280-281 Catalina

The 280/281 Catalina formed the backbone of Chris Craft’s presence in the small family cruiser market for many years. She was inexpensive to buy and easily maintained, and her interior provided berths for six long before the advent of today’s V-drive, mid-cabin designs. Hull construction was solid fiberglass, and a generous beam resulted in a fairly roomy boat for a 28-footer. The 28 Catalina was offered in two versions: The single-engine 280 model and the twin-engine 281 version. The single-level cabin accommodations are arranged with the galley and head aft, next to the companionway where they’re convenient to the cockpit. Large cabin windows provide excellent natural lighting and ventilation, and there’s plenty of storage under the settee and berths. Performance with a single 230hp gas inboard is 17–18 knots at cruise and 24–26 knots top. With twin inboards, speeds increase to around 21 knots at cruise and 30 knots top. Note that the 280 carries a 100-gallon fuel capacity while the 281 has 125 gallons. Additional features include wide side decks, good engine access, and a swim platform. A sistership, the 291 Catalina Bridge, is basically the same boat with a small two-person flybridge.