Runabouts |  In the very early 1920's boat manufacturers were producing fine looking, "decked over" boats, with the bow, stern and engine compartments completely covered over with decking.
The seats were in cockpits, forward and sometimes, aft of the engine compartment decking. There were, and still are, single, double and triple cockpit models that were given the name runabouts. Their primary purpose was running about the lake to visit friends at another summer cottage, going into town or just plain zooming around the lake having fun with the wind and the spray in your face. Throughout the entire wooden boat era of Chris Craft, Garwood, Hackercraft, Century, etc., decked over boats with seating in cockpits were called runabouts.
However, at this same time, some of these boats were built with only a covered foredeck and a box covering the engine. This arrangement was much better for activities such as fishing, picnics, swimming and water sports. These boats were called an "open utility". These, originally bare bones, utility boats, soon came equipped with deluxe interiors including windshields, upholstered seats, large engines and in some cases, even small hard top enclosures. As a matter of fact, the most popular boat that Chris Craft Corporation ever built was the "22 Utility".
Runabouts could run from 12 ft. to more than 35 ft. in length. They did not, and still don't, have berths, galleys or heads. As a modern example, the purest would call the Chris Craft 18' Speedster, a runabout. On the other hand, inboard ski boats like a Correct Craft or Master Craft, would be called an "open utility". As the years passed, the two distinct designs began to blur and now almost all boats 26 ft. and under, without berths, galleys, etc, are generally referred to as runabouts/ Chris Craft's single, double and triple cockpit models were always named runabouts, but their open boats, originally named "utilities", in later years were called "sport" boats.
To this day, old boat drivers still differentiate between runabouts and "utilities", but the rest of the world has pretty much lumped them into the runabout category. So, if you use your small boat (26 ft. and under) just for running about and having a good time and it has no sleeping or dinning facilities, it is now OK to call it a runabout. | | | |
New Runabout | Condition:
New Builder:
CHRIS CRAFT Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
25'0'' (7.6 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2010 / M 2010 Model:
Launch Boat Price:
100,600 USD Yacht Brokered By Intermarine Yacht Brokerage | Condition:
New Builder:
CUSTOM Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
24'0'' (7.3 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2010 / M 2010 Model:
Kazulin Boats Adriatic Boat Price:
156,800 USD approx. (159,500 CAD) Yacht Brokered By EGlobalYachts | Condition:
New Builder:
CAROLINA SKIFF Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
13'0'' (4.0 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2009 / M 2009 Model:
JV13 Sportsman Boat Price:
9,900 USD Yacht Brokered By ABC BOATS NV | Condition:
New Builder:
CAROLINA SKIFF Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
13'0'' (4.0 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2009 / M 2009 Model:
JV13 Sportsman Boat Price:
4,600 USD Yacht Brokered By ABC BOATS NV | | | | Used Runabout | Condition:
Used Builder:
SUNSEEKER Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
36'0'' (11.0 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2006 / M 2006 Model:
Chris-Craft Corsair- HERITAGE EDITION Boat Price:
290,000 USD Yacht Brokered By Sunseeker Florida | Condition:
Used Builder:
WELLCRAFT Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
34'0'' (10.4 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 1987 / M 1987 Model:
Mark III Boat Price:
23,900 USD Yacht Brokered By Florida Yacht Group Palm Beach | Condition:
Used Builder:
CENTURY Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
32'0'' (9.8 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2008 / M 2008 Model:
Century 3200 OS Boat Price:
235,000 USD Yacht Brokered By Mare Blue Yacht Brokerage | Condition:
Used Builder:
HACKER CRAFT CO Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
30'0'' (9.1 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2000 / M 2000 Model:
Triple Cockpit w/ Extended Second Cockpit Boat Price:
78,000 USD Yacht Brokered By United Yacht Sales, LLC | | | | Most Expensive Runabout | Condition:
Used Builder:
SUNSEEKER Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
36'0'' (11.0 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2006 / M 2006 Model:
Chris-Craft Corsair- HERITAGE EDITION Boat Price:
290,000 USD Yacht Brokered By Sunseeker Florida | Condition:
Used Builder:
RIVA Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
26'3'' (8.0 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 1963 / M 1963 / Rf 1998 Model:
Tritone Boat Price:
236,800 USD approx. (175,000 EUR) Yacht Brokered By Hyde Yachts - London | Condition:
Used Builder:
CENTURY Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
32'0'' (9.8 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2008 / M 2008 Model:
Century 3200 OS Boat Price:
235,000 USD Yacht Brokered By Mare Blue Yacht Brokerage | Condition:
Used Builder:
CHRIS CRAFT Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
28'0'' (8.5 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2007 / M 2007 Model:
Launch 28 Boat Price:
139,900 USD Yacht Brokered By Intermarine Yacht Brokerage | | | | Most Popular Runabout | Condition:
Used Builder:
TIARA Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
23'0'' (7.0 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 1986 / M 1986 Model:
Tavanti-Slickcraft Boat Price:
14,000 USD Yacht Brokered By Larsen Marine Yacht Sales | Condition:
Used Builder:
MALIBU Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
24'11'' (7.6 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2001 / M 2001 Model:
Sunscape 25 LSV Boat Price:
36,000 USD Yacht Brokered By Performance Boats | Condition:
Used Builder:
HACKER CRAFT CO Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
30'0'' (9.1 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2000 / M 2000 Model:
Triple Cockpit w/ Extended Second Cockpit Boat Price:
78,000 USD Yacht Brokered By United Yacht Sales, LLC | Condition:
Used Builder:
SUNSEEKER Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
36'0'' (11.0 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2006 / M 2006 Model:
Chris-Craft Corsair- HERITAGE EDITION Boat Price:
290,000 USD Yacht Brokered By Sunseeker Florida | | | | Longest Runabout | Condition:
Used Builder:
SUNSEEKER Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
36'0'' (11.0 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2006 / M 2006 Model:
Chris-Craft Corsair- HERITAGE EDITION Boat Price:
290,000 USD Yacht Brokered By Sunseeker Florida | Condition:
Used Builder:
WELLCRAFT Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
34'0'' (10.4 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 1987 / M 1987 Model:
Mark III Boat Price:
23,900 USD Yacht Brokered By Florida Yacht Group Palm Beach | Condition:
Used Builder:
CENTURY Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
32'0'' (9.8 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2008 / M 2008 Model:
Century 3200 OS Boat Price:
235,000 USD Yacht Brokered By Mare Blue Yacht Brokerage | Condition:
Used Builder:
HACKER CRAFT CO Category:
Runabout Boat LOA:
30'0'' (9.1 m) Boat Year:
Mfg 2000 / M 2000 Model:
Triple Cockpit w/ Extended Second Cockpit Boat Price:
78,000 USD Yacht Brokered By United Yacht Sales, LLC | | | |
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