Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2009 vs Chris-Craft Catalina 26 2013: Which Deep-V Boat Fits Your Needs?
Both the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2009 and the Chris-Craft Catalina 26 2013 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 26 2013 measures 26,5 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 3,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2009 at 23,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Chris-Craft Catalina 26 2013 tips the scales at 6 850 lbs - 2 366 lbs less than the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2009 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 26 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2009 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 26 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Chris-Craft Catalina 26 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 8 passengers and at 26,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeChris-Craft
MakeChris-Craft
ModelCatalina 23
ModelCatalina 26
Model Year2009
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 4 in. (2.54 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.64 m)
Beam - Meters2.54
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches100
Beam - Inches102
Bridge clearance - Detail9 ft. 2 in. (2.79 m)
Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 4 in. (1.63 m) With T-Top: 9 ft. 6 in. (2.9 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.79
Bridge clearance - Meters2.9
Bridge clearance - Inches110
Bridge clearance - Inches114
Deadrise21℃
Deadrise21℃
Draft [max] - Detail16 in.
Draft [max] - Detail17 in. (45.7 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.41
Draft [max] - Meters0.43
Draft [max] - Inches16
Draft [max] - Inches17
Weight - DetailWith T-top: 4,484 lbs. (2,034 kg)
Weight - DetailWithout Engines: 5,900 lbs. (2,757 kg) With Twin 150's: 6,850 lbs. (3,107 kg) With Single 350: 6,704 lbs. (3,040.8 kg)
Weight - kg2033.91
Weight - kg3107.11
Weight - lbs.4484
Weight - lbs.6850
Height - DetailWith T-Top: 10 ft. (3.05 m) Without T-Top: 6 ft.5 in. (1.98 m)
Height - Detail6 ft. 8 in. (2.03 m)
Height - Meters3.05
Height - Meters2.03
Height - Inches120
Height - Inches80
Length - Meters7.16
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet23
Length - Feet26.5
Length - Inches6
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail23 ft. 6 in. (7.16 m)
Length overall - Detail26 ft. 6 in. (8.08 m)
Length overall - Meters7.16
Length overall - Meters8.08
Length overall - Inches282
Length overall - Inches318
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail103 gal. (390 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail154 gal. (583 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters389.9
Fuel tank capacity - Liters582.95
Fuel tank capacity - Gal103
Fuel tank capacity - Gal154
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Operational Info
Water capacity13 gal. (49.2 l)
Water capacity20 gal. (75.7 l)