Runabout, Double-Cockpit

Object/Artifact

Antique Boat Museum

Ashlita

Name/Title

Runabout, Double-Cockpit

Entry/Object ID

1986.022

Description

1986.022 Ashlita Boat Type: Runabout Builder: Chris Craft Length: 24' Beam: 6'6" Date Built: 1929 Ashlita is a 1929 Chris Craft double-cockpit runabout, 24 foot model, a planing speedboat with a hard chine and a shallow-V hull. Records indicate that this boat was a display model at the 1929 Motor Boat Show, and that she inspired the investments that carried Chris Craft through the Depression. Objectively, she is dated by a number of details, such as the upsweep of the bow deck where it meets the windshield, a design which replaced the mahogany skirt around the front of the windsheild frame seen on earlier models. The step pads also rest in chrome frames, not so with earlier boats. And this model has the Chrysler Imperial engine, which was not offered until 1927. It does seem a little odd, though, that the show model 24' runabout, the boat for which Chris Craft was already famous at the time, would be displayed with the Chrysler motor, rather than the 225 hp Chris Craft motor, which had been newly developed for that year. It is more than possible, however, that multiple outfits of the same model would be displayed at a large enough show. This boat does not have a couple of the embellishments which were offered with the 1929 models, such as the upsweep at the back of the engine hatches, chrome railings over the engine hatches, and horizontal chrome vents in the sides of the raised engine compartment. A 24 foot runabout with the Imperial engine would have been advertised as a 30 mile (as in miles per hour) boat, and sold for $2975. Alternatively, the customer could choose a more powerful Kermath motor for 42 miles per hour, or the still more powerful 225 horsepower Chris Craft engine which was guaranteed for 45 miles per hour. The Chris Craft Boat Company of Algonac, Michigan was one of the first vertically-integrated boat companies which employed the assembly line mode of production. Chris Craft runabouts are frame and batten construction, framed and planked in Phillipine mahogany. The bottoms were double-planked, with a layer of treated cloth in between. Covering boards, decks, seats, and all visible surfaces were mahogany, and deck seams were filled and painted in wide white stripes. Once the hull was finished, the boat was wiped down with kerosene, given three or four coats of varnish, fitted with chromed brass hardware, and sent out the door. The specifications of Ashlita's engine are as follows: Chrysler Imperial type C, s/n LM4113. The Imperial is a straight six flathead with a single Zenith updraft carburetor, single induction coil ignition, and an overhead distributor. It has an electric starter and a fused motor generator. Good for just over 100 horsepower. Ashlita is in good shape, but could use some small attention. Some seams in the back deck have opened due to dryness. There are also open seams in the bottom near the front, possible a result of drooping. Unfortunately, she has been cradled in such a way that there is nearly six feet of overhang in the bow, which is not acceptable to her. A slight dent can be seen in the keel at the last forward point of rest. It also looks like she has been the victim of "collections shrinkage"; she is missing the lens from the light on her stern pole, and a single bumper cleat on the starboard side. Fortunately, she still sports her GE spotlight on the driver side of the forward cockpit. EVS 2008 The January 1929 National Motor Boat Show was successful beyond anything boat builders expected. Nearly every exhibitor at the Show experienced record sales and most of their production was sold out for the entire year. Chris-Craft's 24-foot runabout model was one of the most popular in their entire line and it seemed as if everyone at the Show wanted to own one. It was an expensive sport boat, but buyers were confident that the national economy was rock solid and a new boat like Ashlita would be just what they needed. Ashlita is a superb example this model of the 1929 24-footer that was the hit of the show and helped motivate a venture investment group to negotiate with the Chris-Craft Corporation. Purchasing a portion of this successful family-owned company seemed like a solid investment. They presented Chris-Craft with a deposit check to bind the deal. When the stock market crashed later that year, the investors nixed the deal. However, the court ruled that their $250,000 deposit check rightfully belonged to Chris-Craft and they were able to keep it. That quarter million dollar deposit helped Chris-Craft survive over the next few years as a national depression cut boat sales to the bone.

Collection

Boats

Acquisition

Accession

1986.022

Source or Donor

Presley, E. T., Dr.

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Chris-Craft

Date made

1929

Place

Location

Algonac, MI, USA

Edition

Model: 24' Runabout

Notes

Early Date: 1929 Propulsion: Inboard, Gasoline Engine: Chrysler Cylinders: 6 HP: 140

Other Names and Numbers

Other Numbers

Number Type

Other Number

NY 4769 AK

Dimensions

Width

76 in

Length

288 in

Location

Wall

East

Room

Bay 8

Building

*Don Doebler Collections Storage Facility

*Cleveland E. Dodge Memorial Launch Building