Christopher Columbus Smith, a professional duck hunter, along with his brother Henry began building "duck boats" in 1881. By the early 1900s Chris was building racing boats and runabouts under the name of the Smith and Ryan Boat Company. It was in the 1920s and 30s however that the craftsmanship of the Chris Smith and Sons Boat Company, located in Algonac, Michigan, made the name Chris-Craft synonymous with speed, comfort, style and luxury.