Chris-Craft
ChristopherColumbusSmith (fittingname)was thefirst on
the scene in theAmericas todevelopmassproductionwith the
launchofSmithBrothersBoatBuilders inAlgonac,Michigan, on
theSt. ClairRiver in1884. By1927, thecompanyhadnot only
become thefirst boat builder to standardizedesign for their
motorboats, theywere theworld’s largestmahoganymotorboat
builder, producingnearly1,000watercrafteachyear.Theboats
weregivenanewnickname, Chris-Craft, and in 1930 the com-
panynamechanged to thesame. chriscraft.com
Riva
PietroRiva, askilledyoungcarpenter, beganbuildingboats in
1842 inSarnico, Italy, on theshoresofLagod’Iseo,wherehe
quicklybecameoneof themost sought-afteryachtbuildersof
his time.As thecompanypasseddown through thegenerations,
theRiva familycontinued to introduce technical innovations in
theproductionprocessaswell as to theyachts themselves.
From the1920s to the1950s, thecompanyshiftedaway from
the larger transport-typevessels topleasureboating.These
woodenboatswerenotonlyknown forbeingcraftedwith the
highest-qualitymaterialsavailablebut for theamazingatten-
tion todetail andcommitment toperfection, creatingyachtsof
unsurpassedelegance. riva-yacht.com
WANTONE?
Ifyoucanseeyourselfbehind
thewheel of anamazingwooden
watercraft, here are several
resources that canassistyou in
making that happen.
CLASSICBOAT.COM
ANTIQUEBOAT.COM
VINTAGEMARINE.COM
LADYBEN.COM
BOATING
Wooden Wonders
SUMMER 2011
celebratedliving.com
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Above: three Chris-Crafts
from top: 19' Racing Run-
about, 22' Sportsman,
1929 28' Chris-Craft;
below: Riva Aquarama
FROM TOP:
©H2OMARK;COURTESYRIVA
