Boat test for the 2006 Chris-Craft Corsair 33 with boat pictures, boat specifications, and boat test results. Includes pricing, videos, engine test reviews, and ratings for the 2006 Chris-Craft Corsair 33.

The helm area sits under a standard removable bimini top surrounded by a wraparound Solex glass windshield framed in stainless steel (are you detecting a theme?). It has a two-person flip-up bolster seat and molded footwell, and there’s another double passenger seat to port. A three-step stainless steel ladder with teak steps leads through a hinged section of the windshield to the foredeck; the steps are designed so that when you’re descending them, you can see the next one from the one you’re on.

Because of Julius’ commitment to a sleek exterior profile with curved lines, cabin space is limited; headroom is only 5’6”. Access from the cockpit is via two maple stairs, and the area is trimmed in solid, 3?8-inch-thick maple planks with cherry trim; Greenberg says this combination was chosen to brighten what would otherwise be a dark space, since there are no ports. There is a Bomar hatch above the forward dinette, which converts into a seven-foot-long, queen-size berth. Greenberg refers to the other sleeping area aft of the port-side galley as the “bunk,” since it’s designed as much for stowage as sleeping and requires you getting on your hands and knees to access it. However, I could easily see a young child being charmed by the “coziness” of it. The grain-matched, solid-cherry-wood cabinetry, shelving, and inlays on the dinette table and door to the head (with Tecma MSD and handheld shower) highlight Chris-Craft’s trademark woodwork; even the vents for the standard 16,000-Btu Polar Bay air conditioning are artfully concealed in cherrywood.

But the 33 isn’t all appearances. In fact, she shined out on the water. Credit that to her modified deep-V hull, which features down-angled strakes and chines for good lift and spray control. Handling was smooth, agile, and predictable, and her power-assisted steering was effortless. And talk about a speedboat: I measured an average top speed of 48.9 mph with the Mercs turning 4800 rpm. A 250-gallon fuel tank gives her a range of 202 miles at a fast cruise speed of 35.1 mph.

The Book of Tao states that failure is an opportunity, and if that’s true, Chris-Craft has certainly seized the opportunity. This latest launch is not just a throwback to a bygone era of boating; it merges traditional style and panache with modern features and performance. It’s also a testament to what lies ahead for this grand old marque.

Chris-Craft Boats
(941) 351-4900

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