About Chris-Craft
The Chris-Craft story begins in Algonac, Michigan, where Christopher Columbus Smith built his first boat in 1874. The family business took the Chris-Craft name in the 1920s, and its varnished mahogany runabouts, cruisers and motor yachts became part of American leisure culture through the middle of the century.
After passing through several owners over the decades, the company is now headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, and has been part of Winnebago Industries since 2018. The modern Chris-Craft builds fiberglass boats that echo the brand's heritage in their sheer lines, brightwork and attention to detail.
Two markets now carry the name. Classic wooden Chris-Crafts are collected and restored by enthusiasts, while the current range appeals to owners who want a refined, well-finished day boat, often as a companion to a larger yacht or a home on the water. Between them sit the fiberglass cruisers and motor yachts of the later twentieth century, which still appear on the brokerage market.
Chris-Craft yacht models
The modern Chris-Craft collection is organized into a handful of lines, while classic models remain a world of their own.
- Launch and Launch GTOpen bowriders with the brand's classic profile; the GT versions add a more sporting character.
- CatalinaA center-console style model in the Chris-Craft manner, suited to fishing, swimming and coastal days.
- CalypsoAn outboard-powered dual-console day boat that combines versatility with the brand's finish.
- SportsterA compact, sporty model at the entry point of the current range.
- Classic runabouts and cruisers (historic)Mahogany runabouts, cruisers and motor yachts from the brand's earlier decades, sought after by collectors.
Chris-Craft yachts for sale
Chris-Craft yachts change hands both publicly and privately. There may be no Chris-Craft in the current Reel Deal Yachts selection, but Daniel can search the wider market, including yachts that are not publicly listed.
Discuss a Chris-Craft yacht →Buying a Chris-Craft yacht
For a modern Chris-Craft, the checks are those of any premium day boat: engine or outboard hours and service history, the condition of the varnished trim, upholstery and canvas, and any hull damage from trailering or beach use. Documentation from authorized dealers is a reassurance, as is a sea trial that confirms handling and systems. Buyers should also confirm whether a boat has been kept on a lift, in dry storage or in the water, since that shapes the condition of the hull bottom and running gear.
A classic wooden Chris-Craft is a different purchase. Condition and originality matter enormously, and a specialist survey by someone who understands traditional construction and restoration is essential. Daniel can explain the buying process and help introduce qualified specialists, while making clear where a boat's history is documented and where it is not.
Selling a Chris-Craft yacht
Chris-Craft buyers are often emotional as well as practical, and presentation carries weight. Fresh varnish, clean upholstery and a complete service record help a modern boat stand out, while documented provenance matters most for classic examples. Pricing starts with sold comparables for the model and year, and a private valuation sets expectations early. For classic boats, restoration records, photographs and any documented history of previous owners help a buyer understand what they are paying for.
Seasonality shapes the market, with spring demand strong in the Northeast and winter demand strong in Florida. Daniel reaches buyers through cooperating brokers and his own network, including owners of larger yachts looking for a characterful tender or harbor boat, and can keep a sale discreet where preferred.
Why work with Daniel Grant
Daniel works between Miami and New York, two of the markets where Chris-Craft owners are most concentrated, and he brings the same discretion to a runabout as to a larger yacht. He is independent and not a Chris-Craft dealer, so his advice focuses on value and condition. In New York, he knows the Hudson, Long Island and Hamptons waters where many classic and modern Chris-Crafts spend their summers.
He is supported by Reel Deal Yachts' established Miami brokerage, while each client works with Daniel directly and personally.