Vehicle Description
1941 Chris-Craft 19' Custom Runabout Barrelback
VIN: CF 8821 JK
One of most highly sought after models of Chris-Craft is the
pre-war 19-foot Custom Runabout Barrelback. Only 22 Model 108s were
produced for 1941. The world was embroiled in the beginnings of
World War II and luxury items were few in the United States.
$2290.00 for a boat was a great deal of money for most Americans.
It wouldn't be until the 1950s that discretionary income would
return to the US, and Chris-Craft would become the boat of means.
Stars such as Dean Martin, Katharine Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, and
Elvis Presley where readily identified with the Chris-Craft and the
fashionable boating culture in those post-war years.
This pre-war Model 108 speedboat left the Chris-Craft plant in
Algonac, Michigan on 29th of May 1941, headed for Reno, Nevada for
final delivery to Lake Tahoe. The Model 108 was the top of the line
version, and boasted a 145hp MB engine, the second most powerful
engine available.
Time Out is a practically all factory original boat with all her
original wood, numbers matching engine and original fittings, all
in excellent condition. She was in dry storage near Tahoe for
decades, and for those who know the High Sierras, you know its very
dry. She was brought out of storage by a wood boat aficionado, and
her mechanicals were completely gone through; rejuvenating,
adjusting and restoring any nonfunctional items.
She now runs beautifully and planes at 2800 RPM, even at an
elevation above 6000 feet, which leaves a few hundred more revs for
that little extra go you always seem to need. Her hull has full
structural integrity with a beautifully smooth polymer bottom
installed under the supervision of the legendary Dick Clark while
he was the technical director of Sierra Boat Works, Lake Tahoe.
At the 2014 Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance the featured marque
class was Chris-Craft Barrelbacks, and with boats from all over the
country judging between Barrelbacks was fierce. Time Out was judged
First Place, and she was also awarded the Best Original Lake Tahoe
Boat for 2014.
According to several of the Lake Tahoe judges who specialize in
Barrelback boats, Time Out is one of the top 1% to 2% of existing
Barrelbacks in terms of original materials and workmanship.
For 2014 she got fresh varnish, re-chromed fittings, and renewal of
the upholstery using period correct leather, materials and
techniques including brass tacks. Time Out is as fast and beautiful
looking as when she left the Chris-Craft factory those last few
months before the United States entered the Second World War.