Both the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Sun Tender 2012 and the Chris-Craft Lancer 20 2012 are deep-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Sun Tender 2012 measures 29,4 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 10,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Chris-Craft Lancer 20 2012 at 18,8 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Sun Tender 2012 tips the scales at 7 820 lbs - 4 907 lbs more than the Chris-Craft Lancer 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.

The Chris-Craft Lancer 20 2012 tops out at 220 hp. Engine specs for the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Sun Tender 2012 aren't listed - confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Sun Tender 2012 carries 220 gallons versus 34 gallons in the Chris-Craft Lancer 20 2012. 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 Catalina 29 Sun Tender 2012 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Chris-Craft Lancer 20 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Chris-Craft Catalina 29 Sun Tender 2012 could be the deciding factor.