A classic all-around inflatable boat, this three-person Sevylor Super Caravelle (model XR66GTX-7) is made of extra heavy, special quality PVC. It can accept Sevylor's optional SBM 12V electric motor as well as a gas outboard motor with a maximum power of 2 horsepower. In production for over 37 years, the Caravelle was the first Sevylor boat to feature the DIN safety chamber, which inflates inside the main outer chamber and will help keep you afloat if the outer chamber suffers a major hole. Other features include two molded oarlocks, tunnel chambers on the bottom of the boat for support and tracking, and a Boston valve.
Specifications: - Length overall (LOA): 7 feet, 10 inches
- Beam: 4 feet, 7 inches
- Weight: 13 pounds
- Maximum engine power: 2 HP
- Capacity: 3 persons
- Weight capacity: 600 pounds
Tech Talk: Boston Valve: A large, screw-on valve that can't accidentally be unplugged and provides quick deflation (by just opening up the valve and allowing air to escape).
About Sevylor In 1948 in Vitry, a small suburb of Paris, France, Berco Grimbert created an electronics company called Societe Electronique de Vitry, or SEVY for short. Soon, a friend of Grimbert's from New York commissioned SEVY to produce high frequency welding machines capable of fusing a new material called PVC (poly vinyl chloride). SEVY's machines worked very well and the American friend developed a very successful business manufacturing swimming pool related products. He then taught SEVY how to work with PVC.
One of the first PVC products SEVY produced was inflatable bathtub called Dou Dou. It was an instant hit in postwar France--mothers could bathe their children even where no facilities were available. The media hailed Dou Dou as a significant invention. Soon, SEVY added small pools and flotation devices such as rings, beach balls, and inflatable swim jackets to its product line. Safe, hygienic products, made of PVC and designed for portability, durability and convenience, became the SEVY trademark.
The company quickly outgrew its small facilities in Vitry. Mr. Grimbert accepted an attractive offer from the French government to take over a defunct textile factor in the tiny Alsatian village of Buhl. After establishing its new headquarters, the company added the letters "lor" to its name, and became Sevylor. In French, l'or means gold. By coincidence, or possibly fate, Sevylor has proven to be "as good as gold" to its owners, retailers, consumers, and employees.
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
I bought this Sevylor 3-person Super Caravelle (model XR66GTX-7) from Amazon, June 2010. It is a good boat, HOWEVER, the specifications are NOT CORRECT!
Actual width (inflated) is: 3'-9" (45"), NOT 4'-7" (55" or 1.40m) listed at Amazon, and on the Sevylor box and on the Sevylor website.
Actual length (inflated) is: 7'-5" (89"), NOT 7'-10" (or 2.40m) listed at Amazon, and on the Sevylor box and on the Sevylor website.
Actual rated capacity marked on the boat hull is: 450 lbs or 200kg, 3 persons, NOT 600 lbs listed at Amazon and on the Sevylor box.
These are rather serious discrepancies that I can not easily explain by metric to English conversion errors. I do not fault Amazon, as they are only repeating the data from Sevylor. It appears that Sevylor's data is seriously IN ERROR! I wonder what other specifications are also wrong - perhaps the thickness of the PVC hull material?
Overall, it appears to be a fairly decent boat for about $50. The inflation nozzles on 5 of the 6 chambers are the "cheesy" clear vinyl type found on low cost air mattresses. Although it is rated for 3 persons, it really only has room for 2 average size adults.
