Alby Abrevaya
Senior Member
Registered: October 2008
Location: Gilford, NH
Posts: 660
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SOPHIE
1934 Chris Craft 27 Foot Custom
Hull Number 27012
NH 1103AM
Sophie is one of sixty three 27 foot Triple Cockpit Custom Runabouts manufactured by Chris Craft between 1932 and 1941. As “Queen of the Fleet,” these boats represented the top end of Chris Craft production at the time and cost in excess of $5,000. Only three of these boats had the optional Scripps 302 V12 engine – a $3,000 “extra.”
Originally used to commute between their Fishers Island, NY, summer home and New London, CT, the DuPont family enjoyed Sophie until the early years of World War II. Rationing of gas and restrictions on navigation caused the DuPonts to sell Sophie to Stan Fault of Agawam, MA.
After the War, Stan used Sophie in his speedboat ride concession at Riverside Park. One of her young drivers was none other than George Johnson. Several thousand riders, a number of engine rebuilds and numerous modifications to increase her carrying capacity later, Sophie was retired to a junk yard.
Thanks to George Johnson’s eagle eye at spotting Sophie, he acquired her and brought her to Wolfeboro upon his retirement in the 50’s. In the mid 80’s, George commissioned Tom Cuthberson of Algonac, MI, to restore Sophie. Tom was an excellent choice despite the fact that he was then in his mid-80’s as Tom had worked for Chris Craft back in 1934 when she was originally built.
Upon her return to Wolfeboro in 1989, Chuck and Lyn Schwager purchased Sophie from George and installed the 12 cylinder Scripps marine motor which still powers her today. Sophie has been used extensively by Chuck and Lyn throughout the inland rivers of the US and Canada. She has been a frequent participant in cruises on the St. Johns river, the Tennessee river, the Ottawa river, the Merrimack river, the Rideau canal, Lake Muskoka, Lake Geneva, the St. Lawrence Seaway and of course, Lake Winnepesaukee.
Chuck Schwager generously let me take this photo and gave me this information.
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