It wasn't long before Smith started to produce a succession of innovative designs. Bitten by the speed bug, his quest for speed led to the achievement of considerable racing success. Winning the American Power Boat Association Gold Cup six years running, Smith's revolutionary designs broke record after record. Indeed, Smith was so successful, that competition rules had to be changed to give other racers a chance.

Between the two world wars, Chris Smith began to produce boats that offered great comfort as well as supreme performance. They were nick-named Chris-Crafts, both as a mark of respect and affection. The leisure boating market grew strongly so that by 1927, Chris-Craft, as Smith's company officially became known, was the world's largest manufacturer of mahogany boats.

Chris Smith died in 1939, but his son Jay proved to be an equally able builder of boats and the company continued to flourish. Contributing to the war effort, Chris-Craft built more than 10,000 landing craft. On June 6, 1944, Chris-Craft LCPLs spearheaded the D-Day landings. To this day, Chris-Craft remains the only recreational boat manufacturer to have had its boats tested under fire.

After World War II, Chris-Craft recommenced commercial boat production with renewed vigor. By 1959, Chris-Craft had 10 factories and more than 5,000 employees. Leadership of the Company passed to Chris Smith's grandson, Harsen. Interviewed for Time magazine, he attributed Chris-Craft's success to the family rather than any individual within it.