Take a long lingering look at Chris-Craft's Corsair 25 'Heritage Edition' (take a look for yourself in our video: Chris-Craft Corsair 25 Short Take Video) and chances are you volition experience a very natural compulsion to touch it. As I hover nearby at the Southampton Prove, the truth of that is repeatedly illustrated. Person later person stops and looks. They hesitate for a moment and so one by one, they sidle over and lay their hands on the boat as if drawn past some invisible force.

I suppose it's only natural that in a globe full of bright, featureless fibreglass, the tactile fibre of woods might continue to control a special attraction, but here, in the class of the Corsair 25, it's not merely some faddish sales technique. It's the modern expression of a boat-building heritage that dates back almost 140 years.

Corsair Heritage edition helm

The captain infinite on the Chris-Craft Corsair Heritage Edition is as traditional as can be.


Antiquity repackaged


While the official foundation of Chris-Arts and crafts dates back to around 1930, the origins of the visitor can be traced back as far as 1874, when a precocious 13-yr-old by the rather fantastic name of Christopher Columbus Smith built his start gunkhole in Michigan. Past the plough of the century, Smith'south modest wooden vessels had achieved a powerful reputation and, having won the Gold Cup six years in a row, he began designing boats for comfort every bit well every bit speed.

Chris Craft 25 steering wheel

Surely all steering wheels should be this way.

Information technology was an arroyo that made Chris Smith i of the about prolific manufacturers of mahogany powerboats in the earth, so in 1930, he adopted what until that betoken had been only a nickname and the 'Chris-Arts and crafts' legacy was born.

Today, the modern fleet in full general, and the Corsair 25 'Heritage Edition' in detail, remain very respectful of those traditions. Just a cursory glance at the 25 reveals a archetype planing hull, plunging aft topsides and a big, symmetrical cockpit. The twin saucepan seats at the helm are classically shaped and trimmed and the splendid sports wheel could hands accept been salvaged directly from the cockpit of a vintage E-Type Jaguar. In addition to the retro flavour imparted by the layout, the hull lines and the colourways, information technology is every bit impossible to overlook the liberal use of rather lavish, old-world edifice materials, like mahogany, contumely and teak.

Chris Craft 25 detailing

The quality of the detailing is delightful.

Combine this with a quality of workmanship rarely seen on small-scale leisure arts and crafts and the unavoidable impression is that the Corsair 25 has one human foot planted rather charmingly in the past.

 The happy cockpit compromise


The 2 largest boats in the Corsair line (the 32 and the 36) might have been stealing the limelight in recent times, but in view of the fact that Chris-Craft'due south history is best defined by small sports boats similar the Buck 22, the Corsair 25 is exactly what almost of us accept in listen when we call up most the brand – and although this model is in fact quite generous in terms of its length (closer to 27 anxiety than 25), it nonetheless needs to make the virtually of its limited size.

Chris Craft 25 cockpit seating

The Corsair 25's large C shaped cockpit is a lovely identify to be but it leaves no room for the cabin to excel.

It does that with a large, symmetrical wraparound cockpit filled entirely with seating, plus a large sun pad above the engine hatch and a teak swim platform with a scope ski pole, shower and retractable ladder. Withal, the fact that so much of the Corsair 25's cockpit is swallowed up by the seating means in that location is no room for much else - no galley, stove or prep surface area. But an optional stainless steel fridge ready beneath the port lounger and an optional teak cockpit table as the centrepiece of the socialising space.

More than to the indicate, the impressive calibration of the cockpit ways that the forward cuddy cabin is left with a very difficult chore to do. With a short length, plus relatively acute frontwards hull angles and a very flat foredeck, the aggression of the hull and the purity of the lines are both well intact, but the cabin stands no chance at all of aspiring to genuine excellence. Instead, information technology is forced to practise what it can with the space it has and if we're being realistic, the result is naught more than a place to take an emergency nap or to store your gear for a solar day out. Nevertheless, that's by no means a criticism. Almost people will want to employ the 25 as a sporting runabout and for that, the traditional 'cockpit-centric' configuration is exactly the right compromise.

Serious operation


Yous shouldn't exist fooled by appearances. The Corsair 25 might possess the genteel demeanour of a retired Commodore with a neatly quaffed moustache and a pair of pressed corduroy trousers but (true to the heritage of the marque) it also happens to be radically quick. Equipped with MerCruiser's big block 380hp 8.2-litre V8, this well proven hull volition move at effectually 50 knots and savor the kind of lesser-end grunt that will lift even the weightiest skier without business organisation.

Chris Craft 25 Mercuiser engine

The big block MerCruiser promises enough of pace.

Now, as ever, that classic combination of ability and panache is a very compelling recipe for boating utopia, but it certainly doesn't come inexpensive. Rigged in this form (with cockpit table, fridge, cockpit cover, windlass, docking lights, mooring comprehend and 'Midnight Blue' hull) the Heritage Edition has a show cost of £119,000 and a regular retail toll of around £137,000. Withal, the builders are entirely unapologetic well-nigh that. On the reverse, they depict a Chris-Craft as "a premium production, priced accordingly" and when you step on board and examine the finer details, you have to concede it feels like money well spent.

Summary


Personally, I don't tend to savor retro designs because by their very nature, they lack the boldness of concept and the freedom of thought to have united states of america anywhere new. However, I'thou perfectly aware that I'thou in the minority in that respect and I must confess that I take a begrudging delight in the loveliness of the Corsair 25. Its symmetrical layout, simplicity of line, quality of materials and patently obvious refusal to make monetary compromises brand information technology extremely bonny. The fact that information technology can also offer you lot the best function of 50-knots, plus space for ten people, a range in excess of 200 miles, a comprehensive standard features list and a broad palette of customising options makes it a boat that is able to vesture its lofty price tag with considerable confidence. For more than details contact Bates Wharf Marine Sales.

Chris-Craft Corsair 25 specifications


LOA: 8.13m
Axle: 2.6m
Weight: ii,087kg
Fuel capacity: 310 litres
Engine: MerCruiser eight.ii
Bear witness toll: £119,000
Retail toll: £137,287

Written by: Alex Smith

Alex Smith is a announcer, copywriter and magazine editor with a long history in boating and a happy addiction to the water. He'southward worked on boats, lived on boats, bought boats, sold boats and – when he's not actually on board a boat – he can generally be found in his Folkestone part, tapping away at the computer and gazing out to bounding main.