Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Caravelle 212 SS Bowrider 2008 vs Caravelle 230 Walk Around (Outboard) 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Caravelle 212 SS Bowrider 2008 against a modified vee Caravelle 230 Walk Around (Outboard) 2009 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Caravelle 212 SS Bowrider 2008 at 21,0 ft versus Caravelle 230 Walk Around (Outboard) 2009 at 23,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Caravelle 230 Walk Around (Outboard) 2009 tips the scales at 465 lbs — 432 lbs less than the Caravelle 212 SS Bowrider 2008 at 33 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 320 hp, the Caravelle 212 SS Bowrider 2008 has a 70-hp advantage over the Caravelle 230 Walk Around (Outboard) 2009's 250-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 212 SS Bowrider 2008 carries 36 gallons versus 13 gallons in the Caravelle 230 Walk Around (Outboard) 2009. 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 230 Walk Around (Outboard) 2009 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Caravelle 212 SS Bowrider 2008 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Caravelle 230 Walk Around (Outboard) 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Caravelle 230 Walk Around (Outboard) 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 23,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Caravelle 212 SS Bowrider 2008 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
MakeCaravelle
Model212 SS Bowrider
Model230 Walk Around (Outboard)
Model Year2008
Model Year2009
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches96
Beam - Inches102
Deadrise20℃
Deadrise24℃
Draft [drive up] - DetailMercury: 17 in. Volvo: 22 in
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.56
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches22
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - DetailMercury: 33 in. Volvo: 34 in
Draft [max] - DetailUp: 20 in. Down: 34 in
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Inches34
Draft [max] - Inches34
Weight - Detail3,300 lbs
Weight - Detail4,650 lbs
Weight - kg1496.85
Weight - kg2109.2
Weight - lbs.33
Weight - lbs.465
Length - Feet21
Length - Feet23.25
Length overall - Detail21 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Detail23.25 ft
Length overall - Meters6.4
Length overall - Meters7.09
Length overall - Inches252
Length overall - Inches279
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardVolvo 5.0GL - 220 hp
Engine/s standardYamaha Z200 - 200 hp
Fuel tank capacity - Detail36 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail130 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Liters136.27
Fuel tank capacity - Liters492.1
Fuel tank capacity - Gal36
Fuel tank capacity - Gal13
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max320 hp
Engine max250 hp
Trailer Info
Trailer - DetailTennessee, tandem-axle with brakes
Trailer - Detailnot available
Trailer - Height6 ft. 1 in
Trailer - Heightnot available
Trailer - Length over all25 ft. 6 in. (Removable trailer tongue will shorten length by approximately 26 in.)
Trailer - Length over allnot available
Trailer - Width8 ft. 3 in
Trailer - Widthnot available