1958 Century Coronado

[Alton Bay]

The owner of the Coronado in Alton Bay is active with the Antique Boat Museum. The museum folks might be helpful resources in finding information about the boat.

[rgilfert]

NoBozo: The "Fashion Plate" wearing the sunglasses is my Mom...and you guessed it...I'm the kid at her side pointing at something. My Grandfather is at the wheel...and if I'm not mistaken...I can just see a piece of my Grandma's hat next to him in the front seat. If that is her....this would be one of only a VERY few trips that she ever took in the boat. She couldn't swim and hated to be out in boats!

[Fargo]

Hey rgilfert you and I are the same age. I started working at Channel Marine when I turned 14 and stayed thru college. I'm sure I changed the oil on that boat at some time. Great memories.

[rgilfert]

Fargo: The similarities continue....I was the gas boy at what is now Trexler's Marina under the Long Island Bridge (I believe however that it was still Prince Marina at the time) the summer of 1968 (just prior to my freshman year in college). Other summers (1969 & 70) I worked as a stock boy at a general store in Melvin Village. You're right...Outstanding memories!!

[ghfromaltonbay]

Originally Posted by Alton Bay

The owner of the Coronado in Alton Bay is active with the Antique Boat Museum. The museum folks might be helpful resources in finding information about the boat.

I know the owner of the Coronado in near Sandy Point. He's a NJ transplant (lucky him). I planned to speak to him when I get back to Alton Bay about finding more info about the 1958's. He's a wealth of knowledge..

[chillininnh]

I have had the pleasure of being around wood boats my whole life. My brother has a 1957 Century Coronado that Scott Hayes at Hi-Gloss Boat Restoration restored to absolute perfection. Cruising the lake in these beauties really does take you back in time, I love it.

[Matty67]

The 59 Coronado belonged to my dad -(Cascades) mostly white like mentioned ,Don Purdy had the 57 Coro without a roof (50 Special) and Gordon Oickle had a 57 with the roof (Bonnie Lee) all great boats in the eary time in Alton Bay!

[coronado]

It's nice to see the interest/info gathered about these classic boats. I think that seeing and hearing these beauties on the lake is priceless. But what also makes me cherrish these boats are the memories created on the lake years ago that still are carried on to this day. Who raced who, who had what for power etc. Who, while leaving the town docks (after one too many cocktails) backed into a large cruiser, causing a scene. It's all too funny and one of the reasons that folks who were lucky enough to grow up on the lake should never take it for granted.

All that being said... I have a 58 in my garage. It has the 354 Hemi motor which has a yellow cautionary decal on the valve cover that states it has sodium filled valves. Hope this helps.....

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by coronado

It's nice to see the interest/info gathered about these classic boats. I think that seeing and hearing these beauties on the lake is priceless. But what also makes me cherrish these boats are the memories created on the lake years ago that still are carried on to this day. Who raced who, who had what for power etc. Who, while leaving the town docks (after one too many cocktails) backed into a large cruiser, causing a scene. It's all too funny and one of the reasons that folks who were lucky enough to grow up on the lake should never take it for granted.

All that being said... I have a 58 in my garage. It has the 354 Hemi motor which has a yellow cautionary decal on the valve cover that states it has sodium filled valves. Hope this helps.....

Based on the optional engines tables in the Century Boat Club site:

http://centuryboatclub.com/centuryengines1942-1968.htm

Both Chrysler V8 engines offered in 1958 were 354 Hemis. One was 225 HP and the other was 275 HP. I'd guess the sodium cooled valves were in the 275 HP motor. NB

EDIT: Here is some pictures of the Chrysler 300C engine for 1957. Notice the Distinctive shaped valve covers. They do not look like Ford or Chevy or Buick valve covers. The pictured engine has TWO Carburetters with seperate air filters. In a boat, the air filters would be replaced by the little square "Flame Arresters" as shown in the lower picture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Hemi_engine

[rgilfert]

Great info, thanks everybody! Sounds as if a Chrysler 354 Hemi 275 HP is the answer to my question. With the weight of the boat and how quickly it would accelerate (I used to regularly pull three skiers out of the water on one ski) it's hard to believe that it was only 275 HP (especially with the dual quads)....but perhaps it was grossly understated by the manufacturer (for insurance purposes) much like the big automotive companies did for their performance engines during the mid-60s to early '70s muscle car era.

[rgilfert]

NoBozo....the bottom picture is absolutely the engine that was in our boat! I distinctly remember the square flame arrestors and valve covers (now that I see them)...thanks!

[rgilfert]

Coronado: does your '58 Coronado look just like the one in my picture?

[pointofview]

Originally Posted by rgilfert

Coronado: does your '58 Coronado look just like the one in my picture?

I believe that photo was taken at Winnipesaukee Motor Craft in Winter Harbor. I was a gas boy and boat washer there for a few years back in the 70's. I own a '91 Limited Edition. Bought in 2007 from a woman in Jockey Cove. Like new condition with only 90 hrs on her! Boat had been on a lift in her boathouse. I would love to be able to get a jpg of that photo as I am a Coronado enthusiast and worked at WMC. Let me know if this is possible!

[rgilfert]

Pointofview, you are correct....that picture was taken at Winnipesaukee Motor Craft. I am happy to send you the picture in jpg format. You might be interested in seeing another photo of it in my Album titled "Summer Vacation - 1958". And there is another picture that was taken at WMC in my Album "Summer Vacation - 1956" that you might be interested in. The pictures in my albums are pretty low resolution....I can send you much higher resolution copies if I can figure out how (although the photo originated from a color slide so it won't be great.

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by rgilfert

...I can send you much higher resolution copies if I can figure out how (although the photo originated from a color slide so it won't be great.

You can't make a LOW resolution photo into a HIGH resolution photo no matter WHAT program you have. The results can only be As Good as the original input. NB

[rgilfert]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

You can't make a LOW resolution photo into a HIGH resolution photo no matter WHAT program you have. The results can only be As Good as the original input. NB

I guess what I was trying to say is that by scanning at a higher DPI...the resultant image would more accurately depict the original image (albeit still low resolution). Said another way....at a higher DPI I can provide a better copy of a "bad" image.

[pointofview]

Thanks rgilfert,
I would very much like to see those pictures but dont know how to access your albums. If you could try to improve the quality of those slides to look more like the original quality and send them to me, it would be very much appreciated! I have many old Winnipesaukee photos hanging on my walls, but none of WMC, especially with a beautiful Coronado parked at it! I will PM my email to you...
Thanks again!

[pointofview]

PM sent...

[coronado]

Just wondering how many of you classic boat fans ( and especially you century fans) attended the Meredith show this past weekend?.... Several nice coronados there. Many nice boats on hand this year. The quality of the restorations is amazing. Great to see the hobby carry on. We finished a 1962 Chris Craft Holiday just in time for the show and sold her in the "field of dreams" Had a great time there... met some great folks and saw some good friends.

[Matty67]

Originally Posted by coronado

Just wondering how many of you classic boat fans ( and especially you century fans) attended the Meredith show this past weekend?.... Several nice coronados there. Many nice boats on hand this year. The quality of the restorations is amazing. Great to see the hobby carry on. We finished a 1962 Chris Craft Holiday just in time for the show and sold her in the "field of dreams" Had a great time there... met some great folks and saw some good friends.

Great time it was! The CC came out amazing.Check out my pics of the show on Century Facebook,yah the Holiday was in there!
just wondering if you guys have time to check out that 61 with me?

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by rgilfert

NoBozo....the bottom picture is absolutely the engine that was in our boat! I distinctly remember the square flame arrestors and valve covers (now that I see them)...thanks!

No need to thank me rgilfert . I enjoy the hunt. I'm retired and have the Time and the Interest.

Early in my quest to learn more about the Coronodos..I found one For Sale. I don't know if it was restored or not. It was listed at $42,500. NB

[Matty67]

Originally Posted by coronado

It's nice to see the interest/info gathered about these classic boats. I think that seeing and hearing these beauties on the lake is priceless. But what also makes me cherrish these boats are the memories created on the lake years ago that still are carried on to this day. Who raced who, who had what for power etc. Who, while leaving the town docks (after one too many cocktails) backed into a large cruiser, causing a scene. It's all too funny and one of the reasons that folks who were lucky enough to grow up on the lake should never take it for granted.

All that being said... I have a 58 in my garage. It has the 354 Hemi motor which has a yellow cautionary decal on the valve cover that states it has sodium filled valves. Hope this helps.....

I think i know who this is! God their isn't to many hemi 58 Coro's around! for the record I was not driving my dad's Coronado that night down at Alton bay !

[coronado]

Matty, been awhile.... hope all is well.

To answer the question, yes my 58 looks just like the one in the photo, kinda....I've been in the process of restoring her for years... motor, interior, chrome all done... just need to finish the hull. Time and money the hold up. Been working on a 62' Chris Craft Holiday which is almost done. Will use procedes from that boat to pay for the coronado.

I also remember some other coronado facts I learned while researching mine. The hood scoop on the motor box only came on the Caddy and Hemi boats(because of the dual 4bbl. carbs). Another way to determine the motor size was by exhaust pipe size. All smaller motors had 2 1/2 exhaust while the Caddy only came with 3" exhaust (why the hemi didn't I don't know).

Both the Hemi and the Caddy were very close in performance. The Caddy being listed with slightly higher horsepower..and weighed less than the Hemi. The Hemi was/is a torque monster. The Hemi redlines @ 3900rpm and max torque is 3600rpm. Pulls all the way through...

Any way you look at it, the coronado has always been in a class by itself as far as power and luxury.

And Matty, I'm in the book or stop in if you see the garage doors open. The Holiday just needs a windshield and the back seat uhpolstered. Hope to start the coronado (again) this summer .....

[Matty67]

I hope you and Dale are well,i have been by a couple of times in the last few weeks but haven't seen the "door "open. cant wait to see the Holiday and the Coro! funny story looked at a 61 on tuesday- major resto so keep your eyes open for a 61 or 62.....

[Webbsatwinni]

Great story I found will researching boats, not this lake, but applies to this thread.


http://www.woodyboater.com/barn-find...t-lake-mohawk/

[Mr Cooke's Crew]

Originally Posted by Matty67

The 59 Coronado belonged to my dad -(Cascades) mostly white like mentioned ,Don Purdy had the 57 Coro without a roof (50 Special) and Gordon Oickle had a 57 with the roof (Bonnie Lee) all great boats in the eary time in Alton Bay!

I loved this boat & the others.Thoes were good times.