“One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”
This is the story of the Phoenix, a 1958 Chris Craft Constellation 55’, and how a group of friends brought her from Fort Lauderdale, FL, to Lake Cumberland, KY, by waterway.
In 1996, Paul Cundiff a retired Engineer and now owner and operator of Woodies Restorations, purchased the Phoenix from Bill and Marian Coggin. The couple had initially shipped the boat from the Caribbean Islands to Fort Lauderdale with dreams of restoring it themselves. However, life had other plans. Faced with a difficult choice” I’m going to Kentucky to be with the kids... You can come if you want” Bill reluctantly sold his dream boat. After a 16-hour drive, Paul and his friends spent what remained of the night sprawled out on the back deck resting beneath the open sky. The next day was spent clearing out the debris and junk that had accumulated aboard. By evening, exhausted but fulfilled, they found themselves once again sprawled out on the back deck, resting beneath the open sky, ready for the next chapter in the Phoenix’s restoration story.
The following morning, Paul hired a Marine Surveyor to assess whether the Phoenix could safely endure the lift. To their surprise, the surveyor—who, as it turned out, wasn’t particularly fond of wooden boats—proved to be highly knowledgeable. Despite his personal preferences, he shared valuable insights and taught the team much during the process. When it came to lift the boat, the Phoenix held steady, never creaking, popping, or groaning. Initially weighing in at 41,000 lbs., the boat was now down to 38,000 lbs., meaning around 3,000 lbs. of debris and junk had been cleared away. Two weeks were spent getting up in the morning going to the boat yards parts department and ordering everything needed for the next day then working with parts that had arrived the day prior and listening for “Phoenix, your parts are here” as we worked.
The first evening out the crew docked at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. It was there that they unexpectedly crossed paths with David Letterman, who, perhaps too engrossed in his own thoughts, seemed determined to avoid eye contact as he walked past. Then again, perhaps it was the condition of the boat which a friend of Paul’s dubbed “Early Sandford and Son.” At the crack of dawn, Paul and his crew set off on their journey up the East Coast, heading toward Palm City, Florida, before crossing into Lake Okeechobee. They navigated through the lake and continued to Fort Myers, cruising along the Intracoastal Waterway until they reached the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, where they crossed into the Gulf of Mexico.
Battling 3–4 foot waves, they pushed on into the night. As darkness fell, the crew found themselves struggling to keep a steady course. The waves became disorienting, with the boat’s heading shifting by as much as 90 degrees, and it became nearly impossible to determine from which direction the waves were coming. Relying on their compass, they traveled from lighted buoy to lighted buoy, each with its unique sequence of flashes for identification. Every half hour, for a grueling 48 hours, they checked their course using dead reckoning. Despite adjusting their heading repeatedly, the crew found themselves drifting farther off course, unable to stay on their intended path. It wasn’t until Paul took a closer look at the compass that the issue was uncovered: the compass had shifted in its housing, causing it to throw off their headings!
The team was jolted awake early the next morning by a series of strange cracking sounds. Fearing something was wrong with the boat, Paul rushed topside to investigate, only to discover the source of the noise—a school of dolphins gracefully swimming alongside the vessel! They were ‘surfing” the bow waves as they leapt into the air and slapped the surface of the water they made the “cracking sound”.
After the surprise encounter, Paul settled into his usual routine. He checked the engines, monitored the bilge for water, and confirmed that the three 1,100-gallon-per-hour pumps were running smoothly. But then, Paul realized something alarming—the bilge was taking on far too much water. "Call the Coast Guard! We’re taking on water faster than we can pump it out!" he ordered. The ship-to-shore radio wasn’t reaching the Coast Guard, but the cell phone might. Paul’s buddy, “Gilligan”, scrambled to make the call. After several attempts, he finally got through to 911, though at first, the dispatcher was skeptical. After all, they were 12 miles out and possibly sinking! Amidst the growing panic, the crew began opening floor hatches, frantically searching for the source of the water. "Paul, check the pump strainers!" someone shouted. Paul wiped debris from the pumps strainers and immediately heard a loud sucking sound. Turns out, the bilge pump had been clogged by debris and junk that had accumulated in the bilge, preventing it from doing its job. "Call the Coast Guard and tell them never mind," Paul said, a mix of relief and embarrassment in his voice. What had started as a tense emergency turned into a bit of humor, as the helicopter response was called off.
After 48 hours in the Gulf, the crew finally reached Panama City, where they could enjoy much-needed showers, a celebratory champagne toast, and a well-deserved break before heading home for Labor Day weekend. The following week, they set off again, continuing from Panama City to Pensacola, then on to Mobile Bay. The adventure continued up the Mobile River to the Warrior River and into the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
Throughout the journey, the crew only encountered one mechanical issue: a water pump coupling failure on the port engine in Clarksville, TN, about a day downstream from Nashville. Fortunately for Paul, it was a quick fix, just an hour to replace the part, thanks to a helpful stop at Nashville Detroit Diesel. The Phoenix was then wintered in Nashville, where it underwent significant renovations to the master stateroom. Among the upgrades were refinished varnished walls, a new countertop, and fresh paint. When March arrived, it was time to continue the journey.
On the Easter weekend in 1997, the team made a remarkable leap from mile marker 175 Rock Harbor Marina to mile marker 461 the base of Wolf creek dam. On the way to Burkesville, KY, they fueled 225 gallons, while tied to a tree 50 feet from the shore in a strong current. With only 30 miles left to go, the finish line was within reach. After a long, challenging trip upstream, they finally reached the base of Wolf Creek Dam, where all 10 floodgates were open, discharging an astonishing 36,000 cubic feet of water per second! Getting the Phoenix onto the trailer at the base of the dam was another hurdle, but after some careful maneuvering, the boat was secured and ready for the next challenge. With the lake at an all-time high, launching the vessel into Lake Cumberland proved to be no easy task. As the photo shows, Paul was standing on a trash can above the ramp, preparing for the next phase. But despite the odds, with water pouring in through the semi door, the Phoenix was finally released into Lake Cumberland, marking the successful end of the incredible journey from Fort Lauderdale to Lake Cumberland.
The entire adventure spanned 22 days over a period of about six months and was both a memorable and educational experience. Over the years, the Phoenix has undergone many additional renovations, becoming a true heirloom to the Cundiff family. It has brought countless good memories, hosted weddings, and inspired future projects that will be passed down for generations.
Today, Paul runs Woodies Restorations out of Jamestown, KY, alongside his son, Taylor, an expert in restoring antique boats. Woodies boasts two large shops where vintage boats of all sizes are carefully restored, including a Cruiser for Roman Coppola. If you share a passion for antique wood boats, be sure to follow Woodies Restorations on our YouTube channel, where we share boat restoration projects, troubleshooting tips, and repair techniques. If you're looking to bring your own boat back to life, give us a call, and we’ll help you restore your “Woodie” to its former glory!
When you love what you do, its never really work!
