CHRIS CRAFT 17 FT UTILITY BOAT SHIP MODEL

The model features a beautifully shaped hull with plumb bow, glistening decks, plush upholstery and  spade rudder. Her bottom glistens with a white boot top, and maroon bottom paint. Everything about this model is exceptional. This is a near museum quality model, at an unrealistically low price. If you've been browsing on the internet, you will be hard pressed to find something that represents boats that are North American in design, and are executed as finely overall. You can spend a lot more money for so called "museum quality" detailing, but you can get the same satisfaction from our line of moderately priced, high quality models.

Mounted on a varnished wood stand she makes an incomparable model. A perfect addition to your home, den or office

Aft Cockpit Detail

Front cockpit

In addition to the Chris Craft Utility & Barrel Back in motor vessels, we offer the Garwood Speedster,a classic 1920 motor yacht, a 1926 raised deck cabin cruiser, the Dreamboat, and a NEW New England Lobster Boat. In sailboats we have the Crosby cat, the Marshall 18, and Beetle cats, two different sizes of the Schooner Bluenose, the NEW Gertrude L. Thebaud, a Friendship sloop, Schooners Adventuress, America, Amistad in two sizes, the much admired Herreshoff's 12.5  "S" boats, and New York 30, the Schooner Adventuress, J Class Rainbow, Endeavour, Enterprise, Shamrock, each as full models or half hulls, and  also the three masted lumber Schooner WAWONA and Sparkman & Stephen's ocean racer Dorade, yawl Odyssey, and Concordia yawl.  Please tell us what other boats you'd like to see at auction.

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.   The decade of the thirties showed a tremendous growth in the company despites the market crash of 1929. However, in 1939, Chris Smith succumbed to an illness which had begun to affect him years before. The death of Chris Smith did not deter the growth of the company. During the Forties, especially the war years of '42 to '45, Chris Craft produced over 12,000 LCPR (Landing Craft Personnel Raft) for the Army. 98 other pleasure craft were also produced. During this time, the "Utility" style was introduced in 1932 and was priced as low as $405.00. The post-war economic boom at Chris-Craft was felt in increasing sales and the new product lines.

Even with a management change that took place in the early eighties, Chris-Craft bounced back with sleeker designs and a greater market share. Chris Smith would have been proud.

OUR UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original condition and packaging. Returns must be insured for their full value. All that is required is a prior email authorization by us for the return. Unfortunately, no refund can be made for the cost of shipping, packaging and handling.

International buyers welcome, but inquire first.  We have satisfied customers in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Democratic Republic of Congo, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Nova Scotia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean.

Make your bid for this very special vintage Chris Craft model Now!   What a great find for that special collection that includes only the finest and most noteworthy.

THE FINE PRINT: We take extra special care in shipping by FedEx Ground and require the item be insured for your protection and ours.  Payment should be made within 5 days of auction end. The preferred method is by PayPal. If Free shipping is offered it is for the 48 contiguous States only. We ship worldwide, but request that international customers contact us before bidding. 

Copyright 2008 by Land And Sea Collection, All Rights Reserved

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