Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

[B10]

OK guys, first post on here but not super new to boating. My search has led me to this boat. I am in serious negations at this point. Financing is approved but, still working on the details as far a down payment, term etc?

It?s a 2009 236SSX. Brand new, never been in the water. I?ve included the build/option sheet minus the prices since Im not sure of forum rules.
Trailer is a tandem ?Premium?, spare tire, brakes on both axels, painted steel, retractable tie down etc..

They are offering an ?extended warranty? on top of the factory 2 year from Mercruiser. No details on that just yet.
Comes with curtains, side and aft, and a bow cover but, no cockpit cover. They made a mistake when ordering I?m told. I may just opt for a mooring cover anyway. The dust in OK is terrible.

I already have indoor storage at their facility until I pick up in April included in the deal. The factory warranty will not be activated until I take delivery.

Excluding tax and delivery (Which I will most likely pay out of pocket) they are asking $54k.
I am looking for opinions of ANY kind on the boat. I plan to keep this boat for many years.

My biggest worry is the 5.7 not being enough to push this boat around. It was offered with a 6.2 and 8.1 as well as the 5.7. It weighs in the same as a 244 Xtreme and they come with a 5.7, no option for a bigger engine, I'm not sure what to think.

Here is one factory pic of the exact boat and a couple of the ones from the dealer.

Thanks in advance!
Chris

 

[stephanies]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

Chaparrals are nice, well made boats but are renowned for being heavy (read slow) for their length.

You have to think why no one else has bought this boat in 2 years......Is it because the smallest engine option is too little for this weight...?

Also remember this boat could have been built late 2008 so by April could be getting on for 4 years old......If you do go for it the dealer will be pretty keen to shift it so you should be able to get a great deal, but whether you can live with just 300hp to move 4400lbs around......personally I think you may be a little disapointed....

 

[B10]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

Here's why I am a little confused. The 236 is 4400lbs. with 300hp, making the power to weight 14.66 pounds per/hp. No the best but not the worst. I'd love to have the big block and have a ratio of 11.7 but that's not avialable at this price
Chaparral puts the same ratio in their "Xtreme" tow boat. The 244 is 4700lbs at 320hp making the ratio 14.68. If that ratio is strong enough for the tow boat designed for water sports then it stands to reason the 236 should do fine. Top end speed is of no concern to me, I want hole shot.

 

[justchecking]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

That is one heck of a nice boat. Does the dealer have or have contacts to other owners so you can try out that power to weight ratio on the water? I'm sure another owner would be excited to help guide you.

 

[B10]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

I don't know, I didn't ask about that. Good idea. I do have a friend that works at a Chap dealer as a mechanic. Been there for 15 years so he's pretty knowledgable about Chap's in general and his friend actually owns a '09 236 ssx with the 5.7 and he said hes driven it many times. He loves the boat and told me to go for it at this price.
I was hoping an owner would give me some inputs on the boat since they would have owned it for a seaon or two.
If I hate the power, I'm not scared to put a whipple supercharger on it. Why should my boat be the only thing in the driveway without a supercharger lol

 

[Maclin]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

Don't forget prop pitch tuning options for dialing in holeshot vs. top speed, I bet you can get a good compromise without having to go with the S/C. But, based on your comment "Why should my boat be the only thing in the driveway without a supercharger lol" , sounds like it may feel left out!

 

[Philster]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

First of all: I likey that boat.

Second of all: What is your boating goal? Will you toss and turn knowing you are 5-6 MPH slower than you could be if you had a bigger engine? Or, is what your planning to do with the boat not an issue in the scope of a few MPH?

Modern engine H.P. is under-rated. The peak HP is misleading, because the modern power curves are more consistent and throttle response is flat-out better. A modern 5.7 has so much more to offer than the peak HP number to be compared to older peak HP numbers.

This is my gut: She's fine and adequate. You will have good times. She'll be snappy. She won't be weak, but just weaker than other options.

Buyer's and product research: 80% of buyers regret getting the smaller 'anything', or the less-powered anything, when they realize more power or 'bigger' was available and reasonably affordable given their budget (resale values confirm this a thousand times over).

Your gut: Are you the 20% or the 80%?

I'm the 80%. If my boat had a 454 instead of a 502, I'd be kicking myself and regretting it. Even though it's a few MPH. Go figure.

edit: Drives, such as the Bravo 3, enhance performance over basic drives.

 

[B10]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

Being 5-6mph slower won't bother me at all. As long as it will hop out of the hole and get on plane for knee boarding, tubing, and wake boarding I'm good. The rest of the time we usually are anchored and swimming off the back and listening to the radio. Me, the wife, and 3 kids ages 12-17 yrs old. I'm coming from a 18' 6" bowrider so this is considerably bigger and as big as I want to tow around. As long as she will yank up the water sport toys I'm good.
I like the more "classy" look of this boat vs. the other options I was considering. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go with it. Pics in the spring!

 

[Philster]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

ENJOY! I showed the wife that boat and we love the style and features! GOOD LUCK!

 

[The Great Escape II]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

It's a 3 year old boat and in most cases it should be close to the current used market price from $40 to $44k. I think they are asking to much. Add $2 to $3k for the trailer.

 

[B10]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

I can't find another 2009 for sale at all and even the 2007's I've seen are still in the upper 40's and 50's. Where are you looking?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

Don't forget prop pitch tuning options for dialing in holeshot vs. top speed, I bet you can get a good compromise without having to go with the S/C....

Read the option sheet, it got a Bravo 3. Not much prop tuning you can do on them. And a new propset costs $1300.

300hp 5.7 would not be my first choice for that boat. But at least it has the Bravo 3. ONLY a sea trial, with your anticipated load will tell you whether it's enough power. No sea trial = no deal on the boat. IMO.

 

[The Great Escape II]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

I can't find another 2009 for sale at all and even the 2007's I've seen are still in the upper 40's and 50's. Where are you looking?

Price out the boat you are looking at with those options on NADA as a guide. What I recommend is to use your favorite boat search tools like (boat trader or yacht world) and see what you can buy for $54k on a used Chaparral. Most likey a bigger vessel, more options and more ideal power.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

till, I read it, saw the B3. They do have different pitches for those, eh?

 

[Philster]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

B3 already offers a snappy low end response and good cruising characteristics, so you get more than you would from a single, vanilla prop setup. It's more diverse out of the box.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

Looks OK to me.

 

[QC]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

I have a lot of experience with a 236SSi and a Volvo 5.7 320 DP. Honest 50 MPH+ (54 out of the box and empty) and very good hole shot. The only qualifier is that of course it's a Volvo, but more importantly they rate theirs at 320 bhp. I would guess at least 48 MPH and the same hole shot for the Merc and B3.

 

[baylake]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

Nice boat. I don't think you can tell the different in a few MPH

 

[B10]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

spec sheet claims:
Mercruiser 300hp B3-26P props/top speed of 54.9 at WOT, on plane in 4.3
Volvo 280hp DP-F5 props/top speed of 51 mph at WOT, on plane in 3.2

On advice from a 15 year Chap mechanic that I trust, I will swap the prop set to a 24" Elite 4 blade front, 3 blade rear. Dealer is doing this for free as part of the sale, wich took place earlier today. Underpowered or not, shes mine now. I'll update with pics, videos, and thoughts in April

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Opinions on Chaparral 2009 236 SSX, looking to buy this week

... I will swap the prop set to a 24" Elite 4 blade front, 3 blade rear...

That sounds like a good idea. Should make it a holeshot machine, but top end won't be amazing. But if you use it as you state, for watersports, it should work well.