Purchased a Chapparal instead of the Thundercraft pics

Well, you folks where right, 'keep looking'.I was ready to pull the trigger on this 90 Thundercraft when the guy ended up selling it out from underneath me. Turns out that that was probably a good thing. After that happened I went searching again and looked at several boats. Then I came across a 88 Chapparal which was a little older than I wanted but it was advertised as prestine condition with low hours. I deceided to go look at it and it was indeed in prestine condition. I wanted at least a v6 but this thing was too cherry to pass on. It has a Mercruiser 3.0 liter with 116 hrs and is 17.8ft. Has the whale tail and a 18 pitch prop. The trailer was redone and everything is stainless steel. Brand new tires, lights, wiring, the whole 9 yards. Interior is prestine with the exception of a light out on the temp gauge. Came with a Piranah led color, water temp, depth, fish finder. The teak swim platfrom could use redone along with the teak ski stowage door(don't know the proper term for the bottom compartment). Has a brand new full cover

Had it out on the lake this past weekend and in choppy water it would run around 35. Once traffic cleared out and the water settled down it would run around 42 trimmed out with two people. I love this boat. It's nothing special but a nice little starter boat that needs nothing (more or less).

Tell me what you think. Thanks, John





With my buddy's 1995 18' Searay

Re: Purchased a Chapparal instead of the Thundercraft pics

Nice find! And with the price of fuel, you will be happy with the 4 cylinder. Keep it in great condition and you will get most of your money back in a year or two when you want something larger.

Re: Purchased a Chapparal instead of the Thundercraft pics

Awesome!

Re: Purchased a Chapparal instead of the Thundercraft pics

I like those Chaparrals, around our area a boat like that would sell for I'm going quess around 2300 bucks and maybe talk it down to $1900. am I close?

Re: Purchased a Chapparal instead of the Thundercraft pics

Congrats. Nice find. Good luck!

Re: Purchased a Chapparal instead of the Thundercraft pics

Good choice. I don't know much about that vintage of Chap but if the newer ones are an indication, you'll be pleased. I'd like to see some interior pics too.

Re: Purchased a Chapparal instead of the Thundercraft pics

a70eliminator said:

I like those Chaparrals, around our area a boat like that would sell for I'm going quess around 2300 bucks and maybe talk it down to $1900. am I close?

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Well not quite that cheap, more like 3k. For the quality of boats that I was seeing in the 3k range this one surpassed them immensely. I felt that it was a pretty fair price, idk.

jkust said:

Good choice. I don't know much about that vintage of Chap but if the newer ones are an indication, you'll be pleased. I'd like to see some interior pics too.

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I'll get some int pics up here soon, thanks.

Re: Purchased a Chapparal instead of the Thundercraft pics

"Purchased a Chapparal..."

Now all you have to do is learn how to SPELL it! (Hint, it's spelled "Chaparral" and it is written on the side of your "new" boat!)

Re: Purchased a Chapparal instead of the Thundercraft pics

Haha, yeah, no duh!

Re: Purchased a Chapparal instead of the Thundercraft pics

Chap > Thunderwhatever

Good things come to those who wait.
Looks like a $3k boat to me

Re: Purchased a Chapparal instead of the Thundercraft pics

What more could you ask for, needs nothing other than to be loaded into the water and good to go, money well spent!

Nice find and enjoy it