2001 Chaparrel 196 SSi

[pfdff]

So I have been looking at 18 footers and found a mint 183 ss. Loved the boat but feels too small. I found a 01' 196 ssi with 20.4 hours Volvo 5.0 220hp, CD, covers, dual axel trailer for $15000. Seller said he was 2nd owner who bought it from father inlaw with 8 hrs on it. He works in the industry and has hwinterized it every year and stored inside. He has young children who are not into watersports so he is selling it. Havent seen it in person but it looks very clean and he describes it as ''immaculate''. Sound too good to be true? How much bigger is it going to feel vs. the 183? How about the price?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 2001 Chaparrel 196 SSi

It should feel quite a bit bigger than a 183, cause the beam is 8'4". And it's longer. But sit in it and feel for yourself.

The price is between Average Retail & High Retail, you decide if it's worth it.

I will say that only 20 hours on an 8+ year old boat is not a good thing in my opinion. How much routine service has been skipped because "it didn't get any hours on it, I don't have to change the oil" and so on? People with low hours on a boat like that tend to neglect maintenance because they think only hours count. Well, years count too. Look for dry rotted hoses and such. Also, that boat has a carburetor, so it could be all gummed up with ancient gasoline.
In my opinion a boat with that few hours is not worth a premium price, cause it's going to need a lot of maintenance items that a normally used boat would not need.
And then what kind of service has the trailer gotten? 8 year old brakes/seals/tires that never get used is a bad thing too.

I would have a boat like that surveyed.

And with that few hours, he doesn't use the boat. So maybe he is desparate to sell it?

Just remember, for $22,000 you can by a BRAND NEW Bayliner 195 with warranties. Yeah, it's a Bayliner, but it's still an interesting price comparison.

 

[pfdff]

Re: 2001 Chaparrel 196 SSi

well I ended up buying the boat. It really was immaculate. I talked to him about maininace and it has had all of the routine things done every year. He had it winterized every year, stabila in the fuel and everything else I would have done to the boat if it was mine. The boat fired up nicely with no smoke or blow by. Oil was clean. Trailer has been used and recently serviced so its not like it has been just sitting. I think with any used boat you buy its a risk. Hopefully the guy was honest and it dosent have any problems. Im happy with the size compared to the 183...much more room.

 

[pfdff]

Re: 2001 Chaparrel 196 SSi

oh yeh....22K for a Bayliner 195? I looked at new regals and I could have gotten a fully loaded 1900 for 25K. Bayliner vs. Chaparral is not exactly apples to apples IMO

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 2001 Chaparrel 196 SSi

Yeah, I know Bayliner v. Chap isn't apples to apples, but a BRAND NEW boat with factory warranties is worth something. And remember, Chaparral built a line of "cheap" boats too. And is $10k less for your Chap a better deal than a brand new Regal, which is the same or better quality? I don't know, I am not looking at the boats. I was only trying to point out pricing, and you obviously thought about it too.
As long as the maintenance was done correctly, then the hours would be a good thing. Enjoy the boat.

 

[pfdff]

Re: 2001 Chaparrel 196 SSi

I definantly thaught about bying new, especialy now there are some good deals. In the end it came down to cost. 10k more was over 100 dollars a month on my loan and just too much right now. Hopefully buying used dosent come back to bite me. Do you know when volvo recomends there first service? I thaught it was 150 hours but could be wrong.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 2001 Chaparrel 196 SSi

No I don't know specifically Volvo, but 20 hours seems more like it. Maybe 50 hours for an oil/drive fluid change. But certainly, 150 hours is way too long.

 

[jkust]

Re: 2001 Chaparrel 196 SSi

Good pick up on the Chap. That 01 was ahead of its time so much so that looking at new offered few extras not on the Chap. I have the 183ss purchased August 2008 and it is fine with two kids and wife along. Mine had 40 hours with all service records and I visited the servicing dealership to verify so no worries about the conventional sitting is bad logic. The beam on the 196 is 7 inches wider than the 183 (183=7'9") which would be very noticable. Unfortunatly for me the 183 is the biggest that would fit in my garage and still fit two cars. Good luck.