Reprinted from Lakeland Boating Magazine.
CARAVELLE SEAHAWK 230 Center Console - Spacious and Stable.
By: Tom Thompson
A good fishing boat doesn’t get in the way. That thought kept coming to mind as I looked over the Caravelle Seahawk 230 Center Console. Here’s a boat that was designed to help you fish better by having everything right where you need it, with enough space to move around. When you get right down to it, it’s all about hip room, and the 230 CC has plenty to space.
To my thinking, the best feature of the deck layout is the generous size of the toe kicks along both sides of the gunwales. It’s a little thing that makes a big difference on a long day out. These indentations, along with the coaming pads, let you assume a comfortable stance when handling a rod. A stainless steel bar runs along the bottom of the spaces provided for rod storage along the aft sections of gunwale. The bar and toe kicks also help you stabilize yourself if sea conditions are choppy. And if you regularly fish rough waters, I’d recommend the optional package that includes grab rails, seat cushions and seat backs to hold onto and soften the ride in the bow seating area.
For a 23-foot boat, the 230 CC has an ample supply of nooks and crannies for storage. Forward, there’s an anchor locker in the V of the bow and four insulated lockers. The three in the bench seats have overboard drains, and the fish box in the sole has an overboard pump. The space under the seat forward of the center console is used for the batteries and the engine oil tank if the boat has two-stroke power. Aft, there’s an aerated live well and transom workstation. The raw-water wash down and live well each have their own pump, so you’ll get maximum pressure when you need to clean up. There’s a freshwater shower sprayer in a sink at the transom, too.
On the port side, a transom door lets you bring a large catch overboard. It’s also convenient if you’re a diver. That, along with an available three-rung, center-post boarding ladder let you get in and out of the water easily.
A removable cooler conveniently stows under the helm leaning post, and a backrest is available as an option. The helm features a tilt steering wheel and lighted switches. For your electronics, there’s a lockable box with a clear plexiglas panel above the instruments. An optional T-top has four rocket launchers and a zipper compartment for stowing PFDs.
The head in the center console comes with a portable toilet, and your dealer may be able to install an overboard pumpout system. The compartment is fiberglass-lined, so it’s easy to keep clean, and has a light and porthole.
A deep, 24-degree deadrise hull ensures a dry, smooth ride. The boat pops up on plane quickly and handles well in turns. Our test boat was powered by a 225-hpYamaha four stroke outboard, which gave it strong acceleration throughout the power curve. We cruised comfortably at 32 MPH while turning 4500 rpm, and hit a top speed of 44 MPH.
Caravelle offers a choice of five hull colors. The construction is completely wood-free. The deck is reinforced with Nidacore, and the hull lay-up uses quad-axial Knytex-knitted fiberglass, which is stronger than conventional biaxial woven roving.
For serious anglers, the Seahawk 230 CC offers plenty of room to reel in prize catches – and a solid ride when the going gets rough.
Caravelle Sea Hawk 230CF
Caravelle’s 230 can battle saltwater trophies without hitting your wallet.
By Capt. Dave Lear
I look for the following criteria in a fishboat: It has to be rugged and practical, and it needs to look good. After all, why fish in an ugly boat that can’t hold up to Mother Nature? Now, if you can find a boat that combines these traits with a modest price tag, you’re really onto something. That something, in this case, happens to be the Caravelle 230 CF Sea Hawk. Not only does this 23-foot, trailerable rig fit my criteria, it won’t leave you reeling from sticker shock, which means you can find room in your budget for rods, reels and other angling equipment.
Built in Americus, Ga., by a 35-year-old company that manufactures both sportboats and fishboats, the 230 offers the major items you need to be comfortable for a day offshore. The definition of comfort for a family-friendly fishboat means an enclosed head compartment, and the one on this center console is big and bright. A marine toilet and mirror are standard, and the compartment also offers easy access to the batteries and oil reservoir.
The console is truly the command center of the boat, with lots of room to maneuver around it and more than enough space for a bank of electronics in the lockable box. I thought the windscreen was mounted at the perfect height for visibility and spray protection, and the leaning post offered a comfortable perch from which to operate the boat.
With a transom deadrise of 24 degrees and considerable freeboard, the 230’s hull can handle the nasty stuff. Our test boat, powered with a 200-hp Yamaha EFI outboard, offered a decent top speed of 44 mph. It took a few moments for the boat to come up level on plane when accelerating from a dead stop, but this is a small complaint when compared to the overall smooth performance.
A serious fishing machine isn’t worth its salt without a lot of rod storage and plenty of boxes to store the catch, and the Caravelle excels in these departments. The optional T-top comes with a rocket launcher that can take up to four rods; you can stow four more rigs in the leaning post. Horizontal stowage under the gunwales can accommodate six rods up to seven feet long. For your catch, there is a five-foot-long macerated fish box with overboard drain aft, plus three more boxes in the bow. All are insulated to double as coolers or dry stowage.
With closed-cell foam flotation, a composite stringer system and knitted fiberglass mat used in its construction, the 230 is built for long-term enjoyment. Choose one of several custom hull colors for head-turning effect, and you’ve also got the “ooh-and-aaah” factor covered. But looks aside, the Caravelle 230 CF Sea Hawk is sure to provide years of trolling opportunities for your investment.
©Motor Boating Magazine, October 2002
Standard Equipment (major items): Anchor roller w/integrated bow pulpit; outboard motor bracket; dive platform; trim tabs; cockpit shower; lockable head compartment w/marine toilet; raw-water washdown; freshwater system; hydraulic steering; electronics box; compass; leaning post; dual battery switch; full instrumentation; cockpit bolsters; helm footrest; baitwell; built-in tackle box; horizontal and vertical rod storage; four fish boxes.
Optional Equipment (major items): CD player; tilt steering; removable rear bench seat; leaning post backrest; T-top w/Sunbrella acrylic, rocket launcher and life jacket stowage; bimini top; stainless steel package (rubrail and pop-up cleats); colored hullside.
Test Power: (1) 200-hp Yamaha Saltwater Series EFI outboard. Power options include (1) 225-hp Yamaha four-stroke or (1) 250-hp Yamaha HPDI outboard.
Performance:
|
RPM |
MPH |
Knots |
Sound |
|
600 |
3.4 |
3.0 |
61 |
|
1000 |
4.8 |
4.2 |
65 |
|
1500 |
6.3 |
5.5 |
71 |
|
2000 |
7.6 |
6.6 |
74 |
|
2500 |
8.4 |
7.3 |
77 |
|
3000 |
9.0 |
7.8 |
79 |
|
3500 |
17.7 |
15.4 |
86 |
|
4000 |
28.5 |
24.8 |
90 |
|
4500 |
34.7 |
30.2 |
94 |
|
5000 |
39.7 |
34.5 |
96 |
Speeds measured by GPS in St. Marks, Fla., in a light chop and 10-knot winds w/three people on board, 110 gallons of fuel and an empty water tank. Sound levels measured at the helm in dB-A.
Warranty: One-year coverage against defects and five-year limited coverage on hull construction.