Introduction / General Specification

‘UNFORGETTABLE’ is a 1965, 57-ft Chris Craft Constellation, AKA a ‘Connie’, hull number CAC570733A. 57’ Connies were the ‘top of the line’ and Queens of the enormous Chris Craft model fleet of the mid to late 1960’s and one of the largest production motor yachts available at the time. Built for speed and comfort, Constellation hulls were built for speed, with twin 318 hp diesels through Allison 2:1 reduction gears, turning 1 3/4" stainless shafts with 28" bronze four blade propellers, resulting in a comfortable cruise speed of 11-12 knots @ 1400 rpm and a top speed of 20 +/-knots @ 2450rpm (WOT). Her new twin aluminum tankage of 560 gallons, give her a range of approx. 400 miles. 110V electrical power is provided by a new 12kw, 3 cylinder Northern Lights diesel generator in a silencer enclosure.

‘UNFORGETTABLE’ built in Algonac, Michigan, hull 33 of 36 constructed during 1965, was one of 262 57’ hulls built during a model run beginning in 1963 ending in 1972. During this long production run, only minor changes were made, mainly a few alternative rear cabin arrangement plans, hardtop/enclosure choices and equipment/finish options. The very last wooden boat produced and delivered by the Chris Craft Corporation was a 57 ft Constellation, shipped on Nov 4th, 1972 to then NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, also a director of Chris Craft Industries, Inc. Needless to say, these boats enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, a very loyal following.

Layout

‘UNFORGETTABLE’ boasts a forward cabin with upper/lower berths to starboard w/private head & wet shower to port, adjacent lower mid-ships galley to starboard, with a roomy convertible dinette to port. The original ceiling enclosure over the galley and dinette, creating a forward ‘crew quarters’ has been removed, providing a drastic improvement in light, openness & air. 4 steps up is a spacious 12x14 ft salon with a built-in custom mahogany settee and flat screen surround sound entertainment system. 4 steps down proceeding to the stern, are a day head to starboard, followed by a rail road ‘Pullman’ style sofa, convertible to upper and lower twin berths, and separated by a privacy curtain along the passageway. Opposite to port is a private twin guest cabin, enclosed by a sliding mahogany door with interior cabin access to the master shower. The full width stern master boasts abundant storage, double closets, built-in make up table, chest of drawers, twin beds (port and starboard) and its own head and large residential scaled shower.  Aft of the master stateroom is the lazarette, accessible via twin hatches from the afterdeck above. The engine room (under the main salon and of similar size) is accessed both via folding steps aft and forward of the salon. Up 4 starboard stairs from the salon, moving aft is the pilothouse with steering station, rear facing, rare, optional factory wet bar, port and starboard wing doors and a protected afterdeck enclosed with removable side weather canvas.  Near the bow, the house enclosure offers a large settee facing forward with room for additional deck chairs along with access to the windlass and anchor. In total. she currently sleeps 10, down from the 12 she was originally advertised to accommodate. Her full teak decking was a new to 1965 option.

Delivered with the very rare, factory ‘Special’ extended hardtop configuration, ‘UNFORGETTABLE’ features a distinctive sweptback, lightweight ‘coupe like’ hardtop covering all the afterdeck to the stern, with otherwise typical side wing weather doors without the distinctive, ‘flying V’ side support pillars typical of the ubiquitous ‘sedan’ model. She also features an oversized 4 ft deep teak swim step carrying a 12 ft Walker Bay inflatable on a Sea Wise davit system.

Ownership History

Sold new by the world’s largest Chris Craft dealer of the day, ‘Rodi-Chris Craft’ in Fort Lauderdale, FL, in May 1966, and initially christened “RIBEYE II”, she subsequently was resold 9 times and rechristened 8 (i.e. PATIENCE II, BLUFFER, SHIRLEY JANE, CHERI I, LADY ANN, BEOWULF and now UNFORGETTABLE) in her now nearly 60 year old life. In 1981, she left Southern FL for Portland OR by ship, with homeport stops thereafter in Newport Beach and San Diego CA, before being finally shipped to Seattle, her current homeport.

During her Newport Beach, CA days, she underwent a passionate, extensive 4 year restoration/update/modernization (2010/2014) at a cost in excess of $1.5M including a complete hull refastening, paint, engine rebuilds, new generator, along with restoration and or replacement of all other ship’s electrical, plumbing, interior and exterior wood work, instrumentation, electronics, interior furnishings, galley update, etc., in a Long Beach, CA yard.  A full-time project manager supervised the work during this time to insure top quality workmanship and attention to the smallest of details.

Historical Significance

Built in 1965, ‘UNFORGETTABLE’s true heritage began in 1963 with a design evolving from 1961. ‘UNFORGETTABLE’ represents a penultimate example of iconic mid-century American yacht design by the industry’s leading builder, who reflected in its yachts, the automotive styling trends of the day. Instantly recognizable even today, the distinctive 1960’s Connie styling and Chris Craft legacy cements her place in recreational American yacht history.   Sadly, despite a prolific production run of 9 years, during a time of vast technological change in yacht construction materials and design, few of these boats remain. The majority of the remaining fleet reflect heavily adulteration and poor or unseaworthy condition. Only a handful remain representing the original intent of the factory with the ability to still cruise the seas in the magic only a Chris Craft can provide.

‘UNFORGETTABLE’ has passed through many hands since she was built, and no doubt been witness to many lives and stories. We continue to research her history and the owners she’s had along the way, to document as much of her rich heritage as possible and work off a seemingly never-ending list of additional restoration details and maintenance required to keep her in top condition. We’re honored to be her current caretakers.

Current Ownership

Upon her latest purchase, she was moved to Ensenada, Mexico, transported on a dedicated yacht transport ship to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, off loaded, and reimported to the US at Roche Harbor, San Juan Islands, WA on December 27th, 2017. After arrival at Roche, ‘UNFORGETTABLE’ transited to her new permanent home port December 29th, 2017 and now resides under cover at the Seattle Yacht Club, Main Station, Portage Bay, Seattle, WA.