Elite Craft Owners Club Forum

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Forum ID #: 147 new Elite Craft owner 8-31-05 I just acquired a 89' Elite Craft and I'm interested in joining your Owners Association. My boat is in the Les Cheneaux Islands in northern Lake Huron hanging off Michigan's Upper Peninsula about 15 miles northeast of Mackinaw Island. We love our Island Lass for both 'moving along' and 'cocktail cruising'. Since we live on an island it will be serving both for our special events and our everyday 'back and forthing'. This area is full of many wooden boats (nearby Hessel is home to Chris Craft's first dealer), and even here the Riviera turns heads and is complimented on by all. It is a joy to ride in and drive. Maintaining it will be, hopefully, a lot less of a hassle than was the '58 Lyman I finally gave up last year. I'm interested in getting an Owner's manual as well as joining and supporting the Association. Very first class website. Ken LaMotte

Forum ID #: 148 Re: new Elite Craft owner 8-31-05 First off, congratulations! I look forward to seeing pictures of your area with your boat. We have a house on Lake Michigan, a little north of St. Joe. Ironically, the first Elite Crafts were produced in Coloma Michigan, the same state you are in. I take great pride in Elite Craft and I always enjoy hearing others with the same view and appreciation for these fine crafts. One of the projects I am working on is collecting all of the manuals for all production years, or as many as we can, and then convert them to .PDF format and allow owners to download them from the website. I have a 1985 original manual for the 20' Riviera, I can convert and send that to you if you would like. It should provide a good start, but there are some variations between the two. Your support is greatly appreciated and we thank you again for contacting us. I will send you an email regarding joining the Association. Eric Smith

Forum ID #: 149 12-05-05 We’ve had our Rivera for about 7 years, and we love her. She’s named the Lorax. Our kids picked the name. The Lorax is a book and a character from Dr. Seuss who speaks for the trees. She is kept in our boathouse inside the old quarry on Johnson’s Island, Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie. She is our bay boat. We also have a 1954 Chris 45’ DCFB for the lake. Stephen Sapp

Forum ID #: 150 air intakes (deck scuppers) 12-6-05 My name is Jack Frost and I am the proud owner of a1989 Elite Craft called the “PATRIOT”, mooraged on Tomahawk Lake, Wisconsin. My question is pertaining to the “air scuppers” located on the bow Port and Starboard. Has any one cut the fiber glass to insert functioning (opening and closing) intakes to allow fresh air in under the bow deck? If any one has an answer please contact me at, jack@mcfla.com

Forum ID #: 151 air intakes (deck scuppers) 12-7-05 In the original Elite Crafts the bow vents were functional. There was a plastic reinforced vent hose, like a dryer vent hose, attached and went directly into the bilge for better ventilation. This pushed more air through the bilge and into and out of the engine compartment. However in later models the owners complained of water getting in at the deck level and the vent hoses getting in the way of their feet. Personally I would prefer to have them functional and put up with the other small inconveniences. Dave Smith

Forum ID #: 152 Boats For Sale 3-2-06 I have spent the last three weeks researching the web finding your beautiful boats. I saw one at a marina here in Sunapee, NH, two years ago for sale, however, closer inspection showed blistering all along the bottom and the owner wasn't willing to budge on price in order to repair the problem. Since then, I have never seen another one until I found the Boat Owner's Club website. My question is, could you suggest any further resources for location any of your fine boats for sale in New England? Thank you. Jeff Heath Lake Sunapee, NH jeffheath@verizon.net

Forum ID #: 153 Boats For Sale 3-2-06 I am glad to hear that you are looking for an Elite Craft boat. What models are you looking for particularly? Let me do a little research and see what I can come up with for you. Eric Smith

Forum ID #: 154 Boats For Sale 3-2-06 I am open to any model and year at this point, and appreciate your assistance. Regards, Jeff Heath

Forum ID #: 155 Boats For Sale 3-2-06 Give me a little time and I will see what I can come up with for you. Eric Smith

Forum ID #: 156 Boats For Sale 3-5-06 Besides what is on the For Sale section of the website I have found two Ski Elites in Florida, one Sportsman in Minnesota and a 20' Riviera in Oregon. If any of these are of interest please let me know and I will send you the details. If I should come across any available Elite Crafts in the New England area I will certainly let you know. Take Care, Eric Smith

Forum ID #: 157 Production Numbers 3-9-2006 Are there production figures listed anywhere? Thank you for your continued cooperation. Greg

Forum ID #: 158 Production Numbers 5-14-2006 There are about 400 Elite Crafts (all models included) ever produced. Eric Smith

Forum ID #: 159 Windshield 4-5-2003 We purchased a 1987 Elite Craft Riviera last year and love it as a supplement to our sailboat when the Chesapeake is flat and the wind is gone. A fine and beautiful runabout. When we bought the boat the right corner of the windshield was delaminating a little. It hasn't gotten worse, but I'm wondering if anyone knows where I could get a replacement windshield that would fit the original frame. Jim Shaffer

Forum ID #: 160 Windshield 4-5-2003 I always enjoy hearing or reading (in this case) compliments on Elite Crafts. I would recommend getting a replacement made in Lexan polycarbonate or Polymethyl methacrylate and qualified shop can use your windshield as a template to copy. Eric Smith

Forum ID #: 161 1990 Elite Craft Riviera body repair knowledge 4-20-06 We purchased a 1990 Riviera about a year ago. What a great boat, rides like a dream, what a head-turner, its everything in a boat that we've ever wanted. However, when we purchased the boat she was 90% perfect. My intentions were to make it 110% nothing has changed. We have a few scratches and rub marks on the clear gel coat, which we would like to repair. What are the detailed procedures and products to do this type of repair? There are two deeper scratches, thru the Clear Gel Coat and into the wood grain. What would be the procedures and products to do this repair? Can the wood grain be air brushed in after sanding and the clear gel coated over top or would the whole boat need to be clear gel coated due to incompatibility of Gel Coat products? I have a fellow to do the stainless, but I won't do that until we do body work. I would appreciate your input and assistance, Kindest regards from, Jon Bona

Forum ID #: 162 1990 Elite Craft Riviera body repair knowledge 4-24-06 I very happy to hear that you enjoy your Elite Craft so much. I always enjoy making things look there best. Depending on the depth of the scratches you can try buff compounding and then buff polishing or if necessary start with wet sanding with 800 grit then 1000 grit and then to 1200 and finally 1500 grit followed by buff compounding and buff polishing. You can have the deeper scratches sprayed or filled with clear gel, followed by wet sanding. I would follow up with the previous mentioned wet sanding grits but start with 600 grit and then go to 800 and so on. Also follow the wet sanding with buff compounding and buff polishing. I am not sure about the air brushing, but the above mentioned should work on most situations. I would recommend a qualified detailer or boat shop to perform the above mentioned work. Take Care, Eric

Forum ID #: 163 Elite Craft Engine Manifolds 4-23-06 I am abroad in Mexico and trying to locate exhaust manifolds in Florida. I have a Pleasure Craft engine on my boat with original manifolds. Can you suggest replacement manifolds or original, does Edelbrock aluminum manifolds fit these Pleasure Craft engines? Robert Moreno

Forum ID #: 164 Elite Craft Engine Manifolds 4-24-06 I would recommend contacting Jack Chamberlain whose company was one of the original engine suppliers for Elite Crafts. He is most helpful and knowledgeable with engines used in Elite Crafts, there company number is 1-800-262-2929. As I am not sure about the the fitting of Edelbrock aluminum manifolds on Pleasure Craft engines I am sure Jack can supply you with replacements. There are located north of Orlando, FL in Longwood. Eric Smith

Forum ID #: 165 Elite Craft 4-24-06 I am writing from Finland. I have Elite Craft Riviera here and I am wondering if some body is still making Elite Craft boats

T Lennart Sukapää

Forum ID #: 166 Elite Craft 4-24-06 Currently there has been no Elite Craft's produced since 1993-94. If there should be any changes in the future I will be sure to let you know. Eric Smith

Forum ID #: 167 Elite Craft Riviera 5-10-06 I think I am one off the view lucky ones to have an Elite Craft in Holland. It is fantastic and still an head turner! How many were produced? And is there an change that other types will come? Greetings Pieter

Forum ID #: 168 Elite Craft Riviera 5-11-06 The closest Elite Craft to you so far that I am aware of is a 1986 Elite Craft Riviera in Finland. There were less then 425 Elite Crafts (all models included) ever produced. If they should start producing boats ever again I will let you know. Eric Smith

Forum ID #: 169 What Else but an Elite Craft 5-10-06 Speaking now as a member, in a club of the Elite, I am ready to contribute information to anyone looking for a flush kit. Its called the Flush Pro. For anyone like me, that runs in salt water on occasion, it's a must have. It's about seventy dollars at the dealers or you can find it on line at a Discount Inboard Marine for about sixty bucks plus shipping. Once installed, it's as simple to use as connecting a garden hose. I found mine at a local boat dealer selling Master Craft direct drive boats, these are factory installed flush kit for their boats. It's installed in the hose line (1 1/4" for Indmar) leading to the impeller. I installed mine in this line before the sediment filter (I think that's what it is), which is between the sea valve and the impeller. This way the "filter" gets flushed too. I'm calling it a filter, but really have no clue as to what this canister looking thing is, or what it does. I'd like to know what this "filter" is, if you have any ideas I'd appreciate them. My boat has an automatic fire extinguisher on board, is that common with Elite Craft, it's a twenty dollar discount if you mention it on your State Farm Insurance policy. Carl Vancio

Forum ID #: 170 What Else but an Elite Craft 5-14-06 Thank you for sharing, the canister you are talking about should be the Raw Water Intake Filter/Valve. The filter in there is actually called a strainer which "strains" the incoming water to filter out unwanted items so it does not circulate into any parts of the engine cooling. Most all Elite Crafts should have a automatic fire extinguisher or Halon System. Eric Smith

Forum ID #: 171 Elite Craft Startup 5-11-06 Problems starting up! Before you can start my boat there is a power selector switch that must be turned to the ON position first. After you turn this switch to ON, a bunch of alarms light up and sound off on the alarm panel. If you push the reset button on the alarm panel, the alarms go off. So, all that is left now is to turn the key and start the engine, but as soon as you turn the key, instead of hearing the sound of the motor tuning over, all you get is another alarm sound, but no ignition at all. I mean not even a click, just as if the battery were dead dead, but everything else works, e.g. horn, lights, blower, bilge pump, etc. Any ideas other than to check out the contact points, on the neutral pull out selector button, which are located in that compartment where the alarm panel is. The alarm panel is in a pocket right near the throttle/gear lever. Confounded for sure. Carl

Forum ID #: 172 Elite Craft Startup 5-11-06 Can you send me your phone number and I will give you a call in a bit. Thanks, Eric

Forum ID #: 173 Nothing but fun 5-12-06 Thanks for the call, it's fixed and running good. It turned out to be a loose wire to a switch behind the throttle/gearshift lever. It was a lucky find, but It must of come off during my rushed trip back (48 hrs) with 2200 miles of constant vibration. She didn't know she was in neutral so she simply wouldn't start. Talking to you about some options and where to look paid off, a whole bunch of thanks for that. Regards, Carl Vancio

Forum ID #: 174 Nothing but fun 5-12-06 I am glad it is starting. I enjoy the correspondences and hope you enjoy the boat. Take Care, Eric

Please click on Forum Submission to post or reply to questions, comments, stories or anything else regarding Elite Craft.