Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 boat specs
Chris-Craft
Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012
2012
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VS
Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 boat specs
Chris-Craft
Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018
2018
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Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 vs Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 vs Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 measures 26,8 feet overall (2018), giving it roughly 3,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 at 23,5 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 tips the scales at 5 580 lbs — 1 096 lbs less than the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 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.

The Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 tops out at 350 hp. Engine specs for the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 carries 103 gallons versus 81 gallons in the Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 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 Corsair 27 2018 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 26,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 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
Makenot available
ModelCatalina 23
Modelnot available
Model Year2012
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 4 in. (2.54 m)
Beam8.60 ft
Beam - Meters2.54
Beam - Meters2.62
Beam - Inches1
Beam - Inches103
Bridge clearance - Detail9 ft. 2 in. (2.79 m)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.79
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches11
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Deadrise21℃
Deadrisenot available
Draft [max] - Detail16 in. (40.6 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail1.50 ft
Draft [max] - Meters0.41
Draft [max] - Meters0.46
Draft [max] - Inches16
Draft [max] - Inches18
Weight - DetailWith T-top: 4,484 lbs. (2,034 kg)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg2033.91
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.4484
Weight - lbs.not available
Height - DetailWith T-Top: 10 ft. (3.05 m) Without T-Top: 6 ft. 5 in. (1.98 m)
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Meters3.05
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Inches12
Height - Inchesnot available
Length - Feet23.5
Length - Feet26.8
Length overall - Detail23 ft. 6 in. (7.16 m)
Length overall - Detail26.80 ft
Length overall - Meters7.16
Length overall - Meters8.17
Length overall - Inches282
Length overall - Inches322
Displacementnot available
Displacement5580.00 lbs
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail103 gal. (390 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters389.9
Fuel tank capacity - Liters306.62
Fuel tank capacity - Gal103
Fuel tank capacity - Gal81
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeinboard
Engine makenot available
Engine makeMercury
Engine modelnot available
Engine modelV8 6.2L B3 DTS
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower350 hp
Operational Info
Water capacity13 gal. (49.2 l)
Water capacity8.9
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower

Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 vs Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 or the Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018?
The Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 is the longer of the two at 26,8 feet overall. The Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 comes in at 23,5 feet, making it roughly 3,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 or the Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018?
For trailering, the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 has the edge at 4 484 lbs dry weight versus 5 580 lbs for the Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?
The Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 has a documented max rating of 350 hp. Engine specifications for the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 is certified for 8. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 measures 103" wide, compared to 1" for the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 or the Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018?
The Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 has the bigger tank at 103 gallons, versus 81 gallons on the Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018. That 22-gallon difference translates to roughly 66–110 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 and Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Chris-Craft Catalina 23 2012 and the Chris-Craft Corsair 27 2018 are built by Chris-Craft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.