1957 Chris-Craft Sea Skiff Utility

Description

For over a century after its founding by Christopher Columbus Smith in 1874, Chris-Craft was known for building beautiful, high-quality boats in a multitude of sizes. Under the leadership of Smith’s son, Jay Smith, who took the helm in 1927, Chris-Craft became known as the world’s largest builder of mahogany powerboats. 

By the 1950s, the Michigan-based company offered more than 130 different varieties, ranging in length from 17 feet to 65 feet. Among those hand-built, wooden beauties was the practical and popular lapstrake Sea Skiff, a style of boat using overlapping planks. 

“Chris-Craft Sea Skiffs feature the famous fast, dry, easy-to-handle ride that comes only with a conventional round-bilge [or smooth-curved] lapstrake design,” a Chris-Craft advertisement read. “Advanced construction features make them stronger than ever before, and far more seaworthy than ordinary lapstrake boats ... You'll find the Chris-Craft Sea Skiff ride cushion-soft even in rough water, yet control is always firm and positive.” 

This 22-foot 1957 Sea Skiff is an original, first-year model with factory Chris-Craft blue paint and a Chris-Craft Marine K six-cylinder engine that delivers 95 horsepower to a single, central-mounted propeller via direct-drive unit. Almost seven decades after it was launched, this hand-built, lapstrake-designed skiff still offers a smooth and comfortable ride, even in rough water. 

Highlights 

• Fourth model year of the popular lapstrake Chris-Craft Sea Skiffs 

• One of 1,500 Chris-Craft 22-foot Sea Skiffs built between 1954 and '59 (according to AntiqueBoatAmerica.com) 

• Powered by original, numbers-matching Chris Craft Marine K six-cylinder engine rated at 95 horsepower 

• Original steering wheel 

• Original chrome hardware 

• Original wooden-box engine cover 

• Original dashboard gauges: 

  • RPM 

  • Temperature 

  • Oil pressure 

  • Amperes 

• Original seats 

• Original hull plate 

• Bimini top 

• Engine hours unknown  

Features 

• No boat name on the transom  

• Traditional right-hand drive 

• Hinged wooden ladder 

• Horn 

• Anchor light

• Storage in bow 

• Hinged, wooden benches double as storage spaced 

• Single prop 

• Nautical-themed American flag on stern 

• Sea Skiff flag on bow 

• Michigan license expired in March 2024 

Included 

• Double-axle Four Winns trailer (Serial No. 42KA9VU26T2000018) 

• Digitial copy of the original build sheet from the Chris-Craft Museum 

• Chris-Craft Parts List 

• Chris-Craft Operators Manual 

• Original Chris-Craft rubber mat  

• Boat cover 

• Fire extinguisher 

• Life ring buoy 

• Paddle 

• Ropes 

Additional Notes  

A Broad Arrow Group Consignment Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. 

Contact: Craig Zimmerman Phone: 586.707.5811 email: cszimmerman@hagerty.com