Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 vs Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 or the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009?

For trailering, the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 has the edge at 21 lbs dry weight versus 56 lbs for the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009. 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 280 Center Console 2009 is rated to a maximum of 600 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 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 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 is certified for 8. 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 280 Center Console 2009 measures 105" wide, compared to 86" for the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005. 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 Fish & Ski 2005 or the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009?

The Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 has the bigger tank at 195 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005. That 193-gallon difference translates to roughly 579–965 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 and Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 and the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 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 2005 vs Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009

Caravelle

Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005

2005

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Caravelle

Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 vs Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 vs Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 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 600 hp, the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 has a 465-hp advantage over the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005's 135-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 carries 195 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 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

Model280 Center Console

Model Year2005

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 2 in

Beam105 in

Beam - Meters2.18

Beam - Meters2.67

Beam - Inches86

Beam - Inches105

Deadrise18 degrees

Deadrise24℃

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail27 in

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] meters0.69

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [drive up] inches27

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

Draft [max] - Detail41 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Meters1.04

Draft [max] - Inches33

Draft [max] - Inches41

Weight - Detail2100 lbs

Weight - Detail5,600 lbs

Weight - kg952.54

Weight - kg2540.12

Weight - lbs.21

Weight - lbs.56

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

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters1.85

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches73

Height - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 4 in

Length overall - Detail28.0 ft

Length overall - Meters5.28

Length overall - Meters8.53

Length overall - Inches208

Length overall - Inches336

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet28

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail20 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail195 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters75.71

Fuel tank capacity - Liters738.15

Fuel tank capacity - Gal2

Fuel tank capacity - Gal195

Engine max135

Engine max600 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardYamaha Twin Z200TX - 400 hp

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Maximum people7 persons

Maximum peoplenot available

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 vs Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 or the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009?

For trailering, the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 has the edge at 21 lbs dry weight versus 56 lbs for the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009. 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 280 Center Console 2009 is rated to a maximum of 600 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 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 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 is certified for 8. 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 280 Center Console 2009 measures 105" wide, compared to 86" for the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005. 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 Fish & Ski 2005 or the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009?

The Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 has the bigger tank at 195 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005. That 193-gallon difference translates to roughly 579–965 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 and Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2005 and the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 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 2005 full specs ← Caravelle 280 Center Console 2009 full specs