Local Business Highlight: Custom Chris Craft Boat Bar

Are you a boat lover and looking for something special to add to your home on the lake? Our friend, Mark Mahoney creates these amazing custom bars out of Chris Craft boats. 

Pictured above: Full Chris Craft Bar 1941 Chris Craft 18’ Gentleman’s racer with 12” floating glass rail around 2/3 of boat 

ABOUT MARK:

Mark has a long history in boating and grew up boating since he was 8 years old in Beverly Harbor, Ma on the ocean. Mark says, "I feel in love with boats and spent some time on pickerel pond in Maine, Sebago Lake and Winnipesaukee."

Mark's father and a few friends started Heritage Yacht Sales in Danvers when he was 14. Mark and his 2 older brothers worked there through High school when he went on to Mass Maritime Academy/ There, he delivered boats up and down the coast from Portland ME to New Jersey. He also captained a 51 Morgan Out Islander for 2 summers for a Law Firm in Boston.

Mark started collecting small antique mahogany crafts about 10 years ago where he met some great people in the antique boat community, like Mark Mason. Mark had the opportunity to purchase a waterfront home in Marblehead 8 years ago and wanted a nautically inspired bar overlooking Salem Harbor. Mark bought a 1941 Chris Craft Gentleman's Racer from a collector that had taken the motor out and modified the hull. He purchased the boat "as is" which was perfect for his purpose ( plus, nobody else wanted it without a motor, etc). 

Mark had a vision for the boat and ended up using the entire boat as a Boat Bar. It features a 12" floating glass rail around the boat and 8 seats surrounding it. The bartender can serve all 8 guests from where he cut an access/ walk into the former engine hatch/ compartment. He also added a pull-out trash and recycling bin with a mahogany panel and a wine rack, "speed racks" for liquor bottles, etc.

Mark uses local craftsmen to re-purpose these vessels from marine welders, wooden boat restoration experts and high tech glass cutters on CAD.

The process has evolved to include multiple options:

1: Full Boat Bar 14-20 feet 

2. 1/2 Boat Bar- Boat cut in half

3. 1/3 Boat Bar - Boat cut in half with 2-5 feet taken off the stern to make it 12 feet long (fits in most rooms) 

We can also custom make the boats into furniture for seating, dining, etc.

They build to order and work directly with the client, and/ or their architects, engineers and designers to create bespoke, one of a kind masterpieces.

Mark and his team have created chandeliers out of Old Town canoes and picnic tables out of old fiberglass boats. Most of the "donor" boats 

we source are headed for the junk pile and they are able to purposefully restore these crafts into timeless treasures that will be appreciated and enjoyed for generations.

This is a side business for New Bridge Marina and best way to contact Mark is mark@newbridgemarina.com

And here are some amazing before and after pictures of this 1/3 Chris Craft Boat Bar.
Here, Mark took a 17 ski boot, cut in half, took 5’ off stern so it would fit in most rooms.

BEFORE

AFTER