Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 or the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003?

For trailering, the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 has the edge at 37 lbs dry weight versus 45 lbs for the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003. 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 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 is rated to a maximum of 375 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 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 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 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 2003 measures 105" wide, compared to 1" for the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 or the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003?

The Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 has the bigger tank at 195 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008. 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 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 and Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 and the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 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 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003

Caravelle

Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008

2008

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Caravelle

Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003

2003

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 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 375 hp, the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 has a 370-hp advantage over the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003'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 2003 carries 195 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008. 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 2003 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 caps at 7. 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 2003 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 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 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCaravelle

Model232 LS Sport Cabin

ModelSea Hawk 280 Center Console

Model Year2008

Model Year2003

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 4 in

Beam105 in

Beam - Meters2.54

Beam - Meters2.67

Beam - Inches1

Beam - Inches105

Deadrise20℃

Deadrise24 degrees

Draft [drive up] - DetailMercury: 19 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: 35 in. Volvo: 36 in

Draft [max] - Detail41 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters1.04

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches41

Weight - Detail3,700 lbs

Weight - Detail4500 lbs

Weight - kg1678.29

Weight - kg2041.16

Weight - lbs.37

Weight - lbs.45

Length - Feet23

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Meters7.01

Length overall - Meters8.53

Length overall - Inches276

Length overall - Inches336

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo 5.0GXi - 270 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

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

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Engine max375 hp

Engine max5

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailTennessee, tandem-axle with brakes

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - Height6 ft. 7 in

Trailer - Heightnot available

Trailer - Length over all27 ft. 1 in. (Removable trailer tongue will shorten length by approximately 26 in.)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Width8 ft. 6 in

Trailer - Widthnot available

Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 or the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003?

For trailering, the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 has the edge at 37 lbs dry weight versus 45 lbs for the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003. 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 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 is rated to a maximum of 375 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 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 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 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 2003 measures 105" wide, compared to 1" for the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 or the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003?

The Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 has the bigger tank at 195 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008. 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 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 and Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 and the Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 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 232 LS Sport Cabin 2008 full specs ← Caravelle Sea Hawk 280 Center Console 2003 full specs