Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Chris-Craft Catalina 26 2008 vs Chris-Craft Corsair 36 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Chris-Craft Catalina 26 2008 against a modified vee Chris-Craft Corsair 36 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Chris-Craft Corsair 36 2012 measures 36,3 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 10,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Chris-Craft Catalina 26 2008 at 26,0 feet (2008). At 59 lbs and 16 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The Chris-Craft Corsair 36 2012 tops out at 2 hp. Engine specs for the Chris-Craft Catalina 26 2008 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Chris-Craft Corsair 36 2012 carries 286 gallons versus 154 gallons in the Chris-Craft Catalina 26 2008. 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 36 2012 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Chris-Craft Catalina 26 2008 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Chris-Craft Corsair 36 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Chris-Craft Corsair 36 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 36,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Chris-Craft Catalina 26 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeChris-Craft
MakeChris-Craft
ModelCatalina 26
ModelCorsair 36
Model Year2008
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 8 in. (2.7 m)
Beam12 ft. 6 in. (3.81 m)
Beam - Meters2.64
Beam - Meters3.81
Beam - Inches104
Beam - Inches15
Deadrise21℃
Deadrise20℃
Draft [max] - Detail18 in. (45.2 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail31 in. (0.78 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.46
Draft [max] - Meters0.79
Draft [max] - Inches18
Draft [max] - Inches31
Weight - DetailWith T-top: 6,079 lbs. (2,757 kg) Without T-top: 5,900 lbs. (2,676 kg)
Weight - Detail16,000 lbs. (7,257 kg)
Weight - kg2676.19
Weight - kg7257.47
Weight - lbs.59
Weight - lbs.16
Length - Meters8.1
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet26
Length - Feet36.25
Length - Inches6
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail26 ft. 6 in. (8.1 m)
Length overall - Detail36 ft. 3 in. (11.05 m)
Length overall - Meters8.08
Length overall - Meters11.05
Length overall - Inches318
Length overall - Inches435
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 7 in. (2.3 m)
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.31
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches91
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail20 in. (0.50 m)
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.51
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [drive up] inches2
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail10 ft. 10 in. (3.30 m)
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Detail9 ft. 10 in. (2.97 m)
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Meters3
Height - Inchesnot available
Height - Inches118
Length [at waterline]not available
Length [at waterline]29 ft. 9 in. (9.06 m)
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]38 ft. 2 in. (11.63 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail154 gal. (583 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail286 gal. (1,083 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters582.95
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1082.63
Fuel tank capacity - Gal154
Fuel tank capacity - Gal286
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeI/O
Engine makenot available
Engine makeVolvo Penta
Engine modelnot available
Engine model8.1L GiC DP EVC
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower(2) 400 PSHP
Operational Info
Water capacity20 gal. (76 l)
Water capacity50 gal. (189 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail27 gal. (102 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters102.21
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal27