Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 boat specs
Chris-Craft
Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024
2024
View full specs →
VS
Chris-Craft Launch 20  2013 boat specs
Chris-Craft
Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013
2013
View full specs →

Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 vs Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 vs Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 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 Catalina 28 2024 measures 29,7 feet overall (2024), giving it roughly 10,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 at 18,8 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 tips the scales at 8 680 lbs — 5 767 lbs more than the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 at 2 913 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 has a 75-hp advantage over the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013's 225-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 carries 34 gallons versus 16 gallons in the Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024. 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 Catalina 28 2024 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 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 28 2024 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 29,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
Measurements / Dimensions
Length overall - Detail29.70 ft
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 10 in. (5.74 m)
Length - Feet29.7
Length - Feet18.83
Length overall - Meters9.05
Length overall - Meters5.74
Length overall - Inches356
Length overall - Inches226
Beam9.00 ft
Beam7 ft. 11 in. (2.41 m)
Beam - Meters2.74
Beam - Meters2.41
Beam - Inches108
Beam - Inches95
Draft [max] - Detail3.00 ft
Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (86.4 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Inches36
Draft [max] - Inches34
Displacement8680.00 lbs
Displacementnot available
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Detail46.5 in. (1.18 m)
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters1.19
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches46.5
Deadrisenot available
Deadrise20℃
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (43.2 cm)
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.43
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [drive up] inches17
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail2,913 lbs. (1,321 kg)
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg1321.31
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.2913
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Detail4 ft. 11 in. (1.47 m)
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Meters1.5
Height - Inchesnot available
Height - Inches59
Length [at waterline]not available
Length [at waterline]15 ft. 6 in. (4.72 m)
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]20 ft. 2 in. (6.15 m)
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Gal16
Fuel tank capacity - Gal34
Fuel tank capacity - Liters605.67
Fuel tank capacity - Liters128.7
Engine makeMercury Verado
Engine makeVolvo
Horsepower300 hp
Horsepower225 hp
Drive typeoutboard
Drive typeI/O
Engine 2 Engine MakeMercury Verado
Engine 2 Engine Makenot available
Engine 2 Engine ModelVerado 4 Stroke - DTS
Engine 2 Engine Modelnot available
Engine 2 Horsepower300 hp
Engine 2 Horsepowernot available
Engine 2 Drive Typeoutboard
Engine 2 Drive Typenot available
Engine modelnot available
Engine model4.3L Gxi V6
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail34 gal. (129 l)
Fuel typenot available
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Operational Info
Head1
Headnot available
Water capacity13
Water capacitynot available
Boat typePower
Boat typenot available
Maximum peoplenot available
Maximum people7
General Boat Info
Makenot available
MakeChris-Craft
Modelnot available
ModelLaunch 2
Model Yearnot available
Model Year2013
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typenot available
Hull typeModified Vee

Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 vs Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 or the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013?
The Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 is the longer of the two at 29,7 feet overall. The Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 comes in at 18,8 feet, making it roughly 10,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 or the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013?
For trailering, the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 has the edge at 2 913 lbs dry weight versus 8 680 lbs for the Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024. 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.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 tops out at 225 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 is certified for 7. 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 Catalina 28 2024 measures 108" wide, compared to 95" for the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013. 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 28 2024 or the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013?
The Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 has the bigger tank at 34 gallons, versus 16 gallons on the Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024. That 18-gallon difference translates to roughly 54–90 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 and Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 and the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2013 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.