New Roamer Owner

I recently purchased a nice Chris Craft Al Roamer Riviera. Vessel has been re-powered with twin 350 Chris Craft (250 hp each) and has been kept in fresh water its entire life in the Kenosha area.

Boat Registration/Identification:
Hull#: RXP37150BR
Eng SN Port: 705264
Eng SN Stbd: 703785
Gen SN: 268922

I have been watching this website for a few months and have finally registered. For now its on the hard in Kenosha. Plans are to spend some time on Lakes Mich and Minnetonka this summer to get aquanted with it then transport it out to the Sacramento area and on a slow scale update her.

Once out here plans are to summer on the large lakes (Tahoe, Shasta, Powell, Mead etc...) and winter in the Sacramento Delta or various ports along the pacific coast (San Diego to Seattle). To meet those plans I have been shopping trailers and any member in the know of a used 18K lb or greater tri axle would be great

I also just saw one totally rebuilt (Roamer that is) and for sale on Lake Minnetonka named "Maritime". I assume that person has spent some time at this website. I would like to get in contact if possible.

Photo of 65 AL Rivera

From the sale ad. Soon to be named "Alumanación"

Response to trailer "Alumanación"

Thanks for the comments guys.

There is some thought put into it with the following background. Yes she is big but not too big and there are lots of big bodies of water around with a days drive from here in Sacramento. This is an adventure and the thing I have is time over money vs newer/more expensive yacht owners which probably have a money over time situation and visiting other ports is part of that adventure.

Its not like one would move this boat every weekend but twice a year no big deal (those in the midwest take their boats out for the winter anyway). Out here we get year round use. Slips/moorage seem to be the same most every where as well ($300-600 month) depending of facilities or location (ie Tahoe is very pricey).

Wide load permits are no problem you all see them every day, it just takes some planning (it varies a little state to state and road type but basically no big deal just put the wife in the pilot car if needed until my boys 9-11 are old enough to drive).

The genesis of the idea was I always wanted to spend time on Lake Powell in a big boat which is where the Roamer comes in. Out here there are plenty of wooden Chris Crafts and the like but very few metal boats as they are mostly in the midwest. Thus the quality/maint of an AL metal boat (you all know those) with charm of the vintage wood interior.

Shipping cost to get it to Sacramento qouted between $11-14K, new trailer (triple axle 18-24,000 lb capacity 37-42 foot boat length cost $6-14K (depends on al/galv or steeel and misc eatures), used (hard to find surfing the internet but seem to be parked in the weeds at every major marina I have seen) I would pay $3-6K for one (plus ill pay a finders fee for one a days drive for so from Kenosha to anyone who can find me a good used one). Thus math makes trailer much better option even if only used once and resold at a loss but once you have it other destinations are quite possible.

Trucks are the easy part you just have to pick what you want for the price you want to pay (of course a short rental or lease is an even less expensive option). Some say you could do it with a 1 ton (F350 for example) but unless its a short distance its not worth the risk. If one were buy new basically a F450/550 rated at 19-22K towing would do the trick and before the economy really tanked lately they were not much differently priced new ($35-45K) than the 1 ton but hold resale better ($15-25K)and have a longer useful life in the 200-400,000 mile range and you get tax incentives to purchase to boot.

Now due to the economy and expeditor system used class 6/7/8 (25-50K lb capacity expeditor trucks used are a pretty good deal ($12-25K).
See attached picture for sale @ $16K with TV, fridge, inverter, double bunks. Add a heavy duty hitch and put all the flybridge, water toys, jet skis, small ski boat and/or a car/truck for get around at your new destination in the box (typically 22-24 ft long) and you got the ultimate toy hauler setup.

Anyway its a plan but not perfect and of course not executed so feel free to chime in its a lot of fun planning and talking about it.

Trailering Roamers

Well all I am back from a brief holiday break hope you all had a good xmas. Thanks for the additional comments.

Shangri-La - I love to here more stories about cruising the delta in the war surplus boat. What a small world, I am a Project Manager on Folsam Dam in a dam safety upgrade project and would like to hear about your days there too. Its a great lake but too small for a 37 footer most of the year. To see what we are doing please visit the web site I had created for updates.

http://www.usbr.gov/mp/jfp/index.html

We should hook up as I take the Roamer from Kenosha to Minnetonka this spring and you can see if the plan worked out as envisioned. I assume we will take it slow an get to the Dells the first day (let the kids go nuts there) and then push on to the MSP area.

Also once I am outfitted Id be glad to haul other Roamers like Shangri-La around at less than competetive rates (basically expenses and a little pocket change to offset my capital costs and sink more money into my Roamer rebuild)

woodlund94 - Likewise it would be great to hook up this spring. I have cousins in the area 1 in Eden Prairie, 1 in Wayzata walking dist to the Lake, 1 in the the Crystal Bay area and one right on the lake in the Tonka Bay area. Ill email in the near future.

K1W1 - Sounds like you made better off not dealing with the subaru guy. I hope I am not coming off as that crackers though.

Got the trailer

Making progress as pick up day looms. Bought this 4 axle 20,000 lb trailer a few months back.

I am homing in on a truck. Prices have improved much since the search began.

Looking to be on the water Lake Mich in early June

Update - Making Progress

Well the plan is comming together almost to a tee all be it a little slower than expected and of course $$$$$$.

Took my boys on a two week trip as soon as school was out and traveled by car to kenosha with stops in Denver, The Dells, Lake Geneva, Kenosha and MSP.

Trailer was delived from Atlanta on our morning arrival in Kenosha, marina put boat in the water and got my first lessons on operating a twin screw from Dave Scott who has been a great seller. See his website http://www.resolutecharters.com

Spent a few days in a guest slip at Southport and some easy trips at the mouth of the marina "getting the feel" of those twin 350's. Dave must have been a great teacher no crashing into docks or the "expensive" boats all around me.

Pulled her out and tried for a lucky fit to the trailer but that would have been to much if she fit so took a few measurements and went off to procure a towing vehicle in Stanley WI. Then a few days in MSP on Minnetonka with relatives be fore flying back to Sacramento.

Looks like I must have missed Kenny from Shangrila by a day or two and now that I know were Oconto is I try and connect.

I am headed back down first week in Aug to get her mated to the trailer and will post some more info then.

Trip 2 Photos

Yes,

I may be past Huck Finn. Never even owned a boat before.

More photos

Forgot to mention,

Tornado first night on the boat. Fly bridge made it through and no leaks.