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The Karnic SL 652 is a mid-size bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Karnic of Cyprus / Greece, a builder trading since 1971. On our measurements it works out at roughly 21 ft 5 in (6.52 m) of hull with a beam near 9 ft 2 in (2.80 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. Deep-V Mediterranean bowriders with a reputation for handling serious chop.
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 Karnic 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.
Fishing is the quiet strength of this hull. Pull the bow cushions and the forward lounge becomes an open casting platform with clear access all the way around the bow, and the rear lounge lifts out to open up the transom and side gunwales. Ten minutes of work turns the family boat into a genuinely capable fishing boat, and ten minutes the other way turns it back again before anyone gets home.
Build and finish sit where you would expect for a premium boat from Cyprus / Greece. Karnic builds in Cyprus for Mediterranean conditions, and it shows in the hulls: the SL and SL Sport bowriders carry noticeably more deadrise and finer entries than most family boats, which pays off the moment the afternoon meltemi fills in and lesser boats start slamming. The 602, 652 and 702 sizes are the core bowrider offering, with deep, secure bow seating that converts to sunpads, a proper walkaround layout on larger models, a well-protected helm and outboard power on the transom. Finish quality is high for the price, with tidy fibreglass work, quality stainless, teak-look decking options and upholstery that survives hard UV. Karnic has built a strong following among owners boating on exposed coastlines, and the brand is now well represented in Northern Europe, the Middle East and Australia. Because production volumes are modest, used examples come up less often, but they are sought after by buyers who know the hulls, so values are firm.
Options worth having on the SL 652 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 SL 652 is US$67,000 - US$89,000 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. Karnic has been refining that formula since 1971, and the SL 652 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
Buying Advice
A 1998 bowrider and a 2026 bowrider look superficially similar: open bow, walkthrough windscreen, rear bench. Underneath, almost everything has changed. Knowing what improved, what did not, and what you actually pay for is the key to buying well at any budget. Older bowriders were commonly built with modest deadrise and simple running surfaces, tuned for calm lakes and easy planing. Modern hulls carry sharper entries, better-developed strakes and wider chines, giving a drier ride, flatter turns and more predictable behaviour in a chop. Aluminium has moved furthest. Pressed flat-panel hulls from the 1990s slapped in waves; today's roll-formed hulls carry curved, fine-entry bows that slice rather than pound. If ride comfort is your main complaint about older aluminium boats, a modern hull is a genuine step change rather than a marketing claim. Older bowriders were mostly sterndrive, often with carburetted petrol V6 or V8 engines. They were torquey and cheap to buy, but thirsty, and they demanded regular tuning. Modern outboard packages deliver similar performance while using noticeably less fuel and starting reliably every time. Fuel economy improvements are real. A modern 150-200 hp four-stroke pushing a 6 m hull at a relaxed cruise typically uses substantially less fuel per hour than an older…
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