Chris, I’ve been watching for quite a while, you have been doing such a great job keeping that boat up! I’m so envious! That is a beautiful Chris Craft!
Hey Cullen- Thanks for the new posting, it's good to have another video from you!!! Warning! Danger! this comment is WAY longer then I intended, So sorry about that... As a former competitive swimmer, swim instructor, and lifeguard, swimming in brackish water can be scary for people who have not spent a lot of time in the water, so nice work. I'm always impressed how you have continuously conquered the new and unfamiliar challenges you face while living aboard. It's great to see you becoming more comfortable with handling "the 1st lady" of your life. I love the vessel you've chosen to me, occupies the "Goldielocks" zone. Specifically, it's versatility and what I feel is the perfect size for a "regular person". The hull plan is a great layout, large enough for live aboard, able to accommodate guests, and a reasonable fishing and/or scuba platform, considering the access to the transom, and ability walk around the entire length of the hull. I'm hopeful we'll get more video's of you adventuring out, exploring boat life. Although, I suspect it will be very limited now, because of the sad situation with fuel costs becoming so absurd I can't imagine how expensive operating costs are with twin screw 454's. Questions- (too many...) Since this is your primary residence, and sort of a mortgage, are you able to take advantage of the tax allowances? It would be cool to utilize it as a "business office" and write off even more of the operating expenses. Have you considered seeking sponsor & affiliate partnerships to help offset overall expenses? What are your favorite YT Boat Channels? Just a thought, Would you perhaps consider making a video of long range plans detailing what goals you'd like to do with her in the future such as- Bucket-list voyages? Fishing adventure? (I bet a partnership w/ existing YT angler channel could help increase your subs & views) Future equipment upgrades, dual anchors? Starlink? (see MV Freedom YT video...) Li-ion battery upgrades, AIS, GPS, other stuff, Overview of safety planning and equipment, (Don't forget tarps for emergencies...) and lastly, how you envision the vessel will figure into your lifestyle when (if) you have a family? Again sorry, I know I packed a lot into this comment. Fair winds, & safe voyages, Regards, Mo-
Hi! I always appreciate your comments, Mo. Although this one was caught by the automated filters I've set to weed out messages with political intent. I prefer to keep my channel purely boat centered and a haven from the ugly world around us. If it's in your heart to do so, I humbly request you edit your comment to remove that one small part. The essence of your intent would still be just as strong without the inflammatory parts. I did manually approve it because 99% was so good it was worth letting others see. Brackish waters are scary! Especially where alligators live. It's hard to hold your breath when your heart rate is elevated. This boat is an amazing experiment by Chris Craft that I wish they'd taken further with a new model, but they never did. I don't see much point in setting up a tax-centered business office here... And if I did I don't think that would sit well with me personally. I make a little extra money on RU-vid, but it's really just enough for a case of beer every now and then - not an entire loophole attempt. I have reached out to some potential sponsors, but currently my channel isn't at a point where that's a feasible option. And when it is, I'll be sure to put my viewers first and foremost, not taking a deal with anything that could take advantage of anyone. I can't imagine any future without this boat, really. I've got a lot of ideas for the next year or so, but I prefer to take everything as close to one day at a time as possible. Thanks again your comments are always top tier!
@@CullenCraft - Thanks for the response. I've edited my previous comment. Sorry about making the YT algorithm get unhappy. I'll make sure to not allow my frustration with the political happenings seep into any future comments.
You're right, it's not the best idea ever but I knew personally that no boat within 50 feet or so was connected to shore power (including my neighbors) and for my first time doing this, I liked to be as close to medical care as possible lol
Hi Cullen. They make a shallow depth diving system that doesn't ( or at least didn't used to ) require a diving license although training is recommended. It consists of a specialised compressor ( not for tires ) with 50 feet of air line terminating in a mouthpiece. Most are mounted in an inflatable ring and are powered by a 12v battery. The 50 ft line eliminates decompression requirements but allows you to stay down until you're finished or the battery dies. They are ideal for sport diving in shallow water and performing maintenance on the bottom of your boat. You might find them online but I would recommend a local dive shop. You can get GOOD QUALITY gear there for your other needs like mask, fins, wetsuits etc. and you can get professional training there as well as make friends with people who dive for any reason. The entry price may seem a little high but will pay for itself many times over as time goes on and you aren't paying professional prices for things you can do yourself. I never owned one myself but used them many times as a young man. Hell, I don't even know if they even sell them any more. Been a long time. But it is well worth checking out. There are many places where shallow water diving is a great adventure and there's nothing like serving up lobster and fish you caught yourself.
You should bring your boat to Pineapple Point. Lots of boaters to meet. There’s a large crowd every weekend. It’s a sandbar located just south of the doctors lake bridge on the west shore of the St Johns.
FAN-EFFIN-TASTIC!!! Nice work Cullen...you guys that get to leave your boats in the water year around have some different challenges, and this was a nice undertaking for you!
What is amazing is how many boats are still in the marina. I know that your marina is like every other one in the world, most boats just sit tied up and never go anywhere.
They're a very unique experiment for Chris Craft. Designed around interior space and comfort. It only lasted about 6 years, and I'm unsure how many were made. Although there were interior updates in the early 80's. Maybe those were because sales were dropping off? Maybe because they were booming? I've only met one Corinthian owner in person, and I still haven't seen his boat with my own eyes.
Another good job completed! Now throw them cigarettes away! I speak from experience, an acupuncture and hypnosis session back to back made it happen for me and have never had the desire since!
That water looks so murky where you keep your boat, so how did you see what you were doing... I think I would have waited until I hauled the boat out for bottom maintenance to do all that.. but I'm glad you got it all done
I grew up on a 1984 Chris Craft 315 Commander with two Mercruiser 340 ( 454 Chevy ) engines . I may buy the same boat except a 1986 . The gas prices may shy me away unless I charter it out .
Question ... even though you shut off all the power to your boat, I've always been told never to get in the water at a marina where other boats are powered hot to shore power ? From my understanding ,you can still get electrocuted ? Be careful diving that close to marina's brother .
That is solid advice. I know the caretaker of the boat next to me and his boat is not on shore power. And this area of the marina is fairly desolate, no other boats within about 80 to 100 feet. But you are correct! Thanks for the info.
I agree with the original comment, never swim in a marina. Regardless of the boat next to you salt water is an excellent conductor, any stray current from a faulty ground or incorrectly grounded boat will find you in the water. There are many cases of electrocution drownings in marinas. Please do not attempt this in the future.
I personally don't as I live in a cold / fresh water environment, so we pull our boats out in the winter . As far a divers good point , but just because they can doesn't necessarily mean they should. Happy boating everyone be safe
Looks like you enjoyed your afternoon! Don't you have a spot nearby where the water is clear, you could at least see what you're doing when you're diving. In the marina it's dark and the water looks like a cabbage soup!
@@CullenCraft Then you have to get used to swim in tea-looking water! How far are you from the ocean? Would it be reasonable to plan a boat trip down to the south, towards paradise tropical beaches? Do you think your engines could handle such a journey safely?
The engines aren't the problem, unfortunately the limiting factor is my commute to my 9-5. The last move already made things annoyingly distant, and the ocean or ICW is an hour away by car if I go to any reasonable marina. I think things will change in about a year.
@@CullenCraft Boats don't go as fast as cars, for sure, but the journey can be a pleasure too, if you're with good friends on board. I was thinking of a round trip on several days, say a one week trip. That said, one of the today's limits in the increasing price of gas, for a boat like yours. Enjoy the summer days and have fun!
Fuel is a constant in my mind. I can't do anything about its price, only plan around it. And trust me, I've got a lot of parallel plans depending on price.
I would be leery of doing this in the marina.. You dont know if something is mis wired, or a fault in the system.. Alot of people die this way. I don't do it in my marina, I would anchor and do it.
@@CullenCraft They can't rent to you unless you're certified. (But you could always attach a length of garden hose to your life ring, and then you have a snorkel that won't submerge and an infinite air supply)!
I just replaced my zincs for the first time underwater this weekend too! We went out and anchored shallow and wore weight belts so we could ‘walk’ under the boat and work on it that way. It made it so much easier, but we lost two hex wrenches in the process. Did you need to replace your button zincs on the trim tabs and rudder too, cause we did those at the same time as the shaft ones
@@CullenCraft If you need any maintenance help soon let me know! I’m moving my boat from Titusville to Sanford around the end of this month, so I’ll be passing through Jacksonville on like a week long cruise around the 26th or so. Let’s finally get together then!
If I was going to do that I'd need a big net under me to catch everything I dropped. Which would be everything I handled. *lol* Dude, you need to get some sun. You look like a visual EPIRB - Emergency Position - Indicating Radiating Boater. *lol*
