XL175 Sunlounger Transdrive

From ClassicBoatWiki

The XL175 Sunlounger was a Chris-Craft Corsair Division model, manufactured in Cortland, NY at the recently acquired Thompson facility. There were several variations of the XL Sunlounger. The XL prefix and Sunlounger were used in combination to identify boats of 17-foot and 17-foot 6-inch length, with both outboard, and Transdrive power. An Express Cruiser was also offered. The XL175 Sunlounger Transdrive was one such model in the XL Sunlounger family. As its name implies, the XL 175 was 17-foot 6-inches in overall length. The hull was a Vee design, with pronounced deadrise at the transom. A Sunlounger model earned its name by way of back-to-back fold-down lounge seats. Combined with a rear bench seat, the Sunlounger offered seating for 7. This cockpit configuration contrasts from the Sport Vee models, which featured single bucket-type helm and passenger seats, with small stern jump seats flanking the Transdrive engine box.

The Transdrive name appears to be Chris-Craft's unique marketing moniker for the inboard-outboard drivetrain. The inboard-outboard power configuration was relatively new in 1963, when the first XL175 Sunlounger Transdrives were introduced. Chris-Craft, perhaps, thought that Transdrive was a more marketing friendly, term than inboard-outboard, or IO. It is more likely, though, that the company searched for a universal marketing phrase that could be applied across all inboard-outboard drives offerings from all manufacturers. In the early 60s, Chris-Craft referred to all inboard-outboard powertrain packages from all manufacturers as Transdrives. These included Eaton, Volvo, and MerCruiser.

The XL175 Sunlounger hulls were very traditional in design. Yet, they were ahead of their time from a manufacturing and design standpoint. For example, hull bottoms were balsa cored. Stingers were glassed in place, and cavities were filled with foam. Unique features included a bow mounted gas tank, a chrome plated bronze cast bow light that was integrated into the rubrail bow cap, and a prominent scoop, and quarter-turn hold-down latches on the engine hatch, reminiscent of muscle cars of the era.

Hulls were available in blue, white, or red, with matching decks. White was used as the accent color with all hull colors. The red and blue hulls featured a white bootstripe.

• Division: Corsair
• Hull no. series:
  • ORAZ-17-001 to ORAZ-17-034 (1963)
  • ORBZ-17-001 to ORBZ-17-036 (1963)
  • ORCZ-17-2001 to ORCZ-17-2211 (1964)
  • ORDZ-17-2001 to ORDZ-17-2240 (1965)
  • OREZ-17-001 to OREZ-17-250 (1966)
  • ORFZ-17-001 to ORFZ-17-160 (1967)
  • ORGZ-17-001 to ORGZ-17-150 (1968)
• No. of hulls built: 1081
• Length: 17' 9"
• Beam: 7' 5"
• Weight: 1540 lbs.
• Fuel capacity: 21 gals.
• Hull material: Fiberglass
• Bottom color: Blue, white, red
• Waterline color Blue, white, red
• Hull side color: Blue, white, red
• Deck color: Blue, white
• Upholstery: Blue, white, red
• Engines offered:
  • Chris-Craft 225B;
  • Mercury 120;
  • Eaton 140