1947 Chris-Craft 25′ Sportsman – West Winds

From 1946 to 1950, Chris-Craft produced just 208 of their 25-foot Sportsman models. This particular boat, hull number S-25-113, was completed and shipped on December 5, 1947, to Tahoe Boat Company. According to the original hull card, it was delivered without an engine or propeller.

Oral history from long-time Tahoe locals suggests that Dick Clarke, a legendary figure at Tahoe Boat Company, installed a Scripps Model 302 V-12 engine in the boat. It’s exceptionally rare for a Chris-Craft to be originally powered by a Scripps V-12, making this boat especially unique.

Ownership History

The first owner was Rudolph Zimmerman, a west shore Tahoe resident and Commodore of the Tahoe Yacht Club (1951–1952). He and his wife Ruth named the boat ZIM-A-RU, a creative blend of their names: ZIMmerman, RUdolph, and RUth.

Zimmerman later sold the boat to his friend Howard Bloom, who renamed it HoBo—a name formed from the first two letters of his name (Ho) and those of his brother-in-law, Bob Scherman (Bo). Starting in the 1950s, Bloom kept HoBo on Tahoe’s north shore, where it became a beloved fixture in the Lake Forest neighborhood, towing generations of adventurous young water skiers—among them the seller’s own older brother, cousins, and friends.

HoBo was a central character in many legendary Tahoe regattas and family memories until 1976, when it was sold and moved to Tahoe’s south shore, where it continued to be enjoyed.

Restoration & Rebirth as West Winds

In June 2004, HoBo returned to the north shore, arriving at Sierra Boat Company for disposition. It was purchased in October 2004 by the current owners, David and Nancy West, and placed in storage until a full preservation and restoration effort began in fall 2005. This included a complete rebuild of the rare Scripps V-12 engine.

Upon completion, the boat was renamed West Winds, in honor of David’s childhood home in California, built by his father.

West Winds returned to the water in June 2009, just in time for the Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance. Since then, it has been featured in multiple shows, including the 2016 ACBS International Show, where it earned a Gold Award.

Today

Since 2009, West Winds has been berthed seasonally at Sierra Boat Company, where it continues to be enjoyed and admired—a living piece of Tahoe’s rich boating history.

 https://www.chriscraft.com/our-story/timeline/

https://www.woodyboater.com/classic-boats/flagship/

• ID: WEST WINDS
• Year: 1947
• Builder: Chris Craft
• Model: Sportsman
• Length: 25ft
• Engine: Scripps V-12, 894 cu. in. or 14.75 liters
• Trailer: None
• Price: $150,000.00