Paramount's Mast

Attention to detail is what made Chris Craft - Chris Craft


Just visible in this picture - flying the R.V.Y.C. burgee, the mast serves three purposes, the anchor light is atop, the steaming light is mid mast and the horns are held near the base. Flying the flags and being a beautiful feature are the Chris Craft difference.

Originally painted cream in the workshop, the mast is constructed from two solid planks of mahogany, on an earlier Chris Craft it would have been varnished. It was the sixties and the all cream exterior, it must have been decided, that a mahogany varnished wood mast would look too old school. The temptation to sand and varnish it was pretty strong and some were horrified that we were repainting it.





The anchor light also known as the Jetson's Globe - streamline or "curved-linear" design at it's best. A replacement lens and bulb fitting are being sourced for the steaming light above.

This solid bronze mast base weights about twenty pounds, designed in the tear-drop shape that was uniquely Chris Craft, is at the chrome shop being plated, along with the other mast hardware pictured below. The chrome plate protects the bronze fittings as well as making all the hardware look like jewels.

The old wiring was in pretty sad shape, the glue had let go in the join of the two planks. The pencil markings were done in the workshop, to align the two halves whilst they were being shaped.

The cabin top handrail fittings were removed and are being plated for their return.

The two sides were bolted together with the bronze fastener, the wires run down the middle and water had been seeping into the headliner below in the main salon.

Below is the running light fixture, the aluminum plate is to stop the light from shining in the captain's eyes.

The base is hinged to allow the mast to fold forward on the cabin top for low bridge clearances and boat houses A large thumb screw holds it in place when it is raised upright, two arms hold it off the deck when it is lowered.

The mast has been epoxied together, with a wider channel cut for today's heavier wiring. This week it will be reassembled and returned to the cabin top as we prepare to move Paramount to the yard for the engines to go back in and be relaunched.