Nice detective work finding that number!
Having trouble getting this post accepted – trying again.
These boats came pretty well stripped of hardware except for the steering wheel unless it was specified on a special factory order, and a lot of lesser Crestliners did not come with the steering wheel. The convertible top, if it originally came with one, necessitated a windshield, and there would have been snaps on the outside of the gunnels from windshield to the center of the aft deck, and across the center of the aft deck. I have not added snaps or a top to my 1957. Nothing came standard on the dashboard, but you could order an optional, in-dash glove box. When I got mine, it only had lights, and the stern pole light was obviously added on by a person who didn’t understand where it should be. I have moved it since, and added hardware to make the decks like dad’s factory ordered hardware. On the photo of dad’s boat, all deck hardware except the spotlight was factory. I can send you photos of mine as it is now with deck hardware in factory correct places. Dad’s boat came with lights from the factory but they were not wired – I think the dealer was supposed to do that and didn’t. Someone else had ordered his boat set up with a lot of hardware and then didn’t buy it. Dad got a deal because boats were a small sideline for the new car dealer where he bought it and they didn’t want to keep it in inventory when the first buyer backed out. I really like the “airplane” type cleates they offered for each side on the rear decks, and have those.
To the starboard side of my steering wheel are aftermarket light switches. I added the speedometer, which is an old AIrguide the same as I added to Dad’s boat on the port side of the steering wheel – found it an a car show swap meet. Mine also has aftermarket small metal brackets on the port end of the dash and the rear of the folding seat backs – these are mounts for removable cup-holders that are in bad shape, and I’ll probably get rid of them.
Yes – the motor ignition switch and choke are mounted in the center of the dash, but I prefer them closer to the steering wheel. Of course they were not factory mounted, because no boats came with motors from the factory back then.
A lot of the accessories shown in the 1960 Accessories Catalog (link below) are same as those offered in 1957-58.
The wood on the dash and seats was Redwood, with stain and white pinstripes. I see pictures I tried to post earlier finally made it, so sorry about some duplication there.
Let me know if there are any more pics you’d like.
A favorite spot to mount the motor’s starting solenoid box is behind the aluminum rear seat back vertical support on the starboard side.
Below shows the optional glove box – it was standard on my 1957 Commander 12 Special Deluxe.
Dave
