Our 1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: From Boatyard Ghost Ship to Concept to Execution.
Click the “Follow” link in the lower right corner to be notified when I post the next article. And feel free to hit the tip jar if you’d like to donate to the cause or just appreciate the information and/or entertainment I’m providing.
I’m using this blog to document the process by which our 1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 goes from being an unloved ghost ship that sat for 20 years in “Purgatory Row” of a Southern Maryland boatyard to a completely refitted vessel. I’ll show the process of dejunking, disassembly and demolition, during which we developed a final vision or concept for how we’d like it to turn out. This all started in late 2007.
The header picture for the blog is what we think the Roamer will look like when we’re done. It’s a heavily edited version of the picture below, the first one we ever took of the boat. Let’s hope my skills with the refit are better than my skills with MS Paint! 😉
Here’s where the 1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit Begins
1969chriscraftroamer46 
Its not a 69 its a 63 and rear closed in i helped my grandpa build
Sorry Scotty, but Chris Craft and the USCG disagree. My boat’s a ’69. I’ve got the invoices showing who owned the boat in the 1970s, and his name wasn’t Brown. The second gen 46 footer from Chris Craft wasn’t even on the drawing board in ’63.
Cheers,
Q
You are, of course, correct. I own a 1969 38ft Roamer Regal sedan cruiser. And happen to be president of the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club. Check us out at Chris-craft.org. Best of luck on your journey.
Oh my god!!! That is my grandpas 1963 chris craft houseboat ,missing since he died in 1992 .. name on it was Lottiepop. When went to trailer it it was gone been missing 24 yrs was lefty to me but could not find it.. where is this boat?? Yttocs@ymail.com please contact me i am Scotty Brown , boat was registered to a Richard W.Brown ( Montgomery County Sheriff) 52 yrs ..
Houseboat? Scotty, you need to up your meds, man. Do you not realize that Chris Craft hull numbers are trackable? The boat’s been USCG documented since the 1970s. Did you not read the blog article about the paperwork SNAFU? Do you not realize the research that went into this boat’s documentation?? You’re a fraud or delusional. Either way, I can’t help you. Go imagine somebody else’s boat is your grandfather’s, thief.
Q
I am looking at a 1970 58′ Roamer and had a question you might be able to help me with. Do you know what the height of your boat is from keel to the top of the roof? It appears that your hull and the 58 hull are pretty similar except for the length.
Hi Jamie.
I believe mine is about 18′, though it could be less. I can try to measure it next weekend if that helps.
Cheers,
Q
What a project! The old Roamers are my favorite. Following for inspiration on my project, 87 Sea Ray Amberjack. – lots’a teak on fiberglass – not a Roamer, but great boat for TN River weekends! Good luck on the project!
Thanks, Larry!
The Amberjack’s a cool boat!
Cheers,
Q
WOW!! Stumbled on this via the hull truth website. Very impressive work. Keep going, It’s looking great. Please keep up the blog, It’s like a great book but I don’t know the ending yet. I can’t wait to see the finished product. What a project!!
Thanks, Keith!
The site has been quiet for the past two months. I have enjoyed following your progress. I hope all is OK.
Please give us an update if you can.
Hi Mark.
Yes, the site has been awfully quiet since the theft in May. That hit has taken a lot of effort to recover from. Things are slowly coming around, though, so I hope to start posting again soon.
Cheers,
Q
Q
For sure were pulling for you out here in cyberspace. A lot of us are living a Roamer restoration vicariously thru yours! Let the momentum gain speed again!
Thanks!
Q,
Outstanding job! I’m restoring a 27′ not half the project you have on your hands there, but nonetheless, a fun project. Keep up the good work! I too will try to document my progress but I’m a newbie to this blogging thing, but think I will give it a try. Thanks for the inspiration!
Rich
That’s a beautiful boat you’ve got there, Rich. I had a 1967 Connie 52, so I understand your love of wood.
I hope to see you around.
Q
Q.
No posts for a couple months! I have really enjoyed watching the progress and I hope everything’s OK. Keep up the great work and let us know how it’s going.
Doug
Hi Doug. Yeah, everything’s been OK…just really cold. I’ve taken advantage of the time by planning the next big stuff. Since it’s finally warming up, I’m back in the saddle.
Stay tuned!
Q
Hey!
you are crazy and it is good to see that you stick to this habit.
Greetings from Germany,
Christoph and Regina
Your Roamer project looks great. You’re doing it better than they did it originally and better than most could afford to have done. You are well on your way to having a gorgeous custom boat. Metal, Paint and wood work looks terrific. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Greg! It’s always nice to hear encouragement!
Cheers,
Q
I know I’m a bit late to the news here, but just had to tell you that I remember that boat. If it’s the one I think it is, it was “free” in a boatyard near Crisfield, MD.
I live in Kansas and was on vacation headed to Tangier Is. VA. My grandparents were from Tangier and I try to get back that way every so often.
Good luck to you. The Chris Crafts and the Trumphy’s are really grand old yachts.
Hi Dave.
I don’t believe this Roamer ever stayed on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, though it may have visited there prior to 1985. That’s when the big freeze in Washington DC took out the raw water strainers and almost sank the boat. From there, she went to Coltons Point, MD, on the Potomac, which is where we found her in 2007.
What year did you last see the boat in Crisfield? It would be great to see if that boat is still there.
Cheers,
Q
That is amazing! The boat looks awesome. When is it float worthy???
Thanks! She’d be float ready much faster if you’d come out to the boatyard and help out!! 😉
Good luck, Sweetheart. Dad & I are confident that she will be beautiful!
xxoo Mom
Check out( Roamer Enterprises) .It’s a modern rebuild.
Hi Gary. It looks like Roamer Enterprises website domain name is for sale. But I remember seeing their stuff a few years back — pressure-treated lumber for their salon floor frames and square-cornered patch panels in the hull didn’t strike me as the right approach, but to each his own.
Wow! Very happy to have found your blog and to follow along with your adventures!
Groovy! I can’t wait to see the finished product! ;0)
I did a 1965 28′ Connie top to bottom and all in-between….It was all pleasure to bring her back she took 2nd in the WAMBO show in ’87 I used to love how she turned heads. Go for it and enjoy the journey and the “Ride”
I know what your in for!!!Good Luck and I am sure you will do great!!
Thanks! I’m off to the boatyard again today! 20*F…gotta love those torpedo kerosene heaters!