
1929 Chris-Craft Commuter:
Iconic Design. Rare Heritage. Legendary Luxury.
Original Chris-Craft catalog description of the 1929 Commuter.
Mariners’ Museum, Newport News, VA
Peter Pan III’s original Equipment Record, prepared the day before its sale.
Mariners’ Museum, Newport News, VA
Dat-So-La-Lee
(Peter Pan III)
A rare surviving example of early American yacht craftsmanship, Dat So La Lee—originally christened Peter Pan III—is Hull No. 5018 in Chris-Craft’s first limited-production 38' Commuter series. Launched during the golden age of mahogany runabouts and Gatsby-era opulence, she stands today as a proud testament to the innovation, elegance, and prestige that defined pre-Depression American boating.
Built in 1929, this Commuter model was designed to serve a very specific and stylish purpose: to ferry captains of industry and East Coast elites from New York’s harbors to their Hudson River estates and Long Island retreats. Known for their sleek profile, speed, and sophistication, these vessels were luxury water limousines—at once utilitarian and utterly refined.
Dat So La Lee carries with her nearly a century of storied character. Her careful preservation honors the original craftsmanship that makes these early Chris-Crafts so prized. Her hull and deck lines remain true to the original design, showcasing the graceful sweep of her sheer and the low, elegant cabin profile that set the Commuter line apart.
A forward cuddy cabin and open salon provide both charm and function, featuring rich woodwork, vintage hardware, and a cockpit layout that invites conversation and admiration. This vessel’s warm patina and period-correct details reflect a thoughtful stewardship over time—preserving authenticity while allowing collectors and connoisseurs to experience the legacy of early 20th-century boatbuilding.
Renamed Dat So La Lee in tribute to the legendary Washoe basket weaver whose artistry balanced precision and spirit, she now symbolizes not only heritage and beauty, but also the quiet endurance of craftsmanship that transcends generations.
Rare, elegant, and evocative of a bygone era, Dat So La Lee is more than a boat—she is a floating piece of American maritime history.
1929 Chris-Craft 38' Commuter | Hull No. 5018
Vintage Details.
Lovingly Maintained.
Unique Charm.
Her original mahogany hull, hand-finished brass hardware, and liveaboard comforts speak to the thoughtful design and craftsmanship of her time. For those who understand the rarity of these early hulls—and the romance of mahogany and brass—she is a collector’s dream and a true heirloom of the water.
Provenance & Legacy:
Peter Pan III →
Dat So La Lee
Promotional photo from Chris-Craft in 1929.
Mariners’ Museum, Newport News, VA
Dat So La Lee demonstrating basket weaving, 1900.
Nevada National Historical Society.
Hull No. 5018 began her journey on June 25, 1929, when she was sold to J.C. Gage, with a hailing port of Kenora, Ontario, nestled on the storied Lake of the Woods. Originally named Peter Pan III, she embodied the elegant design and spirited innovation of the Jazz Age commuter era—built for leisure, speed, and the discerning tastes of her time. She was one of 65 total hulls created in the 1929-1933 commuter line. This was such a popular boat, the first 47 sold out in the first day of the 1929 National Boat Show in New York!
Decades later, she found new life at Sierra Boat Works on Lake Tahoe, where her sleek mahogany hull and vintage brass finishings were lovingly preserved. Following her restoration, she was renamed Dat So La Lee in tribute to the renowned Washoe basket artist, whose legacy of beauty and resilience lives on in museums and collections across the country. Learn more here.
Today, Dat So La Lee resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she is lovingly maintained and enjoyed by Robert and Marion Carrillo—lifelong boating enthusiasts dedicated to preserving her beauty and legacy. A testament to early Chris-Craft ingenuity and design, she continues to turn heads with her graceful lines and vintage charm. Whether you're a dreamer drawn to her nostalgic spirit or a collector with an eye for historical elegance, Dat So La Lee offers a rare opportunity to experience classic American luxury on the water.
Starting life as a movie star!
Peter Pan III makes an appearance in this antique Chris-Craft promotional video around 8:55.
Classic Specs, Legendary Design
Measuring 38 feet in length with a 9'9" beam, Dat So La Lee boasts a solid mahogany hull, and original brass hardware. A modern MerCruiser 8.1L V8 engine and her semi-displacement V-hull offers a smooth cruising experience. Originally built to carry up to 26 passengers, her enclosed salon and forward cuddy cabin provided well-appointed “loafing” spaces throughout. With four berths, a head, and a galley, she blends vintage elegance and classic comfort with live-aboard capability. These commuting cruisers were designed top speed of 30 mph, reflecting Chris-Craft’s legacy of speed, performance and luxury. A rare embodiment of early American craftsmanship and design innovation, Dat So La Lee remains a standout in the world of antique wooden boats.
In this section, you will find images of the original 1929 Chris-Craft Commuter, provided by the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, VA. Next to those images are recent photos of Dat So La Lee, in her current condition. You can see she has been painstakingly preserved and maintained, with all of her Jazz Era charm in tact. You can click the arrows below for details on her specifications.
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Mahogony
Length: 38’4'“
Beam: 9’9”
Displacement (weight): 12,000 lbs.
Waterline color: White
Bottom color: Green
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MerCruiser 8.1L V8
Gasoline
Straight Drive
Manufactured July 2005
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Found to be in excellent condition and period correct.
All systems rated excellent, very good, or good, with routine maintenance suggested.
Presented as very close to factory original
Period correct details include original Chris-Craft green cushions, floor shift, speed, & spark levers in forward helm, and manual spotlight and a Kelvin & Wilfrid O. White binnacle in the aft helm.