Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2009 vs Chris-Craft Corsair 36 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2009 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 7,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2009 at 29,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2009 tips the scales at 8 387 lbs — 8 371 lbs more than the Chris-Craft Corsair 36 2012 at 16 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 36 2012 tops out at 2 hp. Engine specs for the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2009 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 205 gallons in the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2009. 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 29 Express 2009 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 29 Express 2009 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 29 Express
ModelCorsair 36
Model Year2009
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam10 ft. 2 in. (3.1 m)
Beam12 ft. 6 in. (3.81 m)
Beam - Meters3.1
Beam - Meters3.81
Beam - Inches122
Beam - Inches15
Bridge clearance - Detail10 ft. (3 m)
Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 7 in. (2.3 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters3.05
Bridge clearance - Meters2.31
Bridge clearance - Inches12
Bridge clearance - Inches91
Deadrise21℃
Deadrise20℃
Draft [max] - Detail21 in. (61 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail31 in. (0.78 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.53
Draft [max] - Meters0.79
Draft [max] - Inches21
Draft [max] - Inches31
Weight - Detail7,179 lbs. (3,256 kg) With engine: 8,387 lbs. (3,804 kg)
Weight - Detail16,000 lbs. (7,257 kg)
Weight - kg3804.28
Weight - kg7257.47
Weight - lbs.8387
Weight - lbs.16
Height - Detail11 ft. 8 in. (3.5 m )
Height - Detail9 ft. 10 in. (2.97 m)
Height - Meters3.56
Height - Meters3
Height - Inches14
Height - Inches118
Length - Meters8.9
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet29
Length - Feet36.25
Length - Inches5
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail29 ft. 5 in. (8.9 m)
Length overall - Detail36 ft. 3 in. (11.05 m)
Length overall - Meters8.97
Length overall - Meters11.05
Length overall - Inches353
Length overall - Inches435
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)
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 - Detail205 gal. (776 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail286 gal. (1,083 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters776.01
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1082.63
Fuel tank capacity - Gal205
Fuel tank capacity - Gal286
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Drive typeOutboard - Twin
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 capacity30 gal. (113 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