Crooked Island Cat Boat
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The Crooked Island Cat Boat was a projected initiated by the UN and designed by Tracy H. Van Buren, Jr., Chris Craft's chief designer at that time. It was developed in the post war years to develop an extremely durable and very affordable work boat for the extremely poor Caribbean island nations.
Referred to as the workhorse of the Chris Craft fleet, the Crooked Island Catboat has developed a cult following among traditional boaters with an eye for beautiful, full lines, and sensible functionality. Chris Craft chief designer Tracy Van Buren drew her in the early 1970’s as a lobster boat for the fishermen in and around his Crooked Island, Bahamas getaway. Her round hull had a plumb bow, full keel and a tumblehome transom. History has it that the “catboat” was developed in conjunction with a failed World Food Organization project aimed at equipping third world fishermen with an economical, low-maintenance vessel to work their trade.
Though the boat was not put into widespread use, the resulting workboat was far from a failure. In fact, the Crooked Island Catboat was everything her design specifications called for: A strong and stable traditional catboat hull (length twice her beam); shallow 18 inch draft with protected running gear; low freeboard with ample self draining deck space to handle traps; and, an economical, 1 cylinder diesel power plant. Scott Van Buren, Designer Tracey Van Buren’s son, was then a U.S. sales representative for Renault and was responsible for the original 1-cylinder, 11 hp diesel engine.
In a short production run, approximately 80 hulls were constructed in the late 70’s. Original equipment included a Renault 11hp diesel, tiller steering, a large gravity fed live well, and little else. Surviving Crooked Island Catboats are likely re-powered, some have been refitted with a center console and wheel steering, and most live wells converted to house a fuel tank and batteries.
While wet in a short chop, this workboat was sure to bring her fishermen safely home. Crooked Island Catboats now bring joy to many as a “we live too fast” alternative to over powered sport fishers and fuel thirsty muscle boats.
(Submitted by David M. West, grandson of Tracy H. Van Buren, Jr. Further facts can be obtained from Tracy's son, Scott Van Buren: visions@tds.net)
