2019 Chaparral 21 H2O Sport OB review

That’s where this boat swings into focus. That “H2O” indicates the Chaparral 21 H2O Sport OB is part of the US fibreglass leisure boat brand’s entry-level model range, with a strong focus on value for money.

The “OB”, meanwhile, denotes that this version of the Chaparral 21 swaps out the traditional inboard-mounted sterndrive engine for an outboard engine. This option was introduced to the boat in 2015, and among other things makes maintenance less complicated.

And then there’s the “Sport” tag. It shows that this model is optimised for watersports. Alternatively, buyers can opt for a “Surf” version attuned to for wakeboarding, or a “Ski and Fish” layout that optimises the seating for fishing, and replaces the rear-mounted cooler box with a live bait well.

The Chaparral 21 H2O OB Sport is classed as a multipurpose boat, fitting a number of lifestyle boating needs rather than specialising in just one.

You can still order this boat as a sterndrive, but the big benefit with the outboard is the ability to tilt it up out of the water once all the day’s fun has ended. It’s also a much better option when beaching the boat, as trimming up means nothing hanging out under the hull will ground.

We’re testing the Sport version of the Chaparral 21 H2O. There’s also a Fish and Ski version that replaces the Sport’s onboard cooler box with a kill tank, adds rod holders, and allows seating to more easily transform into a fishing/casting platform.

The Chaparral 21 H2O Sport is listed on boatsales.com.au from $92,999 with a 150hp Honda four-stroke outboard engine and an Easytow dual-axle trailer.

For the money, you get a comfortable, durable and well-made US bowrider ski boat that can seat up to 12 people at a time.

We’ve tested this boat before in the very likeable Ski and Fish trim and wearing an inboard 4.3-litre 220hp Mercuiser sterndrive, but it’s our first time in the outboard-engined version.

The standard equipment list is rich. There’s good, comfortable and yet durable vinyl cushioning throughout, stainless steel fittings, a glovebox in front of the spotter’s seat, a Sirius audio system with four speakers, and eight drink holders scattered throughout the cabin.

There are no carpets on the floor, but the grip from the diamond-patterned finish on the fibreglass is good.

Despite wearing a transom pod-mounted outboard engine, this version of the Chaparral 21 HO Sport loses nothing for interior space. The only compromise is that there is no swim platform right across the transom; instead, there are separate swim platforms to either side of the outboard engine.

However, one big advantage the outboard engine has over the sterndrive version is that you get a watersports-friendly bowrider that can comfortably nose right up to a beach so you can establish a day camp.

There’s also the benefit of tilting the outboard engine out of the water if you plan on leaving it tied up to the dock for an extended period.

Even though the H2O range is Chaparral’s entree to its bowrider range, it doesn’t really feel like it. The fit and finish, particularly of the fibreglass interior, is deserving of a higher-priced craft.

What stands out about the Chaparral, though, is that it is optimised for bluewater action. This goes beyond just the hull, with features such as loom-wrapped tinned wiring, triple-sealed connectors and even nitrogen-filled instrument gauges that won’t fog up. All the fittings and fastenings use a higher grade of low corrosion stainless steel.

The Chaparral 21 H2O’s walkthrough cabin connects the bow with the stern via a large gap in the wrap-around windscreen. The portal in the console can close off to provide wind protection. A small glovebox in front of the co-pilot/observer’s chair lets the looks down a little bit with its exposed hinge – the lid makes it look like a patched-on accessory rather than an integrated element.

The Chaparral 21 H2O doesn’t try to hide its sterndrive origins. Towards the back of the boat, just behind the broad and comfy rear bench, is a large platform that forms what resembles a daybed that runs across the full width of the boat. It’s the hump that would have swallowed the inboard engine of the sterndrive version of the 21, and with the engine now hanging off the back it serves as a huge covered storage space.

On either side of the vacant engine bay, which still features its shiny stainless air intakes, the hard-wearing vinyl-trimmed cushions lift up to reveal wet storage bins that, when closed, also double as more durable walkways. It provides good access to the swim platforms on either side of the outboard – the starboard one hides an extendable stainless steel swim ladder tucked away under a flip-up cover.

There are good-sized, lined storage bins in the coamings to either side of the front seats, and in front of the passenger, the console flips forward to reveal a deep storage space for lifejackets and the like. A long gas strut-supported hatch on the floor between the front seats also opens to swallow long items such as skis. It also is lined.

Up front, the bow lounge is deep and comfortable, featuring stainless steel handrails recessed into the seatback. Stainless steel cupholders are recessed almost into the fold of the seatback.

A locker in the forepeak hides a Danforth-style anchor. There’s no bow roller, so the anchor rode is free to flop over the top of the front-mounted navigation lights if left to its own devices; a pair of very forward stainless steel cleats will let you lay the rode to one side of the bow.

The starboard swim platform includes a collapsable three-step boarding ladder that flips up and stows away beneath a cover.

An optional ski tower is available, but our test boat is equipped with an inboard-mounted ski pole and a bimini.

You sit nice and deep in the centre console’s pair of rotating chairs, well protected from the elements by a high wrap-around windscreen. From behind the wheel, the throttle control falls easily to hand, and features a nicely padded elbow rest.

Switches are split across the dash – one for the engine and the other for navigation lights. There is also a manual override for the float switch-operated bilge pump.

Both the comfy driver’s and spotter’s seats rotate and slide fore and aft.

The Honda instruments in front of the sports-style three-spoke wheel are staggered to either side of the centrally mounted controls for the four-speaker Clarion audio system. On one side is an analogue speed, and the other an analogue rev counter, and both have a small digital displays that allow the driver to dial up, say, a number showing the percentage of fuel remaining on one side, and GPS-corrected speed on the other.

The 150hp Honda VTec four-stroke outboard engine was an experiment for Aussie Boat Sales. O’Hare said he wanted to try the 150hp four-cylinder engine – the Chaparral 21 H2O is rated up to a 200hp V6 – to see what the smaller cylinder count would do for the boat; weight, after all, is supercritical when the engine is hanging off the back rather than sitting inboard. A move to the smaller engine would also save buyers about $5000, he said.

While the Honda BF150 outboard performed well, the 16-inch, three-blade Solas prop fitted to it didn’t, struggling to grip the water at higher revs and in faster turns. O’Hare said a change of prop would solve this issue, but for us, it means we’ve discarded performance figures for this test.

Low-rev bite from the Honda outboard engine wasn’t affected, so the chance was there for us to tow a skier behind the Chaparral. Two-up, with driver and observer, it easily pulled our somewhat reluctant volunteer – Port Phillip Bay is chilly on the best of days – up out of the water.

O’Hare made specific mention of the ride qualities of the Chaparral, saying it would happily tackle sea states that some rival ski boats would baulk at. Into a gusty 15-knot south-westerly, it certainly handled the bay’s steep, sharp chop confidently, providing a soft ride without too much jarring.

The shallow-vee hull – great for providing a roomy lounge in the bow – was a little damp when kicking up spray while heading directly into the wind, but stayed nice and dry in a following sea.

It certainly felt sporty at low revs, jumping up onto the plane quite freely and helped by a flat, vee-shaped section of the hull located just in front of the transom.

The Chaparral 21 H2O Sport is a bowrider that’s not afraid of bombing around in saltwater. Even fitted with the mid-size 150hp Honda outboard engine, the boat has enough grunt to have a good day out on the water.

The ability to nose up onto a beach and establish a day camp helps with getting more people to enjoy the boat, and the location, and justifies the smaller 150hp Honda. If you reckon you’ll be regularly lugging more bodies in and behind the boat, the 200hp option is a very affordable step up.

Specifications
Model: Chaparral 21 H20 Sport OB
Length overall: 6.55m
Beam: 2.54m
Bridge clearance: 1.42m (2.39m with optional tower)
Engines: 115hp (min)/150hp (recommended)/200hp (max)
Engine as tested: 150hp Honda BF150 four-stroke
Deadrise: 20 degrees
Weight: 1452kg (dry, with engine)
Fuel capacity: 151L
Max people: 12

Priced from: $92,999 with a 150hp Honda four-stroke outboard engine and an Easytow dual-axle trailer; 70L cooler; stainless steel cockpit grab handles; slide and swivel bucket helm seats for skipper and observer; aft sundeck with storage; comfort helm seats; hinged sundeck with walk-thru and lounge position; four aft cockpit courtesy lights; lined glovebox; console footrests; four-speaker Clarion audio system with Bluetooth and aux port; side panels with coaming storage; eight stainless steel drinkholders; automatic bilge pump; navigation lights; stainless steel bow and stern eyes and six cleats; three-step boarding ladder

Supplied by: Aussie Boat Sales