About Chris-Craft shipyard
Chris-Craft is one of the oldest existing shipyards in the world that dates back to 1874, when at the age of 13 its founder Chris Columbus Smith built his first wooden boat. A few years later, when he had already gained the reputation of an excellent boat builder, together with his brother he founded a small production facility in the town of Algonac, Michigan. By the beginning of the 20th century Chris Smith’s boats were already well-known, although they got the name of Chris-Craft only in 1922. One of the reasons for success was the new hull shape, which allowed one to reach a high speed fast. But what matters most is that stylish mahogany Chris-Craft boats became a symbol of luxury in the roaring 1920s and an indispensable attribute of the rich and famous. They resembled cars not only in terms of design and maneuverability: the shipyard was the first to apply the car assembly principles, and by 1927 it became world’s largest motorboats manufacturer. During World War II the production switched to the war footing, and it is Chris-Craft motorboats that were used for the Allied landings in Normandy in 1944. After the war the shipyard returned to a civilian range, and by the end of 1950s there was a switch to fiberglass hulls. In the following decades a wide variety of models - from cruising to racing ones – were produced under the Chris-Craft brand. By the end of the 20th century the brand had to go through bankruptcy, but after a series of resales it was in good hands again and managed to revive its legendary heritage, but in a modern look.
Highlights
Today Chris-Craft produces three ranges of motorboats. Open bow riders Launch and Launch GT are of a slightly vintage, classic Chris-Craft design. Practical Calypso boats with a semi-closed pilothouse and an ample aft cockpit are ideal for family outings, while multifunctional Catalinas are produced with a center console, too. The models come with both outboard and inboard engines with sterndrives, larger ones have cabins and other amenities for long and comfortable time on the water.
Achievements
There are numerous famous names among Chris-Craft owners: from Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy to Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Chris-Craft also served as a prototype for the first ‘gentleman’s boats’ in Europe: at first the famous Riva boats largely repeated Chris-Craft and came with their engines.
