Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 or the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005?

For trailering, the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 has the edge at 34 lbs dry weight versus 45 lbs for the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 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 218 Deck Boat 2003 is rated to a maximum of 32 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 tops out at 5 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 218 Deck Boat 2003 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 is certified for 8. 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 Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 measures 105" wide, compared to 102" for the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003. 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 218 Deck Boat 2003 or the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005?

The Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 has the bigger tank at 195 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003. That 190-gallon difference translates to roughly 570–950 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 and Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 and the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 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 218 Deck Boat 2003 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005

Caravelle

Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003

2003

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Caravelle

Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 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 32 hp, the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 has a 27-hp advantage over the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005's 5-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 Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 carries 195 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003. 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 Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 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

Model218 Deck Boat

ModelSea Hawk 280 Center Console

Model Year2003

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam105 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.67

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches105

Deadrise16 degrees

Deadrise24 degrees

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail27 in

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] meters0.69

Draft [drive up] inches22

Draft [drive up] inches27

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

Draft [max] - Detail41 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Meters1.04

Draft [max] - Inches34

Draft [max] - Inches41

Weight - Detail3400 lbs

Weight - Detail4500 lbs

Weight - kg1542.21

Weight - kg2041.16

Weight - lbs.34

Weight - lbs.45

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

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters2.08

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches82

Height - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Meters6.4

Length overall - Meters8.53

Length overall - Inches252

Length overall - Inches336

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail195 gallons

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters738.15

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel tank capacity - Gal195

Engine max32

Engine max5

Operational Info

Maximum people1

Maximum peoplenot available

Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 or the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005?

For trailering, the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 has the edge at 34 lbs dry weight versus 45 lbs for the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 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 218 Deck Boat 2003 is rated to a maximum of 32 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 tops out at 5 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 218 Deck Boat 2003 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 is certified for 8. 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 Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 measures 105" wide, compared to 102" for the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003. 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 218 Deck Boat 2003 or the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005?

The Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 has the bigger tank at 195 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003. That 190-gallon difference translates to roughly 570–950 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 and Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 218 Deck Boat 2003 and the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 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 218 Deck Boat 2003 full specs ← Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2005 full specs