Chris-Craft Described the SP-25 As “The Finest, Fastest, Most Luxurious Runabout Afloat”

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"Flagship" - One of only fourteen 25' Sportsman's built by Chris-Craft in 1947 which carried the $500.00 optional Streamline Ventilating Top.

“Flagship” – One of only fourteen 25′ Sportsman’s built by Chris-Craft in 1947 which carried the $500.00 optional Streamline Ventilating Top.


When it comes to post-war utilities, there’s no question that the Chris-Craft 25′ Sportsman ranks right up there with the best-of-the-best in terms of rarity, collectability and versatility. Better yet, if they were shipped with the optional Streamline Ventilating Top you had something extra special back in the day (and even today).

The always creative marketing team at Chris-Craft included this description in the Fleet Brochure – “For the finest, fastest, most luxurious runabout afloat, choose this 25-ft. Sportsman with single or twin engines and with up to 290 horsepower. Think of the places you can go and the spray you can throw with this baby! Beautiful, glistening, natural finish with genuine leather upholstery… big aft cockpit… ample room for fishing boxes and gear – everything to make your fun complete.”

1947 Chris-Craft Fleet Brochure

The elegant 25′ Sportsman from the 1947 Chris-Craft Fleet Brochure (Photo courtesy Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club archive)

Today we have a great story from our friend and fellow Woody Boater Brian Robinson at Robinson Restoration in Southern California, describing how they found and eventually preserved one of these rare Chris-Crafts, to live another day. – Texx
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FLAGSHIP

Recently my father, Tim, and I finished the preservation of Flagship, a remarkable 1947 Chris-Craft 25’ Sportsman Sedan. It has a pretty neat history, so I thought I’d share it with the Woody Boater crowd.

I had first seen this boat in Cap and Barb Peckham’s remote Southern California ‘boat fortress’ collection as I call it… a story in itself, about five years ago researching their original Chris-Craft 18′ Cobra. I returned a year later to photograph it after it had sunk in, what a time capsule their 25’ Sportsman was while researching Paul and Karen Harrison’s sister Sportsman Sedan, “Barnwood”.

Cap had bought this one in 1987 on a tip from Al Schinnerer who happened upon it while searching for a classic car in Wildomar, California. Wildomar is a small high-desert town between Temecula (where I live) and Lake Elsinore, that is known for little except for the high temps it reaches in the summertime. The Sportsman with the name “Mary Margaret” on one side of the ring bouys, and “Nona Rae” on the other, had lie there baking away in the dry heat for at least a year before Cap and Barb rescued it.

This particular boat, hull SP-25-075 was one of just 41 of the 25’ Sportsman’s built in the abbreviated 1947 model year before they were “temporarily discontinued” for ten months. Fourteen of the 1947 models carried the $500.00 optional Streamline Ventilating Top. It was equipped with the 160hp 6-cyl Chris-Craft W engine.

1949 25_0001

Another nice shot from above of the SP-25 with the stylish streamlined ventilating top. (Photo courtesy Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club archive)

On September 30th, 1946 it was shipped out of the Algonac factory to Spokane, Washington to the E.H. Geil Chris-Craft dealership. According to Cap’s research it lived on Lake Coeur d’Alene into the 1970s before the original family moved to Arkansas with the boat, and finally the original family moved again with the boat, this time to Wildomar, CA in the mid 1980s.

Flagship 2

A shot of Flagships original interior in Cap and Barb Peckham’s remote Southern California storage facility.

In those first 40 years, the exterior had been refinished (poorly) once, and nothing was ever done to the original interior, not even the varnish, in that time. Cap and Barb intended to use it as it was, at their home on Big Bear Lake, CA but upon removal of the original W engine to send out for a complete rebuild, some severe rot in the bottom structure was found and quickly halted that idea. Cap already had a new trailer built for it, it was set on the new trailer, and the whole thing was then blocked up and put away under cover for another 24 years.

When Cap and Barb finally decided it was time to sell the Sportsman, and Terry Hurley was in the market at the same time for a big sedan, they struck a deal. Terry called me knowing I had been involved in the “Barnwood” project, had done the museum research on the entire SP-25 production run, and that I lived near the Peckham fortress – so my dad and I ended up agreeing to restore the boat with the intent of bringing it back to ‘as delivered from the factory’ condition while retaining the immense originality and ‘good wood’ that was there. This was the first boat we were fortunate to work on with its original tools and Texaco oil can!

Flagship 3 - Copy

Leaving the remote storage facility en-route to Robinson Restoration in Fallbrook, CA.

What makes this particular example extraordinary, in my humble opinion, is that coincidentally like “Barnwood”, there was so much to learn from it, as the two were so incredibly similar, yet still with a few small differences, largely because they were built a year apart and different model years. For example Flagship had its perfect original brown Russialoid headliner (which is still in it) and green linoleum covered engine box, and “Barnwood” had a perforated white headliner, gray linoleum and leather covered engine box. Yet the two were constructed exactly the same, wired exactly the same, and had exactly the same green leather upholstery down to the seam locations in the crash pad. In both boats, everything covered by the top (and the sun) looked almost like the day they were new. Not even the copper tacks in the hidem had ever been removed.

Had Flagship not been subjected to its few years in Arkansas and the brutal Wildomar summer(s), I suspect it would have needed little more than a couple coats of varnish to be seaworthy again. But for some reason all of the white oak bottom structure had rotted badly, including the stem, forefoot, keel, and chines – all of which had to be replaced. Most of the mahogany pieces were in much better condition.

The worst was the mysterious factory heavy fir frame over the strut, which would crumble in your hands. This is all nothing new in restorations except for the way-above average condition of everything above the waterline. The dried-out original Honduras planking was removed and reset tight, with only a few planks requiring replacement. The top only required refinishing, in fact when the outer canvas was removed the fir structure literally looked like it had been built yesterday. And even though everything was so original and in generally good condition, everything needed some attention to bring it back as new, which meant everything had to come completely apart. For the record, there are 90 varnished interior pieces in these boats!

Flagship 1

Brian notes “Everything needed some attention to bring it back as new, which meant everything had to come completely apart (including removing the optional top as shown).

 
Flagship 7

The completed interior with the top re-installed.

The rebuilt and properly pickled-for-25-years original W engine fired right up and pushes the big sedan amazingly well. It even came full circle when we water tested it on Lake Elsinore.

Flagship 4

Preparing to water-test the big SP-25 equipped with the 160hp 6-cyl Chris-Craft W engine.

 
Flagship 5 - Copy

The water test was a success and “Flagship” is now ready to for delivery to her new home in Minnesota.

 
Flagship 9

Now on Lake Vermilion, Minnesota, the preserved 25′ Sportsman Sedan is back to doing what she was built to do best 67 years ago.

After about a year on and off of restoration work, Flagship is now back on the water, now home with the Hurley family on Lake Vermilion, Minnesota.

Brian Robinson
Robinson Restoration, Fallbrook, CA
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Thanks Brian for sharing the story of “Flagship” with us here at Woody Boater today. For those of you who don’t know Brian Robinson, he is directly involved in organizing and judging the field of amazing antique & classic boats with Chief Judge Terry Fiest and a dedicated team of volunteers for the annual Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance, which is being held on August 8th-9th at Obexers Marina in Homewood, CA. Stay tuned to Woody Boater for more details on that event.

Texx
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27 replies
  1. m-fine
    m-fine says:

    I like how the marketing guys called the finest, fastest, most luxurious utility afloat a runabout.

    I continue to not be a fan of the hard tops, too constricting for my taste. However, my black furry friend would really appreciate the shade on sunny days and I could see the appeal for those in hot sunny climates, especially the “hair challenged.”

    • Doug P
      Doug P says:

      There has been much said about comparative room in Sportsmen models vs Runabouts. I point more to ride and comfort between these styles. Presently I am “freshening” a Roamer Sportsman 25. I am 6’2″ and have headroom under the hardtop.

      Last night we had a square dance in the aft cockpit

  2. Troy in ANE
    Troy in ANE says:

    Wow

    I was shocked when I read it went back in storage for another 24 years.

    Thanks Brian!

  3. Greg Lewandowski
    Greg Lewandowski says:

    Great story. Surprised that so much fir was used bt CC in the framing. I am not familiar with that in other models.

  4. Paul H.
    Paul H. says:

    Thanks for the story Brian – I have been wondering about how this one was progressing. I recall my reaction when I looked at the pictures you sent me of it as my project was getting started, and I speculated at the improbability of two of these quite rare boats having been preserved in very similar, exceedingly solid original condition. It really is remarkable when one stops to consider the many indignities and great neglect which are often vistied upon aging and unservicable boats. How BW and this example escaped most of that is really something to ponder. BW survived by spending it’s time under cover in the apparently favorable climate of the Flathead Valley, a long way from where Flagship reposed through the various stages of her torpor.

    M-Fine – you would be surprised at the amount of space in these – the really are very commodious and comfortable to ride in. I have been in other sedans and you are quite correct in pointing out that they can be very “tight” in some cases. However, the size of this boat affords more than adequate space, comfort and weather protection. The amount of glass and interior cabin airflow makes them bright and indeed very comfortable.

  5. floyd r turbo
    floyd r turbo says:

    Great story, incredible resto, love the 25 footers, such graceful curves. Found this one this summer in upstate NY. NFS according to owner who has several other projects. At least its under cover.

  6. floyd r turbo
    floyd r turbo says:

    You need to right click and select (view image) to see all the detail in this interior. then you get the full screen pic. my keyboar in on the blink, no quote, enter key or other random numbers an characters, grrrrr functioning

  7. rob
    rob says:

    Great job guys. My arms get tired just looking at the acreage of wood in these boats.
    Question, was the forward spray rail factory on these models?
    rob

    • Alex
      Alex says:

      Rob, the answer is it depends. I don’t believe BarnWood has one, and it was an all-original bard find. Yet my family’s bone-original 1946 Sportsman — original, except for the leather interior (and transom and rear deck, which, ahem, I smashed into as a teen) — came from the factory with a spray rail. I have 2, 25 Sportsmans. My 1948 had it’s original bottom and a spray rail when I bought it.

      I’m curious. Why do you ask? Are you restoring one?

      • rob
        rob says:

        Hi Alex,

        Thanks for the reply. Not currently working on a SP 25 but not too long ago I surveyed one here in the NW and noticed it did not have a forward lower spray rail. From the brochure pictures the rails also seem to be absent, so I became curious.

  8. Alex
    Alex says:

    Great story Brian. Thank you. Beautiful work on a sensational boat!

    I laughed when you mentioned the 90 pieces of interior brightwork. I have a few photos of my 25 Sportsman under restoration, where all that wood was laid out being varnished. Cha-ching!

  9. don vogt
    don vogt says:

    Nice job. I would be interested in someone commenting on the differences between the top on the custom sedan and the optional ventilating hardtop on the sportsman. Similar but not exactly the same.

  10. Brian Robinson
    Brian Robinson says:

    Thanks all-

    Greg- speaking of fir, we just started a keel up restoration on a 1948 19′ Red and White Racing Runabout with a fir keel, stem, chines, and a couple for bottom frames. All badly rotted. For a few years there Chris-Craft was desperate for wood and had to make sacrifices.

    Rob- The bow spray rail was factory on this boat, and most other ’47s I have seen. Alex said it best. The start and stop points in production are fuzzy. There is a Mariners’ Museum drawing for it as well.

    Don- the 25′ sedan is a very roomy boat under the top. I’m 6’4″ and have no complaints. I have only ridden in one 22′ sedan and… um… it was not the boat for me. The two tops are constructed quite differently. The 22′ top is an upholsterers nightmare (covered windshield frames etc.) The 25 top is pretty straight forward, but more brightwork. A friend working on a 22′ called several times to compare notes and very little was the same.

  11. Carroll P
    Carroll P says:

    You might see this one on Lake Minnetonka on Sept 19/20 and Geneiva Lakes Sept 27/28. I hope anyway.

    • Matt B
      Matt B says:

      Carroll P
      If you make it to lake Geneva you will be the 3rd 25′ sportsman to register. We haven’t seen that many since the international show when Alex, Paul, and Effie were there. Hope you can make it.

  12. Rabbit
    Rabbit says:

    Lake Vermillion will be a great home for this boat. Stunningly beautiful big water near the Canadian boundary waters. A top serves a real purpose. And the long winters will keep this perfect restoration fresh.

  13. Wilson
    Wilson says:

    Brian & Tim You guys do great work…Also nice to hear about Cap Peckham…He and Barb were one of our early “Profile” articles when I was doing the Brass Bell…I remember him saying sanding was something he did for “Therapy” after coming home from the office…Sanding accompanied by a glass of wine, as I remember.

  14. Scott Robinson
    Scott Robinson says:

    Hi Tim & Brian, You both did a great job restoring her. I now wish I had bought it several years ago. I just finished the Lake Winnipesaukee Antique & Classic Boat Show, we had a blast, Scott

Comments are closed.