Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 or the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005?

For trailering, the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 has the edge at 56 lbs dry weight versus 365 lbs for the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 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 280 Center Console 2008 is rated to a maximum of 250 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005 tops out at 25 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 280 Center Console 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005 is certified for 7. 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 280 Center Console 2008 measures 105" wide, compared to 102" for the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005. 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 280 Center Console 2008 or the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005?

The Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 has the bigger tank at 195 gallons, versus 13 gallons on the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005. That 182-gallon difference translates to roughly 546–910 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 and Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 and the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 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 280 Center Console 2008 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005

Caravelle

Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008

2008

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Caravelle

Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 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 250 hp, the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 has a 225-hp advantage over the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005's 25-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 280 Center Console 2008 carries 195 gallons versus 13 gallons in the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005. 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 280 Center Console 2008 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005 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

Model280 Center Console

ModelSea Hawk 230 Center Console

Model Year2008

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam105 in

Beam102 in

Beam - Meters2.67

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches105

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise24℃

Deadrise24 degrees

Draft [drive up] - Detail27 in

Draft [drive up] - Detail20 in

Draft [drive up] meters0.69

Draft [drive up] meters0.51

Draft [drive up] inches27

Draft [drive up] inches2

Draft [max] - Detail41 in

Draft [max] - Detail34 in

Draft [max] - Meters1.04

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Inches41

Draft [max] - Inches34

Weight - Detail5,600 lbs

Weight - Detail3650 lbs

Weight - kg2540.12

Weight - kg1655.61

Weight - lbs.56

Weight - lbs.365

Length - Feet28

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Meters8.53

Length overall - Meters7.09

Length overall - Inches336

Length overall - Inches279

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardYamaha Twin Z200TX - 400 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail195 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail130 gallon

Fuel tank capacity - Liters738.15

Fuel tank capacity - Liters492.1

Fuel tank capacity - Gal195

Fuel tank capacity - Gal13

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine maxTwin 250 hp (500 hp)

Engine max25

Operational Info

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity9 gallon

Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 vs Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 or the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005?

For trailering, the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 has the edge at 56 lbs dry weight versus 365 lbs for the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 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 280 Center Console 2008 is rated to a maximum of 250 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005 tops out at 25 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 280 Center Console 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005 is certified for 7. 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 280 Center Console 2008 measures 105" wide, compared to 102" for the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005. 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 280 Center Console 2008 or the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005?

The Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 has the bigger tank at 195 gallons, versus 13 gallons on the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005. That 182-gallon difference translates to roughly 546–910 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 and Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Caravelle 280 Center Console 2008 and the Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 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 280 Center Console 2008 full specs ← Caravelle Sea Hawk 230 Center Console 2005 full specs