They Say: Sweeping lines, a creative floor plan, and a performance hull design make the 26’5″ Caravelle 267 an exceptional bowrider.
We Say: Supersized bowriders are often super slugs on the water. Yet Caravelle’s 267 packs a punch. Powered by a 375-hp MerCruiser 496 MAG MPI Bravo Three stern drive, it leaps onto plane in 3.7 seconds, hits 30 mph 3 seconds later, and peaks just shy of 55 mph. At all speeds, the 267’s XPV hull — with an extended running surface, keelpad, and 21-degree deadrise — maintained its manners, combining with a surefooted Bravo Three drive to carve tight turns without bucking or blowing out the prop. This 26′ boat has the agility of a 22-footer. If sheer size appeals, the 267 boasts a generous, pointy bow, U-shaped cockpit lounge, and twin captains’ chairs with leaf-spring suspension that are best appreciated in rough water. There’s room for an enclosed head and a wetbar with a Corian countertop. I like that the swim platform is part of the deck mold, making it more stylish and secure than a bolt-on. A walkthrough transom bisects the sunpad for easy access. Caravelle boasts wood-free construction and offers a lifetime hull warranty. Stringers are foam-filled fiberglass. Yes, there were a few raised eyebrows. I’d like a better latch to secure the head’s door, and I’d prefer molded gel coat to the painted fiberglass on the engine hatch underside.
Another Choice: Chaparral’s 264 Sunesta Wide Tech uses a picklefork hull to open up the bow and trades a sunpad for an aft seat.
MSRP: Test power – $56,500 ****
Contact: 800.642.2628 www.caravelleboats.com
