Description

c.1936 Chris Craft Runabout Speedboat 17ft

Charming and ever so stylish timber river boat for restoration; 6-cylinder engine (running in 2020) - ever so Henley & Marlow!

Dating from 1936 this stylsh craft is of timber construction with seating for 4 or 5 people in two snug zones and features a Gray marine 6-cylinder gasoline engine with single central prop.  The engine was running last year, with a video of this from the vendor.

The boat has been with our vendor for some 15 years and was enjoyed on the river until at least the summer of 2009 with a Boat Safety Scheme Certificate on file dated June 2008, expiring June 2012 and Environment Agency license plate valid from April to December 2009.  Our vendor sent the boat to be restored but a year later the restorers had failed to get cracking to it was returned back to Somerset and kept in the barn until now.

Sitting on a useful and smart single axle trailer with winch, it offers an exciting opportunity to restore and use once again. Included are a full length boat cover in burgundy to match the interior and also sun cover for the passenger area.  The history file includes the aforementioned Boat safety certificate, old license and an array of maintenance manuals for the Gray Marine engine, a selection of new gaskets, service manual for manual reverse gears, the carburettor, overhaul manual for L-head engines, parts identification manual and installation instructions for the silencer.

A wonderful opportunity indeed.

Background to the marque -

When you're born with a name like Christopher Columbus Smith it's pretty clear that destiny has got plans for you. At the age of 13 in 1874 the Michigan-born blacksmith's son made his first boat. By 1881 he was building boats full time, and went on to pioneer petrol internal combustion for leisure craft. From 1913, for 11 consecutive years, Smith-built boats won every America Power Boat Association Gold Cup race, including five consecutive victories for legendary sportsman Gar Wood.Smith was in just as much of a hurry when it came to building his business, and by 1927 Chris-Craft was the world's largest manufacturer of mahogany boats. In a final flourish before devoting itself to the war effort Chris-Craft produced what for many is the culmination of the "vintage" sports runabout.It is simply beyond question that the 17, 19 and 23ft runabouts produced from 1936 to 1942, and nicknamed barrel backs, were an abiding influence on the swish craft Carlo Riva would later produce.