1922 Chris-Craft

This 1922 Chris-Craft is a dual-cockpit, 26′ runabout and was the sixth vessel built by Chris Smith & Sons Boat Co. of Algonac, Michigan. Named Godfather, it is constructed of mahogany and is powered by a Curtiss OX-5 aircraft engine that was converted for marine use by Chris-Craft. The forward cockpit features a port-side helm and is separated from a larger aft cockpit by the engine compartment. Both are equipped with green bench seats. The boat was previously owned and restored by collector Wayne Mocksfield of Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey, and in 1994 it won Antique Boat of the Year in Clayton, New York. This early Chris-Craft was donated in 2003 to the seller, the Tahoe Maritime Museum. It is now offered in Carson City, Nevada, with a clean California title in the museum’s name. Christopher Columbus Smith began building wooden boats in the 19th century, and in 1910 formed the Smith Ryan Boat Company with his brother and financial backer John Ryan. That company would eventually be acquired by Gar Wood of motorboat racing fame. Smith and his family members left in 1922 to form the Chris Smith & Sons Boat Company, which changed its name to Chris-Craft two years later. This boat is the sixth of 24 built in the first year of production after the Smiths separated from Gar Wood. The mahogany hull measures 26′ in length and features a beam of 6.8′ and a draft of just over a foot. The exterior is finished with varnished sides and decking, a white boot stripe and a green-painted bottom. The stem band and rub rails are polished metal. The manufacturer, original boat number (VI), state registration number, and the vessel’s name are written in gold leaf. The forward and rear cockpits feature benches upholstered in green with tuck and roll seat backs. The aft cockpit is also equipped with two unsecured wicker chairs. The wooden four-spoke steering wheel is mounted to the port side in the forward cockpit and is equipped with control levers for spark advance and throttle. A forward/reverse shifter extends upward through the floor, and a vintage Pyrene fire extinguisher is mounted under the dashboard. Instrumentation includes a 2k-rpm Corbin tachometer and gauges for amperage and oil pressure. The OX-5 is a liquid-cooled V8 that was originally designed for use in aircraft, notably the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, a WWI-era trainer. The engine runs on gasoline and produced 90 horsepower when new. Mounted amidships, this example was converted for marine use by Chris-Craft and turns a single propellor. The seller notes that the fuel pump is unable to pick up necessary priming, though the engine ran during testing when fuel was poured directly into the carburetor. The engine compartment is equipped with an automatic Fireboy 70VH halon 1301 fire-suppression system. The vessel was last in the water in the mid-2000s, and the seller notes that some seams in the hull are opening. The trailer pictured in photos is not included in the sale. The Chris-Craft data plate is stamped with the boat and engine numbers.