This 1931 Chris Craft runabout is a honey of a restored boat! It’s offered for sale here on eBay where bidding surprisingly has yet to reach $5,000. It’s located in Independence, Oregon, a very appropriate name as I write this on July 4th! Just to make it easier to justify in your mind, the trailer is included in the sale. Does anyone else remember On Golden Pond? That’s the first time I ever saw a wooden boat like this, and I’ve been in love ever since!
Chris Crafts of this era are prized for both their styling and craftsmanship. This particular 15-1/2′ boat was professionally restored over a three-year period from 2007-2010 after having been purchased from the original owner. A new bottom, new Phillipine mahogany and all new hardware are some highlights of the restoration. The boat was only used for 57 hours before being stored in a hangar since 2014.
I love the contrast between the gleaming wood and the red uphostery. All the brightwork appears to have been replaced or refurbished as well. The twin hatches provide access to the engine, which is now a modern 4.3 liter Mercruiser marine engine.
Quite a view for the captain! Interestingly enough, I remembered that most boats I’ve been in of a similar size have the steering wheel on the right. I found an interesting article here that explains why most boats in the USA have their wheel on the right, but that there is also a compelling case for smaller boats to have them on the left. Who knew? I do know the white gauges look perfect in that wooden dashboard!
The seller does note that there has been some separation in the topside planking, and obviously that would have to be fixed before taking the boat out. Hopefully that will be straightforward for the next owner. If not, there are plenty of specialists in restoring this type of wooden boat.
The 4.3 liter (262 cubic-inch) V-6 was actually originally derived from a GM V-8 (or so I read) and has been around since the mid 1960s. It’s considered a reliable if not overly powerful marine engine and seems to be perfectly suited for a pleasure craft such as this one. I’m sure the reserve will be considerably higher than the current bid–what would you pay for a boat like this?
Hmm, seems to me, a boat like this should garner a lot more. Wood boats, especially 100 year old ones,,,one must be cautious. They are like coffins, beautiful on the outside, death on the inside. I think these vintage wood boats are just the coolest things, if I lived on a lake, I’d surely have one. Since there are only 3 lakes in the entire county here,, ponds really, not a good idea. The V6 is a welcome addition, even though, I believe these were Chrysler flattie 6 powered, and to spin the prop, it would be good enough for me. Been my experience, ALL wood boats leak, and this would be no exception, but when boats went to fiberglass, it took something away from what boats should be, like this. I’ve seen these go for $50g’s, I’d have to think, $5g’s is a relative bargain, no matter how bad it leaks,,,
Chris-Craft built their own motors back then, I believe.
engines were provided by Hercules and several other mfgs, whatever was available
The 4.3 GM V-6 was born in 1985.
Wood boats shrink when kept out of the water and swell when they are in the water. Don’t worry about a bit of water ion the bilge just buy a couple of bilge pumps one electric 12 volt about $40/$50 for a good one and a manual back up about $20 then go enjoy and the cracks will probably seal themselves even the ones on the top aides
A bit of water in the bilge is, as Greywolffe wrote, not a big deal. A cutlass bearing uses raw water to lube the driveshaft so it’s designed to drip inside. Count the drips to see if it needs adjusting.
It sold for $5100, I don’t know anything about wooden boats ,but that seems like a real deal to me. I would have paid that, just for the pride of ownership
It didn’t sell, Joe. The reserve was not met. Worth about 3 times that.
I remember that boat sequence in GoldenPond well , a truly wonderful piece of film that captures the essence wooden boating.
If you want to view great film on driving early Mustangs catch a hold of the movie “A Man and A Woman” , just great clips that capture the essence of driving a Mustang.
Both these movies left a lasting impression on me.
Not to mention a beautifully filmed, and engaging love story, with a sound track to remember. Nominated for 4 Academy Awards, won two. The actor, Jean-L Trintignant, who was also a race car driver in real life, just died lat month at 92. The lead actress, the beautiful Anouk Aimée is still active today at 90. I could watch this movie over and over and not get tired of it.
The GM 4.3 liter is essentially a GM (Chevrolet) 5.7/350 with 2 cylinders loped off and a new crankshaft, heads, etc. Pretty reliable.
You are exactly correct. A great engine…and a great boat motor.
These old wood boats were nothing short of pure art! The maintenance would be the big problem for me regardless of the engine. Pretty much plan on working on it for at least part of the winter getting it ready for the next season.
I restored a Century Resorter (similar Mahagany boat) and it was very time consuming and expensive. I enjoyed it but every time I put it in the water I was scared to death it would sink overnight or get scratched and gouged by the dock! I sold it a couple years later, too much stress!
Interesting that it has a Maryland registration. The plank separation is topside so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Nice boat and definitely an important piece of small craft history. But I don’t need another boat. BTW this vessel is easily worth three or four times more than the bid price.
If there is wood separation in the deck, there will be separation in the hull. This boat would be a money pit. The “restoration” looks poorly done, non original engine, with a Maryland registration, its likely to have been in salt water. I would want more documentation than a data plate, to confirm it was a real Chris-Craft.
It’s too bad that the original engine, instruments and who knows what else were replaced. Originality is everything for these boats to command top dollar. The original engine was likely either a flathead 4 or 6 developing around 100hp +/- (the 6 that is), which would move the boat nicely and enable waterskiing if desired. Those old cast iron flatheads that were in the Chris’ were typically made by Hercules out of Ohio, and they were marine versions of industrial engines often used in oil derricks, and other unglamorous applications. Looks like a decent boat otherwise – I like split cockpits especially. No need for discussion while on a speedboat ride!
I am the one that referred this to Barn Finds. I wanted to know why something that appears so valuable has not attracted any interest, and the posts here really help to understand why.
This is a WOODEN BOAT!!!!! With that said, I have worked on/repaired these boats over the years and they are outstandingly beautiful but…..VERY HIGH MANTENANCE!!!!
This is the kind of boat that you use on a lake with a lakehouse. This is not a boat for the casual user who wants to trailer to a lake, run it for a day, then pull it out – that’s what fiberglass boats are for.
With that said; if God had wanted boats to be made of fiberglass, he would have created fiberglass trees….
the best two days of having a boat are,the day you buy it and the day you sell it!
I live on the Chesapeake Bay and about 2017 we visited the St. Michaels Maritime Museum’s annual boat show. I’m pretty sure this boat was for sale at the event, sitting on a trailer as we see here.
B.O.A.T. = Bust out another thousand.
I have attended Wooden Boat School in Brooklyn Maine on several occasions.
I am restoring a 1956 Duracraft runabout – ALUMINUM. These wooden runabouts are exquisitely beautiful, in fact I regard them as floating furniture.
I also regard them as endless maintenance to say nothing of endless expense.
Just returned from a visit to a very large collection of wooden boats in Southern Maryland, from little skiffs to a 42′ Owens Cruiser, built in 1948 in Baltimore. It’s the collection of one couple’s finds over the last 40 years. The boats [and a few antique cars] can be seen at oldtimeworld.com.
Correct. They are not designed to be trailered to the lake for a day and then hauled out. But, launched and kept in the water for the summer, they stop leaking in a few days and provide endless pleasure – both the ride and the wonderful sound of the through-hull, water cooled exhaust. Maintenance? I sanded and varnished mine every spring and every fall. Cost was for brushes and spar varnish. My labor was pleasurable. They are definitely NOT expensive to maintain. Unfortunately for those looking to sell, prices are coming down. And yes, original boats had flat head fours and sixes.
The cutlass bearing is under water, in the strut at the stern just before the prop. Don’t know what the device where the shaft comes through the hull is called, but it is adjustable and yes, is designed to let a few drops leak through to provide lubrication.
Stuffing box