Chris Craft Catalina 29

Chris Craft's WUV

There's an interesting downshift gathering pace right around the country. The time-poor are looking for a quick boating fix and, when not thinking of a share-boating arrangement, jumping aboard simple paired-down turnkey dayboats. This isn't evident in the statistics, mind you, as they point to boats getting bigger and bigger. But I see it with my own eyes and on my local Sydney waterways all the time. And doubtless some dayboats are second boats for those with waterfront homes?

I mention this because the boat-to-go set is sure to like the look of Chris Craft's Catalina 29. Looks, it should be noted, are very important for the downshifting boatowner with the brass to buy something much bigger. Such buyers will want a boat that says something about them, suggestions like: look at my fine taste; I'm an admirer of classic boat lines; an aesthete; and/or an athlete...

There is certainly something sporty about the Catalina 29, a centre console with a serious fishing fitout and powerful lines. Yet, I'm told that the lion's share of interest hasn't been from anglers but the boat-to-go set that one increasingly sees parading about the anchorages on centre consoles such as the Hydra-Sports and Boston Whalers.

You may scoff at the idea that such craft will be used for soft-core boating - catching some rays, taking a swim and high-tailing it home before the Sunday crowd - there's no reason why dayboaters should exclude themselves from a smooth ride.

This thinking is no different to the philosophy that makes SUVs so popular on city roads. In fact, Chris Craft calls its Catalina 29 a WUV as in water utility vehicle. The American classic boatbuilder says its statistics reveal that less than 50 per cent of centre console owners use their boats for sport fishing. Therefore, family outings, cruising and picnics ashore are as much a part of the Catalina's design brief as chasing fish on the wide blue yonder.

EYE CANDY
For pleasure boating, the Catalina 29 has professionally upholstered seats with dual-density foam cushioning, custom Captain's high-backed helm chairs, a folding rear lounge, drinkholders and grabrails where you need them, an upmarket Tecma toilet in a walk-in console 'cabin' with sink and swish bathroom fittings, iceboxes with a 12V fridge plate for carrying provisions and not bait, a windlass for push-button anchoring and a classy snap-in swim ladder for the obligatory dog paddle to shore. You could easily add a gas barbie if you wanted.

Fitted with twin four-stroke 250hp Yamaha outboards spinning 21in stainless steel props, the Chris Craft Catalina 29 wasn't hanging around. But it's not how fast you go, remember, it's about doing it in style. And this is a very pretty boat, with plenty of Carolina flare in the entry, a nice flowing sheer line, yacht-like teak accents courtesy of the optional Heritage pack, and a Carolina blue hull colour for extra eye candy.

To which you should add a sweet ride from a self-draining, deep-vee hull with 21º of deadrise. Should you want to wet a line when the weather is compliant then the fishing bits are many - everything from rodholders and livewells to padded coamings and a T-top from which you can mount outrigger poles.

BACKGROUND
Although there are just three centre consoles in the new Catalina range, there are plans to expand the family up to a 36-footer and introduce new express fishing/family models.

Meantime, the Catalina 29 seen here is the flagship. It's also a boat that wouldn't look silly flying a burgee from a flagstaff. In case you are unaware, Chris Craft was established in 1874 and its timber runabouts have been the boats of choice for John F. Kennedy, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and more.

While the boatbuilder works with fibreglass these days instead of timber like the good ol' days, the Catalina 29 has a classic-boat look. Along with the flared bow is some traditional tumblehome at the transom. What you can't see are the impressive building methods: a one-piece stringer system and liner, with vinylester resin and unidirectional fibreglass; Kevlar reinforcement on the strakes as well as the keel and transom; and closed cell foam for sound deadening and positive flotation.

The hatches on the Catalina 29 come from closed moulds, thereby saving weight and adding to the boat's fine finish. For strength, the centre console is fixed with machine bolts to aluminium backing plates, while the T-top is mounted on a sturdy powder-coated aluminium frame and through-bolted to the hull. The boat also has serious electrical circuits including 12V breakers that are nicely protected but accessible in the walk-in 'cabin'.

All the deck gear is through-bolted and beefy 316-grade stainless steel, including the hinges, catches and lovely big cleats, are what one might expect on much bigger craft. Meanwhile, the interior mouldings have radial edges and curved surfaces to prevent bumps at sea - or on the bay or harbour - with internal padded coamings and moulded toe kicks to assist with fishing or general deck work.

Underfloor you'll find a big hatch to the engineering space with double bilge pumps, transducer mounting, seacock for the livewell pickup, Surflo and Baitmaster (top brands) deck and tank pumps, macerator for the head and twin fuel filters. I also found the battery charger and earth bar, and a bunch of wiring terminals with snaplock joins living in the wet area. The drainage grooves around the hatch could have done with a plumbing line so when it rains, the water doesn't splatter around the battery charger.

However, by and large, the engineering is impressive on this saltwater boat. And with a massive 828lt fuel capacity you can really go places if that is your charter. For this purpose, the Catalina 29 would make a neat island hopper and you could carry plenty of camping gear aboard. Water capacity is a handy 117lt, thereby allowing dayboaters to enjoy a post-swim deck shower before heading home.

ROOM TO SWING A CAT
There's room to swing a cat or a line, or three on the Catalina 29. The bow can be turned into a casting platform or a lunch setting for four around a moulded table on a chic Italian pedestal base. Dry storage exists under the seats. But lift the moulded bench seat on the forward edge of the centre console and you will find step-down access to an even bigger dry hold - the boat's upmarket WC - where you can stash the boat's plush cushions when in fishing or diving modes.

A cut above your average dayboat head, the Catalina 29 has upmarket Tecma loo, a Corian counter and sink, trick bathroom fittings and, just to remind you of the fishing intent, twin Plastimo tackle drawers.

Back outdoors, full-length padded coamings trace the cockpit, and the gunwales, being nice and wide, double as seats. The fold-down seat at the transom is a neat addition when commuting, while the transom includes a teak outboard platform with drop-in swim ladder.

The are five rodholders, two long underfloor fishwells, four underfloor storage holds, and storage under the T-top, which could do with a rocket launcher and outriggers if you are really keen on your fishing.

Meanwhile, the console is a double-width number with a leaning post for two that incorporates a bait-rigging centre with sink, raw-water washdown, knife holders and a seriously decent livewell that might double as a party icebox or dive-gear storage. A fridge is incorporated under the helm seat, too.

DRIVE TIME
The wide console has a flush-mounted Raymarine E80, Kenwood stereo, twin sets of gauges for the Yamaha outboards that relay fuel consumption as well as the usual, plus Lenco trim tabs, windlass control, and switches for lights and pumps and so on. A stainless steel wheel with crank knob, twin throttles and windlass complete the controls.

Under the footrest and in a hatch with a dicky cover are the boat's master battery switches. Overhead, you get a decent amount of shade from the T-top where floodlights are mounted. There's a storage net for lifejackets and/or wet-weather gear. Fortunately, we had fair weather but a testing sea for the demo drive.

When running hard and fast offshore, I thought the Catalina 29 was a bit flighty. It felt light in the bow, which isn't surprising, as the underfloor hatches were empty. But it was smooth and really comfortable at moderate speeds of 20 to 24kts at 3000 to 3500rpm with full outboard trim. And it was wonderfully dry.

The boat planes at 11kts at 2500rpm, produces a smooth flat-water cruise of 29 to 30kts at 4000rpm, a maximum cruise of 40kts at 5000rpm, and a top speed of 47.6kts at 5900rpm. Thus, the Catalina 29 is a fast fish market or restaurant runner should you put the throttles to the dash.

But at those more moderate cruise speeds the Catalina 29 looks dapper, feels dignified and remains dry. This is what you want from a dayboat with tickets on cruising the harbour, bays and big rivers, maybe venturing to a nearby port, and playing the part of the commuter. A dayboat to go, indeed.

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