The Last Stingers & Scorpions...
 

What was the very last model year that Chris Craft Stingers & Scorpions were made?? What lengths/sizes did they come in??

Did they cancel the series due to lack of interest, sales and the economy??

Any possibility of a Chirs Craft high performance offshore boat comeback someday??

Re: The Last Stingers & Scorpions...
 

I have seen 21' scorpions (scorpion 210), 22' stingers (Stinger222), 26' stingers and scorpions (260 series), 312 Stingers, 375 Stingers, and 39s. Could be more.

The line became less of a priority after Murray bought the company around 87 or so. This is off the top of my head. Then OMC bought CC from Murray. I think that's the order. Then OMC came out with the FICHT or something outboard and it ended up sucking bad. Bad business calls and bad outboards kicked the OMC version's azz until they went bankrupt with OMC in the late ninties/early 2000... can't remember. Then these two dudes bought CC around 2000 or something. They came out with a few new models (which I really like. They are all cool. But not go-fasts.) Some smallish launches and a sweet 43 foot roamer. Ugly for a sport boat. Gorgeous for a cruiser.

Do some web searches on "Murray Chris Craft." "Christopher Smith." "Chris Craft Algonac"

I don't see them doing perf boats ever again. They went back to their roots.

I have a 1987 Stinger260 which I believe exemplifies the very soul of the classic deep-V. The lines are among the finest of any Don A ripoff that ever left a mold.

People walk past 200k Cigs to come look at my 16k stinger. Something about the lines.

Anyway... they were still always somehow out of context for the hundred plus year old Chris Craft brand. I understand how they went back to their roots. Makes sense.

But I am glad that they experimented in high perf for a moment in time. Boat for boat... nothing turns a head like a well kept stinger.

Re: The Last Stingers & Scorpions...
 

Let's have a group HooRaaa for Stingers,...can't wait to get my done.

Re: The Last Stingers & Scorpions...
 

I think Murray had the company back in 80 or 81 ,It was there idea to get into the high performance game.

Re: The Last Stingers & Scorpions...
 

Oh yeah... I love my 86 222 :D My dream "in a few years" 1985 312 with a factory arch :cool:

Re: The Last Stingers & Scorpions...
 

Mine is a 1989 312 Stinger. Have not seen any newer than mine. What happends to all the molds???

Re: The Last Stingers & Scorpions...
 

I looked alot before I bought mine, I don't recall any model year newer than 1989.

The 260s, 312s, (311 center console and there was a 316 in there somewhere too), and 390s all seemed to be based on the same design - the flat deck. Then they introduced the 375 (38') and 415 (42') in 1988 and those were different; more rounded. They changed the 375 to the 385 in 1989. (I'm not sure if it was 1' longer or just a number change.) The 375 was listed as a 38' boat, but that included the molded-in swim platform, which was new for that model. The 390x is a 39', which is really about 3' longer than the 375 measured to the transom. A much longer cabin. The 375, 385, & 415 had a 9' beam and are pretty heavy. I bet you can get a 390 to go much faster than a 375.

The economy was HORRIBLE in 88 & 89 and no one could sell a new boat to save their life. I think that's why you see more of the 88s but very few 89s.

The guys that bought the Chris Craft name are the same ones that revitalized the itialian Riva (HUGE $$$$).

Re: The Last Stingers & Scorpions...
 

I just got a 1986 222 stinger about two weeks ago. I got it for a good price but it needs a complete rebuild.

Re: The Last Stingers & Scorpions...
 

economy was horrible in lates 90s fer boats. my dad was offered 3 new top guns from factory for 110 grand each with 425s. we boght the 375 brand new as a bank repo in 1991 for 55grand

Re: The Last Stingers & Scorpions...
 

1989 was the end of the scorpions and stingers. All that was offered that last year for Stingers was 26.....312, 313 in ctr consoled only...33,38, 41 and the Fitipauldi model all red, think it was offered on the 33 & 38. On the scorpions there was 20, 21 but they were fat cuddy cabins, the 26 look just like the stinger with a diffent cockpit and it had a single BB with a bravo I. They also had 22 and 24 ft LTD's witch were sport boats.I had and 89 scorpion and these are from my Brochure.