As Alan Jackson closes his final tour, here is a highlight of a boat once owned by the country music superstar. Donated by Jackson to the Antique Boat Museum, it is now part of the museum’s in-water fleet and enjoyed by visitors as a fantastic piece of history.
Michael Gorman and Kevin Hale in Flat Top on Gull Lake. (Photo credit: Holly Weber).
The Chris-Craft Semi-Enclosed Cruiser models from the 1950s offered passengers a boat that was roomy, fast, and well-suited for a full day on the water. Flat Top, named in reference to the flat top steel-string acoustic guitars commonly used by Jackson, is one of just 36 of these boats ever built by Chris-Craft.
The boat was used and stored on Lake Chautauqua, located in western New York, by its original owner. In 2002, Jackson purchased the boat in poor condition and transported it to Tennessee to undergo extensive restoration work at Hickman Boat Works in Woodbury, TN. Under the craftsmanship of Travis Hickman, Flat Top was revived through a nearly 3-year restoration project, leaving no details untouched.
Kathy Cross, Richard Stout, Jane Mong, Rob Cassell and Matt Perrin on Flat Top. (Photo credit: Holly Weber).
Flat Top now features pristine woodwork and artistry, both interior and exterior, while retaining its original look and is a handsome addition to the collection of the Antique Boat Museum.
Accession number: 2013.016
Donor: Alan Jackson
Twin Chris Craft Model M 6-cylinder engines
Length: 30 ft
Beam: 9 ft
Year: 1955