Boat tests for the 206LS Bow Rider

BOATTEST.com test on the Caravelle 206LS Bow Rider

The 206 Bow Rider has been tested by BOATTEST.com. 

To see this online boat test click here.

MADE TO LAST

Caravelle stands the traditional bowrider

on solid construction with the 206LS

By: GO Boating Test Team

            When a boat dealer shares an honest opinion about a boat with us, we listen.  In this case, we were chatting with a dealer in the Los Angeles area while picking up a Caravelle 206LS Bowrider for a test.  He had several years of experience selling a number of different brands of boats and was more than willing to share some of his insights about Caravelle.  While some of what he said smacked of practiced sales pitch lingo, he also tossed out more than a few noteworthy quips.

            The comment that stuck the most was that he said he has had very few customer complaints or service issues with the Caravelle boats he has sold, which obviously impacts his bottom line.  Fewer problems mean he can run a leaner service crew and save money by not having to continually fix boats he’s already been paid for.  We liked the sound of that.

            All talk aside, we were looking forward to putting the 206 through the motions.  We typically end up testing boats in a way that sets them up for flattering results.  Big power and light load are par for the course.  In this case, however, our test boat was equipped with a modest engine and we had three people aboard, instead of the typical two.

            Due to this boat’s size and price point, it fits nicely into the top tier of the entry-level category of craft, and we were glad to be testing it in as close to real world conditions as we could ask for.

 NO WOOD HERE

           Caravelle likes to point out that the 206, like all of its boats, is 100 percent free of wood in its construction.  Wood is great construction material and has plenty of excellent qualities – cost effective being one of the best. The potential to rot, however, is not one of the best qualities of wood.

            While many manufacturers still use wood in their boats with great success, be it specially pressure-treated plywood for use as a deck material or lightweight balsa wood totally encapsulated in fiberglass and resin for use as a support stringer, we have to admit that the wood-free moniker does give Caravelle a selling point that many others can’t honestly claim.

            Caravelle uses a material called Nida-Core in most places you would typically find wood in a boat’s construction.  Nida-Core is a synthetic honeycomb material that has a number of advantages over wood and can be found in the construction of automobiles, surfboards and even satellite dishes.  Because it’s a synthetic product, however, we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that it’s more expensive than wood.

            On the outside of the hull you’ll find a coat of ArmorGuard, a blister resistant barrier that comes with a one-year blister warranty.  On top of that is ArmorFlex, a flexible gelcoat designed to resist stress cracks.  Last is a coat of Armorcote, which is designed to produce a fade resistant shine for accent colors. 

IN THE BOAT

             The interior of the 206 is all it needs to be.  The seating is comfortable and there’s plenty of creative storage.  Both outboard bow seats lift on hinges to reveal storage – carpeted dry storage to starboard and a molded-in cooler with a drain to port.  Above the seats are a pair of full-length stainless grabrails—all of the hardware on this boat is stainless steel.  The bow filler cushions come standard and create plenty of room for a couple of kids to take a nap.

            Between the matching helm bucket seats is a deep ski locker with a good amount of space.  Lining the locker is an expanded rubber pad—nice little touch.  The seats themselves are quite the little marvels of engineering.  Called SofTech bucket seats, each features a number of component designs to create a comfortable ride—we especially like that fact that both had flip-up bolsters.

            The helm is sporty and simple and has the customary set of gauges, including a standard digital depth sounder.  On the port side is a deep glove box big enough for at least a change of clothes for two or three people.

            Wrapped around the console is one of the sturdiest windshield we’ve come across.  Each side of the windshield features solid construction around a curved piece of thick tempered safety glass.  In between is a swinging section that completes a walk-through.  While there are plenty of grab rails positioned throughout the boat, the top edge of the windshield itself serves as another solid support—and no amount of shaking is going to work it loose.

            The elbow stern bench is comfortable and has more storage under the seats.  Above and aft is decent sunpad, but it’s not huge.  The pad lifts aft and the bench swings forward to offer very good access to the engine—there’s another storage area to port that is blocked from the engine by a snap-in canvas wall, which can be removed for greater access to the engine.

            To starboard is a walk-through leading to the transom, which has a rather small integrated swim step.  We’re told that the top-selling option is the extended swim platform, which will run you an additional $1,350 (and is worth every penny – save yourself a step and money and have it installed by the factory instead of later by the dealer). 

PERFORMANCE

             We loaded our two passengers and one tester during the surprisingly calm day out on Castaic Lake, which is about 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles.  The lake’s elevation is 1,055 feet, so we didn’t expect to experience much in the way of power loss due to altitude.  Our test engine was a carbureted 220 hp 5.0GL Volvo Penta SX spinning a 21-inch-pitch aluminum three-blade prop.  In addition to the three of us and light gear we had a little over a quarter of a tank of fuel (about 10 gallons). 

            The 21-inch-pitch propeller demonstrated its presence right away with a time to plane just over 4 seconds and a 0 to 30 mph time just under 7 seconds.  While our top-end was impressive at a solid 50 mph at wide-open-throttle, we were only running at 4, 700 rpm (the Volvo 5.0 is rated for top-end performance between 4,800 and 5,000 rpm).  A 23-inch prop would have likely given us a more impressive top-end, but it would have probably taken our hole-shot numbers down a notch or two.

            Anything above our cruising speed of about 33 mph yielded a lot of noise from the engine, which climbed to 97 dB at top speed.  We would suggest that Caravelle take an extra stop by insulating the engine compartment with some sound-dampening material, which would probably quiet things down nicely.

            The water was so calm that we couldn’t really get much of an impression of how this boat would handle the chop.  But we were able to blow through a few sets of wakes put out by the wakeboard boat, and the 206 cut through them more than it rode over them.  We feel comfortable saying this boat has the weight and the deadrise (18 degrees) to comfortably cleave through moderate chop.

            The 220hp Volvo is near the low end of the available power for this boat, but we still had plenty of fun whipping through the turns.  The boat held its speed in all but our most aggressive maneuvers.  In the really hard corners, however, some speed would be scrubbed off.  With the ability to go up another 80hp, serious performance in the corners won’t be a problem for the boater who really needs it.      

OVERALL 

            After our day on the water we found the 206 to be a competent boat.  We’ve been on faster boats with more stuff, but this one seemed to do everything well instead of just a few things really well while ignoring everything else.  With the addition of a few options (particularly the swim platform, and probably a little more power), you’re probably looking at about $32,500 or more out the door for this boat, which we would put at the higher end of the entry-level market.

            We’d recommend this boat for someone who’s certain he or she wants this exact kind of boat for a few years before trading up, or for the person who has already had a less expensive small runabout who’s looking to move up to something with better construction and better resale value.

Boat Test: Caravelle 206LS Bow Rider- By Dave Mull

Lakeland Boating Magazine

        Caravelle’s new 206LS Bow Rider offers a ton of room on the inside while managing to avoid that “beasty” look of some other bowriders of the same size.  When you see it sitting on the trailer, it’s hard to believe this boat is better than 20 feet long with an 8 ½-foot beam.  Cool lines and graphics make the boat look sleek and sporty, while the MerCruiser 5.0L ensures that is performs that way.

          “This is the ideal summer home type of boat,” said Al Ostrow, owner of Ostrow Marine in Spring Lake, Illinois, where we ran the test on a sultry summer morning.  “It seats 10 adults and appeals to those who want something more stylish than a deckboat.”

          Our test on the smallish Lake Nippersink proved that this boat lives up to its looks.  It easily topped 50 mph while delivering a smooth, stable ride.  It also has those “little things” that show Caravelle knows what a pleasure boater wants and appreciates.  For instance, the 206 has two insulated coolers with drains that can be kept clean with minimal effort.  If you’re after a high-maintenance boat, look elsewhere.  Another nice touch is the snap-in cockpit carpeting.  And on hot days, the colorful Sunbrella acrylic bimini top provides shade using a material that won’t fade.  But the beauty is more than skin-deep.  Looking at the hull and furniture construction, it’s apparent that Caravelle builds these boats to last a long, long time.

          Caravelle points to quality construction and its Total Composite System process that incorporates Armorguard,  Armorflex and Armorcote for a glistening exterior surface over Knytex, a multidirectional fiberglass material found in some offshore racing boats.  Using this material helps keep the boat light in weight.  Plus, there’s no wood in the hull.  The 206 also boasts through-bolted stainless steel hardware.

          The comfortable furniture features composite seat bases and heavy-duty 32-ounce expanded vinyl with a stain resistant topcoat.  The cushioning is dense foam made to hold it’s shape, and it’s treated with a biocide to thwart mold and mildew.  Stainless steel staples add to the furniture’s longevity.

          The 206 is the newest model for this Georgia-based company, which has been in business for more than 35 years and also manufactures the Interceptor and Sea Hawk brands.  Other bowriders in the Caravelle line include 17-, 18-, and 23-footers.

           What we immediately noticed about the 206 was just how much usable space Caravelle engineers managed to put on the inside.  With narrow gunwales, the cockpit, sunpad, and bowrider area have almost all of the boat’s width.  It’s just plain roomy, and does indeed deliver the interior feel of a deckboat.  But its performance, especially when it came to maneuverability, was better than any deckboat we’ve ever tested.

          The layout is designed to give a lot of people places to sit.  We envisioned a big family enjoying time on the water, towing one another around on anything from waterskis to wakeboards or tubes.

          One great feature is the transom access on the starboard side.  That means you can go from the cockpit to the water without siding over the sundeck, which sunbathers will appreciate when a soaking-wet swimmer wants to come back aboard.  This access path takes up a little room, leaving ample space for a couple of people to stretch out and relax on the aft sunpad.

          Directly in front of the sunpad is an L-shaped sofa with room for four or five passengers.  The bow area can take another four seated riders and has a filler cushion so it can be converted into another big sunpad.  The filler cushion stows easily next to the engine compartment, under the sunpad.  Incidentally, this sunpad with sofa in the front does an excellent job of deadening engine sound.

          The boat features storage compartments for wakeboards or skis right down the middle of the cockpit.  There’s also storage for towels and PFDs up in the bow area.  Other bulky stuff can go next to the engine. 

          Bucket seats for the driver and a shotgun passenger are standard, and our test boat had an optional feature that converted them into a leaning bolster of sorts.  The bottom seat cushion flips up against the seat back.  This is a nice feature, as drivers have a natural inclination to stand when on a lake crowded with weekend boaters and some states will give you a ticket if you stand and lean against the seat back.

          Not that you would need to use the leaning bolster to drive this boat safely.  It gets on plane with almost zero bow rise, which means you can sit in the cushy bucket seat and not lose any vision over the front of the boat.

          This easy on-plane performance stems from the hull design, which incorporates what Caravelle terms “XPV,” short for “extended running surface, pad bottom, deep V.”   Ostrow pointed out how the extended hull actually goes farther back than the sterndrive.  This extra hull surface behind the drive works almost like trim tabs would to keep the bow down.  Ostrow also demonstrated how little throttle one needs to pop up on plane.

          “You sure don’t need to put the hammer down.” He said, pushing the throttle about halfway forward and letting the boat climb on plane just as the tach passed 2000 rpm.

          Not only does this boat get on plane immediately, it stays there at low speeds, making it perfect for towing youngsters safely.  We had it on plane between 11 and 15 mph.  At this low speed, it creates a nicely peaked wake that wakeboarders will appreciate.  At higher speeds, the wake flattened out, which most skiers and tubers would favor.

          The 206 has several other notable performance features.  We topped out at 50.2 mph with the Mercury 5.0-liter engine paired with an Alpha 1 sterndrive.  And this long, wide boat was extremely stable at this speed.

          One of the things that’s apparent about Caravelle is the company’s commitment to getting peak performance out of its boats.  The website shows the results of testing each boat with different power and figuring out which prop would work best with each powerplant.  Not all companies do this.

          Ostrow also demonstrated how easily this boat turns, the deep-V holding to the water even when turning while wide open. “This is an ideal boat for the small lake where you need the maneuverability.” Ostrow noted.

          We think the folks who prefer the wide-open spaces of the Great Lakes will like it, too.  And if the big water churns up angrily, you can easily tow it to calmer inland waters and still spend the day boating.  At less than 3,000 pounds, this big package would hook up favorably to a whole lot of different tow vehicles.

Caravelle 206 Bow rider

by Randy Vance - Boating life magazine

You can buy a more expensive 20-footer than Caravelle's 206, or a cheaper one. But you probably couldn't get a better one for the money. In the showroom, you won't be able to tell it's gelcoated with a special blister-resistant resin but you will see the artfully smooth luster of the finish. You also won't be able to see that Caravelle builds with knitted bi-axial, tri-axial and quadra-axial fiberglass fabrics instead of less-durable woven roving. But in our test drive we could feel the solid hull that resulted from the process.

In a stiff wind and a heavy chop, the 206 took a solid stance and creased the waves with ease. In tight turns, it tracked beautifully. In excessive turns, it slid gently, predictably, spilling off necessary speed but holding the course we chose -- exactly as an emergency maneuver would demand. Ohm and even though boats over 20 feet aren’t required to have foam flotation, the 206 is chock full of it.

We were satisfied with the acceleration and know skiers will be, too. It's not often we are completely content without maximum horsepower – which is a shocking 320 ponies – but we’d be happy with the 260 hp on our test boat. At slow speeds the wakes emerged as the type of nicely defined ramps you’d want for a wakeboarder, but at 26-30 mph they flattened into barely noticeable bumps a skier would like. Your kids won’t whine that you’re bringing home the grampsmobile with this sleek water rocket, either. Who could complain, speeding along at nearly 52 mph with the modest, economical small-block V-8?

We’ll bet more of you will be driving this beauty to a favorite cove or boaters’ hangout. The 206 will turn heads. And, when you drop anchor to swim and kick back, the companionway to the swim platform will let you do it without having to roll over the sunbathers on the spacious sun pad. There’s a standard Sony CD on board with four speakers to make the party rock, and two coolers for refreshments to take the temp down a degree when the time comes. If you want to begin with cool, put the standard Sunbrella Bimini up. Don’t worry about fading. Few fabrics we’ve seen do a better job of protecting you from the sun while keeping their factory-fresh look.

For an evening cruise you’ll find the snap-in carpet makes the tasteful cockpit tres elegant. The L-shaped lounge will keep your entertainees comfy and the front bucket seats swivel around, enhancing conversation. We’re a fan of flip-up bolster on at least the driver’ side bucket, and that’s the only piece of equipment we found on the option list we couldn’t live without. Why? They make docking easier by giving you a boost when seated or allowing you room to stand behind the wheel for a better view.

What about the long view? Say some years down the line? The guys at Caravelle told us the upholstery is UV protected and mildew resistant, so it should remain fresh looking with minimum care. Even the foam is treated to resist the growing nasties that plague most boats. Fasten the upholstery all together with stainless-steel staples and you’ve got one more ingredient in the Caravelle recipe for a lost of boating happiness.

Is there a downside? At first we wanted more room on the swim platform, but realized that space would have to come from the roomy cockpit. We’d be happy to pay the up charge for an extended platform. The ski hook is adequate for most water-sports enthusiasts, but another cool option would be a pop-up pylon for a little more help on cold starts and a tad more altitude when wake jumping. Still, for the price, we think the Caravelle 206 gives more for the money than many of its competitors.

 NICE TOUCHES:

1.      Standard midship cleats. (Didja think you could afford a 20-footer that would need them?)

2.      Can’t say enough about the classy and functional transom companionway.

3.      Liner hull makes for easy cleanup; snap-in carpet makes for elegant dinner cruising.

4.      Sculptured padding at the gunwale looks great and offers throttle-arm support.

5.      Awesome standards like bow filler cushions, tilt steering, and two insulated coolers.

6.      All wood-free construction and full stainless-steel fittings mean the 206 will remain solid and bright for years.

PERFORMANCE

TEST ENGINE: Mercury 5.0L MPI 260HP Alpha Drive

TEST PROP: Stock Aluminum

TEST LOAD: Fuel (30 Gal.); People (400 lb.)

TOP SPEED 51.7 MPH @ 5000 RPM

TIME TO PLANE: 3.7 Sec.

ACCELERATION TO 30 MPH: 7.5 Sec.

NOISE @ IDLE: 65 DB

NOISE @ 30 MPH: 82 DB