Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 vs Chris-Craft Launch 28 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 vs Chris-Craft Launch 28 2012 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 at 29,7 ft versus Chris-Craft Launch 28 2012 at 27,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024 tips the scales at 8 680 lbs — 559 lbs more than the Chris-Craft Launch 28 2012 at 8 121 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 375 hp, the Chris-Craft Launch 28 2012 has a 75-hp advantage over the Chris-Craft Catalina 28 2024's 300-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 16 gal and 15 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
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 28 2012 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 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 28 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
Measurements / Dimensions
Length overall - Detail29.70 ft
Length overall - Detail27 ft. 10 in. (8.48 m)
Length - Feet29.7
Length - Feet27.83
Length overall - Meters9.05
Length overall - Meters8.48
Length overall - Inches356
Length overall - Inches334
Beam9.00 ft
Beam10 ft. (3.05 m)
Beam - Meters2.74
Beam - Meters3.05
Beam - Inches108
Beam - Inches12
Draft [max] - Detail3.00 ft
Draft [max] - DetailSingle Engine: 25 in. (89 cm) Twin Engine: 33.5 in. (85 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Inches36
Draft [max] - Inches33.5
Displacement8680.00 lbs
Displacementnot available
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 6 in. (1.34 m)
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters1.37
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches54
Deadrisenot available
Deadrise20℃
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] - DetailSingle Engine: 17 in. (48.3 cm) Twin Engine: 20 in. (50.8 cm)
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.51
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [drive up] inches2
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - DetailDry: 7,500 lbs. (3,402 kg) Trailerable: 8,121 lbs. (3,684 kg)
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg3683.62
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.8121
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail8 ft. 6 in. (2.29 m)
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Detail6 ft. 5 in. (1.96 m)
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Meters1.96
Height - Inchesnot available
Height - Inches77
Length [at waterline]not available
Length [at waterline]23 ft. 1 in. (6.98 m)
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]29 ft. 8 in. (9 m)
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Gal16
Fuel tank capacity - Gal15
Fuel tank capacity - Liters605.67
Fuel tank capacity - Liters567.81
Engine makeMercury Verado
Engine makeVolvo Penta
Horsepower300 hp
Horsepower375 PSHP
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 model8.1L Gi
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail150 gal. (568 l)
Fuel typenot available
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Operational Info
Water capacity13
Water capacity35 gal. (132 l)
Boat typePower
Boat typenot available
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail10 gal. (38 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters37.85
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal1
General Boat Info
Makenot available
MakeChris-Craft
Modelnot available
ModelLaunch 28
Model Yearnot available
Model Year2012
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typenot available
Hull typeModified Vee