A rare and beautiful Chris Craft, available for viewing near Henley-on-Thames where it has been in a private collection for some years.

What a treat to have been entrusted with the sale of Chinese Georgie, so called for her history as a runabout in Hong Kong harbour at some point in the past.

She is constructed of Philippine mahogany with seam battened sides and a double skin bottom (epoxied in the last restoration for strength and longevity). The forward deck has a bow plate and a lifting ring which may have been used when attending a large mothership some time before WWII. Aft of the bow ring is a bi-colour navigation light and a V shaped split windscreen. There are two cockpits with footpads on either side and the interior is lined in the original varnished mahogany panels with side pockets. The seat back can be lowered for sunbathing or picnicing on board.

The instrument panel is an original Chris Craft panel with all the major engine functions and while some may ask why the steering wheel is to starboard this is perfectly normal for craft of this era. Below the aft deck is the Chevrolet petrol V8 model 283 inscribed with the number GM3789935 with a capacity of 4250cc. It was built in December 1962 and then restored in 2017, enamelled in plum red with chrome plated rocker boxes and new wiring loom. The stainless steel tank holds 40 gallons which should give a cruising range of about 20 hours at high speed.

One of the quirky historical facts associated with this boat is the fact that when purchased by the current owner in 1988 she was fitted with some Riva parts. This was due to the fact that she was used in advertisements for Campari in 1985 and then in a TV ad the following year for Canadian Club Whiskey. The directors would have preferred a genuine Italian Riva but none being available they 'made do' with this fabulous Chris Craft.

During the 2015-17 rebuild period a new deck was laid to the owner-collector's taste i.e. with black caulking between the glorious varnished mahogany planking rather than the original off-white. Another colour choice was made in the hull finish which is a sort of blue/grey colour which offsets and complements the dark blue leatherette interior.

Where the engine is concerned a truly enthusiastic and highly skilled father and daughter combo undertook to not only restore the engine but also to carry out the subsidiary engineering which included a new fuel tank, wiring loom, instruments etc. The boat should suit not only a river or lake setting but also any inshore coastal cruising.

My research tells me that Chris Craft built 49 19ft special raceboats in 1936 with another 491 custom runabouts between 1939 and 1942. However the shape of the bow on Chinese Georgie suggests that she was indeed a 1936 model as the later versions had a more rounded bow.

Please call the office to view on 01491 578870.