Heads turn whenever people catch their first sight of On Deck’s in-store boat, a 1948 Chris Craft Deluxe Runabout that casually rests in the middle of the display area in the company’s downtown Fish Creek location.
Inevitably, the first question asked is, “How did you get that in here?” The answer is simple. The highly-polished wood craft was brought through the front window prior to the store’s opening in the spring of 1997. To gently ease her into the middle of the display area, the front window was removed and she was slowly and carefully eased into her present berth.
This particular Chris Craft is an example of the superb boats that were constructed by America’s premiere boatbuilder of the 1940s and 1950s. The 17- foot Runabout first saw the light of day in a 1944 preview ad as an artist’s conception of what the new runabouts would look like following the end of WWII.
During the war, most of Chris-Craft’s production was geared to utility designs, that is, boats with fully open interiors. In 1947, a handsome 32-page color catalog featured the new Deluxe 17-foot Runabout, which was offered with the choice of a 95 hp or 131 hp motor. Fetchingly sleek, she sported an elegantly curved bow and plenty of tumblehome (the hull curving inward toward the transom with a gradually tapering rear deck). Smart red upholstery contrasted with the dark-stained covering boards and king plank. While Chris-Craft’s three principal plants were all located in Michigan, these models were built in Missouri. They proved so popular that the design remained essentially unchanged well into the 1950s.
On Deck’s Runabout was built in 1948 and is equipped with a Chrysler in-line six cylinder engine. The boat is in excellent condition, having been lovingly restored and regularly maintained. We like to think it reflects On Deck’s overall values: good design at a good value, and always in style!
