe Rails to Bare Wood, Sanded, Stained and 7 Coats of Varnish
2002 - Sanded, Stained and Varnished "Doghouse"
2002 - Installed New Stainless Steel J-Molding Around "Doghouse" Windows
2002 - Sanded, Primed and Painted Deck
2001 - Complete Out of the Water Marine Survey
2001 - Stripped Off and Recovered Cabin Top with Nautolex
2001 - New Stamoid Bimini Top, Sides and Weathercloth
2001 - Varnished Exterior Brightwork (VC Plus 5 Varnish)
2000 - Complete Hull Refinishing (Z-Spar #101 Semi Gloss White)
2000 - Varnished Exterior Brightwork (Interlux VC Plus 5 Varnish)
2000 - Stripped Transom to bare wood, stained and varnished
2000 - Replaced white plastic name on transom with gold leaf
2000 - Removed all stainless steel rubrails, chafe guards, moldings, etc.
and polished to chrome-like finish with Walters Quick Step
Polishing System
1999 - Stripped Bottom to Bare Wood, Applied New Bottom Paint (Neptune)