First boat purchase

[Thales14]

Any information, thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.
In researching to this point, I'm considering a Chapparral 21 ft bow rider or a 19 ft Sea Ray bow rider.
Both used, but the Sea Ray would be a bit older.
No need for fishing, just cruising through back back and then possibly out to the barrier islands a few miles off shore.
Does the 1 degree difference in dead rise (18 verse 19) make a bi difference in the smoothness of the ride?
I know Sea Ray ranks high on customer satisfaction surveys, but I there a substantial difference in quality when considering both boats, both used, about this size, generally?
Many thanks for any help.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: First boat purchase

SeaRay is a premium brand IMHO. Chapparral is a step down from that. The difference will be mostly in exra stainless fittings and better interior. Sorta like the difference between Ford and Mercury in the 70s.

The deadrise is immaterial, IMHO. I recommend you look over both boats closely for rot and other issues. I had an '88 SR 19' Bowrider. The quality of the boat was different in different spots. For example, part of the boat deck was well covered in choped fiberglass (chopgun special, std in many boats), however, It looked like the chopped blas ran out as part of the deck had only resin. Guess what rotted out? Also the keel under the ski well failed and the keel part of the hull crunched when I tried to jack it up.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First boat purchase

I would reconsider a bow rider for open water use. Get a seaworthy hull. Look at Seahunt ultra to get an idea, either the dual console or the center console with lots of comfortable seating. Many other boat companies make similar designs, and they are very comfortable for cruising and general family boating. and they have way more room.

Except at the very high and very low ends, brand seldom makes a big difference. Some of the lower end boats are underpowered (to bring price down) so watch for that, too.

Deadrise is a convenient measurement but really, it is the design of the bow and its approach that makes the difference, not the angle of the bottom at the stern. I consider deadrise for the function of running shallow water, not regarding ride.

 

[DC20]

Re: First boat purchase

Thales14, I have gone that route my self. I live on the Gulf as well. Look for a Dual Console with an outboard. My 2 cents.

 

[sbbamafan]

Re: First boat purchase

Nothing against Sea Ray, but it is no better than Chaparral. The biggest difference is perception generated by the BIG $ that Brunswick (parent of Sea Ray) spends on marketing. Brunswick is one of the two proverbial 'big fish in the sea' (other is Genmar). I have nothing against Sea Ray and they are solid, well built boats - just not any better than some others in the market. Many boats are equal in my opinion including but not limited to Chaparral, Crownline, Four Winns, Regal, Bryant and some others. Cobalt is definitely a step (or 3) above. All share Mercruiser and /or Volvo Penta powerplants. Get the one in the best condition and that has the layout you like the best. I also would recommend getting the biggest one in your price range - again assuming you like the layout and the condition is good.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: First boat purchase

Right now, I wish my boat knew how to hang sheet rock and mow the lawns. Everybody is out on the lake and I'm hanging a lid by myself. Suxs.

 

[jkust]

Re: First boat purchase

Here's the scoop. I know dozens of people with small Sea Rays, old and newer. I know a handful of people with smaller Chaparrals as well and I have one. I have a gigantic amount of first hand knowledge and experience with both brands. I'm in MN where we all have under 20 foot boats and the lions share are fiberglass bowriders. There is a slot of time in the 2000's where Sea Ray's are simply crap with marketing over form for their price tags. Chaparral only recently started skimping on their small bowriders as the economy seems to have demanded. Within that slot of time Chaparral treated their smaller boats identically to their large boats where within other brands, their smaller boats get the shaft. It takes about 10 seconds by stepping into a mid 2000's under 21 foot Sea Ray compared to the same Chaparral in the comparison line up. Here's the easiest rule of thumb I can think of. Compare the dry weights and the gas tank sizes. Sounds kinda silly but in that slot of time it is a useful metric with a direct correlation to the relative quality of the boat. Now that said that same paradigm doesn't hold true with either brand's larger boats where the differences are only at the margins. If the small, 19 foot, Sea Ray was the nicer, better boat, I would have one of those.

 

[jkust]

Re: First boat purchase

Cobalt is definitely a step (or 3) above.

Actually Cobalt is not a step or three up because they haven't made a small bowrider since 2002. There is no Cobalt of which to compare in the recent 2000's. Cobalt also doesn't charge $2 for something that is worth $1.25 as Sea Ray did.

 

[Thales14]

Re: First boat purchase

Very useful information - thanks!
We're to visit the chaparral dealership and the Sea Ray dealership tomorrow.
Any information for use in comparing and considering is extremely helpful to me and much appreciated.