Chris-Craft Boats

Chris-Craft Boats

Company type	Private (historical)
Industry	Boat manufacturing
Founded	1910
Founder	Christopher Columbus Smith
Defunct	1962
Fate	Sold to NAFI Corporation in 1960; rebranded as Chris-Craft Industries in 1962
Headquarters	Algonac , United States
Products	Motorboats, racing boats, pleasure boats, patrol vessels

Chris-Craft Boats was an American manufacturer of boats, originally established by Christopher Columbus Smith (1861–1939). Ownership remained with the Smith family until 1960 when it was sold to NAFI Corporation, which rebranded as Chris-Craft Industries in 1962. The present-day entity, Chris-Craft Corporation, continues to produce motorboats under the Chris-Craft name.

History

At just 13 years old in 1874, Chris Smith constructed his initial wooden boat. By 1881, he and his brother Hank had begun producing boats on a full-time basis. The Smith Ryan Boat Company was founded in 1910, later renamed Chris Smith & Sons Boat Company in 1922, and ultimately became Chris-Craft in 1924. Located near Detroit, the firm earned acclaim during the 1910s and 1920s for its elegant racing boats, catering to wealthy customers such as Henry Ford and William Randolph Hearst.

In the late 1920s, Chris-Craft was among the first to mass-produce civilian pleasure boats aimed at the expanding middle-class market. Their manufacturing facility in Algonac, Michigan enabled significant cost reductions through assembly line production. Engines were initially provided by Ford and Chrysler, with Hercules Engine Company joining later.

The introduction of the Cadet model in 1927—a cost-effective 22-foot runabout—signified a strategic move toward wider market appeal. Through innovative marketing campaigns and financing options, powerboats became attainable for buyers beyond the affluent segment.

During the Great Depression, Chris-Craft responded by offering economical models to sustain sales; for instance, a 15.5-foot utility boat was available for as low as US$406 by 1935. Throughout World War II, the company manufactured small patrol vessels for the U.S. Navy.

Following the war, Chris-Craft expanded its product lineup amid the prosperous 1950s consumer boom. With an offering of 159 different models, it dominated sales in numerous small powerboat categories. The brand attracted high-profile customers including Dean Martin, Katharine Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. Renowned for using premium materials such as mahogany, teak, and brass, their boats were favored by recreational boaters during weekends.

By 1955, Chris-Craft had introduced its first boat constructed from fiberglass. In 1957, it acquired Roamer Boat Company to create the Roamer Steel Boats Division (RSBD), specializing in metal-hulled vessels marketed as Chris Craft Roamers.

After being acquired by NAFI Corporation in 1960, Chris-Craft continued operating autonomously until its boat manufacturing division was sold to Murray Industries in 1981; meanwhile, Chris-Craft Industries retained ownership of and licensed the brand name. The boat manufacturing company was purchased by Outboard Marine Corporation in 1989 but faced bankruptcy in 2000; subsequently, Genmar Holdings acquired it. Genmar later divested the division to Stellican Ltd., which consolidated both manufacturing operations and trademark ownership. In 2021, Winnebago Industries completed acquisition of Chris-Craft from Stellican.