| Bruce Kennedy, a
wooden-boat restoration expert from Cincinnati, called Davita Nowland,
owner of Nauticals of Marblehead, in April 1998 to tell her about all the
Mahogany Chris-Crafts that are not good candidates for restoration,
abandoned along the Ohio River.
The eventual fate of these forgotten vessels is demolition, after they
have been picked clean of any real treasure. It killed Bruce to see the
mahogany and teak go to waste.
Although he restored classic wooden boats himself, Bruce wouldn't get
involved in a boat like BUCKEYE because she is not considered historic,
rare or popular today - unlike the smaller, sexy Chris-Craft Runabouts
which are considered very restorable. |
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BUCKEYE
Chris-Craft
Capitan 29'
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BUCKEYE was built in Holland, Michigan, in 1955 by one of the
largest producers of powerboats in the 50's -
Chris-Craft.
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By 1998 BUCKEYE was waiting in vain along the Ohio River for a
caring owner with deep pockets for the restoration work she needed.
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Bruce Kennedy took BUCKEYE apart and brought her to Montgomery's
Boat Yard in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in July 1998 in big pieces
on a trailer (shown here with Trevor).
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When a boat's
perceived market value is less than what it needs for restoration, it
becomes a good candidate for Nauticals of Marblehead.
On Bruce's invitation, Davita went to Cincinnati to tour the banks of
the Ohio where these boats lay broken and forgotten. BUCKEYE was in the
best shape of all the boats they saw that day.
Davita decided BUCKEYE's mahogany hull and teak deck would be perfect
for large tables and surfaces and her bow and stern would make enchanting
bars.
If you'd like more information about Chris-Craft and this boat, you can
contact the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, VA. Phone (757) 956-2222,
reference hull number CD-29-013. |
