1/04
Attached are photos of a Crestliner I bought Labor day week end 2002.
I saw the boat just before the mother of a woman I work with put it
up for sale. I was immediately attracted to it even though it was
covered in several coats of very ugly paint
and decades of dirt and droppings. Also attached to the front
was a very odd car hood ornament.
Talking with the mother I found that the boat had just come out of
their barn where it had been since 1962. They had purchased the boat
new in 1957 and used it occasionally until '62 when they were blessed
with twin daughters. The boat had spent 40 years in the rafters of
their barn !
So, in the space of about 10 minutes I was totally hooked and decided
I had to buy it.
Then the mother casually asked if I might be interested in the motor
they bought with the boat. In the garage was a 1957 35 horse Johnson
in primo condition. It had been in her basement since '62, her late
husband starting it regularily to keep it in shape.
Being a person of modest means, I was worried that she would ask
more than I could afford and, in fact, her nephew had told her it
was worth $3000. Fortunately, she accepted my offer and we struck
a deal.
When I went to get the boat the lady asked me if I wanted the trailer
that they bought with the boat in '57. Yes, but I was a little short.
Oh, she said, you can have the trailer, it's not in very good
shape cause it's been sitting outside for years. I went back later
and got it plus 3 flathead Ford engines and a '46 Higgens bicycle.
My wife almost had a fit. Ha ! But, I think the trailer is salvageable.
Shortly after I bought the boat the lady brought me a bundle of photos
of the boat when they were enjoying it in the late '50's. She
said they used to have a lot of fun skiing behind it and that
it had no trouble pulling two skiers.
I've started stripping the paint but found it to be very tough. The
yellow primer is almost indestructable. The summer of '03 was a bust
because I crunched my knee and had to have surgery which slowed me
down for 12 weeks. Hopefully this year will prove to be more productive
and the Crestliner will float once more.
Your website is proving to be a great source for info and inspiration.
I've found that my boat is a Commodore model 820. I will attempt
to paint it in the factory paint scheme except I think I'll try natural
aluminum sides.
Thank you for your time and effort on your website. I'll send
occasional updates as work progresses.
John Brier, Grass Lake, Mi.
[email protected]
Restorations
by John Brier 
