97 Chaparral I/o

[T Procaccino]

Will be purchasing a 97 Sunesta 232 I/O 260HP in about a month. Has only 115 hrs on engine. According to my mechanic, the impeller, gimbel and water pump needs changing. Has been winterized, etc and has good maintenance records from day one.
What feedback can I receive from anyone who has owned a Chaparral, good bad or indifferent.

Thanks, tony

 

[oops!]

Re: 97 Chaparral I/o

WELCOME TO I BOATS

i havent owned a chap before...but i drooled on lots....

my buddie owns the local chap/chris craft shop....

the chaps are really nice boats with a high resale value....imho...

i would be a little more worried about the gimball.
make sure the mechanic gives you a price on changing/fixing that

but as far as chaps go......good stuff

cheers
oops

 

[T Procaccino]

Re: 97 Chaparral I/o

Thanks Oops:

I've got a price of about $300 labor and parts. I've used this mech before, he's pretty reliable.

Again appreciate the feedback.....It took me almost 2 years to find a good used boat, but patience finally paid off.

Take care.

 

[wncrjb]

Re: 97 Chaparral I/o

I have a 1994 CHAP and all I can say is they are built extremely well. I don't see where they have taken any short cuts on quality at all......

wncrjb

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 97 Chaparral I/o

I have a 1994 CHAP and all I can say is they are built extremely well. I don't see where they have taken any short cuts on quality at all......

wncrjb

I have a 97 2135 (that means it's a cuddy cabin) and I can identify 5 short cuts. They are being a little picky, though. First, the carpet has looked "trampled down" since the boat was new. But after 10 years, it's still in one piece! Second, they used a piece of what looks like scrap vinyl off the floor to make a toe moulding below my cabin door. It has yellowed over time, where the door has not. Third, there is a piece of trim on the left side of the console that they had installed or cut it upside down, cause it has an empty screw hole in it. Fourth, the sundeck hinges were lagged screwed into the sunpad through a spacer block. When that support struts wore out, it caused a "bind" that eventually ripped one of the hinges apart and pulled the screws down out of the wood on the other side. And 5th, the aluminum trim surrounding the in-floor cooler has raised screw heads, when they should at a minumum be flat screw heads, or actually flat screw heads countersunk into the trim piece.

I didn't realize they had their Sunesta line in 1997. Only 115 hours is A Lot of sitting around time on a 10 year old boat. Check the floor, cause Chap didn't use one piece/all fiberglass liners then. If that boat has gotten wet and stayed wet over the 10 years, the wood floor could be soft. (mine is not, but my boat does get and stay wet, either)

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: 97 Chaparral I/o

90 Chaparral here with 231 Origional hours. I am the second owner to this garaged boat also. It saw 0 work of what you described above. The bellows are bone dry, gimbal is super smooth and the origional impeller was perfect when I went to change it. As for quality, I have been VERY pleased with my purchase. I again am one who has found nothing short of good quality. I was very surpised when every screw was accually a bolt. I was only able to find a few screws on the entire boat.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 97 Chaparral I/o

your mechanic is correct. the outdrive should be pulled and serviced every 1-2 years, to check bellows, align gimbal bearing, and impeller. a leaking bellow can cause expensive problems, and also sink the boat. if it does not have an auto/manual bilge pump, with light on console (to alert you it is on) install one. this is important, will let you know you are taking on water.

if doing watersports it is normal to take on water from reboarding wet. buy if the light comes on more than you think it should, investigate.

my Chris Craft 230 deckboat was taking on water, at the rub rail, we boat in salt water, went thru 2 starters, before we found out where it was coming from. also did not have the pump i mentioned. now have it, and found we were leaking around the outdrive. 8 year old boat with rot in transom.