New 2018 Chris-Craft line-up

A flared bow and tumblehome. Teak trim and brightwork. Quilted upholstery and plush seating. A race-car inspired dash and a rakish windscreen. But, equally, V8 performance and now the latest outboard-powered options ignite America’s heritage boat brand these days.

Stylin’ and profilin’ has always been a big part of the Chris-Craft’s appeal. But more than show ponies, the Chris-Crafts back-up their good looks with great performance. From racy runabouts to luxury launches, sporty cruisers to an expanding centre console and cross-over range, there’s a boat for just about everyone chasing nautical style and driving pleasure. That much was obvious from the moment we arrived at the 2018 Summer Showcase in Sarasota, Florida.

Turn the key — or press the push-button start — swivel the joystick, advance the throttle and head out for the day. With auto trim assist taking care of your running attitude, there’s more time to enjoy the freedom of, well, just drivin’. In keeping with American traditions, everything goes fast and delivers a blast. But the push-button automation is a big new thing.

Of course, comforts for the captain and crew are dealt in equal measures. The sculptured bucket seats and integral lounges embrace, the sunpads front and back beckon at rest for rest, while drawer fridges and amenities centres with toilets add to the at-anchor appeal.

From go to whoa, Chris-Craft is still a big dealer of boating experiences. True to its heritage, that hasn’t changed in more than 100 years. But the famous boating brand isn’t resting on its laurels. As we reported on in this article derived from the 2018 Summer Showcase visit, Chris-Craft has announced big expansion plans. Certainly, the boats are packing more of that new push-button kit in a seamless way.

Of course, turn-key day-boating has long been the foundation upon which Chris-Craft is built. Carpe diem. Seize the day in a runabout, launch, family play station, weekender with beds, or a centre console or dual console with outboard power. Chris-Craft builds boats up to the Commander 44 in a joint venture with Austin Parker in Italy. Here's what's new and cool from the famous Florida-based yard. We're keepin' the Fedora...

2018 SUMMER SHOWCASE
There were 15 new Chris-Craft 2018-model boats at the 2018 Summer Showcase, with a dozen or so in the water, two inside the conference room, and one greeting you in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency.

Many of these boats had been rebadged from, say, a 25 to a 27, or a 28 to a 30, a 32 to a 34, and a 36 to a 38. This is in keeping with the trend in model labelling these days to better reflect overall length. But it also opens the door for new slots and launches in the ranges.

The 2018-model Chris-Craft boats available for test driving started with those traditional sterndrive-powered models. We dived aboard the vertical-bow Italian-styled Capri runabout, moved to the bigger Corsair day cruisers, hit it up for a party on the bowrider variants known as Launches (the new 38 came with triple outboards), before topping out with the Commander 44 for some Italian flavour.

There were enhancements across all ranges for 2018, among them some stunning new high-gloss timber-backed helm seats, remodelled flagstaffs, lifted trim, and trick hull colours. The effect of these touched on the already beautiful boats was really quite profound. Lots of nautical eye candy to woo and wow.

NEW 2018 CHRIS-CRAFT MODELS
The smallest Chris-Craft on the dock was a cool Capri 27 (nee 25) with vertical bow, a forest of teak in the upgraded Heritage pack, Ivory saddle-stitched upholstery, seating for six, and an upgraded 8.2L MerCruiser singing a deep note through the switchable exhaust. Pumping out 430hp, this big-block V8 runabout hit mid-50mph or 85 klicks and delivered plenty of smiles on our dials when we opened our driving account after 30 hours transit from Sydney. Senses awakened.

There was a Launch 27 from this more seaworthy saltwater-profiled runabout range, with a 350hp 5.3L Volvo Penta engine and extras like underwater lights and docking lights. But the big upgrade was the new Wakesurfing Package with Volvo Penta Forward Drive and oversized trim tabs, plus Zero Speed Off Control for holding your preferred tow speed. The surf was up in Sarasota. See the pic above.

The Corsair 30 (closed bow) had twin engines — 300hp 6.2L MerCruisers — while the Launch 30 variant with bowrider layout was powered by a pair of 300hp Volvo Penta 5.3L V8s. Automation was the big thing on both these boats, with Mercury’s Push Button Start and Active Trim adding to the Axius Joystick for docking ease. The Volvo boat had a proprietary Joystick, too.

Woven seagrass flooring cast a cool summer vibe, while the albeit low-profile cabin on the Corsair 30 doubles as cubby houses for kids, and a place you can kip after a long lunch. Trust me. There was also an upgraded Tecma marine head on both 30-footers.

It was MerCruiser all the way on the Corsair 34 (twin 350hp 6.3L) and the Launch bowrider variant (twin 380hp 8.2L big blocks). These boats have always thrilled your writer and driver. At various times during the three days, we packed a near full house aboard, but the twin V8s snapped us out of the hole to rocket speeds. The off-the-wheel sports steering added to the thrill of the ride and lots of giggles.

The flagship Launch 36, now badged the 38, came in a triple 300hp Yamaha outboard variant with optional hardtop and Heritage pack. This boat with sterndrives and a bimini arrived Down Under to debut at the 50th Sydney International Boat Show.

As we reported on previously, this
Launch 38 was designed with the express aim of "rediscovering fun afloat with the family." There's integrated watertoy storage, bow-to-stern seating, an outdoor galley and weekend accommodation for four. The hardtop was a new option on the test boat powered by the triple rack of 300hp V6 Yamaha outboards and with Optimus 360 Joystick.

The flagship Commander 44 sportsyacht breaks the mould. Built in Italy, in a joint venture with Austin Parker, the stylish cruiser has twin Volvo Penta IPS 600s for a fast and snappy ride of about 35 knots. The performance was a welcome surprise and surpassed what you might see from conventional sterndrives.

With four aboard in the air-conditioned saloon, the Commander 44 was the kindest boat in the Florida heat. There’s sleeping for four and a galley down in an open-plan interior, plus a surprisingly roomy cockpit with inbuilt seating.

2018 CHRIS-CRAFT WITH OUTBOARDS
Across in 'outboard alley' were two Calypso dual consoles with moulded hardtops — it's a new lid on the 26, while the 30 is just six-months old and hasn't been seen in Australia yet. The 26 ran a single 300hp Merc, while the 30 had twin white 300hp Yamahas.

The flip-down seating on both these Calypso models, which surrounds the entire cockpit to create a big social stage, and the outdoor amenities centre with grill, will be a winner for summer boating Sundays and soirees. These would be great boats for active Aussie families who want bluewater style, bow-to-stern functionality, and outboard engine boating sense. Mightily impressed.

The three Catalina centre consoles included the entry-level 26 with a new centre console module and twin 200hp Yamahas; the all-new robust-looking Catalina 30 with pilothouse helm (side enclosures) and twin 350hp Mercury Verados; and, and the 36 Catalina running triple 300hp Yamahas that were custom spray painted to match the hull. This is a big thing in the States.

Of all the rides and drives, that new Catalina 30 Centre Console with the pilothouse or wrap-around sides for added weather protection rated the highest. This boat felt absolutely smooth and solid punching through the wake of a fleet of Chris-Crafts zipping about Sarasota’s otherwise balmy waterways.

The huge forward sunpad with armrests is as much a highlight as the cabin with headroom, double bed, upmarket sink and toilet with washbasin. The side dive door has a trick mechanism, the console hinges open for easy wiring access, and the whole clever social design thrusts the centre console into the centre of Chris-Craft's boating fleet and today's just-add-water pleasure seeker.

A new Catalina 30 Centre Console
in beautiful powder blue is now headed Down Under to importer Premier Marine and its owner. The boat runs beautifully, has as much seating as a bowrider, sleeps a couple, and looks powerful with classic bluewater styling and a prominent flared bow.

THE CHRIS-CRAFT PASSION
We confess to having a deep-seeded love of Chris-Craft boats. How could you not? Every test on Sydney Harbour and beyond over many years has stirred the senses and pushed our buttons. We got that again.

Across the range, there's that top-down, wind-in-your-hair freedom from driving a retro runabout or luxury launch. This extends from these open-air runabouts and the new outboard centre consoles to the air conditioning on the sporty Commander 44 built in Italy with Volvo Penta IPS 600s.

President Steve Heese says the most popular boat is still the Launch 27. Engine-wise, it's a 50/50 split with Mercury and Volvo. But every boat has joystick and some kind of active trim assist. Everyone is loving the automation and it's attracting new fans.

"Aussies are great because they're quick to buy new and better products. You might be the quickest to adopt new products out of any market," says Heese, who grew up messing about in boats with his brother in Tampa.

"I still go boating to restaurants, the odd fishing trip in perfect conditions, using my waterfront infrastructure with boats to entertain. I'll drop the boat in the water on a Sunday and go for a nice lunch."

Meantime, we ignite a hail of V8s with through-exhaust, launch a pro wakesurfer into some tsunamis from the 44ft Commander, and drive the latest cool Chris-Craft centre consoles through the 50mph barrier with roaring outboard engines. Yep, everything hits 50 and a home run. Did I die and go to Sarasota? Boat drivin' heaven.

More on Chris-Craft in Australia from Premier Marine.