I have a 1947 Chris Craft Deluxe runabout. Got the factory build sheet and it originally came with the 95 HP hercules, but at some point it received the optional 120 HP. That engine came from a 53 Holiday according to engine numbers from the Archives. Did a complete deck and hull strip, sand and fair and 13 coats of varnish. Also had seat reupholstered. About 3 years later did the bottom with an epoxy encapsulated new marine plywood inner hull, planed, encapsulated bottom planks (doug fir, it was a post-war boat) and new SS fasteners. A lot of work, but I had more time than $$ and was able to do it in a local boatworks because I had helped the owner with a couple of his clients’ boats. Then I built a Chesapeake Light Craft 16LT kayak, ‘stitch N glue’. Boat was easier than the redo on the E… no brakes, no suspension and wood is a bit more forgiving than metal, but many, many transferable skills and I am slightly obsessive about doing work that I’m proud to put my name on.
I agree about the level of technology. I had been trying to reset the door locks to a single open, using the fob buttons… wouldn’t take. So tried the instrument panel method and got it done. When I did the garage door opener setup, I had to go to the Homelink site for Chamberlain openers. Programming the F worked, but then none of my openers or the exterior door keypad worked. Had to reprogram those with the Learn button on the opener ‘head’. I washed the car today and the inside of the gas door ‘pocket’ was full of water. The little drain hole was plugged so I used an awl to gently open it up and then rinsed it several times until I saw water out the bottom. I also have a 2018 Corvette and it is interesting to compare and contrast the two and I really can’t say that one is better than the other. And comparing this F to my 69 E just makes me shake my head in amazement. The E was a wonder when it came out and this F is pretty impressive as well.