Chris-Craft Boats, by Anthony Mollica Jr. and Jack Savage is a painstakingly detailed account of the iconic American boat company from the early days of duck hunting and racing boats to its inception as Chris Smith & Sons Boat Company in 1922 and through to the company’s transformation from wood to fiberglass hulls in the 1970’s. The book has an extensive collection of stunning photographs that blend seamlessly with the text, giving context to the highly technical writing style of the authors. The book is also the story of our nation, as it weaves the struggles and successes of the company with the changing economic, cultural and political climate of the United States throughout the twentieth century.
Chris-Craft Boats begins in 1876 with two young brothers, Hank and Chris, building duck hunting and fishing skiffs in Algonac, Michigan, an area with a rich history of shipbuilding. The brothers capitalize on the country’s growing interest in faster boats, developing successful racing boats that gain the Smith’s boat shop prominence. The next generation of Smiths takes advantage of a surplus of World War I airplane engines and favorable economic conditions to launch the Chris Smith & Sons Boat Company in 1922. High quality workmanship and brilliant marketing quickly catapult the company from a small upstart to the industry leaders. The Depression threatens the survival of the company, but the Smiths nimbly adapt, offering stripped down utility boats, which gain popularity for their practical designs. By the mid 1930’s, the Smith’s company, now called Chris-Craft Corporation, returns to luxury runabouts and racing, having survived the Depression and outlived most of its competition. World War II necessitates another shift, with Chris-Craft building plywood landing crafts for the military. The post war baby boom sees a return to Chris-Crafts’ roots, the family runabout. Growth is explosive, until the 1970’s and the transition from wooden to fiberglass hulls.
Mollica and Savage are unapologetically technical and this book will most certainly appeal to the true wooden boat enthusiast, who is eager to read about carvel planking, V-hulls and every variety of horsepower engine. Part of Chris-Crafts’ success was its development of marine engines and the authors are happy to elaborate on minute details of the various engines the company developed over time. Technical details of the gorgeous wooden construction of the boats are also aimed at the true enthusiast. However, the abundant collection of spectacular photos and the nostalgic connection to American History make the book a valuable read for anyone having an interest in boating or our cultural past. ( )

purchased at CuttySark Nautical Antiques
Seattle, Washington, Sept. 2012