Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 vs Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 or the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005?

For trailering, the Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 has the edge at 27 lbs dry weight versus 34 lbs for the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 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 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 is rated to a maximum of 225 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005 tops out at 32 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 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005 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 218 Deck Boat 2005 measures 102" wide, compared to 96" for the Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008. 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 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 and Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 3 gallons and 5 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 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 and Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 and the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 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 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 vs Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005

Caravelle

Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008

2008

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Caravelle

Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 vs Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 vs Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 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 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 has a 193-hp advantage over the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005's 32-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 3 gal and 5 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 19,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005 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

Model196LS Fish & Ski

Model218 Deck Boat

Model Year2008

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 0 in

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches96

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise20℃

Deadrise16 degrees

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

Draft [drive up] - DetailMercury 17 in. - Volvo 22 in

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [drive up] inches22

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

Draft [max] - DetailMercury 33 in. - Volvo 34 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Inches35

Draft [max] - Inches34

Weight - Detail2,700 lbs

Weight - Detail3400 lbs

Weight - kg1224.7

Weight - kg1542.21

Weight - lbs.27

Weight - lbs.34

Length - Feet19

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Inches11

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail19 ft. 11 in

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Meters6.07

Length overall - Meters6.4

Length overall - Inches239

Length overall - Inches252

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail6 ft. 10 in. with Tennessee tandem axle trailer

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters2.08

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches82

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

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

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail30 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters113.56

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal3

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Engine max225 hp

Engine max32

Operational Info

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people1

Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 vs Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 or the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005?

For trailering, the Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 has the edge at 27 lbs dry weight versus 34 lbs for the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 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 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 is rated to a maximum of 225 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005 tops out at 32 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 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005 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 218 Deck Boat 2005 measures 102" wide, compared to 96" for the Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008. 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 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 and Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 3 gallons and 5 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 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 and Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 and the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 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 196LS Fish & Ski 2008 full specs ← Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2005 full specs