Lot Ended
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.
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