Greg Jackson is available to travel worldwide to represent the buyer in a pre-purchase inspection. We can assist in worldwide shipping for a purchased boat or vehicle. We will be happy to provide you with extensive references should you need them. Either way, our success rate speaks for itself. We can also act as a central agent or the client may prefer an "open" listing that still allows you the option to sell your boat or vehicle. Wright, the former executive director of the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club, who said: “They were the Corvettes, the Thunderbirds of their era.’”Īnd like their automotive counterparts, they can fetch high prices, as much as $70,000 for a high show-quality boat with original hardware and motor.At Carolina Classic Boats and Cars we have a proven track record assisting buyers and sellers of antique, classic and unique boats and cars. It is just such memories that have made the 19-foot Chris-Craft Racing Runabout one of the most popular classic boats in the United States, according to Wilson W. ![]() Perhaps the phrase, “she turned on a dime and gave you change” best describes that experience. She ran like a champion let loose in her element. I was thrilled! This must be what astronauts felt, shooting though space. Phosphorescent spray flamed by the low freeboard like galaxies of stars. The long sleek bow had its racy caulk lines lifted high out of the water. We roared into the late afternoon, the acceleration jamming me back into the red vinyl cushions. Once on the Bay, we fully opened the throttle. The boat maneuvered smoothly out of the slip, carefully to avoid creating a wake that would disturb other boats. Now, let’s get back to the boat test and a great time on the water. The bow stays down, and the ride is smoother than any other Chris-Craft wooden boat of this size. Lumber has been mentioned as the longest lasting shortage. That’s because they never knew what they’d need to substitute. Despite material shortages for the war effort in armor plating, engines, and brass castings, Chris-Craft survived and is going strong today.Ĭhris-Craft didn’t identify the specific construction materials it used to build its boats during this post-war period. At a high point, a record 602 Chris Crafts were shipped to the military in one month. It was a time when everyone in the United States did what they could for the war effort. ![]() Anything over that was turned back to the government. Production changed to a mix of cost-plus and a small profit. In the span of only a few years, World War II started. Although the model offerings had been reduced significantly during those challenging years, 97 models were featured in its 1937 catalogue. Chris-Craft went into the black again in 1936, with a profit of $213,131. They had shown strong growth and good profits in the boat business until the Great Depression took its toll. Boatbuilding was their family’s livelihood, not just a hobby. It would be smart to point out that by the time World War II ended, the Christopher Smith family that owned Chris-Craft had been through several years of tough times. In other words, she was painted, not stained and varnished, because the cedar wood did not look right with a bright finish. According to LeCompte, one of these Chris-Craft racers arrived at his shop cedar planked with a plywood deck. War production had ended, but good mahogany wood and other materials were in short supply. Here’s some additional insight about those post-World War II Chris-Craft boats. This model Racing Runabout is being restored at Jerry LeCompte’s Dockside Boat Works in nearby Easton, MD. I have seen his boat’s decks and other seams still tight with top-show quality several years after he performed his restoration magic, in addition to using the boat regularly on the Chesapeake Bay. Michaels Antique and Classic Boat Show, and his storyboard content contributed a few details to this article. Chris-Craft built 51 of those earlier racers, which were actually two inches longer and an inch wider in the beam. These post-war Racing Runabouts were loosely based on the 19-foot Special Race Boats of 19. Together those factors achieved a stunning speed as high as 50 mph, which led to its reputation as Chris-Craft’s “sports car” boat. This model was a hit, and Chris-Craft built a total of 503 of them during that six-year period. These boats were built sleek and had larger engines. From 1948 to 1954, Chris-Craft produced this 19-foot Racing Runabout.įrom 1948 to 1954, Chris-Craft produced this 19-foot Racing Runabout. ![]() Here’s a boat that offers an incomparable feeling as you slice across the water.
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