Pickup
I was doing what boat people do best—browsing Craigslist for trouble—when an ad caught my attention. A 17-foot 1947 Chris-Craft Deluxe Runabout, powered by a KBL 131-horsepower triple-carburetor engine, was listed for sale right here in the Spokane Valley.
I assumed it would be another dreamer’s listing, probably priced well out of reach. Still, curiosity got the better of me, so I emailed the seller. To my surprise, the boat was only four miles away—just nine minutes from my driveway.
Naturally, I had to take a look.
When I arrived, I learned that this wasn’t just any old runabout. The boat had once belonged to the legendary Alan and Virginia (Ginny) Furth collection of Oakland, California. Alan Furth, a noted wooden boat enthusiast, amassed more than seventy classic boats before his passing in 1993. Alan was the President of the Southern Pacific Railroad and vice chair of the Santa Fe Southern Corporation. And the boat was owned by Jordy Carlton (past Tahoe Yacht club commodore and best of show perpetual award in his name for the concourse de elegance) and Joe fray (Stanley Dollar’s mechanic) built the engine. This Chris-Craft was one of those slated for restoration later, but the work never happened. The boat hadn’t touched water since 1976.
The current owner, Mike Davisson, had served as the Furth collection’s marine mechanic for years. He’d hoped to restore the boat himself, but health issues changed his plans. “I just want it to go to someone who’ll be a good caretaker,” he told me.
That word—caretaker—struck a chord. I explained that I was looking for a winter project I could document, share, and maybe even enter in Woody Boater’s “Floater Challenge,” a lighthearted contest to get a wooden boat floating in under three months and for less than $3,000 (not counting the purchase price).
Mike smiled, and before long, we had a deal. I left a deposit, promised to return after vacation, and headed off with visions of varnish and mahogany dancing in my head.
When I returned, Mike rolled the boat out from storage, and I finally saw her in daylight. Even under a layer of dust, she was beautiful—classic lines, authentic fittings, and that unmistakable Chris-Craft charm. I decided on the spot to keep name MsBehaving. It was too funny.
Getting her home, however, was an adventure. After sitting still for fifteen years, her trailer tires were square as bricks. The first few miles down the road felt like driving a paint shaker. Slowly, as the tires warmed, the bouncing eased and MsBehaving settled in for the ride.
Back in my driveway, I couldn’t resist a quick cleaning. Under the grime, the original upholstery revealed itself in surprisingly good shape. I polished a section of the bow and watched the old varnish come back to life with a warm, golden glow. This boat wasn’t just restorable—it was revivable.
Of course, MsBehaving lived up to her name on the way home. The trailer shook so violently that the temperature gauge glass shattered. New tires and a bearing inspection quickly moved to the top of the to-do list.
Aside from a missing center windshield post and a couple of flagpoles, she’s remarkably complete. The next step will be to pull the engine, get it running, and start the restoration in earnest.
After all, every boat deserves a second act—and MsBehaving is ready for hers. Mike saying good bye.
