The Chris-Craft 501 Motor Yacht (also known as the 501 Constellation) is a highly regarded, wide-body cruising vessel manufactured between 1987 and 1990. It is celebrated for its exceptionally spacious "extended-deckhouse" layout, making it a popular choice for liveaboards, extended coastal cruising, and completing America's Great Loop.Design History & Hull Inheritance
- Origin: The 501 was built using a stretched version of the classic Pacemaker 46 hull mold. This highly reliable hull design passed to Uniflite in 1980, and was later acquired by Chris-Craft in 1984.
- Superstructure: While the hull design was inherited, Chris-Craft designers completely reimagined the deck and superstructure. They moved the pilothouse forward and positioned the engines further aft to maximize internal living spaces.
- Wide-Body Configuration: To maximize interior volume, the designers eliminated traditional walkaround side decks in favor of a full-width salon. A small aft deck was mindfully integrated to handle docking lines safely.
The enclosed main deck features a sliding glass door (with screen) to a small aft deck for line-handling duties. A huge flybridge tops the deck, with room for dinghy storage on the hardtop.
The main stateroom is below and aft, behind the engine room. Accessible from the main saloon by a spiral staircase that leads only to the main, it is a private retreat for the boat’s owners. It includes a walk-around king-size berth, a large hanging locker and an oversized head with a tub and shower.
Craftsmanship is evident in the cabinetry and teak work. While it may not be as fancy as some more expensive yachts, the workmanship is solid.
The forward end of the saloon is the enclosed pilothouse/helm location. Visibility is excellent from this station, with a large glass windshield and sliding doors to port and starboard. A seat is molded into the forward section of the cabin top, reminiscent of classic Chris-Crafts of the 1960s.
A passageway, to port, leads belowdecks to the lower cabin level. An amidships guest stateroom with oversized twin berths is here, as well as a guest head with shower. Not as large as the master head, this is comparable in size to the main head on many cruisers in the 40-foot range.
The companionway between this stateroom and the head leads to the engine room.
Forward of the main guest stateroom is the galley, to starboard, and a dinette, to port. This is not a galley designed to be used for entertaining. Rather, it is a functional work space.
The third stateroom forward, combined with a small head, washer/dryer and bunk-style berths, is geared for a crew’s use.
Not as fast as many boats in this size range today, the 50 Chris-Crafts were powered by twin 550 hp 6V-92TA Detroit Diesels. Capable of a 15 to 16 knot cruise speed and a 19-knot top speed, the 50 won’t win any races — but the boat is comfortable at these speeds, and behaves predictably.
Salon:
- Full Beam Width
- Spiral Staircase to Main SR
- TV with Home Theater
- Wet Bar/ Icemaker
- Loveseat Style Sofa, Recliner Chair (Negotiable)
- **Note - Glass top "Marlin" table does not convey**
- Digital A/C
- Custom LED overhead lighting
Staterooms:
- 3 Staterooms - Sleeps: 6
- Main Stateroom: King Berth (New Mattress) Shower/Tub, A/C
- Guest Stateroom: 2 Berths/ Head/ Shower, A/C
- Crew (Bow): 2 Berths/ Head/ Shower/ Laundry, A/C
- Heads: New Fresh Water
Galley
- Full Size Refrigerator (new in 2025)
- Range
- Microwave
- Dishwasher
- Compactor
- "L" shaped dinette with table.
- Teak flooring
- Davco 775# capacity folding davit
- Radar arch
- New Navy Blue Extended bimini with 3 side enclosure new in 2025
- Pulpit with Maxwell/Nillson capstan/windlass and claw anchor
- Complete Awlcraft 2000 paint job in 2005 by a crew from Rybovich Spencer (performed at a yard in Ct)
- Teak trim eliminated from sides of deckhouse to simplify maintenance
- 2 J&T Detroit Diesels 550 HP (6V92 TIB)
- Walker Air-Seps
- Water-lift Mufflers
- 778 Gal Diesel (2 fwd/ 2 aft)
- Glendinning Synch
- Hynautic controls
- Cetrek AutoPilot
- Bennett Trim Tabs
- Onan 20KW Diesel Gen
- 5 MarineAir A/C with standard 3 knob controls
The following was provided by a Chris Craft 501 owner as being actual fuel burn numbers per his experience - expressed in statute miles.
- 1100 RPM - 9.2 MPH - 8 GPH - 1.15 MPG
- 1200 RPM - 10.3 MPH - 10 GPH - 1.03 MPG
- 1300 RPM - 10.9 MPH - 13 GPH - .83 MPG
- 1400 RPM - 11.4 MPH - 15 GPH - .76 MPG
- 1500 RPM - 12 MPH - 18 GPH - .66 MPG
- 1600 RPM - 12.8 MPH - 22 GPH - .58 MPG
- 1700 RPM - 14.6 MPH - 25 GPH - .58 MPG
- 1800 RPM - 16.6 MPH - 28 GPH - .57 MPG
- 1900 RPM - 17.9 MPH - 32 GPH - .56 MPG
- 48 Mi Raytheon RL80C Dual Station Radar
- Garmin Plotter
- Sitex Sonar 832 color
- Standard Spectrum VHF (DSC)
- SEA222 SSB
- RayMarine Tri-Data Depth/Speed
- NMEA interfaces.
- Intercom
- * PLEASE NOTE THAT ELECTRONICS ARE DATED - OFFERED IN "AS IS" CONDITION
The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.
Engine and generator hours are as of the date of the original listing and are a representation of what the listing broker is told by the owner and/or actual reading of the engine hour meters. The broker cannot guarantee the true hours. It is the responsibility of the purchaser and/or his agent to verify engine hours, warranties implied or otherwise and major overhauls as well as all other representations noted on the listing brochure.
Listing MLS by Yachtr.com
