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HISTORY
The legend of
Chris-Craft began in 1884, when Christopher Columbus Smith
began the Smith Boat House on the St Clair River in Algonac,
Michigan, to manufacture small duck boats and power
launches. Later, the company was extended to Chris Smith and
Sons Boat Co. Many of his larger runabouts were used as
taxis; transporting guests on the river front to resorts, or
to various sightseeing attractions. In the twenty's, mostly
runabouts were produced, but with the introduction of his
speed boats, Chris Smith's fame took off.
Chris-Craft was the largest producer of mahogany boats in
the country. In one year alone, one million feet of mahogany
was delivered. Truck load after truck of Philippine Mahogany
would arrive at the factory daily. No wood was ever wasted
either. First, the lumber was air dried; then various hull
parts were laid out using templates and patterns, were cut
into plugs to be cemented into the counter sunk holes of the
screws. All scraps were burned in the furnace for fuel.
In January of 1930, the Smiths introduced their most
ambitious offerings to date, twenty-four models of boats. It
was a clear signal to both consumers and the marine industry
that Chris-Craft was not affected by wide spread rumors of
impending disaster as a result of the crumbling American
economy. "here they come", an article begins, "a long line
of 24 new Chris-Craft - the largest and most complete motor
boat spectacle ever presented.
Indeed, no other manufacturer in the world could offer such
diversity and value. The review of the 1930 Chris-Craft
fleet in Motor Boating reveals the increased emphasis on the
higher end.
This beautiful 1930 - 28' Runabout was one of first quality
pleasure power boats that was affordable. But the truth be
known...these boats flourished during Prohibition with the
demand for speed in water transportation. The remote areas
along waterways on the Great lakes, upstate New-York and the
Eastern shore were havens for gin mills. Both bootleggers
and the Law required fast efficient transportation to travel
to out-of-the way areas.
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