SoCal Classics: Eagle’s Wings

Boat name: Eagle’s Wings Length: 17 ft. Draft:  1 ft. Beam: 6.5 ft. Year Built: 1960 The Back Story: Utility ski boat classics like the head-turner that is Eagle’s Wings are not common. Rev. Michael Schneider, Eagle’s Wings owner, grew up in Northern California, where he first found an interest in water skiing, summer activities, and boating at Crystal Lake. Being a child of the 60s, Rev. Schneider felt a certain fondness for this style of Chris Craft showboat. One of the features that really attracted Rev. Schneider is the eye-catching wooden exterior, which comes off as an early ‘60s classic right away. Fond memories of water-skiing on Clear Lake prompted Rev. Schneider to purchase Eagle’s Wings. Another notable fact is that 1960 is the first year that Chris Craft manufactured this retro throwback — a 1960 Chris Craft Sport Ski. Dashing Upgrades: Proud of how “meticulously maintained” Eagle’s Wings has been, Rev. Schneider pointed out that she has new interior upholstery and Pyramid vinyl flooring with Berber carpet overlays. All the mahogany wood is original from the factory, and new switches have been installed on the dashboard to operate the bilge pump and vent blower. With a fiberglass bottom recently repainted in the original copper/bronze color,...