Alby Abrevaya
Senior Member
Registered: October 2008
Location: Gilford, NH
Posts: 660
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NANA
1948 Chris Craft Racing Runabout
Hull Number R19-101
NH6227AV
The original owner of NANA was James Seraydar of Long Island, NY who owner her in excess of 40 years. She was entered and won her class in the 1950 and 1951 Harwood Trophy Race, a 30 mile run around Manhattan Island where she set the F Service Runabout record for the event.
Mr. Seraydar, not being satisfied with the speed provided with the 158 HP Chris Craft MBL engine, teamed up with Prince Bira (the nephew of the King of Siam who was active in both auto and boat racing) to produce a supercharged version of the same engine. Seraydar fabricated two sets in intake and exhaust manifolds and Bira provided two Italian superchargers to create two of the fastest 19 foot racing runabouts ever produced. At Lake George, Seraydar was clocked at speeds in excess of 72 miles/hour and a subsequent owner, Dick Kavan, claimed to have been clocked by radar at 76 miles/hour.
High speeds can have a devastating effect on all parts of a boat, most particularly on the hull. Once again, the back yard expert, Mr. Seraydar, provided the solution by fiberglassing the entire hull – certainly an experiment at the time. When the fiberglass was removed for proper restoration, it was discovered that the entire boat was being held together by the fiberglass alone.
In 1994, John Clark convinced Chuck and Lyn Schwager that NANA was worth saving from destruction and worthy of proper restoration. Jim Murdock who specializes in 19 foot Racing Runabouts was hired for the restoration which was completed in 1997 (everyone must wait in line for Jim) and John Clark rebuilt the supercharged MBL currently installed – you can see the supercharger under the port gunnel.
NANA has participated in the Antique Race Boat Regatta in Clayton, NY and is used on calmer days and at slower speeds by Chuck and Lyn on Lake Winnepesaukee.
NANA is now owned by Chuck Schwager who generously let me take this photo and gave me this information.
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