Classic Boat
Chris-Craft Runabout Has a Dual Personality as a Ski Boat By Chris “Seabuddy” Brown
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his ski boat was delivered in Chris-Craft’s Cadillac plant built 90 of 1964 to Deep Creek Lake in them for its 1964 model run, following Maryland from Chris-Craft’s 180 of these boats built the prior year. plant in Cadillac, MI. Records show it This was just a fraction of Chris-Craft’s was the fifth Custom Ski runabout built production, building boats between by Chris-Craft that model year. She has 17 and 65 feet that year in a variety of been in Maryland ever since, some 54 plants under the Chris-Craft division of years. NAFI. Those plants occupied a total of The original purchase was arranged nearly two million square feet from the in the fall of 1963 by George McGee, 11 locations that produced all the boats who owned land on the lake at that for Chris Craft Corporation. time. Bowman’s Marina, the local Chris-Craft dealer, delivered George’s new ski boat. George owned the boat until December 1985, and then sold it to Reggie Johnson of Cambridge, MD. Reggie owned it until 2000, when ##The 1964 Chris-Craft Custom Ski “Red” Vaughn model is also a terrific runabout. Photo purchased it. courtesy Chris Brown Red and his son Gary share use and maintenance of the boat, which She is a pure straight-shaft, centerhas now found a great home with Red’s of-the-boat mounted engine runabout. family for almost 18 years. The only engine offered in this model To date, this boat has enjoyed a rich was the overwhelmingly popuhistory spent on Deep Creek Lake, the lar 283-cubic inch, 185-horsepower Magothy, Severn, and South Rivers, Chevy/ Chris-Craft V-8. In 1964 the and on the Chesapeake Bay. She also price list showed $4125 for the boat and enjoys a dual personality as a runabout motor combo. The catalog says it would and ski boat. Although Red’s family achieve 41 mph in top speed. The also uses her as a runabout, he often big brother, a 20-foot boat, could be displays her at boat shows as a ski boat, ordered with a larger engine, a 30/431 complete with water skis and other Lincoln. That delivered speeds to 47appropriate equipment, so show visitors mph in a Super Sport configuration. can envision the fun an inboard ski The price sheet showed that combo was boat can provide. A book of notes of listed at $6195. And, it was the fastest the boat’s history is often laid out in the offering for 1964 models. cockpit when she is displayed. Chris-Craft put its quality conShe is a classic Chris-Craft runstruction into this boat. The wood was about, 17-foot Custom Ski model. Mahogany planking sides and bottom, Follow us!
with a double layer of planking on the bottom and a single layer on the sides backed up by battens. Red restored this boat over time and then arranged for it to be judged under Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) criteria. The boat scored 92 out of 100 points possible. With only eight points deducted, she is a top-shelf, top-grade boat. Classic ski boats built by ChrisCraft, Correct Craft, Higgins, Century, and Master Craft (to name a few) are the theme of this summer’s Antique & Classic Boat Show (ACBS), held at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels on June 15-17. Cruisers will also be there. Both wood and fiberglass boats—new and classic—will be displayed on land and in the water. While you’re there, say “Hi” to Red and Gary. Cruise day is Friday. Ask if they are going on the cruise, too. Maybe, make fast friends and see if you can join them on a ride. In addition to the boats, food, gear, demos, Friday boat rides, and music you will find at the ACBS, there is another show within the grounds of the CBMM designated as The Arts at Navy Point, where more than 70 artists, artisans, craftspeople, and vendors will showcase their maritime-themed work. The “Best of the Best” of handcrafted and original works of art will crowd the walkways and tents of these craft people and artists. # PropTalk.com June 2018 43
