Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006 vs Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006 or the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002?

For trailering, the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 has the edge at 4 lbs dry weight versus 23 lbs for the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006. 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 Fish & Ski 2006 has a documented max rating of 135 hp. Engine specifications for the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 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 Fish & Ski 2006 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 86" for the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006 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 Fish & Ski 2006. 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 Fish & Ski 2006 and Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006 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 Fish & Ski 2006 vs Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002

Caravelle

Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006

2006

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Caravelle

Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002

2002

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006 vs Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006 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.

The Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006 carries a rated maximum of 135 hp. Engine data for the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 carries 6 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006. 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 176 Fish & Ski 2006 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 Fish & Ski 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 17,0 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 Fish & Ski

Model242 Bowrider

Model Year2006

Model Year2002

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 2 in

Beam8' 6"

Beam - Meters2.18

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches86

Beam - Inches96

Deadrise18℃

Deadrise21 degrees

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

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 in. - Volvo 33 in

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Inches33

Draft [max] - Inches39

Weight - Detail2,300 lbs

Weight - Detail4000 lbs

Weight - kg1043.26

Weight - kg1814.37

Weight - lbs.23

Weight - lbs.4

Length - Feet17

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Inches4

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 4 in

Length overall - Detail23' 7"

Length overall - Meters5.28

Length overall - Meters7.01

Length overall - Inches208

Length overall - Inches276

Engine and Drivetrain

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

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

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Engine max135 hp

Engine maxnot available

Operational Info

Maximum people7

Maximum people1

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 Fish & Ski 2006 vs Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006 or the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002?

For trailering, the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 has the edge at 4 lbs dry weight versus 23 lbs for the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006. 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 Fish & Ski 2006 has a documented max rating of 135 hp. Engine specifications for the Caravelle 242 Bowrider 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 Fish & Ski 2006 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 86" for the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006 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 Fish & Ski 2006. 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 Fish & Ski 2006 and Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 176 Fish & Ski 2006 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 Fish & Ski 2006 full specs ← Caravelle 242 Bowrider 2002 full specs