Caravelle Razor 237 UU

September 2015 Boat Test Monday

This article originally appeared in our 2015 Shootout issue. If you are interested in seeing this in print along with 25 other boat reviews, click HERE to purchase the back issue.

What You Need To Know

What do you do when you’re an established fiberglass boat manufacturer and the pontoon segment of the boating industry is hot? You join in on the fun and that’s exactly what Caravelle did with the release of its line of Razor E-Toon models.

The Highlights

While the Razor side of the business is just getting established, the Caravelle name actually goes back to the late 60s. Having this kind of boating experience really comes in handy when starting new lines and the evidence can be found in the 237 UU we tested.

The sporty feel starts with the exterior of the boat and it is truly like nothing we’ve ever seen or tested before. It’s clear the manufacturer used its decades of fiberglass experience to create a unique look with just the right flash of style. From the sporty graphics to the loaded wakeboard tower—complete with stereo speakers and LED lights—it truly stands out on the water in a positive way. Plus we don’t tend to see a lot of pickle fork bows at our test, which we also thought made the boat look sporty.

TEST DRIVE THE 2016 PONTOON AND DECK BOAT MODELS AT PDB DAYS

Inside, the black and white interior, matched with grey Infinity Seagrass flooring, helps give the boat an inviting feel. In the bow there is one chaise lounge and in the stern is a U-shaped seating area, although it’s worth noting that the seatback height in the corner is less than 10 inches tall.

To gain access to the swim deck, the rear cushion raises up so you don’t have to step on your seats when entering or exiting the rear of the boat. On the stern deck is a four-step telescopic boarding ladder that drops down nearly three feet into the water when open.

At the helm is a simplistic console with gauges on your left and rocker switches on your right and everything is easily accessible. Legroom is limited for the captain in the bucket helm seat, but the tradeoff is the storage space under the helm that on this boat included the optional electric cooler.

Across from the helm is a great entertainment galley that includes a sink with a hand pump faucet, drawer storage, the Fusion stereo unit and a large Coleman gas grill mounted to the top. And the best part is all of this comes standard.

Other amenities worth noting include the LED accent lights used throughout the boat, the in-floor ski locker (six feet long and 21 inches deep) and the two stainless steel gates.

Inspection Notes

It’s called the E-Toon because it’s not a pontoon and it’s not a deck boat, but rather an evolution with its fiberglass Multi-Hull Cat-V with five lifting points that are designed to glide across the water and bank in a turn like a performance boat. Up top the spacious layout is family-friendly with extra attention to help make it safe.

Performance Evaluation

Powered with a Mercury 150 and combined with the unique performance hull, the Razor is very responsive and fun to drive. As we cut across some large choppy waves we were looking for more handholds, but overall this fiberglass pontoon is fun to drive. And because the beam is a little narrower than traditional pontoons, we could really get this boat to bank nicely in some sharp turns. The optional wakeboard tower should get a lot of use on this particular model.

Our Take

If you’re looking for a pontoon boat that breaks the traditional mold, look no further than this Razor. Its fiberglass background allows the manufacturer to be creative in designing a sporty and unique-looking craft.

Number of Occupants 12

Maximum Speed 41.3 mph

Wild Ponies 150 hp

No. of Gates 3

0-20 MPH 6.52 seconds

Ladder Measurement 2’ 9” deep

Why we love this boat…Nothing is traditional about this Razor that has a very unique look and provides a different flare that you couldn’t find in the pontoon industry until now.

Just being picky…A low back in the stern corner seat and limited legroom for the captain are minor issues compared to all this pontoon has to offer.

PDB Days Reader Choice Feedback

The grill comes standard! How can you not love all of the amenities on this boat?

NOTABLE STANDARDS

Patented Evolutionary Hull, Sports steering, ss rail & gate, blue LED full instrumentation panel, tinted Plexiglas windscreen, stereo w/ MP3 compatibility, large Coleman gas grill, fiberglass sink w/ 6-gal. freshwater system, helm cooler, changing room, full graphics package, capt. bench, in-floor ski locker, ss cupholders and u-shaped stern seating.