Caravelle Sea Hawk 230WA I/O

by Randy Vance - Boating life magazine - Feb 2002

     Walkarounds?  Are we boating here or hiking?  Well, you won't be hiking with Caravelle's brand-new stern-drive version of their popular 230 Walkaround.

     It wasn't a speed demon with the 5.0-liter MerCruiser, but it was fast and reliable enough for treks to your favorite island or beach.  Caravelle's 24-degree deep V-hull takes rough water beautifully, and we proved it in the Intracoastal and Gulf waters near Sarasota, Florida.  In a pinch, the V24 hull would even pull a wakeboarder and definitely be a fun tube-puller.  We felt the stern-drive setup was stable and smooth.  That's probably got a lot to do with the positioning of the stern-drive engine.  Also, with MerCruiser stern-drives, you get standard power steering -- something you pay big bucks for with outboards.

     The cockpit is roomy, as you'd expect from a 23-foot craft, but we were surprised at how roomy -- especially with that stern-drive engine.  The full width platform with transom hatch makes climbing aboard a snap too.

     Caravelle makes good use of the cockpit space, with its handy transom work station for preparing baits and rigs -- or lunch if you're picnicking.  Even then, there's plenty of room at the transom to work a trophy salmon or kingfish.

     Caravelle's construction qualities are apparent in the glossy gelcoat and the full cockpit liner hull.  The dual battery on/off switch ensures a fully charged battery on your next outing if you twist that puppy to "off" when you lay up your boat.  Circuit breakers instead of fuse blocks make a much easier job of maintaining accessory power, too.

     The cabin below is ideal for a nap or secure place for toddlers to rest.  Hardcore anglers stow it full of tackle, but beach-going friends we know keep it stocked with lawn chairs, water toys and SuperSoakers, both great uses for a versatile boat. -- R.V.

Nice Touches noted by the author:

1.  Optional canvas T-top extends the boating season by protecting cockpit.

2.  Cockpit bolsters make stand-up fishing or sit-down cruising more comfortable.

3. Six rod racks instead of the usual four.

4.  Transom work station makes good use of space in cockpit.

5.  Raw and freshwater washdowns are standard.

Performance:

Test Engine:  Mercureiser 5.0L EFI Bravo III

Test Prop:  24", Stainless Steel

Test Load:  Fuel (75 Gal.); People (400 lb.)

Top Speed:  41.9 @ 4600 rpm

Time to Plane:  6 sec.

Time to 30 mph:  12 sec.

Speed at 3/4 throttle:  26.3 mph @ 3500 rpm

Noise @ idle:  63 DB

Noise @ 30 mph:  83 DB

Double Take

Caravelle’s sterndive-powered 230 Walkaround is equally adept at saltwater fishing and family cruising

By Walk Jennings

 Americus, Georgia, is best known as the home of former President Jimmy Carter, but it is also the home of Caravelle Powerboats , a manufacturer of family and fishing boats for 35 years.  Building on the popularity of its 23-foot walkaround outboard, the company has added a sterndrive version to the 2002 lineup.

             Designed with families and anglers in mind, the cockpit layout of the new 230 Walkaround sterndrive has plenty of room for extra coolers and other gear, plus it has molded rod-storage racks under each gunwale capable of storing four rods per side.  Four flush-mount trolling rod holders come standard, and for serious anglers there are four more rod holders located on the aft end of an optional aluminum-frame hardtop.

 LOADED WEAPON

             The 230 sterndrive offers many standard features that are options on boats of similar size, including a full-width transom platform (crafted from King Starboard), 9-gallon pressurized freshwater system, cockpit courtesy lights, coaming pads and trim tabs.  Hard core anglers will find the 20-gallon baitwell, located on the starboard side of the transom, a bit small.  A sink, bait-prep area and freshwater shower hose are located on the transom next to the baitwell, just port of the centerline.

             A 9-inch-deep by 5-foot-long fishbox is located belowdecks, immediately forward of the engine cover, and it drains overboard.  It is large enough to hold up to four 30-pound tuna.  Non-anglers will also find the fishbox handy for storing waterskis or anything else you don’t mind getting wet.

             In so many walkaround cuddy boats, seating is at a premium, but the 230 sterndrive comes with comfortable seating for five.  Behind a tempered safety glass windshield is a pair of molded Kelron helm chairs (with a footrest on the helm side).  Both swiveling seats are mounted on oblong boxes that contain dry storage in the forward end and overboard-draining insulated ice chests/wet storage in the aft end.  With this setup the driver can swing in his seat 180 degrees.

            Cushions atop the lids of two insulated coolers immediately aft of each chair are large enough for an adult to sit comfortably.  One additional, extra-large cushion snaps onto the engine cover.

            Another cushioned seat – large enough for two medium-size kids – is positioned on the forepeak of the cuddy cabin, but is only safe to use when the boat is moving at low speeds or at rest.

            A heavy-duty rubrail protects the gunwales from those little bumps all boats encounter, while in the bow an integrated pulpit with a stainless steel anchor roller eases the burden of pulling the hook.  A stainless steel bow rail – 16 inches above the gunwale – runs from the aft end of the cuddy cabin around the bow, giving passengers a measure of security when going forward.

 TAKE THE WHEEL

             The instrument panel consists of a tachometer and speedometer, and oil pressure, engine temperature, trim indicator, voltmeter and fuel gauges.  All are mounted in a faux burlwood panel, as are rocker switches controlling the bilge blower, cockpit courtesy lights, bilge pump, freshwater pressure and navigation lights.

            A built-in electronics box is located above the instruments.  It is large enough to mount a couple of small electronic items such as a VHF radio and small depthfinder, with plenty of room remaining to stow little stuff such as sunglasses and hats.  A 4-inch-diameter compass is mounted on top of the dash, directly forward of the stainless, destroyer-style steering wheel. 

The entire family will like taking the two steps down in to the 230’s cuddy cabin where a portable marine head is located against the aft bulkhead on the starboard side.  A light is mounted inside and on the starboard side as you enter the cabin and a 12x18-inche mirror is on the bulkhead just starboard of the light.  Vinyl-covered foam pads cover the V-berth, and they are comfortable to both sit and lie on.  There is a Bomar hatch in the ceiling and screened portlights on both sides of the cabin that provide ample ventilation.  The cabin door is lock able, which gives you a comfortable feeling when leaving rods and reels, cameras and other valuables on board when you are not.

Seven layers of mat, roving and Knytex multidirectional fiberglass are used in construction to give the 230 WA a near-bulletproof hull.  The hull features four lifting strakes (two per side) to help improve holeshot.  Seas were mirror smooth the day we tested the Caravelle 230 WA, so it was tough to judge its seakeeping ability.  However, with 24 degrees of deadrise at the transom, this boat should handle choppy water nicely.  What’s more, its 8 ½-foot beam (6-inches wider than most 23-footers) provides an extremely stable platform at rest.

 POWER UP

             Purchasers can choose from tow standard 20 hp V-8 sterndrives for the 230 WA – a MerCruiser 5.0L/Alpha or Volvo Penta 5.0L GL/GX.  The price is the same for either.  You can also order an optional 240 hp MerCruiser 5.0L MPI and you have a choice of drive options.  Our test boat was fitted with the 5.0L EFI and a Bravo 3 dual-prop drive.

            A 130-gallon fuel tank gives the 230 WA I/O ample range as indicated in the test data.  And while the optional 5.0L EFI offers outstanding performance, we feel the standard 220 hp engine should be sufficient for most boaters.

            The primary advantage of the new sterndive is financial.  The 230 WA sterndrive is approximately $7000 less than the outboard model with a 200 hp Yamaha.

            In the end, the sterndrive-powered Caravelle 230 Walkaround is a seaworthy, stable craft that can serve as either a family cruiser or fishing machine or both.  For that reason, it certainly deserves a double take.

Taken from Trailer Boats Magazine, August 2002