History of the company
Chris Smith built his first wooden boat in 1874, when he was only 13 years old. A few years later he made another boat for hunting and fishing. His friends liked the model and they asked him to build a similar boat for them, which was the beginning of the world famous shipyard. Chris-Craft.
The popularity of the shipyard came in the 1910s and 1920s thanks to the luxury racing boats that were called North «American Riva.
Among the lucky owners were such celebrities as Henry Ford and William Randolph Hearst. Gradually, the company expanded its influence and entered the mid-sized boat market, and during the Great Depression, the lineup expanded to include budget boats. Also to cope with the crisis of those years, Chris-Craft began taking orders for the U.S. Army and has produced more than a thousand small boats.
In the 1960s the Smith family sold the company to NAFI Corporation, after which the company changed owners several times.
Status .
Today the shipyard continues its work. In 2018, Chris-Craft has once again changed its owner to Winnebago Industries, which produces trailers and motorhomes.
Production
The shipyard boats are built in a modern factory in Sarasota, Florida, employing more than 340 people. The 15,800-square-foot facility includes a headquarters, design office, workshops, assembly halls and an artificial test pond.
Model range
Modern Chris-Craft boats are made of fiberglass, the company builds models from 6 to 13.5 meters long. Corsair, Calypso and Launch series boats include classic runabouts, bowriders and boats with cuddy cabin.
The Catalina range includes outboard and center console models designed specifically for fishing enthusiasts. Carina series includes the smallest models, they have an interesting design of classic shapes in a modern treatment. The Commander line consists of lobster and Gozzo boats.
Features .
Despite the large production volumes, the shipyard finds time to test every boat on the water, so customers receive quality tested boats and yachts. Chris-Craft is one of the few North American shipbuilders to produce boats in the style of European classics.
