Caravelle 186 Bowrider 2008 boat specs
Caravelle
Caravelle 186 Bowrider 2008
2008
View full specs →
VS
Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 boat specs
Caravelle
Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005
2005
View full specs →

Caravelle 186 Bowrider 2008 vs Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Caravelle 186 Bowrider 2008 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 225 hp for the Caravelle 186 Bowrider 2008 and 225 hp for the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 3 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 186 Bowrider 2008 caps at 5. 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 186 Bowrider 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeCaravelle
MakeCaravelle
Model186 Bowrider
Model187 Fish & Ski
Model Year2008
Model Year2005
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 0 in
Beam8 ft
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Inches96
Beam - Inches96
Deadrise20℃
Deadrise20 degrees
Draft [drive up] - DetailMercury: 17 in. Volvo: 21 in
Draft [drive up] - DetailMercury 17 in. - Volvo 21 in
Draft [drive up] meters0.53
Draft [drive up] meters0.53
Draft [drive up] inches21
Draft [drive up] inches21
Draft [max] - DetailMercury: 33 in. Volvo: 35 in
Draft [max] - DetailMercury 33 in. - Volvo 35 in
Draft [max] - Meters0.89
Draft [max] - Meters0.89
Draft [max] - Inches35
Draft [max] - Inches35
Weight - Detail2,700 lbs
Weight - Detail2500 lbs
Weight - kg1224.7
Weight - kg1133.98
Weight - lbs.27
Weight - lbs.25
Length - Feet18
Length - Feetnot available
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Detail18 ft
Length overall - Meters5.49
Length overall - Meters5.49
Length overall - Inches216
Length overall - Inches216
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Detail6 ft. 2 in. with Tennessee single axle trailer
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Meters1.88
Height - Inchesnot available
Height - Inches74
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardVolvo 3.0L (wps) - 135 hp
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail30 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail30 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Liters113.56
Fuel tank capacity - Liters113.56
Fuel tank capacity - Gal3
Fuel tank capacity - Gal3
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typenot available
Drive typeI/O
Drive typenot available
Engine max225 hp
Engine max225
Trailer Info
Trailer - DetailTennessee, single-axle
Trailer - Detailnot available
Trailer - Height6 ft. 2 in
Trailer - Heightnot available
Trailer - Length over all21 ft. 2 in. (Removable trailer tongue will shorten length by approximately 16 in.)
Trailer - Length over allnot available
Trailer - Width8 ft. 6 in
Trailer - Widthnot available
Operational Info
Maximum peoplenot available
Maximum people9 persons

Caravelle 186 Bowrider 2008 vs Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 186 Bowrider 2008 or the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005?
For trailering, the Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 has the edge at 25 lbs dry weight versus 27 lbs for the Caravelle 186 Bowrider 2008. 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 186 Bowrider 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 5 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.
Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?
Both the Caravelle 186 Bowrider 2008 and Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 share an 8 ft. 0 in beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.
How do the fuel tanks compare on the Caravelle 186 Bowrider 2008 and Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005?
Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 3 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 186 Bowrider 2008 and Caravelle 187 Fish & Ski 2005 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Caravelle 186 Bowrider 2008 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.