1952 Chris Craft Riviera Preservation

  • Eighteen feet long, with 6 foot 3 inch beam
  • Hull Number R-18-865, 131 HP Hercules KBL six-cylinder engine with three 1-bbl down-draft carburetors.
  • Chris-Craft built 1,210 18-foot Rivieras from 1950 through 1954
  • Purchased from her original owner
  • Other than two tiny “Dutchman” repairs and a new gas tank, every bit of her wood inside and out, including her bottom is original
  • Her gauges, upholstery, ceilings, hardware, windshield and engine are original
  • Snake Mountain Boatworks LLC executed her comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic preservation beginning in early 2014, and finishing in early August, 2015
  • Her new owners are enjoying her in Ohio and North Carolina.
1952 chris craft riviera bleaching

1952 Chris Craft Riviera How & Why of Bleaching at SMB

Ok, I am calendar challenged, still. Yes, the 25th, today, is Tuesday, not Wednesday. Sharing ...
1952 chris craft riviera bleaching 2

1952 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout Bleaching Day

It has been 18 hours since the last application of Kleen Strip wood bleach (50:50 ...
1952 chris craft riviera staining deck corina blonde

52 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout 18 Staining Deck Corina Blonde

We tested early this morning and the hull’s moisture content has dropped to a pretty ...
1952 chris craft riviera staining complete

’52 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout Staining Complete

We passed a significant milestone on the 1952 Chris-Craft Riviera runabout 18’ with completing staining ...
1952 chris craft riviera staining complete

1952 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout Staining Complete

We passed a significant milestone on the 1952 Chris-Craft Riviera runabout 18’ with completing staining ...
1952 chris craft riviera sealed first coat

’52 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout Sealed First Coat

As promised, here is the Riviera following applying the first coat of sealer. As I ...
1952 chris craft riviera sealed first coat

1952 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout Sealed First Coat

As promised, here is the Riviera following applying the first coat of sealer. As I ...
1952 chris craft riviera varnishing

1952 Chris Craft Riviera 18′ Runabout Varnishing

We allowed the Interlux Interprime Clear Sealer to cure in the paint/varnish clean room over ...
1952 chris craft riviera varnish

1952 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout Varnish Update

Varnishing the Chris-Craft 18’ Riviera Runabout began last Monday. Today, after RJ lightly hand-sanded the ...
rolling tipping coat 7 1952 chris craft riviera

Rolling Tipping Coat #7 on the ’52 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout

Here is the promised segment illustrating how we roll and tip, in this case coat ...
1952 chris craft riviera 8 coats varnish

’52 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout 8 Coats & Counting

We are one coat closer, and “only” seven more coats and three comprehensive sanding sessions ...
1952 chris craft riviera 8 coats varnish

1952 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout 8 Coats & Counting

We are one coat closer, and “only” seven more coats and three comprehensive sanding sessions ...
1952 chris craft riviera achieving flat

1952 Chris Craft Riviera Achieving Flat

RJ once again transformed the surfaces of the ’52 Chris-Craft Riviera Runabout to snow fields, ...
1952 chris craft riviera achieving flat

’52 Chris Craft Riviera Achieving Flat

RJ once again transformed the surfaces of the ’52 Chris-Craft Riviera Runabout to snow fields, ...
1952 chris craft riviera varnish

1952 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout Varnish Update

No, the 1952 Chris-Craft Riviera Runabout has not evaporated. She’s received a couple more coats ...
1952 chris craft riviera buffing

1952 Chris Craft Riviera 18′ Buffing Varnish RJ’s Triumph

RJ and John rolled and tipped coat number 14 of Pettit High-Build onto the decks ...
1952 chris craft riviera bright work

1952 Chris Craft Riviera Bright Work Milestone

RJ has reached the finish line on “his” Chris-Craft Riviera Runabout. The weeks of hard ...
sikaflex seams 1952 chris craft riviera

Sikaflex in Seams Follow up ’52 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout

In response to several requests to see how John does it, here is a follow-up ...
1952 chris craft how we fill deck seams

1952 Chris Craft Riviera How We Fill Deck Seams

As one of my guys loves to say, “She’s coming into it now.” The 1952 ...
1952 Chris Craft Riviera 18

1952 Chris Craft Riviera 18′ Project Update

Yes, the date is last week ... YouTube had a glitch and two clips did ...
1952 Chris Craft Riviera Outdoors

1952 Chris Craft Riviera Outdoors

Thank you for your interest and the “helpful” shots across my bow for trying to ...
1952 Chris Craft 18 foot Riviera 073115

1952 Chris Craft 18′ Riviera Preservation Complete

 We purchased this 1952 Chris-Craft 18-foot Riviera in the late autumn 2014. I could ...
1952 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout 18

1952 Chris Craft Riviera Runabout 18 Wow!

Today we harvest two long years of painstaking preservation of the almost completely original 1952 ...
1952 Chris Craft Riviera Road Trip

1952 Chris Craft Riviera Road Trip to Her New Home

Putting her on the market was truly a difficult decision for Shirley, my wife, and ...