When Chris-Craft employees come back from the Fourth of July weekend, production on the new boat will be ramping up, said Meghan Stout, spokeswoman for the company at 8161 15th St. E., near Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
"The Corsair is definitely a water sports boat, a great boat for lakes, for the bay, it would be fantastic; and intercoastal waterway cruising," said Stout.
With seating for five to seven people, she added, "It's great for wakeboarding or water skiing."
The Corsair 22 will sell for about $65,000 each, she said.
The company already has larger versions but began developing its 22-footer after customers requested it. The new boat features a small cuddy cabin in the front where passengers may go below, called a "closed-bow" boat design, she said.
"We've always had a launch, now we have a closed deck boat at 22 feet," she said.
Chris-Craft is also finalizing a series of special colors and trims, inspired by the auto industry, said Stout.
"We are constantly trying to improve" each model's technology, its environmentally-friendly qualities and its ease of production, she said.
Frank Joseph, 44, owner of Grand Slam Yacht Sales in Palmetto, is a fan of Chris-Craft boats.
He says the boats are classy as they navigate on the water, and he enjoys hearing the solid sound of their engines.
"They're just a very nice day or weekender boat," Joseph said Monday. "I always admire it."
The company is still considering how many more workers may be needed to help build the Corsair 22, Stout said.
"I'm sure we will be hiring more people. We don't know what that's going to be at this point," she said.
The company also is planning to double the production capacity of its Launch 25, a 25-foot, open-bow boat.
Chris-Craft's local plant currently employs about 300. The venerable boat builder, founded in 1874, also operates a plant in North Carolina.
