CLASSIC CRAFT
Allure
ADD YOUR BOAT
88
With an appreciation for the graceful, nautical look of the broken sheerlines on the 28-foot Chris-Craft Commander, the wide roomy beam and the deck-level dining space, Pat and Sheila Chaps were delighted to make the 1972 Sports Express cruiser their own. In 2010, immediately after purchasing and renaming her Allure, the Chaps had the flybridge removed and the exposed hardtop repaired and painted, knowing it would be captained at the lower helm only. All chrome fittings were re-chromed, new canvas was made, the V-berth cushions were replaced, and the bottom was soda- blasted and barrier-coated. Other improvements include: A new teak swim platform; the Formica door was replaced with mahogany; a new hatch cover was crafted; and a wooden dashboard was custom-made and installed by Mackie Boatworks. Allure has taken the Chaps to many wonderful Great Lakes ports during the summer months. From their home on the St. Clair River, they have journeyed to many marinas along the western shore of Lake Huron, up and across to the beautiful harbors of the North Channel in Ontario, and through the timeless scenic inlets and bays of the Les Cheneaux Islands. A special joy was a five-week trip around Michigan, starting on the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan in Whitehall, boating around the tip and through the Straits of Mackinac into Lake Huron, and returning home to St. Clair. A familiar profile at ACBS shows, Allure has garnered a few awards, the latest being the Silver award in its class at the 2018 International ACBS show in Port Huron. The camaraderie felt among participants at these kinds of events, at Commander Club Rendezvous and in group cruises, is part of the “allure” and joy of boating for the Chaps. Email kbush@lakelandboating.com if you have a —Pat and Sheila Chaps, St. Clair, MI Classic Craft with a good story to share!
MARCH 2019
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LAKE LANDBOATING.COM
PH OTOS COU RTESY OF THE CHAPS FAMILY
1972 Chris-Craft Commander