The Elegant Picnic

Jan 10, 2019

To get you in the mood for cruising the Boat Show then launching in spring, here’s a boat that Editor, Andy Adams reviewed this winter.

It’s hard to imagine a more elegant way to spend a day on the water than being aboard the Chris-Craft Launch 38. Everywhere you look – materials, hardware, fit, finish – all show impressive craftsmanship and quality.

Chris-Craft is perhaps the most venerable name in pleasure craft, at least in North America, and the Chris-Craft name is over a century old. There have been a few changes in ownership, but the Chris-Craft reputation remains untarnished. Our test boat was heavily optioned, including a metallic sapphire-blue hull colour, extensive teak trim and decking, and fiberglass interior areas that were finished in a rich, french vanilla cream colour.

In fact, the test boat was the Heritage Edition with gorgeous real teak decking just about everywhere from the swim platform to the bow. This boat is made for entertaining, but it’s not a party barge – it’s the elegant picnic.

The HelmThe Chris-Craft Launch 38 has room to seat about 12 people with great areas for entertaining. The side decks are wide and deep for a secure feeling when moving around. The swim platform and cockpit are the primary passenger areas, but the bow has a forward-facing sun lounge as well as bow seating, and the floor can be filled in for more lounge area.

Forward BerthThe Launch 38 would be a great way to see the Trent Severn or to cruise even long distances, sleeping onboard some nights and staying at hotels or B&Bs on others. At an anchorage, it’s great to have the walkaround design making this big boat very easy to handle. Our Chris-Craft Launch 38 was loaded with features like the sunroof. I love the analog instruments and those big MFDs make navigating a breeze. We reviewed the boat at the new Friday Harbour development and it’s a perfect boat for people who own those waterfront condos. From Friday Harbour, you can have an easy little boat ride but it’s also a magnificent boat for exploring and entertaining. The Launch 38 makes a huge lifestyle statement.

You can go back to Andy’s original full review here 

Video Gallery

Starcraft SV 16 OB

By Craig Ritchie

Photos by Starcraft Marine

Building great boats has always come down to a mix of art and science, and that’s particularly true when it comes to meeting the biggest challenge of all—creating an appealing yet affordable family runabout. Buyers want a boat that is affordable but not stripped to the bare bones.

Enter Starcraft and its delightful SV 16 OB, an all-new-for-2025 family deck boat that elegantly balances comfort, amenities and affordability.

Read More

Destinations

The Erie Canal – An Extraordinary Waterway

By Mark Stevens

Photos by Sharon Matthews-Stevens

As I shift our chartered canal boat into neutral, I’m soothed by the soundtrack of bird calls, the occasional plaintive horn of a distant train and the hum of our engine.

I reach for the VHF to radio the lockmaster in charge of Erie Canal’s Lock 32 dead ahead. Our boat spins gently in the current like a maple key in a mud puddle.

“This is Onondaga,” I say. “Headed westbound and requesting passage.”

Read More

Lifestyle