Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 vs Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 or the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002?

For trailering, the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 has the edge at 23 lbs dry weight versus 25 lbs for the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 has a documented max rating of 135 hp. Engine specifications for the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 is certified for 9. 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 188 Fish & Ski 2002 measures 96" wide, compared to 86" for the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006. 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 and Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 2 gallons and 3 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 and Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 and the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 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 2006 vs Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002

Caravelle

Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006

2006

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Caravelle

Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002

2002

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 vs Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 vs Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 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.

The Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 carries a rated maximum of 135 hp. Engine data for the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 2 gal and 3 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCaravelle

Model176 Bowrider

Model188 Fish & Ski

Model Year2006

Model Year2002

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 2 in

Beam8'

Beam - Meters2.18

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches86

Beam - Inches96

Deadrise18℃

Deadrise20 degrees

Draft [drive up] - DetailMercury 16 in. - Volvo 21 in

Draft [drive up] - DetailMercury 17" - Volvo 21"

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [max] - DetailMercury 32 in. - Volvo 33 in

Draft [max] - DetailMercury 33" - Volvo 35"

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches33

Draft [max] - Inches35

Weight - Detail2,300 lbs

Weight - Detail2500 lbs

Weight - kg1043.26

Weight - kg1133.98

Weight - lbs.23

Weight - lbs.25

Length - Feet17

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Inches4

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 4 in

Length overall - Detail18'

Length overall - Meters5.28

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Inches208

Length overall - Inches216

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo 3.0GL (w/ power steering)

Engine/s standard210 Max

Fuel tank capacity - Detail20 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail30 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters75.71

Fuel tank capacity - Liters113.56

Fuel tank capacity - Gal2

Fuel tank capacity - Gal3

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Engine max135 hp

Engine maxnot available

Operational Info

Maximum people7

Maximum people9 persons

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailTennessee, single-axle

Trailer - DetailOptional

Trailer - Height6 ft. 1 in

Trailer - Heightnot available

Trailer - Width8 ft. 3 in

Trailer - Widthnot available

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 vs Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 or the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002?

For trailering, the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 has the edge at 23 lbs dry weight versus 25 lbs for the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 has a documented max rating of 135 hp. Engine specifications for the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 is certified for 9. 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 188 Fish & Ski 2002 measures 96" wide, compared to 86" for the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006. 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 and Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 2 gallons and 3 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 and Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 176 Bowrider 2006 and the Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 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 2006 full specs ← Caravelle 188 Fish & Ski 2002 full specs