Chaparral 210 ssi

jkust

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
4,942
Re: Chaparral 210 ssi

I would like some opinions about the asking price for this boat. And any imput about engine size etc would be appreciated. Looks good to me but seems slightly on the high side of the price range.


http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/boa/2116230733.html

Raymondp there is a user on here with the same boat who goes by superpop. I have the identical boat except it is the model one foot smaller. Chap made that exact model for several years in several sizes but they varied the dash layout and seat design over the years. Are you familiar with boat branding and construction quality? Chaparral is at the tip top of the heap for branding, quality, etc, etc. Arguably on par with Cobalt which Superpop will tell you from his shopping experience. Pay what you think is fair. But a couple of thoughts come to mind, it is the off-season, Texas is a cheaper market than many (if you're comparing region to region), that Chap is the previous generation and it is almost 4 year old. It has the optional 5.0 MPI engine which is the biggest plus I'd consider. Boats that are in legitimate fantastic shape do tend to sell at the high side of the range. Like I said pay what you want but if you are just stumbling onto the Chaparral brand, you are in good shape. Take a look at the multiple "competitors" and I think you can answer your own quetions pretty quickly. A couple thousand for a boat in pristine shape is certainly wort it IMO.
Everything mentioned in the add except for the mpi Volvo is standard and I think he forgot several other standards if you are just comparing ad to ad brand to brand. Chaparrals are one of the few where you can buy either a Mercruiser or Volvo. I actually think the add is pretty poorly done unless you are selling to a person who already knows the brand and needs no explanation. Chaparral really gets the detail and little things just right which you can't really explain in an add plus they have some of the heaviest hulls out there which provides for a great/stable ride.
 

raymondpickens

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 5, 2010
Messages
261
Re: Chaparral 210 ssi

Thanks for the quick response, Yes I am definately familiar with the Chaparral brand, I am all about the quality of the brand, It has come down to a Chap or a Cobalt for me. I test drove a showroom floor perfect 2005 196 SSI and it was beautiful and smooth.... But it had a caburated 4.3 and overall i just wanted a little more boat. Among several other, four winns, larson, monterrey etc. I have completely fallen in love with the ride and the build of the Chap. Basically I am the kind of person to take it out by myself alot, but I also want to be able to load it up with people and ice chest and still be able to ski behind it without much fuss. I think the fuel injected 5.0 will be enough right? Sight unseen on that boat i am still thinking a little more about 20k if in fact it does all check out accordingly. Chaparrals dont come up for sale very often around here so I scour over every one of them.

Ps. I love this website!
 

captkevin

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 15, 2009
Messages
102
Re: Chaparral 210 ssi

Looks & sounds like a great boat - with the fuel injected engine it will have plenty of get up & go. Prices seems good to
 

superpop

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
869
Re: Chaparral 210 ssi

That is a good price for that boat, I have the 204SSi which is around 8 inches shorter but basically the same boat. As others have said, Chaparral is a premium brand and if they are hard to find used and in good condition in your area than I would jump on it. Offer 21K and see what they say. I have had mine now for almost 3 seasons and it has performed flawlessly. I have the 5.0MPI and that is really plenty of motor for that boat. The only thing I have added is smart tabs and a 18P prop for skiing. Price out a 2007 Cobalt in that size with all the same options and you will be at 35K+ for what I would consider a comparable boat. Yes I am biased, but I had a Wellcraft before this boat and have been on many cobalt's and Chap is right there with Cobalt with regards to ride and build quality. In Seattle that would be a 28K boat easy.
 

jkust

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
4,942
Re: Chaparral 210 ssi

Oops that right Superpop has the 204 not the 210. I have the 4.3 Carb in my Chap which is the 190SSi renamed from the 183ss. Smooth is a good description of the boat but I agree after now having the Carb for a few years, my next boat will be the MPI. MPI is much more difficult to find in the under 20 foot market. I have only seen one other of my boat with the 270hp and they rarely come up for sale though I have seen more with the economic downturn than ever. A testament to Chap is that although the LOA of my boat without a platform is 18'3", a 5.0MPI was the optional power. That's pretty amazing, 270Hp on an 18 footer. It's interesting that Cobalt pulled out of the smaller boat segment back in about 2002 or so.
 

TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Chaparral 210 ssi

... Yes I am biased, but I had a Wellcraft before this boat and have been on many cobalt's and Chap is right there with Cobalt with regards to ride and build quality...

Yeah, can't compare current/recent Wellcraft with Chaparral. But "right there" with Cobalt? Nope. Good boats, better than many, but they still cut some corners. You just have to know where to look, or use your boat A LOT to see them.

It is a testament to Chaparral, that they put high hp in their boats. They weigh a little more than most, and they certainly handle the extra hp well. Just ask the guy who now owns my 1997 2135 that has a 280hp 5.7, with a Bravo 3, and is only 20.5', !
 

superpop

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
869
Re: Chaparral 210 ssi

Not to turn this into a pissin match but, if you have to look that hard or "know where to look", does it really matter? I combed over my boat and a Cobalt before buying what I have and could not really see any huge differences. Don't get me wrong, the Cobalts are awesome boats but I think a lot of what you are paying for is the name. Maybe a more accurate description would be that in my opinion the Chap is a better value. But again, they are both premium brands in my opinion.
 

LippCJ7

Vice Admiral
Joined
Sep 20, 2010
Messages
5,431
Re: Chaparral 210 ssi

Clearly you need an unbiased opinion!

I think that Chap is one of the best boat manufacturers out there(top 5 in JD Power), Cobalt is and has been number one for several years(JD Power) however I believe they focus more on luxury where as most manufacturers in boats of this type/size go for the more sporty styling and that's where chap is, a nice mix of luxury, quality and sport all rolled up in one package. You can't go wrong with a Chaparral.

Obviously this is a no brainer that any manufacturer cannot be held to their standards if the boat has not been maintained properly, even a Cobalt is a POS boat if the Owner maintained the boat poorly.

Now.... lets focus on the price, I think that any boat listed in this time of year can be had for 10%+ off the asking price due to a couple reasons, its not the prime boating season and the economy sucks so yes I think its hi but for no other reasons then I think he will come down since his position is generally weak.

There is your Unbiased opinion....let us know what you decide! And Post pics or we will hunt you down and make you walk the plank off my Crownline!
 

PeteyDaMan

Seaman
Joined
Jun 30, 2009
Messages
51
Re: Chaparral 210 ssi

I purchased the same boat in 2009 (black gel coat with graphics and higher hours) for $24,000

I would agree with LippCJ7 that this time of year warrants a lower price.

As an FYI, there are 2 option packs included with this boat that include the pop-up cleats, docking lights, bow scuff plate, extended swim step, remote stereo and trim controls on the swim step, depth finder, snap in carpets, along with the 5.0GXi motor. It looks like it has the SX outdrive which is fine, less to go wrong.

The only options it appears to be missing, are the intergrated fire suppression (fireboy) and the wake tower.

I am very happy with mine and get a lot of compliments when out on the lake. it gets up on plane pretty quick and tops out around 55mph.

Good luck
 

jkust

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
4,942
Re: Chaparral 210 ssi

If for no other reason, I like Chaps because I see so few of them even though there are two dealers in MN. On the lakes I frequent I have only ever seen a Chap on two of them. One being Bay lake out ide of Garrison, MN where there is a 190SSi and Gull lake which is probably the premier lake chain in MN where there are countless. I'd almost feel out of place not in a Cobalt or Chap on Gull lake, there are so many. 90% of the time the Chap is just overkill and any boat will due, but the larger lakes seem to draw in the heavier hulls and you appreciate the heft when conditions are rough. Other times it is just a bear to be hauling around 4000lbs when your boat is only 18 feet.
 
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