PDB Shootout: Caravelle

First Glance
Available in a wide variety of colors, the red really shows up well on the water and only adds to the sporty look Caravelle is going for.

Details
The Razor is truly unlike any other boat out there. With its deck-boat style and spacious layout it adds more amenities per square inch than should be physically possible.

With so many great features it’s hard to know where to begin since the more we looked around, the more we discovered. Starting at the well-balanced helm console, the gauges are on the left side of the dash while the rocker switches are on the right. 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 includes a mini fridge. And what’s better than having a refrigerator onboard? How about a DC-powered wine cooler that is directly across? Included with the wine cooler is a large galley that includes a faucet and sink, a mounted gas grill, pullout cutting board, drawer storage, as well as access to the Fusion stereo that is protected from the elements with its own cover. Speaking of music, there are a total of six speakers and we especially love the large ones mounted on the Monster Tower along with the LED lights. The sporty and functional wakeboard tower is an option, but based on how well it completes the boat we feel it’s a must-have upgrade.

Behind the captain’s chair is a bench seat with a pop-up changing room hidden below. You have to first raise up the back bench and it takes a few steps after that to fully access it, but when open it stands just over 5 feet tall.

To gain access to the large swim deck, that same rear seat cushion needs to be raised up again to create a nice walk-through, which we always prefer to see instead having to walk on furniture. In the stern is a four-step stainless boarding ladder, and other key features include a large in-floor ski locker that is 6 feet long, 19 inches deep inside and Infinity Seagrass flooring that completes the look.  

Closer Look
Keeping with the unique theme, the hybrid inverted Catamaran hull in the front transitions to a flat running surface in the stern and is truly unique to just Caravelle. The hull is hand-laid and foam-filled with five lifting points that are designed to glide across the water and bank in a turn like a performance boat.

Up top there is over 12 feet of usable deck space on this 21-footer with the gate heights ranging from 20 inches tall in the bow to nearly 23 inches in the stern. 

Throttle Down
She took a little time to get up on plane, but once up the Suzuki 150hp four-stroke and the evolutionary hull responded well. With its narrow beam we could really get this boat to bank nicely in some sharp turns. She handles well for the most part, but is a little rough in extremely choppy water.  

Why Buy
It really is surprising how many great features are packed into this 21-foot boat. It’s kind of like a Swiss Army knife in a lot of ways because just when you think you’ve discovered it all, you notice something else.

Americus, Ga.                                                                                                                                                               
855-444-2628                                                                                                                          www.caravelleboatgroup.com

Specifications
Number of Occupants: 10                                                                                                                                   
Price As Tested With Power: $43.0K                                                                                                                           
Maximum Speed: 39.1 mph                                                                                                                       
Wild Ponies: 150 hp                                                                                                                             
No. of Gates: 2                                                                                                                                         
0-20 MPH: 7.96 seconds                                                                                                               
Ladder Measurement: 3’ 10” deep

Why we love this boat… If you’re looking to break the mold and go with a boat unlike any other this Razor truly is a unique hybrid.  

Just being picky… At the helm the legroom is somewhat limited, but the tradeoff is the extra storage space under the helm that on this particular model includes a mini fridge. 

NOTABLE STANDARDS
DC refrigerator sink w/6-gallon freshwater, hydraulic steering, changing room w/portable toilet, pop-up cleats, LED interior lights, docking lights, captain’s chair w/bolster, and stainless steel prop.

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT
Monster Tower, Sea Grass flooring, depth finder, Kitchen Pkg., mooring cover, and premium sound system.

VITAL STATS
LOA: 21’3”                                                                                                                                                                 
Beam: 7’ 10”                                                                                                                                                                   
Hull Design: Modified Cat V                                                                                                                                         
Dry Weight: 3,310 lbs.                                                                                                                                                   
Fuel Capacity: 40 gallons

TEST DRIVE
Engine: Suzuki 150                                                                                                                                                 
Cylinder Type: Inline-4                                                                                                                                             
Cubic-inch Displacement/ Horsepower: 174.9ci/150hp                                                                                             
Lower Unit Gear Ratio: 2.50:1                                                                                                                             
Propeller: 14 3/4 X 21

RPM     vs.      SPEED     vs.    DB-A
650                  1.9                     70                                                                                                                 
1000                2.9                     70                                                                                                                 
1500                4.9                     72                                                                                                                 
2000                6.6                     77                                                                                                                             
2500                8.3                     79                                                                                                                 
3000                9.5                     83                                                                                                                             
3500                10.3                   87                                                                                                                 
4000                14.1                   92                                                                                                                 
4500                19.4                   99                                                                                                                 
5000                26.3                   107                                                                                                             
5500                30.9                   110                                                                                                               
6000                35.6                   111                                                                                                               
6100                39.1                   113

PRICE
Price As Tested                       $42,990                                                                                                                            (Boat and Motor)