Chris Craft BARREL BACK RECREATION 1939

Chris Craft BARREL BACK RECREATION

This bespoke wooden launch is a striking recreation of the Chris Craft Barrel Back design, which is presented in excellent condition, and has just 50 hours of operating time from new. Its engine is a 170hp fuel-injected Citroen V6, coupled to a single-speed automatic transmission. 

The result of a project two years in the planning and eight years in build, almost 8,000 hours were invested in the construction of the ‘VIA’, which was completed in 2015. The basis for its design is a 1939 19-foot Chris Craft Barrel Back vessel, though it has been enlarged to 25-foot, while staying true to the original proportions. 

It is constructed entirely from mahogany, stiffened by means of a stable aluminium support frame. The hull is completely reinforced with fibreglass, giving it excellent rigidity and making it far more robust than almost any other wooden boat thanks to the integrated matting. The mahogany has been protected by several layers of clear varnish, both inside and out, which will help to keep it in superb order for decades to come.  

The flanks of the boat are finished in black, with polished metal trims accenting the features. There are two raked windscreens at the front, along with a genuine 1930s searchlight, which was restored with no expense spared by a specialist company in the UK - though it is not currently wired in. The boat also has a beige soft top with a folding wood frame.  

There are two separate seating areas, both smartly trimmed in maroon upholstery, and with a charming white Bakelite steering wheel. Its row of instrument dials was also created to give the appearance of older gauges. Almost all of the fixtures and fittings, pipes and tanks, were made from chromium-nickel stainless steel with molybdenum (V4A), which offers impressive corrosion resistance.  

It is powered by a relatively modern Citroen V6 engine with fuel injection, which has been marinised with a separate cooling circuit. The motor is maintenance friendly, and can be serviced inexpensively by most competent workshops. The powertrain has impressive efficiency, with consumption of around 15 litres per hour, in comparison to approximately 60 litres per hour or more for a comparable single-engine Riva.  

Also included is a second V6 engine and control unit, which is freshly overhauled, and presented with the ‘VIA’ for peace of mind should the fitted motor ever need to be replaced.  

The boat is secured via a hidden on-board power isolator and a modern immobiliser. There is also the beige canopy with dark seams and darts, as well as a tarpaulin cover that can completely cover the body.