Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 vs Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 or the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002?

For trailering, the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 has the edge at 4 lbs dry weight versus 21 lbs for the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 measures 96" wide, compared to 84" for the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 or the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002?

The Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 has the bigger tank at 6 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002. That 4-gallon difference translates to roughly 12–20 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 and Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 and the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 are built by Caravelle. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 vs Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002

Caravelle

Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002

2002

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Caravelle

Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002

2002

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 vs Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 vs Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCaravelle

Model176 Bowrider

Model242 Bowrider

Model Year2002

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7' 2"

Beam8' 6"

Beam - Meters2.13

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches84

Beam - Inches96

Deadrise18 degrees

Deadrise21 degrees

Draft [drive up] - DetailMercury 16" - Volvo 21"

Draft [drive up] - DetailMercury 22" - Volvo 23"

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] meters0.58

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [drive up] inches23

Draft [max] - DetailMercury 32" - Volvo 33"

Draft [max] - DetailMercury 38" - Volvo 39"

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Inches33

Draft [max] - Inches39

Weight - Detail2100 lbs

Weight - Detail4000 lbs

Weight - kg952.54

Weight - kg1814.37

Weight - lbs.21

Weight - lbs.4

Length overall - Detail17' 4"

Length overall - Detail23' 7"

Length overall - Meters5.18

Length overall - Meters7.01

Length overall - Inches204

Length overall - Inches276

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standard135 Max

Engine/s standard425 Max

Fuel tank capacity - Detail20 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail60 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters75.71

Fuel tank capacity - Liters227.12

Fuel tank capacity - Gal2

Fuel tank capacity - Gal6

Operational Info

Maximum people7 persons

Maximum people1

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailOptional

Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 vs Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 or the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002?

For trailering, the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 has the edge at 4 lbs dry weight versus 21 lbs for the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 measures 96" wide, compared to 84" for the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 or the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002?

The Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 has the bigger tank at 6 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002. That 4-gallon difference translates to roughly 12–20 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 and Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 and the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 are built by Caravelle. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2002 full specs ← Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 full specs