Just Bought This 1978 Chris Craft Cutlass Dory

[NautiqueJeff]

Because, you know, I don't have enough boats already...

I couldn't pass this one up though. Always wanted a Chris Craft Dory, and to find the cuddy cabin model at a great price, I had to grab it!

[MN Ryan]

Either your wife is a saint, or she has some major vice of her own!

Cool boat. What's "under the hood"?

[NautiqueJeff]

She is definitely very understanding...

Here's the current power. GM 305 (240 HP). Might be cool to swap in a PCM 409 or 450 at some point!

[Scooter G]

That is beast, cool rig, would love to see that smoothly busting through the haulover inlet with diet coke in hand.

[srock]

Single screw inboards are not what you want entering an inlet. If you cannot outrun the following wave and get caught from behind you will pitch pole. The last I watched from the Boynton Beach, Florida bridge was a dive boat that goes out twice daily. Single screw inboard. "Scotty, we need more power...I'm giving it all she got captain!"

[JDC02SANTE]

That's pretty sweet. Please tell me you have sweet Captain's hat.

Gonna paint it blue and yellow? Kids saw me looking at it and said, "I remember that movie".

[NautiqueJeff]

Drove through this mess yesterday to get to Maine to pick up this awesome little boat. Found out that the place where the boat is located is CLOSED until Tuesday! Now I get to sit in a hotel for five days and wait for them to open. Grrrrrr.

[MN Ryan]

Welcome to winter in the great, white North!

[NautiqueJeff]

I had a little time to play around with this boat today since I am waiting on parts for the two Ski Nautiques I am working on.

When I picked up this boat, it was FULL of snow and ice, and the engine compartment was open!!! I was not happy, but what could I do at that point? I thought for sure it would need a new engine after seeing that, since it was not clear whether it had been winterized or not. I assumed the worst.

Today was the first day I have really messed with this boat. I was happy to see that someone had installed quick-drains on the engine and the exhaust, which means winterization would only have taken a few minutes. Hopefully that means someone actually did it!

When I pulled a couple of quick-drains, very little water came out. That's a good sign, as long as the water didn't drain out of a crack in the block!

I didn't see any obvious cracks in the block, but you can't always tell. The oil looked great, not watery, but it hadn't run yet, so that doesn't really tell us anything either.

I charged the batteries up, and pumped the throttle a little bit, hit the starter, and it fired right up!!! It was out of the water, so I didn't run it long at all, but it started! That's no guarantee that the block isn't cracked, but it is definitely a good sign!

The boat needs a prop, shaft and strut before I can water test it, so now I am motivated to get that work done!

[Scooter G]

Nice job Jeff, good project.
Really doesn't look in too rough of shape for a '78 (especially compared to your '18 resto), good find

[NautiqueJeff]

For anyone interested in an update on this boat, check out the thread below.

We tried to water test it today, but the carb was leaking badly, so it came off and went out for a rebuild. We'll try again soon.

https://www.silvercovemarine.com/pos...t-cutlass-dory