Chaparral Underpowered?

[yt]

Hi, I'm looking into buying my first boat. Mainly for cruising and pulling skiers with a couple people on board. I'm looking at a '92 Chaparral SL. It's 18' with 7' 7" beam empty weight about 2100. It has a 115 HP Mercruiser 3.0. Does that seem slightly low on power or would that do the job for me? I have another one I'm looking at which is a year newer LTD but not in as great shape that has the 135 HP engine.

Also any general opinions on Chaparral boats?

 

[superpop]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

Depends on a few factors but overall I would say they both sound a bit underpowered for what you are wanting to do. You will find that your skiers struggle to get up unless they are very good and somewhat patient. Especially with a few people on the boat to boot. Chaparral makes a very good boat but you need to look for rot on a boat that old. I would look for a minimum of a V-6 and try to find something 96 or newer so you don't risk an obsolete drive.

 

[yt]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

Thanks for the info. I know I've tried to ski behind a very underpowered boat and that was nooo fun at all. Both of the boats I'm looking at have the Mercruiser Alpha drive so at least it's not an OMC. One was kept drystack and looks to be in excellent condition but that's the one with only 115 hp. The other is also in good condition but obviously I'll want to check the floors etc. Know I'm splitting hairs but will these boats pull a skier adequately as long as I don't have more than 2 -3 on the boat? This is light recreational skiing.

 

[jkust]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

115 is on the low side and you can read lots of post about peoples satisfaction with a 135hp I/O. My opinion is 4.3 or greater. I can't talk intelligently about a Chap that old but the newer ones are highly regarded.

 

[yt]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

OK so I'm looking at another 18' Chap. It's a 1999 with the 180hp 3.0

Seems that would have a bit more kick than the older 115 or 135's.This boat looks to be a good deal.

opinions?

 

[SeanT]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

That's a little more like it. Honestly it really depends on what you want to drag. The 115HP (and even less on some models) are designed primarily for middle of the road runabouts, maybe a little fishing, primarily cruising. Pull a tube once in a while, maybe a skiier if they know what they are doing, or something for the kids to learn skiing/wakeboarding behind. (regular size kids, not monstrosities like mine)

Remember, people learned to ski behind much less, so in all cases your mileage may vary. Higher horsepower engines are worth more at resale then lower as well. It all comes down to a good deal - in general I think people are happier if they buy more horsepower, but don't overstretch yourself JUST for horsepower.

How's that for vague advice?

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

Never heard of a 180hp 3.0. I thought all the 3.0's where either 130 or 135hp? That is how they are listed for Chap's new boats.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

Never heard of a 180hp 3.0. I thought all the 3.0's where either 130 or 135hp? That is how they are listed for Chap's new boats.

Exactly. Never heard of a 115hp 3.0 and Certainly there is NOT a 180hp version.

Sea trial any boat you are interested in, that's the only way to know. Take along as many passengers or as much weight as you will be regularly carrying, also.

 

[05GlastronSX]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

If you honestly are looking for a fun boat with good power throughout the whole rpm range, get a v-6 outboard if you can. I have been in every type of I/O from 3.0-5.7 liter motors in 17-20 feet. They are flatout too slow out of the hole and have no midrange punch at all.

There also is no such thing as a 3.0 I-4 with 180 hp that is stock. They come in the 135 hp form. There is the carburated 4.3 v-6 that is rated at 190 hp you may be talking about. If you do go the I/O route, get the biggest motor you can find/have in the boat, you will not regret it nor will you ever have to worry about having enough power. I recently drove a friends 02 crownline 192 with a 5.0 carb rated at 220 hp and it was an absolute dog everywhere up until it actually got moving to about 50 mph. There is no midrange punch or holeshot. Its flat out just not fun coming from my 17' boat with a 150 v-6 to that. I have yet to come across any boat that can beat me at holeshot or midrange or even feel in the same park. I would not purchase that size boat with anything less than a v-6, or 5.0 v-8, which i believe that could come with.

 

[yt]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered? or .. Bayliner W/ Outboard

Re: Chaparral Underpowered? or .. Bayliner W/ Outboard

OK so it looks to be down to the '99 Chap with (i think) a 135 I/O or a 1999 Bayliner Capri with a '99 125 Mercury 2-stroke Outboard. Both are 18' bowriders. I hear pretty mixed reviews on Bayliner boats but it looks to be in fine shape and the Mercury is a plus..i like the simplicity of an outboard for my first boat however I also like that an I/O is quieter and the Chap is a nicer boat ..decisions decisions... The Bayliner is also $500 cheaper at $5500 vs. $6000 for the Chap though I imagine I can talk either down a little.

 

[yt]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

and lookie what just popped up on Craigslist.. '97 Rinker with a 4.3L

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/boa/1302362863.html

this is the Bayliner

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/boa/1301644693.html

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

we had a 18ft mariah for our first boat when i was a kid, it had the 4.3. it was great, we all skiied and wakeboarded behind it no problem. it would run about 45 mph WOT also. Now i have a 19' with the 230hp 5.0. it does fine also, but another foot larger or more and i would say get the 5.7 but thats just me. 4.3 and up you will be fine, another thing with the 3.0 is the resale, is it going to be more difficult when you try to get rid of it because there is less demand for it?

 

[83Evinrude]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

I'm looking at a '92 Chaparral SL. It's 18' with 7' 7" beam empty weight about 2100. It has a 115 HP Mercruiser 3.0. Does that seem slightly low on power or would that do the job for me?

Everyone has their own opinion of what is underpowered but I'll bet if you don't get a 4.3L V6 you will be wishing for more power later.

I have been in every type of I/O from 3.0-5.7 liter motors in 17-20 feet. They are flatout too slow out of the hole and have no midrange punch at all.

After many years of owning a 17' Glastron with a 140 Evinrude we just purchased a 2004 Glastron SX 195 with a 220hp 5.0L Volvo. This is a light 19' boat (actually 18' 7") but my experience has been exactly the opposite of yours.

The 5.0L I/O gets on plane much faster than the outboard and has much better torque at any speed. It comes out of the hole very strong, in BoatTest.com's review it planed in 2.2 seconds and 0-30mph in 5.2 seconds.

 

[diezelducker]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

I have a bayliner capri 195 with a 4.3. Let me tell you that you always want more power. It's hard to go bigger after you've already purchased. This boat seems to have plenty of power for skiers, tubers and the like. It is also exceptionaly good on gas. I'm sure if it was any smaller than a 4.3 I would lack the power and the gas mileage. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Bayliner1992]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

Sorry but i have a 1992 Bayliner with a 3.0 and i do 47 knots with 3 bodies on board, the bayliner is 19 feet and that's about 51 MPH on the water which i think is pretty fast, but then again someone flew by me the other day..

 

[RoyR]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

Get a V8....

 

[83Evinrude]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

Sorry but i have a 1992 Bayliner with a 3.0 and i do 47 knots with 3 bodies on board, the bayliner is 19 feet and that's about 51 MPH on the water

Just curious, have you ever verified that speed with a GPS? Not trying to doubt you but 51mph in a 19ft boat with a 3.0L engine is incredibly good.

 

[sbbamafan]

Re: Chaparral Underpowered?

You have a lot of questions to resolve. First I have to be clear that I am an I/O person, although I do like outboards for lack need for winterizing (or at least less work) and their use in salt water.

As far as 'getting up' behind the boat, you will get more torque from an I/O than the outboards (up to a certain size). There is no substitute for additional torque provided by additional cubic inches.

The outboards are considerably lighter than the I/O's.

In my opinion, I/O's are simpler and easier to work on but that is likely just a matter of experience. I/O's look better and are quieter.

Any will work, but if you are the least bit serious about skiing or boarding or tubing, there is a reason why all the real tow boats have an automotive type V8.