Trade-A-Boat — February 2018

W

edrove
it like we
stole it.
Throttles
for the
twin fuel-injected 300hp
Volvo Penta V8 petrol engines
were virtually kissing the
dash, the sporty timber wheel
was gripped tight in our hot
little hands, as wind buffeted
the shades that formed part
of our disguise. This was a
fast getaway in one of the
most desirable dayboats in
downtown Sydney.
But as if that wasn’t
enough, having outrun the
authorities, we hit the rocker
for the Corsa switchable
exhaust. This redirects the
V8s’ duet from underwater
to straight out the hull sides

• the nautical equivalent of
  a burnout and twin-engine
  salute. Now you can hear our
  new Chris-Craft Corsair 28
  coming or, rather, going!
  Of course, Chris-Crafts
  have always commanded
  attention. The iconic USA

company made varnished

mahogany raceboats in the

1920s that soon after became

the preferred playthings of

the rich and famous. But

the heyday was yet to come.

In the 1950s, when more-

powerful petrol engines

arrived, Chris-Craft hit new

heights. John F. Kennedy,

Katharine Hepburn, Dean

Martin, Frank Sinatra, and

Elvis Presley are but a few of

the Hollywood greats who

jumped aboard.

As testimony to their

quality, there are still

some 15,000 timber Chris-

Crafts kicking about today.

Thankfully, production

efficiencies didn’t destroy the

marque’s zeitgeist when the

builder turned to fibreglass.

Fast forward to our would-

be heist. Idling into Manly

Wharf, the Corsair 28 is all

about the American dream.

And such is the nautical

style, eye candy and comely

lines, you can’t escape being

noticed.

On this upgraded Heritage,

there’s a neat blue hull

and more teak trim than

standard. It extends from the

foredeck, where you can tan

on the sunpad, to a second

transverse sundeck and

cushion across the transom.

If you want shade over the

cockpit, call on the concealed

canopy that springs forward

in cabriolet fashion.

The cockpit can seat

six around a teak table,

otherwise stowed in a recess

in the electric-lift engine bay.

The swimplatform is low to

the water to make launch and

retrieval a snap. After which

the cabin calls. There’s room

to pull on the togs and a

vee-berth for two. You could,

for example, dine at Darling

Harbour, Marina Mirage

or Docklands, indulge, and

crash the night aboard.

But for all this, the drive is

the real, er, blast. The smell

of salt air, the rush of wind

past your face, the feeling

of a well-trimmed boat, and

that V8 note. It’s a heady

combination, and such is

the engineering and ride

you could cruise to nearby

ports for a weekend at least.

Cruising range at 2500rpm

and 17.7kts is 213nm.

Such is the enjoyment that

several Chris-Craft owners in

Sydney – there are some 40 of

the boats there – use them as

commuter craft, we’re told.

Sure beats peak-hour traffic

and the plodding Manly

Ferry, whose passengers wave

excitedly as we overtake them

in the fast lane.

DELIVERS NEW LEVELS OF DRIVING PLEASURE

Chris-Craft 28 Corsair

STORY DAVID LOCKWOOD

PHOTOS ELLEN DEWAR

quick specs

Chris-Craft 28 Corsair

PRICE AS TESTED

$249,000

MATERIAL GRP

TYPE Deep-vee monohull

LENGTH 9m overall

BEAM 3.05m

ENGINE 2 x 300hp Volvo

Penta 5.7L Gi EVC petrol V8

FUEL 568lt

WATER 132lt

FOR MORE INFO

premiermarine.com.au

64 tradeaboat.com.au