Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 vs Chris-Craft Speedster 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 vs Chris-Craft Speedster 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 Catalina 29 Express 2011 measures 29,4 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 27,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Chris-Craft Speedster 2005 at 2,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Express 2011 tips the scales at 8 387 lbs — 8 102 lbs more than the Chris-Craft Speedster 2005 at 285 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 Speedster 2005 caps at 6. 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 Speedster 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeChris-Craft
MakeChris-Craft
ModelCatalina 29 Express
ModelSpeedster
Model Year2011
Model Year2005
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 - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters3.05
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches12
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
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 - Detail2,850 lbs. (1,293 kg)
Weight - kg3804.28
Weight - kg1292.74
Weight - lbs.8387
Weight - lbs.285
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 - Meters6.15
Length - Feet29.42
Length - Feet2
Length overall - Detail29 ft. 5 in. (8.9 m)
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 2 in. (6.15 m)
Length overall - Meters8.97
Length overall - Meters6.15
Length overall - Inches353
Length overall - Inches242
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail17.5 in. (44.5 cm)
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.46
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [drive up] inches17.5
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches2
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 - 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 typenot available
Drive typeOutboard - Twin
Drive typeI/O
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standardVolvo 4.3 l Gxi MPI V6, 225 hp (168 kw)
Operational Info
Water capacity30 gal. (113 l)
Water capacitynot available