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Chris-Craft Corsair 36 (2011-)
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Brief Summary
Sometimes you don't want to fish, or ski, or wakeboard or do other activities that will cause you to break a sweat while boating. You just want to ride around living the life of Riley. On those days, you could do a lot worse than own a Chris-Craft Corsair 36, a runabout on steroids that's about a sexy and sweet-looking as a boat can be. A raft of people can sit comfortably in the cockpit for dayboating, or a couple can enjoy the boat as a compact cruiser for overnighting or short voyages. It will be one of the coolest-looking boats in any harbor, so if you want to see and be seen, the Corsair 36 could be just the boat for you.
Key Features
- Extended fiberglass swim platform with three-step stainless steel swim ladder
- Trademark Chris-Craft tumblehome aft and classic forward flair
- Chris-Craft stainless steel hardware and thru-hull fittings
- Custom stainless steel windshield with Solex glass and walk-thru to foredeck
- Diamond pattern non-skid on all deck and walkways
- Custom designed bimini top with concealed storage below aft hatch
- Aluminum perforated dash panel with custom Chris-Craft gauges
- Custom mahogany and stainless steel steering wheel
- Entertainment center with wet bar, cutting board and storage
- Spacious U-shaped aft seating
- 3-year Chris-Care Protection Plan
Specifications
Length Overall | 38' 2'' / 11.63 m |
---|---|
Beam |
12' 6'' 3.81 m |
Dry Weight |
16,000 lbs. 7,257 kg |
Draft |
31'' 0.78 m |
Deadrise/Transom | 20 deg. |
Max Headroom | N/A |
Bridge Clearance |
7' 7'' 2.30 m |
Fuel Capacity |
286 gal. 1,083 L |
Water Capacity |
50 gal. 189 L |
Engine Options
Tested Engine |
Currently no test numbers |
---|---|
Std. Power |
Not Available |
Opt. Power |
2 x 420-hp Volvo Penta 8.1 GXi DP 2 x 370-hp Volvo Penta D6 2 x 380-hp Mercury 8.2 DTS |
Captain's Report
The Mission
There is only one mission for the Corsair 36: To be the most jaw-dropping, stunningly handsome, alluring, flawlessly elegant boat on the water. Her classic beauty signals the taste and nautical refinement of her owner for all to see.
Construction
The most unusual aspect of her construction is the complexity or her tooling (i.e. molds). Every compound curve, reverse, relief and hull tumble home is made with molds within molds in one of the most complicated and artistic jobs of fiberglass construction in the industry. But it is these curves which make the Corsair what she is. Otherwise construction is basically traditional. A vinylester barrier coat is put on the hull exterior to prevent osmosis in the unlikely event the boat is left in the water for long periods. But this is really a summer boat, not a year-rounder. Her smaller Corsair sisters make excellent tenders for megayacht owners and, indeed, the Corsair 36 could serve the same purpose if the right 300-footer came along.
Accommodations
Thanks to its size, the Corsair 36 can fit a comfortable cabin under its foredeck. There's 6' 2" of headroom and a midships stateroom with a queen-sized berth and a cedar-lined hanging locker. Forward there is a banquette that makes into a V-berth sleeping two. Drop in the dining table and it makes into a double.
An adequate galley has a dual-voltage refrigerator, two-burner electric stove and microwave oven. The head compartment has a shower stall with a teak grate and electric toilet with macerator; Y-valve plumbing for overboard discharge is optional.
For a runabout, the Corsair 36 should make a good cruiser, at least for short voyages and long weekends. An enclosure will make the cockpit an all-weather place to hang out; we'd choose the radar arch ($4,637) which includes an enclosure. (A Bimini top is standard.)
Power Packages
Standard power is a pair of 420-hp Volvo Penta 8.1L GXi EVC gas engines with Duoprop drives, but Volvo and MerCruiser options up to twin Merc 425-hp 496 MAG HO Seacore with Bravo III drives and DTS are available (add $15,326), as are a pair of 330- or 370-hp Volvo D6 Duoprop diesels. We haven't tested the boat, but according to Chris-Craft and Volvo, top speed with standard power is between 40 and 41.7 knots, with an efficient cruise at 25 knots. Range at that speed is over 200 miles.
The diesels are an attractive option, which add $64,782 for the 330-hp, and $75,412 for the 370-hp versions. It would take a lot of running to make up this extra cost in fuel, but in areas where diesel is the predominant fuel at dockside it's almost a necessity. Figure on losing just a little top speed with the larger D6s vs. standard power; cruise should be about the same, but probably with a longer range. (These are our speculations, we haven't tested the boat.)
Fitting Out
Based on information on Chris-Craft's website, we spec out our own Corsair 36 in the following way. MSRP is $458,468 (these are 2010 prices; check with your dealer for the for 2011 prices). We opt for a midnight blue hull with a red stripe, adding $9,998. Teak decks, platform and trim will add $25,201.
Standard power is fine for us; we'd add Volvo Penta's joystick system ($22,168). Load on the Raymarine C80 electronics package ($9,982), the arch and 4kW Raymarine radar ($4,468). A "Cruise Package" (windlass and foredeck sunpad) costs $5,492 and upgraded to all-chain rode ($594). A teak cockpit table costs $3,238, antifouling paint, $3,414. Grand total for our Corsair 36: $522,459 MSRP. Your negotiating skills could reduce that substantially.
Recommendations
The Chris-Craft Corsair 36 is a nice boat, very sweet to look at, but it's not for everybody. We like the runabout design, but it makes the foredeck awkward to reach for sunbathing unless you have the balance of a mountain goat. The cockpit is designed for socializing and lounging. In short, this boat's fine for simply enjoying time on the water, seeing and being seen.
We think it would make an ideal boat for chasing around the Riviera or other yachting hotspots, or as tender for a very large yacht. There aren't a lot of similar boats on the market, and certainly not many as nicely styled and finished as this one. She's a runabout for adults with taste (and a lot of money).