Ranieri Cayman 23 Sport – Evinrude 200 HO, a match less ordinary
Categories: Inflatable Boats
11 Dicembre 2014
200 HP from the new Evinrude G2 are even too many, but the Ranieri Cayman 23 Sport tames them easily: a confirmation of her excellent seaworthiness
Here’s a sturdy rib, well built, boasting a sporty hull capable of facing any sea condition. A marketing move matched the Ranieri Cayman Sport 23 to the new Evinrude G2: despite being the “small” of the family, this 3,4 liter, V6 outboard shares the block with its siblings that deliver up to 300HP. Our version, the 200 HP, is still overpowered for the boat it has to move, especially with just two passengers as in our case. Not bad at all: it’s the perfect chance to test the Cayman in limit conditions, and prove if her hull is capable of managing such power in a safe, fun and easy way. An anticipation? Well, just read how the previous sentence started…
As for the cruising features, we tested the Sport version, but Ranieri offers also a Sport Touring model using the same hull bot offering a larger console with a small cabin (and a potty) underneath. In the description of the deck and layout, we will confront the two versions to see which is better and why.
In order to enhance the space of the aft dinette the pilot’s seat is downgraded to a simple backseat for driving while standing. It hides a closet which can be completed with sink, grill and a small refrigerator. The transom bench turns into a sun bed, whose fiberglass sides are covered with a stuffed cushion.
On the Sport Touring the cabin is accessible by tilting the console, although the hinges are far too undersized: the boatyard needs to replace them with stronger ones. Light comes from two small side portholes, and the volume is good enough to store gear and stuff, such as scuba tanks, skis, rods.
Most visible feature of this unit is the look, as all of a sudden all other outboards seem old. But the same G2 seems to suffer the problem, as all the attention goes to the styling while it has so many new characteristics. Read everything about the new Evinrude E-Tec G2 in our article
As for the cruising features, we tested the Sport version, but Ranieri offers also a Sport Touring model using the same hull bot offering a larger console with a small cabin (and a potty) underneath. In the description of the deck and layout, we will confront the two versions to see which is better and why.
Ranieri Cayman 23 Sport
23 Sport is the larger sibling of Cayman 21 Sport: 60 cm in length and 35 in beam (23 and 14 in) allow more space on board, without significant changes to the layout. For this reason, I’d go for the Sport Touring 23. Common to every model in the range is the two-tone color of the tubular: black to aft, to give elegance and sleekness, and white for all other parts, where a light color is required not to get burning hot under the sun. The fore solarium is ample and hides a molded and smooth locker underneath. First differences between the two versions: the front-faced seating is fixed on the Sport, tilting on the Touring. And while the former features a simple dashboard, the latter’s console is more cured, with black finish and a neat layout, and hides the cabin underneath. On both versions a large windshield is framed by a steel handrail, useful during fast cruising.
In order to enhance the space of the aft dinette the pilot’s seat is downgraded to a simple backseat for driving while standing. It hides a closet which can be completed with sink, grill and a small refrigerator. The transom bench turns into a sun bed, whose fiberglass sides are covered with a stuffed cushion.
On the Sport Touring the cabin is accessible by tilting the console, although the hinges are far too undersized: the boatyard needs to replace them with stronger ones. Light comes from two small side portholes, and the volume is good enough to store gear and stuff, such as scuba tanks, skis, rods.
Evinrude E-Tec G2
The new Evinrude E-Tec G2 is offered in different power steps: 200, 225, 250 HP (each also in the sportier HO version) and the top one 300 HP. All come from the same block: V6, 3441 cc (210 c.i.), two stroke, indirect injection E-Tec with stratified combustion for lower speed. The total weight is 253 Kg (244 for HO) and allows for a record power-to-weight ratio.
Most visible feature of this unit is the look, as all of a sudden all other outboards seem old. But the same G2 seems to suffer the problem, as all the attention goes to the styling while it has so many new characteristics. Read everything about the new Evinrude E-Tec G2 in our article
The test
The lake is calm but there’s a lot of debris floating, due to the recent flood. It’s the chance to test the maneuverability of the Cayman, which turns sharply even at fast pace and proves to have an excellent hull. It’s a great result when considering that the engine is overpowered for a 23 feet rib. Where power is always welcome is during acceleration: and in our case the 2-stroke, 200 HP Evinrude, with a 19” Viper prop, pushes hard and takes us to plane in less than two seconds, to 30 knots in three, reaching finally 5600 rpm for 46 knots. Top pace requires 54 liters per hour, value that drops down to 30 at 30 knots (good cruise) and to 10 at 11 knots, which is the minimum plane speed. The automatic trim actuator works above 3000 rpm and does his job perfectly, while a little weakness is in the noise field, as the two stroke is a bit louder than a 4 stroke. But the Ranieri Cayman is an open day cruiser, so that doesn’t hinder comfort at all., and anyway the decibels are lower than on the previous Evinrude G1 V6. And if you’re still thinking at how cool this engine looks, cherry on the cake will be the chance to customize it with over 350 different color combinations. Technical features Length overall 7,10 mt (23 ft 4 in) Beam 2,85 mt (9 ft 4 in) Tubular diameter 0,60 mt (2 ft) Displacement 700 Kg Chambers 5 Engine, minimum power 100 HP Engine, max power 250 HP Fuel tank 200 lt (52 US gal) Fresh water tank (option) 45 lt (11 US gal) Passengers 15 CE certification B Performance 1000 rpm 4 kn 4,6 mph 2,3 lph 0,6 gph 68 db 1500 rpm 6 kn 6,9 mph 5,3 lph 1,4 gph 70 db 2000 rpm 9 kn 10,4 mph 10,6 lph 2,8 gph 75 db 2500 rpm 16 kn 18,4 mph 13,0 lph 3,4 gph 79 db 3000 rpm 22 kn 25,3 mph 17,1 lph 4,5 gph 80 db 3500 rpm 27 kn 31,1 mph 23,8 lph 6,3 gph 80 db 4000 rpm 32 kn 36,8 mph 30,2 lph 8,0 gph 81 db 5000 rpm 41 kn 47,2 mph 45,3 lph 12,0 gph 86 db 5600 rpm 46 kn 52,9 mph 54,3 lph 14,3 gph 87 db Test conditions Calm lake, temperature 15° F (59 ° F), fuel 150 lt (39 US gal), no fresh water, 2 passengers, clean hull Standard features Complete console – Luxury dashboard – Closed-cell-foam cushions – Towing and mooring hooks – Transom locker – Bow locker, counter-molded – Console and pilot-seat lockers – Manual inflating pump – navigation lights - $ S/S cleats – Switchboard – Swim platforms, one with ladder – bow sunpad – Automatic bilge pump – Front-faced seat before console – aft bench with tilting backseat –Polypropylene fuel tank - Black/white tubular. Options Anchor with chain – Built-in compass – Rollbar spotlight – S/S refrigerator – 12V electric inflating pump – Fresh water tank and shower – Hi-fi system – Ski pole – Aft sunpad – bow table – cockpit led lighting – Bow sunpad extension – Tilting, S/S rollbar with bimini – Electric anchor winch – Lifting hooks – Luxury cushions- Aft table – Teak on swim platforms – Console and boat covers – S/S awning – Hydraulic steering – Electric horn – Chemical potty Visit Ranieri International website Visit BRP websiteClaudio Russo
Inizia nella nautica, che poi lascia per fare esperienze in vari altri settori della comunicazione. Diventa giornalista e passa nella sfera dello sport, dove ha partecipato anche alla realizzazione di alcuni fra i primi siti d'informazione in ambito calcistico e delle Olimpiadi di Sydney 2000. Nel 2002 torna nella nautica come caporedattore di un mensile fino alla nuova sfida raccolta nel 2013 con BoatMag.
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