The Value of a Chris-Craft Boat
There are two types of boaters in the world, those who love wood trim and those who want none of it. For the first set, real wood harks back to the golden age of boating. It adds classy, beautiful, traditional aesthetics to the modern plastic world. The second set sees it as a waste of time and money; who wants to spend their time, money, or both varnishing and polishing wood trim? Chris-Craft owners, that’s who.
Chris-Craft traces its heritage back to the 1860s when Chris Columbus Smith began building boats in his teenage years. Everyone loved Chris’s wooden skiffs, so he started a company with his brother Hank, building wooden runabouts. In 1927, Chris’s son took over. By then, the company was the world’s largest maker of mahogany powerboats.
The company’s fortunes understandably waned during the Great Depression and World Wars. During World War II, they made 12,000 patrol and utility vessels for the armed forces to keep afloat. After the war, however, the company boomed.
The 1950s were the Golden Era for Chris-Craft, whose boats were favored by A-list celebrities and the wealthy as status symbols. At the same time, the company made 139 different powerboat models, expanding its reach into the growing American middle class and popularizing pleasure boating throughout the country.
Over the following decades, Chris-Craft transitioned to making fiberglass boats. But they kept their core values, never giving up on making hand-crafted, top-end boats that appealed to those looking for the very best vessel they could buy.
Chris-Crafts are now built in Sarasota, Florida. As a well-known luxury brand, they’re priced higher than other vessels, but this also comes from their iconic legacy within the industry. Buying a Chris-Craft is as much buying a piece of history as it is buying a boat.
Iconic Chris-Craft Models
There are three different lines of Chris-Craft models to choose from. Each lineup of luxury wooden boats is targeted at a different sort of boater looking for a different sort of boat. Fundamentally, however, all Chris-Crafts are designed to be the best for social cruising or used as runabouts.
The Launch line consists of classic dayboats in the timeless Chris-Craft style. These boats, ranging from the 25GT to the 35GT, incorporate modern layouts and features in a retro-looking hull. They’re sleek and fast and would look at home cruising the canals of Venice or a marina in Monaco. Launch boats are available with either sterndrive or outboard power.
The exception is the retro Launch 27, which is designed to be a true representation of the original Chris-Craft brand and is only available with a sterndrive.
The Calypso series are dual-console bowrider boats with outboard motors. They have an open floor plan that many describe as an SUV on the water. Flip-up seating allows the cockpit area to be clear for activities like fishing or diving. Convertible seating allows it to be used for social cruises and long days on the water. Despite its utility, it still has stunning good looks and Chris-Craft quality.
Finally, the Catalina series is Chris-Craft’s line of outboard-powered, luxury center console boats built to compete with the likes of Boston Whaler, Everglades, Grady-White, and others. Like the Calypsos, they have flip-up seating and tables, but a full walk-around console allows for easier traffic flow. With these boats, Chris-Craft has raised the bar on what a center console can be, these are far more than bland utilitarian fishing boats.
The Art of Buying Chris-Craft Boats
As a small-volume building, buying Chris-Craft boats is unlike other brands. You aren’t likely to see many on the water, that’s part of the appeal, so working with your local dealer is your best choice. As with boutique builders, you may encounter a substantial delay between the time you place your order and the time you take delivery.
Buying a used Chris-Craft is well worth your consideration. This brand is favored by boaters who care deeply for their vessels, those who are likely to have them professionally maintained and cared for, and who use them lightly. These factors, plus the brand’s prestige, help a Chris-Craft boat retain its value better than other brands.
Performance and Innovation at Chris-Craft
Chris-Craft boat performance proves that these vessels are about more than just good looks. They’re also loaded with the latest technology, fun to drive, and blissful to own.
Engine-wise, Chris-Craft uses the latest sterndrives from Mercruiser and Volvo, or Mercury Verado outboards. These motors have joystick docking and digital engine controls. Most models are also equipped with a bow thruster for easy docking.
The company also does a great job integrating the latest electronics into its designs. Most models include Garmin touchscreens with digital switching for all on-board electrical consumers.
Larger boats favor dual 12-inch or larger touchscreens at the helm. USB and 12-volt chargers are located throughout the boats for your personal devices.
Chris-Craft also prides itself on its innovations in terms of comfort and seating. Their fold-away and adaptable seating arrangements have made their Calypso and Catalina lines more useful for more purposes. They allow you to have a cushy social cruising boat and runabout one day and an open and functional fishing boat the next.
Is a Chris-Craft Boat Right for You?
Chris-Crafts are built to the highest standards for enthusiast owners. Not everyone wants a boat with this much wood trim and flash, and not everyone can afford the luxury the Chris-Craft offers. And that’s exactly how the company wants it, these boats are in demand, offering unmatched elegance and exceptional performance for the discerning boater.
Is all that worth it? Chances are, you already know the answer.
