Catalina 26
The Chris-Craft Catalina 23 is a 23-foot center-console sportfishing boat that was produced by the renowned Michigan-based yacht-building company Chris-Craft between the years of 2012 and 2017. This adaptable vessel boasts the signature Chris-Craft look and feel, with a flared bow, a tumblehome transom and a deluxe finish throughout, on a more compact layout for highly focused fishing and relaxation time on the water with your closest friends and family. Expect teak brightwork, steel fixtures and leather-effect upholstery throughout for a comfortable and stylish approach to fun on the water, while an offshore-optimized hull has been paired with a powerful outboard motor for a rugged riding experience.
A walk-around layout allows anglers to track their prey and guests to easily maneuver their way across the deck. Head to the bow-lounge to discover plush C-shaped seating that traces the contours of the bow itself as well as a diamond-stitched forward love-seat. Padded backrests, hidden storage under the cushions and an optional cocktail table give this area plenty of comfort and convenience, while a filler cushion can be used to transform this area into one lavish, full-beam daybed ideal for curling up with a good page-turner.
Head into the self-bailing cockpit to discover a wealth of fishing amenities such as flush rod holders in the gunwale, elevated rocket launchers, optional Radial outriggers, a 22.5-gallon baitwell with an aquarium-style lid aft of the helm seat, hidden rod boxes, a macerated in-deck fish-box, a wash-down hose, an optional stern-side lazarette and a transom lift-gate to port. This space also doubles as a breezy lounge area, with a trio of flip-up sofas to transom, starboard and port, padded coamings throughout, an optional cockpit table and a slide-out 36-quart cooler that can be used to keep drinks ice-cold. Head beyond the lift-gate to find a bathing platform well clear of the outboard with a swim ladder, a non-slip sole and an optional ski pylon for high-octane watersports.
The central helm is positioned behind a Solex windshield and underneath a T-Top with integrated lights for an all-weather piloting experience. At the heritage-inspired helm there are pleasing touches of quality including a teak trim, a steel wheel, cup-holders and a stylish leather-effect helm seat. On the dashboard there is room for cutting-edge navigational tools like Lenco trim-tab switches, VHF radio, digital throttles, a mounted compass, power-assist on the wheel and an 18-inch Raymarine display screen with bundled instrumentation like a chart-plotter and a fish-finder. This is also where you will find the controls for the yacht’s stereo system that is linked to a set of integrated speakers throughout the deck. Hidden within the helm console itself, meanwhile, is a spacious lower compartment with a Porta-Potti head and a tackle box.
Pick between a 300HP Mercury Verado outboard or a single 250HP Yamaha 4-stroke for highly competitive top speeds that should edge over the 45-knot mark. At a 28-knot cruising pace you can expect to stay out on the water all day long thanks to a 103-gallon fuel tank, while a deep-V fiberglass hull with a spiky 21-degree transom deadrise will always retain its poise in choppy waters.
