Chris-Craft’s annual Customer Event and Dealer Meeting in Sarasota, FL started on Sunday and wraps up today. Featured were a couple new boat models, such as the 21 Capri and a hardtop version of the 36 Corsair.
CEO and President of Chris Craft Stephen Heese had this to say about the new models: “We have pretty much every new boat we’ve introduced over the past 12 months here, plus the entire product line we have introduced in the past two or three years. Since all the products are in the water we also invite the press. We’ll have about 100 dealers from around the world,” Heese said.
Stephen reported that Chris-Craft sales are doing well as the year progresses. US sales have been very strong for Chris-Craft, which has helped in somewhat lacking European Sales. Asia, the Mid East and Australia have also done well so Stephen was very pleased on the general outlook for the Chris Craft Company.
The new Carina 21 is, for it’s intend use, a speedy runabout with an open bow. The Carina is powered by a single 270 HP Volvo Penta sterndrive. The boat accelerates quickly and can get up to plane in about three seconds. At full throttle she can run up to 54 MPH and it was noted to track well in high-speed turns. Chris-Craft had first introduced the boat at the Miami International Boat Show. Typical Chris Craft luxury features are present such as a closed bow covered with a teak foredeck and a huge aft sunpad rimmed with a teak rail.
The 36 Corsair Hardtop features a fixed hardtop with a sliding sun-roof to allow in the extra sun when desired. Like the Standard 36 Corsair, it is a twin engine boat and can be set up with twin 8.2L Mercury Engines rated at 380 HP or a number of Volvo Options ranging from 375 to 425 HP. Twin Diesel engines are an option as well. In tests with the Volvo T-8.1 Gxi’s, the non hardtop version ran at top speed of 48MPH.
The Catlinas also shown at the event are high-end center consoles, and are powered with outboards ranging from 200 to 300 hp. The 26 and 29 models feature dual outboards. The rest of the Chris Craft product line outside the Catalinas are powered with gas or diesel sterndrives. The 36 Corsair Hardtop shown at the event was powered with Twin Volvo Penta V8-430 sterndrives
Chris-Craft featured these boats at the event:
36 Corsair HT (hardtop); 32 Corsair; 32 Launch; 28 Corsair; 28 Launch; 25 Corsair; 25 Launch; 22 Corsair; 22 Launch; 21 Carina; 21 Capri; 29 Catalina; 26 Catalina; and 23 Catalina.
The 36 Corsair Hardtop on the Water:
Concept Art of 21 Capri
