Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 vs Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 or the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005?

For trailering, the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 has the edge at 21 lbs dry weight versus 25 lbs for the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005. 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: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 is rated to a maximum of 225 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 tops out at 135 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 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 187 Fish & Ski 2005 measures 96" wide, compared to 86" for the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003. 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 Fish & Ski 2003 and Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005?

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 Fish & Ski 2003 and Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 and the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 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 Fish & Ski 2003 vs Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005

Caravelle

Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003

2003

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Caravelle

Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 vs Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 vs Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 225 hp, the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 has a 90-hp advantage over the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003's 135-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. 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 187 Fish & Ski 2005 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 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 Fish & Ski 2003 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 Fish & Ski

Model187 Fish & Ski

Model Year2003

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 2 in

Beam8 ft

Beam - Meters2.18

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches86

Beam - Inches96

Deadrise18 degrees

Deadrise20 degrees

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

Draft [drive up] - DetailMercury 17 in. - Volvo 21 in

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] inches21

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

Draft [max] - DetailMercury 33 in. - Volvo 35 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches33

Draft [max] - Inches35

Weight - Detail2100 lbs

Weight - Detail2500 lbs

Weight - kg952.54

Weight - kg1133.98

Weight - lbs.21

Weight - lbs.25

Height - Detail6 ft. 1 in. with Tennessee single axle trailer

Height - Detail6 ft. 2 in. with Tennessee single axle trailer

Height - Meters1.85

Height - Meters1.88

Height - Inches73

Height - Inches74

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 4 in

Length overall - Detail18 ft

Length overall - Meters5.28

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Inches208

Length overall - Inches216

Engine and Drivetrain

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

Engine max135

Engine max225

Operational Info

Maximum people7 persons

Maximum people9 persons

Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 vs Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 or the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005?

For trailering, the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 has the edge at 21 lbs dry weight versus 25 lbs for the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005. 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.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 is rated to a maximum of 225 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 tops out at 135 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 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 187 Fish & Ski 2005 measures 96" wide, compared to 86" for the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003. 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 Fish & Ski 2003 and Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005?

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 Fish & Ski 2003 and Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2003 and the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 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 Fish & Ski 2003 full specs ← Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 full specs