Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 boat specs
Chris-Craft
Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011
2011
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VS
Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008 boat specs
Chris-Craft
Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008
2008
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Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 vs Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008 — Which Modified Vee Fits Your Needs?

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 and the Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008 are modified vee designs with fiberglass construction — 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 Roamer 40 2008 measures 43,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 15,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 at 27,8 feet (2011). At 75 lbs and 27 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 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 40 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 43,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 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
ModelLaunch 28
ModelRoamer 4
Model Year2011
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam10 ft. (3.05 m)
Beam14 ft. 0 in. (4.27 m)
Beam - Meters3.05
Beam - Meters4.27
Beam - Inches12
Beam - Inches168
Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 6 in. (1.34 m)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters1.37
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches54
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Deadrise20℃
Deadrise20℃
Draft [drive up] - DetailSingle Engine: 17 in. (48.3 cm) Twin Engine: 20 in. (50.8 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.51
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches2
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - DetailSingle Engine: 25 in. (89 cm) Twin Engine: 33.5 in. (85 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (96.5 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Meters0.97
Draft [max] - Inches33.5
Draft [max] - Inches38
Weight - Detail7,500 lbs. (3,402 kg)
Weight - Detail27,000 lbs. (12,247 kg)
Weight - kg3401.94
Weight - kg12246.98
Weight - lbs.75
Weight - lbs.27
Height - Detail6 ft. 5 in. (1.96 m)
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Meters1.96
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Inches77
Height - Inchesnot available
Length [at waterline]23 ft. 1 in. (6.98 m)
Length [at waterline]not available
Length - Meters8.48
Length - Meters13.26
Length - Feet27.83
Length - Feet43
Length [over all with swim platform]29 ft. 8 in. (9 m)
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length overall - Detail27 ft. 10 in. (8.48 m)
Length overall - Detail43 ft. 6 in. (13.26 m)
Length overall - Meters8.48
Length overall - Meters13.26
Length overall - Inches334
Length overall - Inches522
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches6
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail150 gal. (568 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail400 gal. (1,514 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters567.81
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1514.16
Fuel tank capacity - Gal15
Fuel tank capacity - Gal4
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standardVolvo IPS 500, 370 hp
Operational Info
Water capacity35 gal. (132 l)
Water capacity95 gal. (360 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail10 gal. (38 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail35 gal. (132 l)
Holding tank capacity - Liters37.85
Holding tank capacity - Liters132.49
Holding tank capacity - Gal1
Holding tank capacity - Gal35

Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 vs Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 or the Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008?
The Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008 is the longer of the two at 43,0 feet overall. The Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 comes in at 27,8 feet, making it roughly 15,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 or the Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008?
For trailering, the Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008 has the edge at 27 lbs dry weight versus 75 lbs for the Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008 is certified for 13. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008 measures 168" wide, compared to 12" for the Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 or the Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008?
The Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 has the bigger tank at 15 gallons, versus 4 gallons on the Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008. That 11-gallon difference translates to roughly 33–55 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 and Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Chris-Craft Launch 28 2011 and the Chris-Craft Roamer 40 2008 are built by Chris-Craft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.