Breaking News – Possible 14th Model 99 Survivor & Chrissie Was Originally A Jersey Girl!

The caption for the above photo should read “Look Billy, is that another rare Model 99 Chris-Craft out there on the lake?”

As we were wrapping up Chris-Craft Model 99 Week here at Woody Boater, we received “Breaking News” of a possible 14th Model 99 Survivor from fellow Woody Boater John Shumsky in Traverse City, Michigan. John e-mailed the following information to our intrepid Hessel, MI based reporter Alex Watson… So fresh we don’t even have digital photos of the Model 99 yet. However, Alex and John are attempting to locate a few photos of the boat, and also confirm it’s whereabouts today. If they locate any further information we will update our unoffficial Woody Boater Model 99 Registry.

Last night we also received an update on the Model 99 in Norway that we reported on yesterday.

John Shumsky wrote:

Alex, I saw on Woody Boater today your article with Tom Mertaugh on the 1930 & 31 Model 99’s and thought you might be interested in another one that I owned in 1977. The boat I had was purchased in July of 1977 and was on a trailer upside down in a basement here in Traverse City. When I first went to look at the boat, it was dark and I thought, looking at it upside down, that it was a double-cockpit forward type configuration with a flat windshield. I was then told by Otto Kipper, a local Chris-Craft authority, that it was more than likely a split cockpit. I went back and bought the boat, complete, along with all the hardware for a Century Resorter for $ 400.00.

The boat was hull # 14086, and had a Gray Marine four-cylinder # 4406. It was delivered to Sans Souci, Harsens Island, Michigan on May 10th, 1930. I subsequently sold the boat to a gentleman in Leland, Michigan, and it eventually ended up at Peter Henkel’s shop on Harsen’s Island, Michigan for a complete restoration; back near the location it was originally delivered.

Also with the boat I was given a small poster entitled, “The Oldest Living Chris-Craft – Where In The Water Is It”? The Model 99 is shown on this poster. Chris-Craft wanted to find the oldest Chris-Craft that was still running, the deadline for the contest was October 31, 1969. The 1923 Chris-Craft “Miss Belle Isle”, now on display at the Mariners’ Museum won the contest. I still have this original poster, and will send you a copy of it if you are interested. The Model 99 is shown in the 1931 Chris-Craft Catalog, (As a Model 199); but not in the 1930 Catalog. (I have all the original Chris Craft Catalogs from 1929 thru 1968, the last year for the small wood runabouts, which makes for great references)

Anyway, I hope this helps with your survey on Woody Boater about the Chris-Craft Model 99’s. They sure are a neat little boat!

Best Personal Regards – John Shumsky

Thanks John for the grest story on your old Model 99, and thanks to Alex Watson for bringing this to our attention.

Update on “Chrissie” – The Model 99 located in Norway

Fellow Woody Boater Bob Kays from the Lake Hopatcong, NJ area did some research recently on “Chrissie”…

Bob commented – “It was owned by a fellow on Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey. When he was ready to sell his 1930 Model 99 in 1988, Wayne Mocksfield of Wayne’s Marine sold the boat for him to Hans Emron (?) in Norway and had the boat shipped there the same year. Bob is currently investigating, to confirm the original Hull Number for “Chrissie”.

Thanks for the update Bob, we appreciate your effort!

Over the last few days of Model 99 Week, there has been some comments (like John’s story above) and e-mails suggesting that that the 1930 Model 99 was not listed in the 1930 Chris-Craft sales brochures or price lists. Here’s a copy of an official 1930 Chris-Craft Fleet Price List which confirms that – in fact the Model 99 was not listed.

However the same 17 ft split cockpit runabout was listed in the 1931 Chris-Craft Sales Brochures and Fleet Price List as shown below in the 1931 Fleet Price List. It’s fun to read through the vinyage 1930 & 1931 price lists to see the selection of boats offered by Chris-Craft in those years and view the retail prices.(You can click on the image to enlarge it for better viewing)

Thanks to everyone who participated in Model 99 Week, it was fun, educational and different. We received a number of e-mails from viewers to say “Thanks for the series of Model 99 stories this week… On Sunday we didn’t even know what the heck a Chris-Craft Model 99 was and now we know lots about the little split cockpit runabouts!

Also special thanks to Alex Watson and Tommy Mertaugh from Classic and Antique Boats in historic Hessel, Michigan for kicking off Model 99 Week here on Woody Boater.

Texx