Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 vs Chris-Craft Launch 20 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 against a modified vee Chris-Craft Launch 20 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 Catalina 29 Express 2011 measures 29,4 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 10,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2012 at 18,8 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 tips the scales at 8 387 lbs — 5 474 lbs more than the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2012 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Chris-Craft Launch 20 2012 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 29 Express 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 29,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Chris-Craft Launch 20 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeChris-Craft
MakeChris-Craft
ModelCatalina 29 Express
ModelLaunch 2
Model Year2011
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam10 ft. 2 in. (3.1 m)
Beam7 ft. 11 in. (2.41 m)
Beam - Meters3.1
Beam - Meters2.41
Beam - Inches122
Beam - Inches95
Bridge clearance - Detail10 ft. (3 m)
Bridge clearance - Detail46.5 in. (1.18 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters3.05
Bridge clearance - Meters1.19
Bridge clearance - Inches12
Bridge clearance - Inches46.5
Deadrise21℃
Deadrise20℃
Draft [max] - Detail21 in. (61 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (86.4 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.53
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Inches21
Draft [max] - Inches34
Weight - Detail7,179 lbs. (3,256 kg) With engine: 8,387 lbs. (3,804 kg)
Weight - Detail2,913 lbs. (1,321 kg)
Weight - kg3804.28
Weight - kg1321.31
Weight - lbs.8387
Weight - lbs.2913
Height - Detail11 ft. 8 in. (3.5 m)
Height - Detail4 ft. 11 in. (1.47 m)
Height - Meters3.56
Height - Meters1.5
Height - Inches14
Height - Inches59
Length - Meters8.9
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet29.42
Length - Feet18.83
Length overall - Detail29 ft. 5 in. (8.9 m)
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 10 in. (5.74 m)
Length overall - Meters8.97
Length overall - Meters5.74
Length overall - Inches353
Length overall - Inches226
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
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)
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 - Detail34 gal. (129 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters776.01
Fuel tank capacity - Liters128.7
Fuel tank capacity - Gal205
Fuel tank capacity - Gal34
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Drive typeOutboard - Twin
Drive typeI/O
Operational Info
Water capacity30 gal. (113 l)
Water capacitynot available
Maximum peoplenot available
Maximum people7