A RUNDOWN OF CHRIS-CRAFT COMMANDER VARIATIONS

When Chris Craft introduced the 38’ Commander in 1964 it was the first of a series of cruisers built entirely in fiberglass. Based on the fact the original founders of this Club all had 1st generation Chris Craft Commanders, the Club’s initial focus was on these boats, built in 1964 though the mid-1970s. That period happened to overlap with the time span of ChrisCraft’s archive now administered by the Mariners Museum in Portsmouth, Va. Hence, for boats built in that era, finding historic data is relatively easy. Providing you know the hull number of your boat, you can order an extensive information package about the boat from the museum. The model name “Commander” dates back much longer this. The first ChrisCraft model with this name was actually a 34-foot cabin cruiser from 1943 and there are still mahogany Commanders from the 1950s available on the market.

Although Chris Craft never defined any sub categories of Commanders it is helpful to make such a categorization to make it easier for those not familiar with Chris Craft Commanders:

• 19-30 foot Commanders (“Weekend Commanders”)

• 31-38 foot Commanders (“Mainstream Commanders”)

• 41-47 foot Commanders (“Large Commanders”)

• 55-60 foot Commanders (“Mega Commanders”)

WEEKEND COMMANDERS

Weekend Commanders come in lengths from 19 feet up to 30 feet and are excellent boats for weekend fun. Some are pure runabouts in the reminiscent of the boating style Chris Craft helped forming in the 1920s. Others are more suitable as a small sport fisherman or entertaining guests on short cruises. The largest boats in this range do provide for the odd overnighter, but basically is not intended to be used as such.

MAINSTREAM COMMANDERS

Mainstream Commanders come in lengths from 31 feet up to 38 feet, and own their label “mainstream” to the simple fact that they represent by far the largest number of Commanders built. They are all boats that will accommodate your family for long cruises with overnight stays or provide for ample entertainment opportunities at sea or in port.

LARGE COMMANDERS

Large Commanders come in lengths from 41 feet up to 47 feet. They typically feature double staterooms, dual heads and shower cabins. Some of the models were available with different interior layouts. They are all boats that will accommodate your family or friends for extended cruises and provide for ample entertainment opportunities.

MEGA COMMANDERS

The Mega Commanders were the state of the art luxury yachts of their time. Today, they are still awesome crafts that attract attention anywhere they go thanks to their classic design and attractive looks. Only 52 of these yachts were built.