Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

If you hit something, highly unlikely you are fixing it yourself no matter what the drive. Sounds like that dealer was trying to talk you into a boat with an Alpha.

I beg to differ.. I hit an unmarked shoal last summer with my single (aluminum) prop VP SX-A drive and completely destroyed the prop. The drive itself was unharmed, and I limped back to the dock at no wake speed. 30 minutes later, I had bought a reconditioned prop from a local shop, put it on the boat at the dock, and continued boating. Weekend saved; out ~$120.

If I had a DPS or bravo 3, I would have been out about 5X as much money, and probably my weekend since a propset might not have been available locally (and almost definitely not on hand used).

I wouldn't turn down a dual prop drive by any means, but prop cost is a valid consideration depending on where you boat. I boat in the 1000 islands, where shoals are everywhere, and this is the main reason I keep an aluminum prop on the drive and (now) a spare in the engine compartment. A dual prop drive would not be my choice for here unless the boat I was buying needed it for performance reasons.

 

[QC]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

In that regard I do agree with spoilsofwar. I am a Colorado River boater and I also boat at night a lot. Bad combo :facepalm: I have used my spares a number of times over the years. I have never lost a weekend due to strike damage. And I have only had to have the drive itself wrenched on once in 30 years. Still saved the weekend though with a spare prop. I am a duo prop/Bravo 3 lover. But a B1 is totally acceptable to me. A1 has been very good to me too, but I do prefer a cone clutch. Who wouldn't.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

I also boat Colorado river(Havasu, Mojave, Mead and Lake Powell) but I am sure not as much as you and very little night. I have had one prop strike total in all of those places and that is why I keep a spare set on my boat at all times. Prop strike cost me $250 to get one of the props repaired.

I would never get a drive without a cone clutch either.


Also, going out without a spare prop/props and the tools to replace it is like driving a car without a spare tire and a jack.

 

[QC]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

Agree. I boat Parker and above Havasu some too. That's where I have had trouble. One strike on the lakes ever. And it has been a long time... Now I've done it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

Agree. I boat Parker and above Havasu some too. That's where I have had trouble. One strike on the lakes ever. And it has been a long time... Now I've done it.

You are screwed now!

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

:lol:

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

I wonder when/if Sandi-K will let us know what boat her and her hubby bought? I know, but did not want to be a spoiler.

 

[h2odick]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

You're just adding to the suspense! Damn it! I can't take it anymore.. must..know..which..boat..they..bought! argghhh!
Hopefully they're too busy boating after all those spreadsheets and tire kicking

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

I can only say they were waiting for a trailer to be made last I heard.

 

[Q4 Stan]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

I'm going to bet it was a Grady center console with a Yamaha outboard

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

Three pages on lower units?? good lord, go buy an outboard and be done.

 

[81_chapparel194]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

Three pages on lower units?? good lord, go buy an outboard and be done.

just do it right and go buy an L-drive:laugh: note sarcasm heavily dropping off that statement

 

[tazrig]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

I wonder when/if Sandi-K will let us know what boat her and her hubby bought? I know, but did not want to be a spoiler.

They better... because a bunch of us just chartered a black helicopter and are heading your way to find out.:spy::spy::spy:

 

[Sandi_k]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

I can only say they were waiting for a trailer to be made last I heard.

Still waiting, SA. Supposedly we're picking it up next week. The scheduling is complicated.

 

[QC]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

The scheduling is complicated.

Did you need to make another spreadsheet?

 

[Sandi_k]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

Did you need to make another spreadsheet?

< grin >

Nope, that's a unidimensional decision, no spreadsheet needed.

 

[QC]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

Nope, that's a unidimensional decision, no spreadsheet needed.

So then you made a timeline? :behindsofa:

 

[Sandi_k]

Re: Used Chaparrals - Vp or Mercruiser a Deal Breaker?

So then you made a timeline? :behindsofa:

LOL! Yes! Drive to SoCal Thursday, May 9th. Pick up boat Friday, May 10th. Drive home Saturday, May 11th (DH) and Sunday (me). Go out on the Delta for a test drive sometime the week of May 13th.