WINTER 2011
The latest edition of Modern Boating magazine is out now!
The latest edition of Modern Boating magazine is out now!
Modern Boating and Big Hat Productions head out for a glorious day on the water to give the Seawind 1160...
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Intercept the daily grind
WORDS + PHOTOS:
ANDREW RICHARDSON
Take time out in this Caravelle.
If you have a good family runabout then you know it's all about spending good times with your mates or loved ones in an environment that is removed from life's domestic realities.
Derek Rodway, who owns Good Times Marine, took time out and brought his family along for the test and a bit of a midweek holiday. Once we finished putting the Interceptor 192 through its paces, Derek and his wife Karen headed off with the younger kids for a lunch down the river at Como. I'm going to take a leaf out of Derek's book. That's the kind of thing we should all do if we have a boat.
The Interceptor 192 was a slightly sportier version of the award wining Caravelle 196 that Modern Boating tested last year. On paper the performance looks similar and as Derek pointed out, the 196 and 192 have the same beam, but on the water the shorter 192 felt sprightlier and she was a bit more agile in the turns.
Room to relax
The vessel was quite large for its class and the aft sun pad and extended swim platform really added a sense of living space once a crowd was aboard. In fact, as Derek explained, the imported Caravelles are one of the beamiest boats in the category. The quality of the fittings and features ? like the removable carpets and flush cleats ? also put this vessel at the elite end of the 18-foot runabout spectrum. I have seen a few boats this size with a lower price point but it doesn't take long to notice the difference in quality. A good example is that the underside of the rear seat/engine room hatch is moulded fibreglass instead of the easier flowcoated/soundproofed option.
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With all this emphasis on quality, I was surprised to see the vessel fitted with a standard spec three-blade aluminium prop. Derek explained that for not much more, the four-blade aluminium offered more grip in the turns ? but personally, I would be looking at a stainless steel prop as an option for a boat priced just over $50,000.
Wood free
The Caravelle's 100 per cent wood-free construction used closed cell foam in the stringers and high-density "Coosa" composite panels in the transom and the floor. The decks were reinforced with a honeycomb material called Nida Core and vacuum infusion is used during construction to smooth the inner surfaces and reduce overall weight.
The great entertainer
The vessel had quite a few appealing features that would make a day out all the more entertaining. The Caravelle 192 comes standard with a bimini (sun protection) and a bow infill that creates a forward sun pad. The bow also features a lined anchor well, a cooler and extra stowage. The stern has an extended swim platform with an integrated boarding ladder and separate controls for the Kenwood Stereo system ? very cool! The stowage was abundant, including a large under floor area big enough for kids!
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ANDREW RICHARDSON
Take time out in this Caravelle.
If you have a good family runabout then you know it's all about spending good times with your mates or loved ones in an environment that is removed from life's domestic realities.
Derek Rodway, who owns Good Times Marine, took time out and brought his family along for the test and a bit of a midweek holiday. Once we finished putting the Interceptor 192 through its paces, Derek and his wife Karen headed off with the younger kids for a lunch down the river at Como. I'm going to take a leaf out of Derek's book. That's the kind of thing we should all do if we have a boat.
The Interceptor 192 was a slightly sportier version of the award wining Caravelle 196 that Modern Boating tested last year. On paper the performance looks similar and as Derek pointed out, the 196 and 192 have the same beam, but on the water the shorter 192 felt sprightlier and she was a bit more agile in the turns.
Room to relax
The vessel was quite large for its class and the aft sun pad and extended swim platform really added a sense of living space once a crowd was aboard. In fact, as Derek explained, the imported Caravelles are one of the beamiest boats in the category. The quality of the fittings and features ? like the removable carpets and flush cleats ? also put this vessel at the elite end of the 18-foot runabout spectrum. I have seen a few boats this size with a lower price point but it doesn't take long to notice the difference in quality. A good example is that the underside of the rear seat/engine room hatch is moulded fibreglass instead of the easier flowcoated/soundproofed option.
read on below advertisement
With all this emphasis on quality, I was surprised to see the vessel fitted with a standard spec three-blade aluminium prop. Derek explained that for not much more, the four-blade aluminium offered more grip in the turns ? but personally, I would be looking at a stainless steel prop as an option for a boat priced just over $50,000.
Wood free
The Caravelle's 100 per cent wood-free construction used closed cell foam in the stringers and high-density "Coosa" composite panels in the transom and the floor. The decks were reinforced with a honeycomb material called Nida Core and vacuum infusion is used during construction to smooth the inner surfaces and reduce overall weight.
The great entertainer
The vessel had quite a few appealing features that would make a day out all the more entertaining. The Caravelle 192 comes standard with a bimini (sun protection) and a bow infill that creates a forward sun pad. The bow also features a lined anchor well, a cooler and extra stowage. The stern has an extended swim platform with an integrated boarding ladder and separate controls for the Kenwood Stereo system ? very cool! The stowage was abundant, including a large under floor area big enough for kids!
next page »
« go back