Honkin’ Hybrid

By Capt. Bill Pike — May 2003

More of this Feature • Part 1: Boston Boat Festival • Part 2: Boston Boat Festival • Part 3: Boston Boat Festival • Chris-Craft 25 Open • Photo Gallery
Related Resources • Feature Index
Elsewhere on the Web • Boston Antique & Classic Boat Festival • Chris-Craft

The 25 Open Launch is a stylish blend of what Chris-Craft used to be and what the company is becoming. On the one hand, the Launch is a highly-finished runabout with the same mission as her many varnished-mahogany predecessors, open-air fun. From the nostalgic gauges on her classic dashboard (which translate digital data into an analog display) to the swoopy tumblehome at her stern, our Launch was a retro knockout. But on the other hand, she was a modern performance rocket. Equipped with an optional 420-hp Volvo Penta 8.1L GXi DP-S (Duoprop) stern drive, the boat registered a top hop (on the speedo) in excess of 65 mph. Fast? Yeah, but she also had no trouble idling coolly around the festival, with the Clarion AM/FM stereo/CD player doing its thing and both the cockpit refrigerator and cockpit table in full service. Suggested base price: $67,000.—B.P.

Chris-Craft Phone: (941) 351-4900. www.chriscraftboats.com.

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