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The Jeanneau (Cap Camarat) Cap Camarat 6.5 BR is a mid-size bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Jeanneau (Cap Camarat) of France, a builder trading since 1957. On our measurements it works out at roughly 21 ft 4 in (6.50 m) of hull with a beam near 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m), which places it squarely in the trailerable family bowrider class: one vehicle, one trailer, one afternoon of prep, and the boat is in the water. French builder whose Cap Camarat range spans bowrider, centre console and weekender.
Layout is classic bowrider and that is the whole point of the boat. Twin lounges run forward of the windscreen with a walk-through to the anchor well, the helm and companion seats sit amidships behind a wrap screen, and a full-width lounge spans the transom for sunbathing and socialising. Around 11 people fit aboard comfortably in sheltered water. Cushions lift out, backrests fold and filler pads convert the cockpit from a conversation pit into one long sun bed in a couple of minutes.
The ride is what most owners talk about first. Deadrise through the forward sections knocks the top off bay chop, the running surface aft keeps the boat stable at rest, and the hull sits level when six people crowd one side to watch a skier. Inside the bay it feels planted and predictable, which is exactly what a family boat needs.
Power is a 165-250 hp four-stroke outboard package, and that suits both the hull and the way these boats are used. Keeping the machinery outside the hull frees up stern storage, simplifies servicing and removes the bellows and gimbal wear items that punish neglected stern drive boats. It also lifts the swim platform clear of the exhaust.
Watersports are well covered. A tow point is standard on almost every boat in this class, and Jeanneau (Cap Camarat) owners regularly add a pylon or a folding tower for wakeboarding. A healthy outboard package pulls a slalom skier out of the water cleanly and tows children on an inflatable biscuit all day without protest. Skis, ropes and vests live in the under-floor and under-seat lockers so nothing sits underfoot while the boat is loaded.
Anglers do well out of the Cap Camarat 6.5 BR. The bow converts to a casting deck once the cushions are stowed, there is room to swing a rod without hitting the screen, and lockers swallow tackle, nets and a cooler. It is not a dedicated fishing boat, but it catches fish and it still takes the family out the next morning — which is the entire argument for owning a bowrider.
Build and finish sit where you would expect for a premium boat from France. Jeanneau's Cap Camarat range is one of Europe's most complete day boat families, and the Bow Rider versions are exactly what the name suggests: forward seating with convertible cushions, a walk-through screen, a well-appointed helm and outboard power aft. What sets them apart is the breadth of configuration — the same hull is offered as a Bow Rider, Centre Console, Walk Around or Day Cruiser, so buyers pick the deck plan that matches how they actually boat. Hull design emphasises seakeeping for coastal European conditions, with sharp entries, pronounced spray rails and enough deadrise to stay comfortable when the mistral or the afternoon sea breeze fills in. Fit-out is genuinely premium, with proper joinery on larger models, quality upholstery, a concealed head compartment on many versions and thoughtful storage throughout. As part of Groupe Beneteau, Jeanneau offers extensive dealer coverage and reliable parts supply worldwide, and used Cap Camarats hold value well across the Mediterranean and Australia.
Options worth having on the Cap Camarat 6.5 BR are the practical ones: a bimini for shade, a decent bow and cockpit cover so the upholstery survives being stored outside, an upgraded sounder if you fish, and a stereo package that can be heard over the engine. On fibreglass, a ceramic coat or a good polish once a season keeps the gelcoat looking new and protects resale.
As a used buy, check the same things you would on any bowrider in this size band: transom firmness, stringer and floor soundness, hours and service history on the engine, steering and trim function, and the state of the upholstery seams, which are the first thing to fail on a boat that lives uncovered. Boats from this builder hold their money well, so a tidy example will not be cheap, and that is usually a sign you are buying the right one.
Our price guide for the Cap Camarat 6.5 BR is US$67,000 - US$88,000 new, which moves with engine choice, trailer, tower and how recently the boat was refreshed. Judged as a whole, it does what people buy a bowrider for: cruise, tow, swim, fish and entertain in one boat, without asking the family to compromise on any of them. Jeanneau (Cap Camarat) has been refining that formula since 1957, and the Cap Camarat 6.5 BR is a straightforward, well-judged expression of it.
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Featured Boat of the Week
This week we are putting the Bayliner Bayliner DX2000 in the spotlight, and it earns the spot. At 20 ft 2 in (6.16 m) long on a 8 ft (2.44 m) beam, this is a bowrider that reads the water well and still feels roomy enough for a full day out. A 20-foot deck-boat-width bowrider with outboard power and a huge social cockpit. Power comes from 115-150 hp mercury fourstroke outboard through a outboard package, and the fibreglass hull keeps the ride settled when the afternoon breeze puts a chop on the surface.
Seating is rated for 8 people, so there is space for family, friends, towels, eskies and the tow rope without anyone climbing over gear. Owners tend to buy it for family, water ski, leisure — which is exactly where it shines. Fuel is 30 us gal (114 l), and on the second-hand and new market you should expect to land somewhere around US$42,000 - US$58,000 new depending on hours, trailer and options.
Our full deep dive covers the layout in detail: bow lounge comfort, helm ergonomics, the rear entertaining area, storage that actually swallows a weekend, plus standard features, popular options and honest notes on where the boat compromises. If the Bayliner DX2000 is on your shortlist, start there — and check back next week, because the featured boat changes every week as we complete more full model reviews.
Featured Bowrider Article
Ownership
Boats do not die of old age; they die of neglect. A well-kept bowrider can still be in service after thirty or forty years, while a badly stored one can be uneconomic at twelve. Knowing which parts have a clock on them lets you buy and own accordingly. A quality fibreglass hull that has been kept covered, repaired promptly and stored out of water can last forty years or more. The laminate itself rarely fails; what fails are the plywood or composite parts inside it — stringers, bulkheads, floors and transom cores — when water finds a way in through unsealed fittings or damaged gelcoat. Aluminium hulls are similarly long-lived and often outlast their fittings entirely. Their enemies are galvanic corrosion, especially from stray current in marinas or missing anodes, and fatigue cracking around welds on hard-worked boats. Both are inspectable and repairable. A modern four-stroke outboard serviced on schedule commonly reaches 2,500-4,000 hours before major work, which for a family boat used fifty hours a year is decades of life. Petrol sterndrive engines have similar potential, though the drive leg, bellows and gimbal components need renewal along the way. In practice most engines are replaced because parts availability, electronics or economics turn against them…
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