Catalina 26
The Chris-Craft Catalina 27 is a 26-foot luxury powerboat that was produced by Michigan’s iconic yacht-builder Chris-Craft between the years of 2019 and 2021. Boasting a stylish center-console layout with a pilot-house feel and a walk-around deck, this adaptable watercraft offers enough versatility to be enjoyed by leisure cruisers and dedicated fishers alike. With a hull form inspired by the classic Chris-Craft models of the mid-century, including a flared bow, a tumblehome feel to aft, a demure gel-coating and deluxe cross-stitched upholstery throughout, the Catalina 27 proves that you can combine sophistication and practicality in a single vessel. A deep-V category-C fiberglass hull and powerful outboard engines, meanwhile, deliver a cutting-edge at-sea performance ideal for gliding along pristine coastlines or expansive inland lakes.
There’s plenty of room in this elongated bow-lounge, easily accessed via a pair of broad side passages. Expect to find padded coamings, plush hand-stitched upholstery with a leather-effect sheen and enough space for up to six lucky guests. A forward-facing single seat is joined by a V-shaped sofa tracing the lines of the gunwale, while a teak-lined pop-up table is on hand for drinks and meal service or can be covered by a filler cushion to turn this area into one vast sunpad. Hidden storage underneath the cushions, integrated cup-holders, stereo speakers dotted throughout and a hidden compartment hosting a private Tecma head accentuate the comfort and convenience out here.
The seagrass or teak-lined cockpit is a little more focused, and has been designed for dual use as either an aft-lounge or a high-octane fishing arena. Make use of the steel-framed rod-holders in the gunwale, the rocket launchers to transom, fish-floor storage in-deck, a port-side dive-door and a transom lift-gate to catch and deliver your prey, or simply retire to a sedate cross-stitched transom sofa for rest and relaxation. Behind the helm, meanwhile, there is an extra set of rod-holders along with a livewell with an aquarium lid and back-lighting.
A double-width piloting sofa lined in cushioned upholstery faces a modern and centrally-positioned helm station located directly beneath a hard-top and behind a wrap-around, metal-framed windscreen for protection from the elements. You can expect a mahogany-lined and power-assisted steering wheel up here, alongside trim-tab switches, a 12-inch Garmin touch-screen with bundled instrumentation, digital throttles, a depth-finder and the controls for the yacht’s stereo system.
To stern you will discover two monolithic outboard engines ready for pulsating high speeds likely to outpace many a Marlin. Options include twin 200HP Yamaha F200 outboards or a pair of 225HP Mercury Verado motors, with top speeds set to hit 45 knots at full-throttle and steady cruising speeds of around 25 knots. A 154-gallon fuel tank, meanwhile, will help you stay out on the water all day long with plenty left in reserve.
