The Corsair 25 Brings Back the Designs of the Past

Sometimes I just can’t help but get excited about getting a call from the editor to go on a shoot and test new boats. Chris-Craft is a good example.

We started out with a tour of the plant. Every boat in the line was pre-sold. When we interviewed Joe Cacopardo, Vice President for Marketing at Chris-Craft, we placed him in front of the model the new ones are derived from. That 1939 Barrel-Back model was beautiful and was still operational! They have certainly pulled from that elegant heritage to build this year’s models. From the wide bow to the tumblehome aft, if you replaced the wood with fiberglass, it seems you have the hull design for today. Where most boats have identity problems in a marina, you will immediately recognize the Chris-Craft Launch series from a distance.

Getting on board this beautiful aquatic creature is easy whether you board from port or starboard side-entry steps or from the stern integral swim platform. The sides are the most natural and safest entry, and have steps built into the cabinetry leading you naturally into the open entertainment center of the cockpit. Climbing on board is one of the first design features you smile about.

Looking at her pull away, you recognize the elegant design feature from 1939, a sleek tumblehome aft design that now is punctuated with their integrated swim platform. The telescoping swim ladder is simple to extend and tucks away under the swim platform. The ladder is locked in the closed position with a nylon buckle and strap system.

The engine is in the rear now, rather than amidships in the ’39. You can order your Launch with Mercury, Volvo or Yanmar engine packages. The engine hatch is large and has a very comfortable sun cushion cover. The hatch rises on dual electric rams, and there is plenty of space to work around the engine.

The cockpit entertainment center is the focus within the boat. While everyone else is drooling as you go by, you can serve your guests from the entertainment console and wet bar. There are plenty of beverage holders and cabinets for storage and my test boat had a small refrigerator to keep the snacks cool until served. In the floor is a handy draining container that holds a cooler for keeping plenty of beverages chilled until needed. Chris-Craft offers several upgrade packages with very nice options.

I really thought the Heritage I package my test boat had was impressive with its teak inserts. The helm and companion bucket style seats were extra comfortable and adjusted forward/back and swiveled. Perforated custom stainless steel dash and glove box covers along with the custom Chris-Craft gauges added to the historic look. The aircraft styling in the gauges was a neat retro look that took a little adjusting to before becoming comfortable with them. The Corsair offers a small cuddy cabin for slipping out of the sun or for naps for the kids.

In heavy chop, the Corsair 25 ran very well. She turned tight without a skip or losing much momentum at just under cruise speed. When I went out later to finish the test, the water was smoother and she made tight turns at much higher speeds. The Corsair 25 has extra hull foaming and it showed in the quieter ride. I found the windshield didn’t provide complete coverage, but it was adequate, keeping most of the stinging rain out of my eyes underway. It is set forward giving you maximum entertainment space in the cockpit.

My test boat had the extra optional teak of the Heritage I package, adding weight to a total of 5,500 lbs, but she still leaped on plane in only about 4.0 seconds. Even with the chop, she was doing 30 miles an hour in just 7 seconds. She cruised at 3000 rpms giving us a speed of about 30 mph. At this speed, she will burn about 12.4 gallons per hour and get you 193 miles on a full tank. She was quiet with the selectable thru-hull exhaust on quiet, registering only 81 dBa. I had no trouble keeping up a conversation with my test mate throughout the ride, something difficult to do on most boats this size. At idle, she is an unbelievable 62 dBa, one of the quietest I have tested in this class.

You’ll make your friends envious and your dad proud with this Corsair 25 from Chris-Craft. She deserves a closer look next time you see her.

By Capt. Robert Smith

Test Captain

• Top speed for the Chris-Craft Corsair 25 (2002) is 54.7 mph (88 kph), burning 32.6 gallons per hour (gph) or 123.39 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Chris-Craft Corsair 25 (2002) is 30.0 mph (48.3 kph), and the boat gets 2.42 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.03 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 193 miles (310.6 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 425-hp MerCruiser 496 MAG HO.