OK.
If you’ve made it to this point
you will probably take offense to the statement
made on the prior page. It is not
exactly true
that barrelbacks were made only between 1939 and 1942.
It is nearly true,
however. The only exception is
that of the first, true barrel-sterned
design—the 16' Race Boat. Other
than the 16' Race Boat, barrelbacks
were made specifically between
1939 and 1942.
Why the confusion?
Why are so many old Chris-Crafts
referred to as “barrebacks” when in actuality very few
are? Some of the confusion comes from the fact that many
of the barrel-sterned designs were essentially redesigns
of hulls that existed in years prior to 1939 and again
after WWII. In other words, certain models existed in a
non-barreled form (prior to 1939)—in
a barreled form (between 1939 and 1942)—only to reappear
again in as non-barreled designs in 1946 after WWII.
Take
the very popular 17' Deluxe for example. The 17'
Deluxe was a barreled design for the years 1940 through
1942. Prior to 1940 there was also a 17' Deluxe but
it was a non-barreled design. The same is true for
the post-war 17' Deluxe—a very practical to produce, slab-sided, non-barrel
sibling. As you scour the internet, you will see many examples
of Chris-Crafts—and vintage boats in general
being overzealously classified as barrelbacks.
For a visual representation of the barrelback years, click
here.
Top of Page
|
1942
Pre-war 17' Deluxe Barrelback 
