Both the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2008 and the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 are deep-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 measures 29,4 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 6,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2008 at 23,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 tips the scales at 8 387 lbs - 3 903 lbs less than the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2008 at 4 484 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2008 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 could be the deciding factor.