WHY-NOT
by Morton Pomeroy
by Morton Pomeroy
WHY-NOT
is a 1929 Chris-Craft 28-ft. double upswept triple-cockpit custom runabout,
model #14. The boat's hull number is 3117, and she is powered by an A-70
Chris-Craft marine engine with serial number 328. This rare engine is
one of only 367 built by Chris-Craft. This makes WHY-NOT one of the few
antique boats still powered by the original engine of this type. The engine
is a 90' V-8, 225 HSP, 824.6 cubic inch that reaches 42 M.P.H. at full
power. In 1929, the list price F.O.B. in Algonac, Michigan was $4,975.00.
Cary Scherb of The Old Time Boat Company in Mt. Dora, Florida recently
refinished and detailed WHY-NOT. The hull is 98% original. 
WHY-NOT was billed as a Top-of-the-Line Runabout with many factory installed extras. A Lux shielded nozzle system enables the driver to engage the fire extinguisher with a glass-covered pull control handle in the dashboard. WHY-NOT is still adorned in its original German nickel silver trim. It also features two cigar lighters, a No. 35 spotlight, and locking engine room hatches. A Star Pathfinder Compass by Consolidated is a unique dealer-added extra. WHY-NOT's original accessories aided the boat in winning The Hagerty Award of Distinction at the Mt. Dora Antique Boat Festival in March of 1999.
In
the early years, WHY-NOT was owned by the "Racing Rutherfords,"
the husband and wife racing team of Commander John M.L (Jack) and Maude
Rutherford of New York. From 1930 to 1933, the Rutherfords raced WHY-NOT
on the East Coast from New York to Palm Beach. In 1932, the Rutherfords
won the coveted Dempsey trophy with WHY-NOT's endurance and speed. The
1933 May issue of Rudder magazine reviews the results of a race at Miami
Beach stating, "Jack Rutherford, a well-known sportsman who scores
so often in events of this kind, took over the boys in the 825 cu. In.
class with his Chris-Craft Why Not."
WHY-NOT is currently owned by Mort Pomeroy of Cedarville, Michigan. He keeps the boat on Island #8 in the Les Cheneaux Islands where she was the a Feature Boat in the 23' annual (2000) Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show.
WHY-NOT was billed as a Top-of-the-Line Runabout with many factory installed extras. A Lux shielded nozzle system enables the driver to engage the fire extinguisher with a glass-covered pull control handle in the dashboard. WHY-NOT is still adorned in its original German nickel silver trim. It also features two cigar lighters, a No. 35 spotlight, and locking engine room hatches. A Star Pathfinder Compass by Consolidated is a unique dealer-added extra. WHY-NOT's original accessories aided the boat in winning The Hagerty Award of Distinction at the Mt. Dora Antique Boat Festival in March of 1999.
In
the early years, WHY-NOT was owned by the "Racing Rutherfords,"
the husband and wife racing team of Commander John M.L (Jack) and Maude
Rutherford of New York. From 1930 to 1933, the Rutherfords raced WHY-NOT
on the East Coast from New York to Palm Beach. In 1932, the Rutherfords
won the coveted Dempsey trophy with WHY-NOT's endurance and speed. The
1933 May issue of Rudder magazine reviews the results of a race at Miami
Beach stating, "Jack Rutherford, a well-known sportsman who scores
so often in events of this kind, took over the boys in the 825 cu. In.
class with his Chris-Craft Why Not." WHY-NOT is currently owned by Mort Pomeroy of Cedarville, Michigan. He keeps the boat on Island #8 in the Les Cheneaux Islands where she was the a Feature Boat in the 23' annual (2000) Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show.