Identify Your Chris Craft
Runabout Hull Numbers
A Free Resource for Classic Boaters
Chris-Craft stamped a unique hull number in several places on each boat they built. Early hull numbers were simply a number series, but later on they implemented a system that incorporated the model and length into the hull number. They also maintained a file of hull cards for every boat built.
The hull cards noted the model name, hull number, upholstery color, engine, prop size, shipping date and many other details. Today the Chris Craft hull card file resides at the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Virginia, where you may order a copy of the card for any boat.
Deluxe Runabout | ||||
Special Runabout | ||||
Deluxe Runabout | ||||
Runabout | ||||
Special
Race Boat (Barrel Back) |
-or- Dark blue sides, red & white deck with varnished mahogany transom |
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Deluxe Runabout | ||||
Hydroplane (stepped bottom) |
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Special Runabout or Rocket | ||||
Riviera | ||||
Runabout | ||||
Deluxe Runabout | ||||
Deluxe
Runabout (Barrel-Back) |
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Special Runabout | ||||
Deluxe Runabout | ||||
Runabout In 1953 some were called "Rocket" |
Rocket: painted blue with rocket graphic |
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Runabout | ||||
Runabout | ||||
Runabout | 18000/18466 |
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Deluxe Runabout | ||||
Special Racing Runabout | ||||
Riviera | ||||
Cobra | ||||
Capri | ||||
Custom Runabout | ||||
Special Race Boat | ||||
Custom Runabout | Varnished mahogany & walnut |
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Racing Runabout | ||||
19' Capri | ||||
19' Capri | ||||
19' Capri | ||||
Runabout | ||||
20' Custom Runabout | ||||
20' Riviera | ||||
Special Runabout | varnished mahogany & walnut |
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Custom or Deluxe Runabout | Varnished mahogany or |
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Cobra | BR21-001 BR21-055 |
gold painted fiberglass fin |
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21' Capri | ||||
Capri | ||||
Runabout (Triple-Cockpit) | 1000/1999 |
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Custom Runabout (Triple-Cockpit) | varnished mahogany & walnut |
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Custom Runabout Barrel-Back Bugatti Windshield |
varnished mahogany walnut |
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Custom Runabout Barrel-Back Folding V Windshield |
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Runabout (no roof), and Sedan (with roof) | ||||
Custom Runabout | varnished mahogany & walnut |
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Custom Runabout
1922 - 1928 triple-cockpits had flush decks. |
The hull cards do not indicate whether the deck was upswept. Some early ones were flush deck split cockpits. A few upswepts were built in late 1928. |
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Custom Runabout 1929, 1930 and 1931 triple-cockpits had upswept decks. Hull 878 = 1929 Hull 989 = 1930 |
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Runabout Triple-Cockpit with upswept deck |
10000/10127 |
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1932-39 Custom Runabouts were raised deck triple-cockpits. |
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1940-41 Custom Runabouts were barrel back triple-cockpits. Only one 1940 remains. |
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Custom
Runabout (triple-cockpit) |
Varnished mahogany & walnut |
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Custom Runabout (triple-cockpit) |