Is there such a thing as the perfect Florida boat? Tough question considering the sheer volume of contenders worthy of this nautical Oscar. I still have sore feet and worn Sebagos from a day of pounding the docks at this year’s St. Pete boat show in search of an answer.
One true stand-out is the newest offering from Sarasota-based Chris-Craft, the brand new Catalina 28. Slotting neatly into the builder’s much-loved Catalina center-console line-up, between its super-popular 24 and 30 models, for me it checked an Amazon fulfillment center’s worth of boxes.
Since then, I’ve had the chance to spend a fun-filled morning pounding this classy, new 28-footer around Sarasota Bay close to Chris-Craft HQ, where they recently opened a new 70,000 square-foot factory to build it.
What’s the appeal? For me, 28 feet is just about the perfect size for day-boaters looking for a fun day out on the water with friends and family. Even at 28 feet, the Catalina offers comfy seating for at least 11, a well-equipped cockpit galley for feeding the crew, an enclosed head, and a generous nine-foot beam for stability and easy walking around.
And, working on the premise that life’s too short to own an ugly boat, this new Catalina is the Christie Brinkley of center consoles; stylish, classy, athletic and essentially ageless.
Yes, it keeps the signature Chris-Craft design cues; that gorgeous Carolina Flare bow, the elegant reverse transom, the wood trimmings. But it features a brand new wide-body hull design for a smoother ride and sportier handling.
It also has the power. The standard engine set-up is a pair of Mercury Verado 225 V8s. But you’d be foolish not to step-up to the twin 300-horsepower Verados with their easy-docking joystick control. Like to go fast? With the purring 300s, the Catalina 28 can fly at an eye-watering – literally – 60 mph.
Stepping aboard is a breeze, courtesy of the standard starboard-side “dive” door. Or make that the “labrador” door as it makes life so much easier for a four-legged Fido to step into the cockpit from the dock.
As with any good center console, there’s a sizable hardtop over the helm, though Chris-Craft likes to call it a “pilothouse” on account of the three-piece tempered glass windshield which gives plenty of protection from the elements. Perched at the helm, and gliding across Sarasota Bay at 50mph, there was hardly a whistle of wind.
And because being shaded from the sun is becoming more and more important for us Florida boaters, full marks to the 28’s power-deploying SureShade bimini top and Mediterranean-style canvas shade over the foredeck. It allows essentially the entire boat to be covered.
Of course, what hasn’t changed with this new 28 Catalina is Chris-Craft’s single-minded focus on quality and craftsmanship. This, to me, is what really sets it apart. All that diamond-quilted upholstery, shiny stainless fittings, wood accents and mile-deep paintwork in a choice of 12 colors. The wooden steering wheel wouldn’t look out of place in a vintage Jaguar.
Out on the water, the Catalina is a true joy to drive. And much of this is down to the standard-fit Seakeeper Ride active trim tabs on the lower transom. Acting like flaps on a Gulfstream jet, they can reduce roll by 42 per cent and quell fore-aft pitch by 53 per cent.
Punch forward the throttles from rest, and instead of the bow pointing up at Mars, the Seakeepers keep the nose down, reducing the drama while increasing forward visibility. Spin the wheel to go hard into a turn, and the flaps reduce the lean dramatically. They’re a revelation. And completely automatic.
Naturally, this level of Bentley-like quality, craftsmanship and painstaking attention to detail doesn’t come cheap. A base 28 is priced at around $340,000, though if you want the beefier engines, a Seakeeper gyro for no-roll stability at anchor, the SureShade bimini, and engines painted to match the hull, you’re looking at closer to $400,000.
Think of it as a small price to pay for the perfect Florida boat.
