Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 vs Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer - the Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 or the Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009?

For trailering, the Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 has the edge at 2 500 lbs dry weight versus 2 700 lbs for the Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 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: How many people can each boat hold?

The Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009 is certified for 6. 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: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 and Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009 share an 8 ft. 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.

Q: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 and Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads - 30 gallons and 30 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 187 Bowrider 2005 and Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 and the Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 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 187 Bowrider 2005 vs Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009

Caravelle

Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005

2005

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Caravelle

Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 vs Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 vs Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 225 hp for the Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 and 225 hp for the Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009. 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 - 30 gal and 30 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Caravelle 187 Bowrider 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 196LS Bowrider 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCaravelle

Model187 Bowrider

Model196LS Bowrider

Model Year2005

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft.

Beam8 ft. 0 in.

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches96

Deadrise20 degrees

Deadrise20℃

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] inches21

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

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches35

Weight - Detail2500 lbs.

Weight - Detail2,700 lbs.

Weight - kg1133.98

Weight - kg1224.7

Weight - lbs.2500

Weight - lbs.2700

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

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters1.88

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches74

Height - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail18 ft.

Length overall - Detail19.92 ft.

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Meters6.07

Length overall - Inches216

Length overall - Inches239.04

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet19.92

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail30 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Liters113.56

Fuel tank capacity - Gal30

Engine max225

Engine max225 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardVolvo 3.0GL (wps) - 135 hp

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Maximum people9 persons

Maximum peoplenot available

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 vs Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009 - Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer - the Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 or the Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009?

For trailering, the Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 has the edge at 2 500 lbs dry weight versus 2 700 lbs for the Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009 is certified for 6. 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 187 Bowrider 2005 and Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009 share an 8 ft. 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 187 Bowrider 2005 and Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads - 30 gallons and 30 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 187 Bowrider 2005 and Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Caravelle 187 Bowrider 2005 and the Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 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 187 Bowrider 2005 full specs ← Caravelle 196LS Bowrider 2009 full specs