Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2009 vs Chris-Craft Roamer 36 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2009 vs Chris-Craft Roamer 36 2005 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 Roamer 36 2005 measures 36,0 feet overall (2005), giving it roughly 7,0 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 — 6 565 lbs more than the Chris-Craft Roamer 36 2005 at 1 822 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Chris-Craft Roamer 36 2005 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 Roamer 36 2005 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Chris-Craft Roamer 36 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 36,0 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
ModelRoamer 36
Model Year2009
Model Year2005
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam10 ft. 2 in. (3.1 m)
Beam12 ft. 6 in. (3.80 m)
Beam - Meters3.1
Beam - Meters3.81
Beam - Inches122
Beam - Inches15
Bridge clearance - Detail10 ft. (3 m)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters3.05
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches12
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Deadrise21℃
Deadrise17°
Draft [max] - Detail21 in. (61 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (88.9 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.53
Draft [max] - Meters0.89
Draft [max] - Inches21
Draft [max] - Inches35
Weight - Detail7,179 lbs. (3,256 kg) With engine: 8,387 lbs. (3,804 kg)
Weight - Detail18,220 lbs. (8,265 kg)
Weight - kg3804.28
Weight - kg8264.45
Weight - lbs.8387
Weight - lbs.1822
Height - Detail11 ft. 8 in. (3.5 m )
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Meters3.56
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Inches14
Height - Inchesnot available
Length - Meters8.9
Length - Meters11.05
Length - Feet29
Length - Feet36
Length - Inches5
Length - Inches3
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
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail205 gal. (776 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail286 gal. (1,082.6 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters776.01
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1082.63
Fuel tank capacity - Gal205
Fuel tank capacity - Gal286
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typenot available
Drive typeOutboard - Twin
Drive typeI/O
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standardVolvo 8.1 Gi, 375 hp (280 kw)
Operational Info
Water capacity30 gal. (113 l)
Water capacityFresh water: 54.5 gal. (206.1 l) Gray water tank: 25 gal. (94.6 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail30 gal. (113.6 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters113.56
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal3